Washington’s tiradeWhite House Trade Adviser Peter Navarro’s brazen assertion that the Ukraine conflict is “Modi’s war” reeks of duplicity and intellectual hollowness (Front page, August 29). The origins of this war are firmly anchored in Russia’s strategic insecurities and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s relentless eastward adventurism. By dragging Prime Minister Narendra Modi into a European battlefield crisis, Mr. Navarro has exposed Washington’s chronic double standards — masking its own miscalculations while vilifying a nation that refuses subservience. India has neither fuelled nor profited from this tragedy. It has consistently championed dialogue, de-escalation and balance. Mr. Navarro’s reckless rhetoric is less an expression of truth and more a desperate attempt to scapegoat a rising power. Such falsehoods insult India’s independent stance while laying bare the moral bankruptcy of the U.S.’s foreign policy posturing.N. Sadhasiva Reddy,BengaluruNurturing potentialIn her article, “Play-based learning for India’s future” (Opinion page, August 27), the Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Government of India, has argued her case for brain stimulation and play-based learning well. What is lacking in the Integrated Child Development Services ICDS, since its inception in 1975, is early childhood care and education (ECCE). At that time, science was not so sure about the criticality of the first 1,000 days of life, the golden window period for brain stimulation. By ensuring adequate care and stimulation along with nutrition of under-three children, there will be optimum development of brain potential.Navchetna is an excellent tool for ECCE to be used by Anganwadi workers and private caregivers of children under three for regular in-house use. It should not be only for advising mothers during home visits.Finally, community contribution for staff salary may be considered, as was demonstrated in Phulwari, Chhattisgarh.Dr. K.R. Antony,Kochi, KeralaStenographer examinationThe recent SSC Stenographer examination and answer-key release have exposed systemic failures that demand urgent scrutiny. Most of the questions were complex and poorly framed. Candidates also experienced technical and logistical issues.Naveen Kumar Singh,New DelhiPublished - August 30, 2025 12:24 am IST