M A I L B A G

Which mother will kill her daughter?

Blaming young mothers for killing their daughters is a fad. If she goes in for foeticide, it is only when she is pushed to the wall, because of the family pressures, or because she feels that her life, as a mother of the girl-child, will become a living hell, or when she is scared of the treatment that will be meted out to her daughter by society, that she gives in. If she is assured of the love and respect; which mother will let her daughter be killed?

We have been hearing a slogan for a long time, “Women should be made aware about their rights.” It is high time that we change this slogan to “Men should be made aware about women’s rights!” because it is men who violate women’s right.

NARINDER JIT KAUR, Patiala 

Death trap

Panchkula has been connected with its satellite township Chandigarh only through National Highway No 21 (NH 21) at Housing Board Mani-Majra resulting in a very high flow of traffic during peak-hours.

There is jam-like-situation daily between Transport Area Chowk and Housing Board Chowk. An elevated bridge is hanging fire for the last few years for one reason or the other. The Chandigarh Administration must keep in view the inconvenience being faced by the public.

S. K. NAYAR, Panchkula

Rahul is right

Hats off to Rahul Gandhi for his claim, which is 100 per cent correct, that had a Gandhi been at the helm of affairs of the country the demolition of Babri Masjid would have been avoided.

His critics conveniently forget that the father of the nation after careful consideration had entrusted the great responsibility of safeguarding the hard-earned freedom to the Nehru family by declaring Jawaharlal Nehru his successor.

This critics are also ignorant of the fact that locks of the gate of the mosque had been opened by the orders of a court and not by Rajiv Gandhi’s government.

This contention of the BJP that Rahul Gandhi had hurt the Hindu sentiments — which by implication means that the demolition of the masjid had uniform support of Hindus — is far from truth.

The overwhelming majority of Hindus were very much shocked and saddened by the demolition of the masjid — the most unfortunate act of vandalism.

Dr M. HASHIM KIDWAI, Ex MP, New Delhi

 

Wrong comparison Some of the army officers, particularly the retired ones who have a knack of writing often through your medium, draw comparison with other alike organisations not realising that there is no match because none of the organisations are as equipped as the Army is. Countrymen as well as the government are fully aware that the Army is equipped with everything from a pin to an aeroplane and trained manpower which no other organisation has. Central Police Organisations (CPOs) are equipped with a rifle only, still they are being asked to perform those duties which need sophisticated weapons. The Border Security Force is deployed on the borders to face the onslaught of the enemy tanks and allied fire, with only rifles and odd vintage weapons held by them, till the Army joins them. All the CPOs did very well, wherever they remained deployed and they really deserve appreciation from the countrymen. Let’s not be snobbish and give credit wherever it is due. BRIJ RAJ, Ontario (Canada)

Hang them

Incidents of rape are increasing sharply. Rapists go scot-free due to lack of evidence, corrupt investigating officers and interference by the influential persons and politicians.

At least where victims are infants and minors, rapists must be awarded capital punishment.

Dr R.S. VERMA, Karnal

Make them pay

Democracy means rule of law which applies to everyone — be it the head of the government or the common man. The judiciary has to ensure that the law is applied without fear or favour to one and all.

The Supreme Court directed the Centre to evict 497 ex-lawmakers, former bureaucrats and journalists, past or present, illegally occupying government accommodation leaving bills worth Rs 50 crore unpaid. The order shows the maturity of our system and the judiciary’s commitment to enforce the rule of law in letter and spirit.

The government should comply with the ruling and evict all squatters and recover the arrears. This hefty amount thus collected can be spent on constructing toilets in the villages.

R.J. KHURANA,Bhopal