M A I L B A G

Badal should follow healthy conventions

The editorial “Congress loses Punjab” (Feb 28) was timely. The election results are a watershed in Punjab politics. Eternal vigilance is the very life of the parliamentary system. The electorate has rightly rejected splinter groups, making way for a strong opposition.

In 2002, Capt Amarinder Singh stage-managed a win on the plank of corruption. Initially he exhibited zeal, but went astray by pursuing the politics of vendetta. Some ‘gems’ of Patiala might have influenced his misdirection and derailment. He began to tilt at the windmills. Three precious years were squandered in efforts to fix his rival.

Badal, heading a religious body, kept religion out. However, the Congress sought the support of religious sects, an unbecoming act. Elections are see-saw battles wherein changes are natural. One factor goes against the main players, i.e. full use of pelf and money power. Badal, in his last ministry, held durbars. And Amarinder went with Vikas Yatras. People dislike such circus shows.

Badal, a senior statesman, is again at the helm. We expect that now at least he follows healthy conventions and build up traditions. He should shun petty politics, stay away from political vulgarity, shun vendetta and sincerely attempt to root out corruption. Let Badal usher in an era of meaningful development politics as prevalent in the enlightened democracies and leave footprints on the sands of time.

V. I. K. SHARMA, Jalandhar

II

I agree with the editorial “Congress loses Punjab” (Feb 28) that the people have punished the Congress for its indifference to their sufferings. The problem with the Congress is that if it wins in the Assembly  elections, the partymen celebrate the victory in New Delhi.  And when it loses, the local leaders will get the blame.

The Congress forgets the people once elections are over. I welcome the timely suggestion that all good and constructive policies and programmes must be continued. Badal will have to ensure a corruption-free government for Punjab’s prosperity.

M.P.S. RANDHAWA, Dhapai (Kapurthala)

III

Political leaders mix freely with common people like us before every election, but confine themselves to cars with tinted glasses after they capture power. They manage to gather crowds for their rallies by spending huge money, but after winning the election, they hesitate to mingle in the crowd.

Before elections, politicians go door to door begging for votes. However, after getting elected, they seem reluctant to meet people even in their own houses. Before elections, the voters are looked upon as gods and goddesses but after elections, it is just the other way round.

SUKHDEV SINGH MINHAS, Mohali

IV

After people’s verdict, the newly elected members should come to brasstacks. They should spend each minute of their tenure in formulating and executing plans and programmes for the all round development of Punjab. No MLA of the ruling coalition or minister should resort to personal vendetta and witch-hunting. All must work for restoring the lost glory of Punjab. Let Punjab again become a paradise to live in.

B.B. GOYAL, Samrala

Out of the picture

The Tribune did our party Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) grave injustice in its issue of March 4 when it did not report our party’s huge conference, opposite the one held by the Badals at Anandpur Sahib on March 3.

The report entitled, “Badal talks tough on water-sharing pact” (March 4), to say the least, unfortunately, was one-sided and partial. Except our party which had suffered a defeat in the recent poll, no other political party — even the Congress, the Lok Bhalai Party, the Communists or the BSP — had the courage to put up a conference as they had all suffered defeat. I am aware that the Press has a honeymoon with the winning party for a period of time, but to totally leave us out of the picture is a bit too much to stomach.

SIMRANJIT SINGH MANN, Quilla S. Harnam Singh, Fatehgarh Sahib

Bring Chandigarh on mainline As Chandigarh is located on a single-track branch line of Northern Railway, terminating at Kalka, the most important long distance trains bypass this station. In view of the tri-city of Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula becoming the industrial hub and an important IT park of the country’s northern region, it is essential to bring the this track on the mainline by completing the Chandigarh-Morinda- Ludhiana rail link and simultaneously electrifying it. Secondly, wherever mainline electrification has been done, mainline electric multiple unit (MEMU) trains have been introduced for fast and mass movement of suburban and inter-city commuters. But that has not happened beyond Ambala even though the track has been electrified right up to Amritsar. Ludhiana is already a flourishing industrial centre in the region with Rajpura, Patiala and Sangrur also getting further industrialised. The roadways buses in the area are always overcrowded. As such, it would be very desirable to electrify the Chandigarh-Ludhiana-Dhuri-Patiala- Rajpura section. Introduce MEMU trains in this section up to Amritsar and ex-Ambala. The gestation period for such a project is five years. The Chandigarh administration and the Punjab government should take up this issue earnestly with the Railway Ministry and pursue things to their logical conclusion. TEJINDER SINGH KALRA, Retd Chief Engineer (Railway Electrification), Mohali