M A I L B A G

Bureaucracy from Britain sans principles

This refers to Mr Sukhpal Singh Khaira's write-up "Politicisation of police & bureaucracy" (Oct 8). It would perhaps be worthwhile to reproduce a paragraph from the autobiography "Nice Guys Finish Second" of Mr B.K. Nehru, a former bureaucrat of the time when the Indian Civil Service was considered the "Steel Frame" of India. He was India's High Commissioner in the U.K. during 1973-77. He writes: "I also studied the organisation of the Home Civil Service and how it was that in spite of a vigorous democracy the civil service had retained its independence in that it was guided by the rules and the law, and not by the whims and wishes of transient ministers. The answer was simple.

“All the three powers which are exercised by the minister in India to bend the civil servant to his will, namely, appointments, transfers and suspensions, are not exercisable by them at all in the United Kingdom. They are exercised by a very small group of senior Secretaries presided over by the Secretary of the Civil Service Department who reports to the Prime Minister direct. It is they who appoint people, transfer them, punish them, not the ministers. Their proposals are, of course, approved by the Prime Minister but when I asked the head of the Civil Service Department what would happen if the Prime Minister refused to sign, he was shocked out of his wits. He said, ‘But that can't happen'. Such is the power of the conventions of the British Constitution, which, if broken, would lead to furore in Parliament".

We inherited the political and administrative systems of our erstwhile British rulers but did not care to learn their principles and conventions so essential for the successful working of the parliamentary democracy.

DALIP SINGH GHUMAN, Chandigarh

A baseless charge

The Minister of Human Resource Development, Dr Murli Manohar Joshi and the Delhi Lt Governor have directed the NCERT to delete all “objectionable” references to Guru Tegh Bahadur in the NCERT history textbook of Class XI and a Sikh body has threatened action against the book.

As the author of the book in question, and holding the Sikh Gurus in highest respect, I would like to state that the charge of my making derogatory remarks against Sikh Gurus in the textbook is totally baseless and based on wrong premises. In fact, in the book an attempt was made to question a statement made by many earlier authors, including Cunnigham, that the Guru Tegh Bahadur had in association with Hafiz Adam, laid waste the whole of Punjab.

In the textbook this has been refuted, the statement being called an official account, i.e. a distorted one meant to justify official action against the Guru. To ascribe this statement to me is both wrong and objectionable.

In fact, it has been argued by me in the book that many Jat agriculturists, artisans and others had joined Sikhism on account of its egalitarian approach and the prestige of the Guru. These sections resorted to the Guru protesting against the violence and oppression of the local revenue officials. The Guru raised his voice against this and, in the process, “became a rallying point against injustice and oppression.”

It has also been stated that the Guru “gave up his life in defence of cherished principles.” Thus, the Guru has been shown both as a religious leader and a leader of the people fighting against injustice. The charge of denigrating the Guru has thus no basis in fact. Nor should the Delhi Lt Governor treat it as a law and order problem without going into the merits of the charge.

Prof SATISH CHANDRA, New Delhi

Communists’ role

What an irony that when the whole world is fighting terrorism, in India our own political parties, particularly the communists, are fighting the government for siding with the Americans. The communist parties have called for a rally to protest against the Americans and other forces who have launched attacks on the Taliban to capture the source of all terrorism, Osama bin Laden.

It is a shameful act on the part of this group of political parties. It seems these leaders do not want peace in India. To work against the USA at this juncture is nothing short of giving support to terrorism as is happening in Pakistan. The communists have never spoken a word against the bloody acts of Osama bin Laden.

On the other hand, Khalistan protagonist Jagjit Singh Chohan has also declared that he did not recognise the Indian Constitution. What a shame! He has also spoken of setting up a bank of Khalistan where remittances by the NRIs of Punjab would be deposited. This is an act of sedition and the government should take stringent action against him immediately to prevent the re-emergence of those dark days of terrorism in Punjab.

I hope good sense will prevail and all political parties, particularly the communists, should extend all support to the government at this juncture to keep the country united. Calling for protest rallies by our own leaders against attacks on terrorists in Afghanistan and elsewhere will only give strength to our enemies within India which will ultimately lead to more violence and loss of innocent lives.

I request the Opposition leaders to be more understanding and not to do anything which will help the communal forces to incite violence. Time will again come for them to indulge in politics.

T. BHATTACHARYA, Panchkula

Heroes or killers?

I don't want to join issue with Mr R.N. Prasher. But I would like him to take a look at the poll printed on the front page in the September 3 edition of your newspaper titled "Should Punjab Police officers accused of committing excesses during the militancy period be given blanket amnesty?" A large majority of 71 % (per cent) has voted against providing amnesty to the cops.

JASDEEP KAUR, New Delhi

Swan project

The report "Project to tame Swan begins" seems just a rehash of earlier reports which appeared from time to time in various newspapers, including The Tribune. The project regarding channelisation of a small tract of the Swan, Una's "river of sorrow", was inaugurated by Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal on April 15, 2000. Work has slowed down reportedly for want of funds. The news report is silent on the funding of the Rs 106 crore project. Will the project be funded by the Centre or the state or will it be a joint venture?

TARA CHAND, Ambota (Una)

Mistreated by in-laws

Due to rapid changes in lifestyle, society has lost the values of brotherhood and turned the valuable customs and traditions into commercial aspects. Dowry being a great evil has made society unstable which has forced many innocent wives to suffer divorce, death and cruel treatment of in-laws. I think it will not be out of place to mention that Agni (fire) Ma (mother) are worldly precious needs to be given special attention as they are the main sources for the development of this world.

RATTAN SINGH BHAVRA, Mumbai

PTU marksheets

Getting a marksheet from the PTU is tough as the 1997-2001 Electrical Engg. students of Guru Nanak Dev Engg. College, Ludhiana, have realised the hard way. They have still not received their 5th semester marksheets. The exams were held in January 2000, and June 2000 (reappear).

AMRITPAL SINGH, by e-mail