Stringent laws
It was horrendous to read about the death of 14 children in Chhindwara (Madhya Pradesh) due to renal failure caused by a cough syrup called ‘Coldrif.’ Police have arrested a government doctor, who was practising and prescribing the medicine from a private clinic, for alleged negligence. He had prescribed the syrup, which was banned by the Madhya Pradesh government, as it had an adverse effect on children for nearly a month. The Tamil Nadu drug authorities had detected diethylene glycol (48.6 w/v) in the syrup and this poisonous substance seriously harms health. Ironically, their report is dated October 2, Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday. The doctor and manufacturer have been charged under Sections 276 for drug adulteration (one year jail term) and 105 for culpable homicide not amounting to murder (maximum 10 years jail term) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. They have also been booked under Section 27A (10 years jail or life imprisonment for causing death by drug adulteration) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. The company has been instructed to stop production, sale and distribution of Coldrif and remove their other products from sale pending testing. Hopefully, all these steps would be followed by the company and verified by the authorities – in all the cities, towns and villages of Tamil Nadu, and elsewhere. Was there no quality control department in the company to check the syrup? Or, did the company knowingly use a toxic material? If so, does this not amount to cold-blooded murder of innocent lives? The Centre could bring in more stringent laws than those existing now, and also include capital punishment for adulteration of food and medicines that could lead to the death of the users.
Sridhar D Iyer, Caranzalem
Remembering Sandhya
In iconic actress and dancing star Sandhya Shantaram’s demise, the Indian film industry has lost one of its early lady superstars who mesmerised the film world with her enchanting dance performances and sterling acting skills. The vivid roles she played in Hindi and Marathi films, especially the ones in ‘Navrang’, ‘Do Aankhen Barah Haath’, ‘Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje’, ‘Pinjara’, ‘Sehra’, ‘Amar Bhoopali’ and ‘Jal Bin Machhli Nritya Bin Bijli’ to name a few, are classics and stand as a testimony to her splendid histrionics as well as her spellbinding dancing skills. Some of the dance sequences of the actress in songs like ‘Pankh hote to ud aati re’ (Sehra), ‘Are ja re hat natkhat’ and ‘Aadha hai chandrama raat aadhi’ (Navrang) can never have a parallel. They remain eternal classics and as a reference guide to present day dancers. Similarly, her outstanding performances in films like ‘Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baje’, ‘Jal Bin Machhli Nritya Bin Bijli’, ‘Do Aankhen Barah Haath’, ‘Stree’ and ‘Pinjara’ make her one of the greatest actresses of all times.
M Pradyu, Kannur
Illuminate bridge
Ex-chief minister of Goa late Manohar Parrikar had illuminated the cable-stayed bridge connecting Aldona with Corjuem during the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in 2004. The illuminated bridge soon became a tourist attraction. However, after some time, the lights stopped functioning plunging the bridge into darkness. Residents of Corjuem and the surrounding areas and also visitors to the place have expressed their unhappiness over the government failing to illuminate the beautiful bridge. The government could now take steps to once again illuminate the cable-stayed bridge. It could even consider solar lighting to keep the cost economical.
Rajesh Banaulikar, Arpora
Strong message
India captain Suryakumar Yadav did not shake hands with his Pakistani counterpart after the coin toss at the recently concluded Asia Cup. Things spiralled after the Indian team decided not to come out to share post-match handshakes and pleasantries with their opponents, even as the Pakistan cricketers kept waiting outside their dressing room. The refusal to engage in traditional gestures of sportsmanship such as handshakes was because the team stood with all the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack and expressed solidarity with their families. By not shaking hands, the Indian players conveyed their opposition to Pakistan’s alleged support for terrorism, which they saw as directly connected to attacks like the Pahalgam incident. The gesture aimed to avoid giving the impression that everything was normal between the two nations, signalling that the political situation was not forgotten despite the match being played. The Indian team even refused to accept the trophy because it was to be presented by Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi. In continuation of India’s no-handshake stance in their games against Pakistan, skippers Harmanpreet Kaur and Fatima Sana avoided pleasantries at toss in the Women’s World Cup 2025 encounter in Colombo on October 5. The decision came amid lingering tensions between the two cricket boards following a series of controversies during the men’s Asia Cup 2025. The Indian cricket team’s ‘handshake boycott’ was clearly aimed at sending a strong message against Pakistan-sponsored terror.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco