M A I L B A G

Reverse the skewed sex ratio

Those concerned with Punjab’s future should feel ashamed of the increasing trend of female infanticide in the state (“Skewed sex ratio: Female infanticide replacing foeticide”, Sept 13). This is the worst that could happen to a progressive state.

The world over, developed economies have more number of females than males. In fact, a higher female-male ratio is considered to be an index of development. Unfortunately, in Punjab the trend is completely reversed with boys far outnumbering the girls.

Dr Harshinder Kaur, in her study, has predicted a real doom for the state. The authorities need to wake up and take steps in the right direction. As pointed out by Dr Kaur, all cases of females dying at less than six years should be thoroughly probed. The government should use its investigative agencies for finding out cases involving killing of such girls. Parents indulging in such practices need to be prosecuted just like other criminals involved in murder cases.

Dr SANDEEP KUMAR, Barnala

Indisciplined lot

I agree with V. Eshwar Anand’s view in his article, “Polity under strain: Making political parties accountable” (Sept 14), that our political parties are the most indisciplined lot. There are too many parties, most of which are being run like fiefdoms by the respective party chiefs. Surely, politics has become a flourishing business for these parties to make money and capture power.

Organisational elections are not held, party funds and donations are not audited and the Election Commission’s directives are not followed.

The Election Commission should be given more teeth to enforce laws regarding registration of political parties and to minimise their strength. More and more parties are a drain on the exchequer. Why should we encourage non-serious parties to contest elections? These are a drain on the exchequer.

I am also against dynastic politics. Most parties encourage their kith and kin to join politics, contest elections and become ministers. Ultimately, the younger lot promote the family and business interests of their parents, forgetting their main mission to serve the country.

SHER SINGH, Ludhiana

II

Political parties are the backbone of a democratic system. They are indispensable for the smooth and efficient functioning of democracy. But in India they are proving to be a bane rather than a boon. Their staggering number — 909 — is simply baffling. It ought to be reduced in the interest of stability, sanity, rationality and objectivity.

Most parties don’t have any ideology, principles or ethics. Their only aim is to grab their share of the pie by hook or by crook.

They have thrown all norms to the wind. For real democracy, parties ought to be brought to book for their actions.

Admittedly, effective legislation is needed to regulate the political parties’ work and conduct. But the moot question is: who will do that because all parties are chips of the same block?

TARSEM S. BUMRAH, Batala

Left on the deal

The editorial “Left on the deal” (Sept 21) rightly said that to assume that a country of India’s size and strength will compromise its interests amounts to underestimating the innate strength of its people. In view of the acute shortage of power, we need an enormous quantum of nuclear fuel. The nuclear deal will help us immensely in this regard. We should go ahead with the deal lest we miss the bus.

G. R. KALRA, Chandigarh

II

The Indo-US nuclear will help India if implemented properly. However, prolonged discussions and confusing statements (mainly from the government and the Left parties) using it as a political weapon with an eye on the elections is bad. All the political parties are likely to blow similar issues out of proportion only to be forgotten after the elections, after gaining power.

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

III

The Left parties are making a hue and cry over the 123 Agreement. They disturbed the monsoon session of Parliament and threatened the government of dire consequences if it went ahead with the operationalisation of the Agreement. If they think that the deal is not favourable, they should withdraw support to the UPA government immediately instead of using the issue as a weapon to browbeat it day in and day out.

MOHAN SINGH BAINS,Jalandhar City