M A I L B A G

Wrong doers shouldn’t be eulogised

There is an undercurrent unleashed by the television channels, undermining India’s social fibre and security. A case in point is the unnecessary hype given to the Bollywood celebrities. A major portion of the TV time is spent on boosting the wrongdoers.

This industry tends to harbour drug peddlers, underground terrorists, tax evaders, Salman Khan, Sanjay Dutt, Monica Bedi and others considered that they are above the law. They and their “friends” have been eulogised.

Their acts of omission and commission and frivolities are being highlighted beyond proportion.Their questionable acts have resulted in loss of lives and property. In plain words, such elements have wreaked havoc in maintenance of law and order in the country.

The media is an effective tool of character building of citizens and moulding their psyche. Creating and building up of sympathies for these defaulters and criminals in the eyes of law is dangerous.

Lt-Col RONNY DATT, Foreign Policy Association, National Press Club, Washington

II

The Jodhpur Bench of the Rajasthan High Court has granted interim bail to Salman Khan in the chinkara poaching case. It will hear the merits of his petition on Oct 24. I don’t endorse the argument in your editorial, “Jail for Salman” (Aug 25) that his conviction will help restore people’s confidence in the judiciary.

In such cases, public confidence is all about seeing things in real perspective. The rich and the poor are not treated equally by society, by the law of the land and the government alike. In the past few decades, law invariably caught up with the poor and those who could manipulate the system were able to go scot-free. Year after year, commissions have been set up with little or no followup.

Salman could be allowed an option - five-year jail term or pay Rs 25 crore and get released on probation with an assurance that he would serve the nearest wild sanctuary and the forest department free of cost. The Rs 25-crore fine could be spent on preserving the wildlife.

V. A. KRISHNAN, Mohali

III

The Indian judiciary has proved that no one is above law, the conviction of Sanjay Dutt and Salman Khan being the two recent examples. If Paris Hilton can be put behind bars in the US, the high and the mighty like Manu Sharma, Sanjay Dutt, Salman Khan and others who have violated the law should be taught the lesson.

Govinda’s remarks in Salman’s favour should be looked into by the Congress high command. If the film industry is suffering on account of Sanjay Dutt and Salman Khan, it is no one’s fault. Since they signed them, let them pay for it. The judiciary’s credibility has gone high. All other judges should follow the footsteps of those who have sentenced the top actors.

KULDIP KHANNA, Patiala

Sainik rest house

I read Col M. S. Behl (retd) letter, “Provide beds too” (Aug 16). Many patients visit the ECHS for treatment. The ECHS Polyclinic has only one Nursing Assistant to look after the patients and it is not possible for him to carry out the duties single handedly.

So the provision of a 50-bed unit in the ECHS Polyclinic will not bring any relief for patients. The patients who are serious and need to be looked after immediately are referred to the nearest Military Hospital during emergency and follow-up treatment is carried out as per the diagnosis.

Ideally, the Union Government should make available Sainik Rest Houses just adjacent to the ECHS Polyclinics so that patients coming from far-flung areas can stay there during the night and proceed to their destinations the next day. This will bring great relief to ex-servicemen.

SUBER SINGH PARIHAR,Yol, Kangra

Threat to Constitution The Constitution is under threat”, Fali S. Nariman aptly says in his article (India at Sixty Supplement). He has rightly blamed the politicians and the electors for the current mess. The Constitution is a flawless document and has stood the test of time. However, it is based on the fallacious assumption that only the inspired persons, the selfless and the honest will be elected to the legislatures. Lack of an in-built mechanism to keep the criminals out is the result thereof. It gives MPs and MLAs unfettered powers to sanction pay and perks to them. Misusing this provision, these posts have been made so remunerative that a person once elected will do anything to continue there and will yield his seat to none but his own progeny. We are back to medieval India with dynasties ruling everywhere. Why should people pay MLAs for bringing the state to bankruptcy? The Constitution provides for universal education, but it allows a nation of over one billion to be ruled by illiterates! It guarantees equality before justice, but gives preferential treatment to sons of the soil, the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and the Other Backward Classes. These anomalies need to be rectified urgently. Dr L. R. SHARMA, Jalandhar