Letters to The Editor — October 24, 2026 - The HinduPublished - October 24, 2026 12:24 am ISTPersistent confrontationIt is a matter of serious concern that confrontations with Chinese troops continue to occur along the border, despite several rounds of consultations (Front page, “ITBP D-G says face-off with China continues in Arunachal Pradesh”, October 23).While continuing talks with China to resolve border issues is important, Beijing’s duplicitous approach should be brought to the attention of Chinese interlocutors. Further, it is unfortunate that India’s imports from China have been growing rapidly and the trade deficit with its neighbour has widened in recent years. Unrestrained imports from a neighbour that continues to be confrontational along the border could embolden it to pursue even more aggressive border activities inimical to India’s interests.Kosaraju Chandramouli,HyderabadAnswers, not election predictionsHome Minister Amit Shah’s latest statements appear to be far removed from the realities on the ground. His claim that the Congress will not come to power for the next 30 years is not merely untimely; it is a distraction from the serious questions confronting the country.The protest is against the Chief Election Commissioner and the demand for his resignation — not against Mr. Shah personally. Yet the Home Minister seems to have taken the criticism as though his own authority were under attack. The concerns surrounding SIR, the subsequent announcement of SSR, reported changes to the rules governing Forms 6 and 7, and the ECINET controversy demand transparent, technical and legal answers. The Indian Express report and the Election Commission’s reported changes in approach have only intensified public questions. These developments may not, by themselves, prove electoral manipulation, but they certainly warrant scrutiny. Why is the Home Minister offering political predictions instead of addressing these concerns?Mr. Shah says that one must understand people’s pain and suffering rather than protest. But what about the pain and suffering of those allegedly subjected to brutal police action in Delhi under his watch? Peaceful dissent cannot be answered with intimidation and then dismissed as an excuse for electoral defeat.His obsession with elections is equally striking. Almost every statement seems to end with a prediction about who will win and who will lose. How can he confidently declare that the Congress will remain out of power for 30 years? No party’s political dominance is permanent, and no leader can predict the democratic choices of generations yet to come. Such certainty sounds less like confidence in democracy and more like an assumption that its outcome is already settled.Mr. Shah also says that elected representatives must understand people’s suffering and work to alleviate it. That is precisely what citizens are demanding from the government and the Election Commission: answers, transparency and accountability. People do not need lectures about understanding their pain; they need institutions that respond when they raise concerns.The public is not asking for another election forecast. It is asking for answers.A Home Minister’s duty is to address the country’s present challenges, not to behave like a permanent election manager predicting victories decades into the future. Before announcing the Congress’s defeat in 2059, Mr. Shah should explain what his government is doing to restore public confidence in the institutions responsible for protecting our democracy.Aditya Das,Bhowali, UttarakhandCoffee first, tourism secondThe feature, “Karnataka’s coffee country: Inside its most immersive plantation stays” (October 23), shows coffee country discovering that the view can pay better than the crop. That trade-off needs watching. A plantation stay succeeds because the plantation itself works — the pruning, the pickers and the processing. Estates that convert too much land into accommodation risk discovering that the real attraction was the agriculture. Used well, tourism is a hedge against coffee price fluctuations, not a replacement for coffee cultivation. The estates most likely to endure are those where guests buy the beans as well as the bed, and where the ledger still puts coffee first. Income from stays that is reinvested in shade trees and soil health strengthens the attraction; income that merely adds more rooms dilutes it.Jackie Omotalade,Pittsburgh, U.S.Postal servicesOctober 10 is celebrated as National Postal Day, recognising the invaluable contribution of postal services to society. However, the entire month should be dedicated to honouring the yeoman service of every individual working in the postal department. Though communication has shifted to digital platforms, we must remember generations who depended on letters to connect with loved ones. For families in remote areas, a postcard brought joy and reassurance. Parents anxiously awaited news from sons guarding the nation’s borders, while an interview call letter could change a young person’s future. The postman was once welcomed as a messenger of hope, and the red letterbox symbolised bonds that united people across distances. Let October celebrate every postal employee, from postmen to those working behind the scenes. Their dedication deserves appreciation throughout the year, not merely on one special day.A.P. Thiruvadi,ChennaiPublished - October 24, 2026 12:24 am ISTSign in to unlock member-only benefits!Access 10 free stories every monthSave stories to read laterAccess to comment on every storySign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single clickGet notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products${ ind + 1 } ${ device }Last active - ${ la }