Importance of stable ties with USA

ONE positive development of the Kargil crisis has been a favourable tilt in the American attitude towards India vis-a-vis Pakistan (“Tackling trans-border terrorism: importance of stable ties with USA” by Mr Hari Jaisingh, August 6). This American response at this moment may seem to be “too little and too late”, as Prime Minister Vajpayee said the other day, yet it has given us an opportunity to reframe our foreign policy priorities, keeping in mind the long-term mutual interests — economic, diplomatic as well as political.

Since the advent of the Nixonian bias against India in their foreign policy, we too have allowed ourselves to be “distanced” in the US reckoning. Pakistani propaganda and proxy war through trans-border terrorism only kept us on the defensive on questions of “human rights” and Kashmir, and the country suffered on the political, economic and diplomatic fronts.

It is only now, thanks to Osama bin Laden and his anti-US stance, that the USA has realised a potential danger to the very survival of democratic societies from the militant Islamic fundamentalism unleashed by Pakistan and Taliban terrorists. An identification of mutual interests of countering trans-border terrorism should lead ultimately to better understanding of Indian sensitivities and interests and culminate in a better cooperation in the fields of economy, science and technology.

With India’s second biggest middle class in the world and 40 per cent of the people living almost below the poverty line and striving to rise high in economic status, the USA will find it too difficult to ignore its economic interests in India. But the real progress in this field will depend upon our initiative and a policy correction based on India’s socio-economic goals.

VED GULIANI
Hisar

THE SUGGESTIONS: The four-point suggestions made by the author can go a long way in establishing a right and peaceful world order in the strife-torn universe. The Indo-US relations can be strengthened on sound footing if the two nations understand the problems of each other in depth in the changed world scenario.

Our biggest problem is terrorism. India is largely the sufferer of trans-border terrorism. Through this our next-door neighbour, Pakistan, is engaged in a proxy war against us. Pakistan-led Taliban terrorists are carrying on endless bloody war in Afghanistan. Talibans have even occupied a large Afghan territory. For the common man in Afghanistan, more so for women, normal life has been thrown out of gear.

The time has come for human rights activists and custodians of democracy in the world to rise against mass human suffering and restore basic human rights in Afghanistan.

Joint Indo-US endeavour can forge an alliance of like-minded nations to fight against the monster of terrorism, in whatever shape or form, all over the world.

IQBAL SINGH
Bijhari (Hamirpur)

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Railways’ inefficiency

The head-on collision between Brahmputra Mail and Awadh Assam Express on August 1 was apparently the result of operational inefficiency and neglect by the railway staff at its worst.

The railway staff like Station Masters, drivers, guards, mechanical, maintenance personnel and those in the commercial, security and safety wings are the custodians of the lives and well-being of millions of railway passengers who travel every day.

The network of railway schools and colleges must provide both professional and physical training, and only those should hold positions who pass through severest tests and attain requisite proficiency as it happens in the Army. Regular inspections by Railway Board Members, General Managers, Divisional Managers, especially at night, should keep the apparatus and staff at a high level of operational efficiency.

Rules must provide in clear terms not only for harsh and fast action like dismissals but also legal action for causing death and loss of public property as a result of proved negligence.

Priority must be given to the projects connected with the operational efficiency and safety, and the Railways should be freed, as far as possible, from political pressures for investments in unremunerative projects often undertaken for regional considerations.

T.S. CHAWLA
Mohali

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Population threat

There is a general feeling, and rightly so, that the country’s ever growing population needs to be curbed without further loss of time. There is no denying the fact that it has emerged as a foremost problem, one which is impinging on our economic, political, environmental and social security.

All these years officials seem to have been waiting for the phase of “low birth rate, low death rate” to come for population stability on its own after having witnessed earlier the demographic transition from “high birth rate, high death rate” to the present “high birth rate, low death rate” phase. This, however, could prove to be too complacent a position to take. A colossal damage will have been caused by then.

Needless to say that huge financial investments were made in successive Five-Year Plans for controlling the population growth. Different strategies have been adopted from time to time to give the much-needed thrust to the programme. Besides, the international agencies have also been extending substantial assistance in various forms to get India’s population stabilised.

The demographic situation, however, has kept on deteriorating with each passing day. What is probably missing is a sustained, innovative all-out campaign backed by a strong political will. As such, all the political parties will have to accord a high priority to the population problem in their election manifestos, this being a pressing national issue, as serious as the external threat being confronted on the borders. The gloomy situation facing the country on the population front may still be retrievable in case the government acts with full determination. And acts fast.

S.S. SOOCH
Jalandhar

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Corruption & political mess

Mr M.G. Devasahayam rightly identifies corruption (July 28) as the main evil in India’s administrative system. However, corruption is only a symptom, not the cause of the corrupt political mess in India. The cause, unfortunately, lies in the social structure of Indian society.

Our society is based on the concept of group living. We tend to live not as individuals but as a part of a group. Group loyalty and group affiliation determine our social dynamics. But group loyalty breeds nepotism, and nepotism precipitates inefficiency, which eventually give rise to widespread corruption.

Western societies are less corrupt because in the West people tend to live as individuals. The emphasis is on individual freedom, not on group loyalty. Perhaps, that is the reason why when British officers were at the helm of India’s administration, there was hardly any corruption cases noticed.

RANDHIR SINGH BAINS
Essex (UK)

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Sympathy for soldiers

Collection of funds does not show the extent of sympathy for soldiers. At the time of any crisis, people of our beloved nation get together for the time being and everybody remembers the soldiers during war-time but forgot them in peace-time.

Money is quite an important thing, but the worth of soldiers cannot be measured with such roads. With the money collected would reach the right persons is difficult to answer.

There should be a comprehensive policy to ensure that soldiers are looked after properly after the war is over. The morale of a soldier will be high if he is sure of his resettlement. The soldiers who sacrifice their life today for the nation’s tomorrow are neglected at the hands of politically motivated officials.

R.D. NANDA
Manimajra (Chandigarh)

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Tailpiece

Question: Define “Vajpayee syndrome”.

Answer: Taking long pauses while speaking!

K.J.S. AHLUWALIA
Amritsar