This is in response to the editorial “Ban Bandhs” (THT, Aug. 18, Page 8). The political outfits might have democratic right to call bandhs and their supporters are free to respond to it, but they hold no right to prohibit a willing individual from going to work or elsewhere. Also they hold no moral authority to disrupt traffic flow and other essential services. Not only are thousands stranded at railway stations and airports, scores of serious patients fail to reach hospitals or medical centres due to lack of transport.

Instead of imposing bandhs on all by wielding muscle power and brute force, the political parties should learn to appreciate that opposing the bandh is also a democratic right of those who do not support the views of the concerned outfit. So leave them undisturbed.

Kajal Chatterjee, Kolkata

Student IDs

Apropos of the editorial “Fake students IDs” (THT, Aug. 17, Page 8), age and appearance can be deceptive. Not all middle-aged or even old citizens are fake students nor young people genuine students. There are many middle-aged and old students studying in the morning and evening sessions in various subjects. Education is an ongoing process and people now realize that age is no bar for education. The transporters have no right to assume that old people are not genuine students. The State should not practice and promote age discrimination in a democracy. Transporters have all the rights to verify the authenticity of students’ cards. It is very simple. If the colleges have issued fake cards, they cannot escape responsibility. Another way is to bar students across the board from using their services as some child conductors do during the rush hour on the Bhaktapur route. And the final recourse is: if they are losing heavily because of student discounts, they should change their business.

J. Talchabhadell, Bhaktapur

Cheating

I want to draw the attention of the concerned authorities to take action against those retailers who make exorbitant profits from the goods they sell to buyers. Last Thursday when I was travelling back to my hometown, Bhratpur, I was overcharged for the goods I bought at a roadside retail shop. At first I did not notice that the retailer charged me more than the usual price we normally pay in city areas. Isn’t there any government agency monitoring the price list of the goods sold at roadside restaurants and hotels? The roadside hoteliers charge more prices for goods than in urban areas. Why do they charge more than the fixed price? We have no other option than to pay the amount they demand. We also do not find any government agency with which we can lodge our complaint for over-charging prices for goods that normally costs Rs. 20. But a lady at the roadside hotel charged me Rs 25. The concerned authority must make all highway hoteliers display the price list of the goods that they sell.

Prabin Ghimire, via e-mail