Sharif’s ‘media-friendly’ crackdown

APROPOS of Mr Hari Jaisingh’s “Press freedom not a luxury :Sharif’s ‘media-friendly’ crackdown” (May 21), the instances of suppression of and excesses on the media in the name of democracy and national security, and occasional violations of human rights in Pakistan make us hold our head high that we in India have a democratically free Press. In this largest democracy of the world, the Press enjoys a freedom which may not be available even in many developed democracies. With a vigilant and often tough judiciary and an alert media, no individual or organisation can subvert the organs of the state.

We have grown into a vibrant and mature democracy in which the Press and the intelligentsia have played a significant role. Yet there are now emerging some aberrations and signs of waywardness. The elements of corruption and crime which have entered the country’s polity and which hold sway in some political parties, though regional, make one feel uncomfortable about the future of democracy.

Though unfortunate yet it is true that these corrupt politicians seem to have influenced a section of the media as they remain on the front pages even for the wrong and immoral reasons. Often sensational journalism has sent wrong signals, both to the tainted politician as well as to the law-abiding citizen. It is this danger zone which a free Press needs to tread cautiously.

Ved Guliani
Hisar

ANCIENT INDIA: It has been correctly observed that “People of India are so used to democracy that they will never accept any other form of government”. It is also worth noting, as mentioned in the article, that “Pakistan is not accepted by the USA as a functioning democracy but as a flawed democracy”.

India had democratic traditions even in ancient times. Buddhist literature mentions the names of 16 “Mahajanpadas” (great republics) in northern India. It included Gandhara (Afghanistan) and Kamboja (Central Asia), which are no more parts of India. Although, geographically, Pakistan is part of that ancient India, it is no more part of that ancient Indian tradition and culture which valued democracy.

ANAND PRAKASH
Panchkula

Disturbing situation: It is a matter of grave concern that Pakistani rulers are bent upon harassing the journalists of that country in discharging their duty without fear. Just see the case of Mr Najam Sethi, who criticised Mr Nawaz Sharif and his cabinet and is now behind bars. He is a fearless journalist and had courage to expose the men behind the Pakistan drug trade. Since top politicians, army generals and bureaucrats were running the trade, they could not tolerate it and compelled Mr Sharif to teach a lesson to Mr Sethi.

Mr Sethi faced the wrath of Pakistani rulers as he also declared Pakistan a failed state.

Subhash C. Taneja
Rohtak

For national government

It has been proved beyond doubt that most of the politicians today have nothing to do with the welfare of the nation. They just intend to grab power for their selfish ends.

Frequent elections in the country have shattered the economy and burdened the poor masses. Therefore, time has come for our politicians of calibre to evolve a strategy to form a national government at the Centre. This way frequent elections can be avoided and national money saved, which can be spent on constructive projects meant for the welfare of the masses.

J.R. AZAD
Sanjauli

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Hung Parliament: a remedy

The era of single-party rule is over. Since 1989, the country has witnessed four general elections and experienced eight governments. Although the Constitution has fixed a five-year term for the Lok Sabha, no single party could muster the magic figure, required for majority rule, due to the present voting trend. Hence no government except the one headed by Mr P.V. Narasimha Rao (with the support of the bribed JMM, MPs) could run its full term since 1989.

The frequency of elections affects the economy of the country drastically. Ways and means have to be evolved to solve the problem of hung Parliament.

The minimum tenure of the government has to be fixed under the Constitution. If after going through a detailed exercise of forming a stable government, the President fails, he should be empowered to invite the leader of the largest party in the House to form a government, and the other parties may or may not support it. Issue-based support or opposition should be offered by the parties as per their respective agenda. Such a government shall not face any confidence or no-confidence motion for a fixed tenure/term. In this way, the government may also be able to show its credibility before the people. Governments of short tenures, even if they have strong and able leaders, are ineffective and powerless.

Political parties should field competent, able and educated candidates with a clean image before the electorate. The elected representatives should justify their election and act with responsibility, dignity and loyalty towards the nation. Only then can they come up to the expectations of the voters.

R.P. MALHOTRA
Chandigarh

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Significance of Opposition

Democracy gives us the right to express our views within the limits of decency. Democracy without opposition is a farce. What Mr Pawar, Mr Sangma and Mr Tariq Anwar did was within the purview of democracy.

The letter of the trio was not an indecent step at all, for it proposed a debate within the Congress party. Even if it was the reaction of the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, now sidelined in favour of the party president, the debate must have been allowed. Instead, it was crushed as rebellion. Mrs Sonia Gandhi’s resignation was an act of decency, but its withdrawal proved it to be part of a strategy, and turned the entire show of loyalty outside 10 Janpath a melodrama. The whole episode highlighted the undemocratic ethos of the Congress and its personality-worshipping cult, and Mrs Sonia Gandhi’s understanding of it.

Indian-Italian Sonia Gandhi can be the president of the Congress. No question about it, for the Congress is not India. She as the president is the internal necessity of the party, but Mrs Sonia Gandhi is not a necessity for India. Certainly, the issue of she becoming the Prime Minister of India is debatable. The Congress has only two arguments to offer. The first is what our Constitution says on the subject of citizenship. The second is the examples of Fiji and Mauritius, which is self-defeating because the Prime Minister in both countries are born citizens.

The Constitution’s sections dealing the issue of citizenship were written keeping in view the Partition’s reality. Lack of foresight can be no logic. At a certain stage such situations often develop, and amendments become imperative. The logic that prohibits defence personnel or a diplomat to marry a foreigner without prior permission from the government must be applied in the case of all those holding crucial posts.

DEEPTI DHARMANI
Sirsa

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Railways & banks

Strange, indeed, are the ways of the Government of India. Here is an example. Clerks of Indian Railways, while writing the fare on tickets in words don’t mention the words hundred or thousand. They adopt a simple course — just mention the digits only.

To amplify the point, if the fare is Rs 1376, it would be put in words as “One Three Seven Six only”!. The same holds good for the Telecom Department bills also.

However, if you use the same terminology, for instance, in banks, it is totally rejected. Why this two sets of rules? No doubt, the duality of rules causes confusion and inconvenience. Needless to stress, there is dire necessity to straighten out the policy and bring uniformity in public interest, without any loss of time.

K.J.S. AHLUWALIA
Amritsar