M A I L B A G

Time for India, Pakistan to change attitudes

Since 1947 people of both India and Pakistan have been suffering because of the Radcliff Line drawn on, perhaps, their hearts too. The British divided the nation between two principal communities, the Hindus and the Muslims. Since the base of this unnatural, vengeful and politically motivated divide was religion, religion-based rioting was but natural.

The inhuman, fanatical and merciless killings on both sides of the border helped keep the fire of revenge burning and pushed the two nations towards ferocious wars in 1965, 1971 and 1999.

The bomb blast on Samjauta Express on February 19, 2007, was a wake-up call for both India and Pakistan. It is not only an instance of cross-border terrorism but also a cross-border tragedy. Both nations have to change their attitudes towards resolving the Kashmir issue.

Regarding the Samjhauta Express train blasts, the joint anti-terror mechanism devised to fight terrorism will not help in arresting the culprits since the investigators working day and night have no answer to some basic questions.

Sukhwinder Singh, Director, Bulls Eye, Ludhiana

Domestic violence

This refers to the report (Mar 4) that the National Family Health Survey has found over 37 per cent married women facing domestic violence involving their husbands with Bihar topping the list. This is mainly due to the lack of education, especially among women, and addiction to alcohol and lotteries by men.

In spite of six decades of Independence, our politicians have not bothered either to reform themselves or to the people who elect them. Common people have to depend on the judiciary even for small things getting done by the government.

B S Ganesh, Bangalore

HUDA allottees

The article titled “HUDA’s extension directive sags prices”, published in the Real Estate section of The Tribune on March 3, has highlighted the dilemma faced by the allottees due to reckless and arbitrary decisions by the Haryana authorities. Thousands of allottees would be thankful and grateful to The Tribune.

The allottees of the residential plots in the urban sectors of the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) were earlier allowed a period of 19 years for constructing a house. A person purchases a plot keeping in view the long-term requirement of his growing family. On October 13 last year, HUDA revised its extension policy and reduced this period from 19 years to 15 years. The allottees were asked to complete the construction by December 31, 2007.

Within four months, HUDA has revised the extension policy for the second time without any reason and the period for construction getting further reduced drastically from 15 years to seven years.

The drastic reduction has caused panic among the allottees and has upset the planning of thousands of families. With the rising interest rates on home loans, and a short construction period, the public has been squeezed and now distress sale will take place.

The Chief Minister of Haryana and HUDA should reconsider the decision and restore the period to 19 years for the old allottees to save them from hardship and harassment.

Ranbir Sehgal, Gurgaon