M A I L B A G

Politicians behind most problems

This refers to the articles written by H. K. Dua, Fali S. Nariman, N. N. Vohra and Subhash C. Kashyap (Aug 15) on the 60th anniversary of our Independence. One thing common in all these articles is that politicians alone are responsible for the ills prevalent in India today.

They have become immoral and unprincipled as they frame policies only to meet their selfish ends and have no time, inclination and will to serve the countrymen who had voted them to power. The gap between the rulers and the ruled is widening day by day. Corruption has engulfed the entire state apparatus. There is politico-bureaucratic partnership also. Further, politics has been criminalised and crime has been politicised. The public is now fed up with the political class.

Intellectuals and writers, through their writings, are putting pressure on politicians to change their attitude and provide good governance to the country, but as the old saying goes: who listens the sweet songs of bulbul when there is a hue and cry of crows.

Something different has to be done. No doubt, our energetic youth has achieved phenomenal success in the field of information and technology and want to fly high, but many are still in chains due to bad governance.

C. R. JINDAL, Chandigarh

II

H. K. Dua has very rightly and boldly highlighted how politicians have hijacked our freedom. Most of the present-day politicians are primarily interested in self-promotion rather than improving the living standards of the people and ensuring good governance.

Our politicians instead of concentrating on their main responsibilities, spend most of their time and energy on scheming how to retain or wrest power so that they can enjoy unlimited perks, pelf and authority. The accumulation of wealth for the next election is also their important concern.

Brig DALIP SINGH SIDHU, Patiala

III

H. K. Dua has hit the nail right on its head. What have we gained freedom for? For corruption, for loot, for scams, for cast divide, for lawlessness, for throwing all our virtuous cultural values to the wind?

For the rich to get richer and for the poor to stand where they were, for politicians to exploit people for their personal gain, for letting criminals govern us and for giving priority to everthing that is wrong?

We talk of progress, but progress for whom? Only a handful? The common man is still struggling for survival.

Prices are skyrocketing. People are treated shabbily by babus and the police. The common man is insecure: there is no job guarantee. People die of hunger. Bonded labour is still prevalent. Crime is ever increasing. What are we celebrating Independence for if 90 per cent of the people are struggling just for survival? Frustration is growing by the day.

Lt-Col BHAGWANT SINGH (retd), Mohali

IV

Mr Dua has rightly observed that the bureaucracy has become callous and indifferent towards society and politicians of today are after power and have no time to think about their responsibility towards the people. Almost all the political parties exploit the people by giving them false assurances and once they are in the seat of power, they hardly have any time to even visit their constituencies.

M. S. RANA, Mubarakpur (Una)

Unjust to doctors It has become a common practice for relatives of a patient, in case of a mishappening, to attack private hospitals/nursing homes, destroy hospital property and manhandle the staff. Private doctors are an easy target and the charge of negligence is sometimes made to extract money or compensation. Cases are registered against medical professionals merely on complaints of relations and thus medical professionals are equated with drivers. The criminal prosecution of a doctor without an expert opinion is unjust. This is being done inspite of the Supreme Court directions. The apex court has directed that the investigating officer should, before proceeding against the doctor accused of a rash and negligent act, obtain an independent and competent medical opinion, preferably of a doctor in government service qualified in the branch of medical practice who can normally be expected to give impartial unbiased opinion. Dr D.S. JASPAL, Ambala City

Women’s murder

It was distressing to read the news item about the gruesome murder of two women, both sisters, by their husbands, both brothers, of a village in Bathinda district after they gave birth to daughters (The Tribune, Aug 13).

The longing for a male child remains strong. But at religious functions like “kanjkan” women touch the feet of girls. Tantriks mislead and exploit the vulnerable in such a way that to get a male child a woman can go to the extent of sacrificing the innocent child of another woman.

Daughters are also killed because they get the right to inherit their parents’ property. It is hard to imagine why property should be a bane for daughters when it apparently is a blessing for sons.

Daughters must get their due.

D.V. JOSHI, Bartana (Zirakpur)

Remove anomaly

Punjab government pensioners get one month’s basic pay as LTC after every two years. However, there are two sets of rules for pensioners retiring before and after April, 2004. Whereas the pensioners retiring after April, 2004, get LTC on pension plus DP @ 50 per cent of DA merged, the pensioners retiring before April, 2004, get only the basic pension as LTC.

This causes heart-burns to senior retirees. Till the Punjab government receives and implements the sixth pay commission report, this anomaly should be removed.

DHARAM PAUL SURI, Chandigarh