M A I L B A G

Law needed to bar tainted ministers

Apropos of H.K. Dua’s front-page editorial “Not by confrontation” (July 4), one must agree that as a matter of principle no tainted person should be made a minister. But unless we make a law in this respect, neither the NDA nor the UPA will refrain from this exercise.

Who is a criminal? This should be broadly and exhaustively debated in and outside Parliament. In the NDA government, Mr L.K.Advani, Dr Murli Manohar Joshi and Ms Uma Bharti were the charge-sheeted ministers. Ms Jayalalithaa and Mr Narendra Modi are the Chief Ministers against whom the Supreme Court had given remarks. Mr George Fernandes too was under cloud.

The matter should not be politicised. The solution to the present impasse must be sought through collaborative efforts and “not by confrontation” as Mr Dua has rightly pointed put. The Reports of the Law Commission (1999) and the National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution should be studied. The cases against the ministers may be speedily settled through special courts within a timeframe.

SUDESH KUMAR SHARMA, Kapurthala

II

H.K. Dua has given a timely and valuable advice to our MPs to follow the policy of consensus and cooperation instead of confrontation in the interest of our nation. But unfortunately, politics in our country has got afflicted with hypocrisy, opportunism, corruption and criminalisation.

Parliament, which is supposed to guide the destiny of nation, has been converted into an arena for empty slogans and noisy din by unscrupulous and incompetent politicians who have forgotten that besides massive government expenditure on the general elections, it costs about Rs 17962 a minute to run Parliament at the taxpayers’ money.

During electioneering, politicians promise the moon to the voters. And, once elected, they change their colours like chameleons. Over the years, the polity has so much degenerated that democracy has been undermined by power hungry politicians. It is time a special code of conduct for MPs was formulated to make them accountable for the smooth functioning of Parliament.

Wg-Cdr GURMAIL SINGH (retd), Chandigarh

 

Put an end to this bias Apropos of the news-item “PCC carrot to soothe Kangra” (July 12), since the formation of Himachal Pradesh in 1969, parts consisting of new Himachal (Kangra and Hamirpur) have been discriminated against by successive Congress governments in the state — whether on the question of giving representation to these districts or sanction of financial aid. Even in the case of providing employment, the lion’s share was given to old Himachal. During his earlier tenure as Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, while distributing jobs on ‘chits’, had given maximum jobs to those who belonged to old Himachal. This, in fact, triggered serious discontent among the people of the two districts and Mr Virbhadra Singh lost power subsequently. Growing unrest in Kangra district following the recent downsizing of the ministry will cast a shadow over Mr Virbhadra Singh’s government in the coming weeks. Even after taking over as Chief Minister, he has rewarded the people of old Himachal with plum posts. In the larger interests of the state, the Chief Minister must put an end to this bias. The sooner, the better. RAJINDER RANA, Patlander (HP)

Bad link road

The residents of several villages of Garhshanker block are worried over the poor condition of the Moranwali-Garhshanker link road. Owing to the bad condition of this road, three-wheeler operators have stopped plying between Kittna and Moranwali villages.

The residents of Moranwali Kittna, Aiman Mughlan, Fatehpur Khurd and Akalgarh villages appeal to the authorities concerned to repair the link road as soon as possible.

PARVINDER SINGH KITTNA, Kittan Hoshiarpur

India invincible

As underlined by K. Subrahmanyam in his article “Silent war against India: How designs of China, Pakistan failed” (July 7), India has indeed emerged victorious. The credit rests equally on peace initiatives like the Shimla agreement, the Tashkent summit and Panchsheel as well as power boosters like the Pokhran and Agni tests.

The silent war raged against India by China and Pakistan has taken a nosedive and an atmosphere of peace and camaraderie is being created. Over the decades, India has proved itself as an invincible and independent nation. It stood its ground at WTO and its military prowess has been recognised by the US. India has recorded tremendous economic progress.

As our strongest neighbours realise India’s immense potential, the silent war takes a turn towards conciliation. Our country has come a long distance from where the British left it. From rags to road to riches, it has covered a long way. Its presence is felt and indeed honoured. Without losing its traditional values, India shall continue to build friendship across the globe and play the role of a peace messenger.

AHIM PREET S. JURRY, Mohali

Partition victims

This refers to Nirupama Dutt’s write-up “Partition victims look back” (June 28) and Balvinder’s letter (June 30). Some happenings are such as cannot be forgotten by the affected people. The very thought of the trauma we had to undergo while leaving our village (now in Pakistan) in a state of chaos, when a large number of hooligans attacked it around midnight, and the hardships we had to face in reaching India, send shivers down my spine. Lakhs of people were ruthlessly killed. Thousands of women/girls were abducted and raped.

What occurred in the wake of Partition was perhaps the goriest happenings which ever took place in the world. It has become part of our history and cannot be brushed aside simply because some unscrupulous people still commit murders, rape, etc. It is good that Ishtiaq Ahmed, Associate Professor, University of Stockholm, is working on the project, “Forced migration and ethnic cleansing in Punjab in 1947”. A Persian poet has rightly said:

“Gaahey gaahey baaz khaan een daftar-e-paareena ra

Taaza khaahi daashtan gar daagh-haaey seena ra”

(If you want to keep the scars of your heart fresh, read this outmoded stuff now and again).

BHAGWAN SINGH, Qadian