The haughty and mighty in India tend to insult their fellow citizens, especially the youth, by calling them cockroaches and termites. Hopefully, these 'respected' people include their families and friends in the above categories. In other countries, such terms may be used for legal or illegal migrants and refugees. These nose-in-the-air people are a national disgrace and show how low they can stoop.
The dignity and decorum of the offices and positions they hold are diminished. There might be differences in thoughts, ideologies, etc., but this does not give them the power to demean their own people. Are citizens, especially the youth, so unworthy that they should be insulted by leaders and authorities who disrespect them after obtaining power and position?
They need to remember that cockroaches have outlived most insects for 300 million years and have outlived the dinosaurs. Termites are dangerous because, over time, they slowly but surely hollow out even the hardest and sturdiest wood. Hopefully, the powers that be will learn and desist from referring to their fellow citizens using insect-related terms.
SRIDHAR D’IYER, Caranzalem
