M A I L B A G

Musharraf defies will of people

Your editorial “The darkest hour” (Nov 5) was interesting. With General Pervez Musharraf clamping the Emergency only to perpetuate his dictatorial rule, it seems improbable that Pakistan will ever come out of direct army rule and bask in a true secular, democratic sun.

The most crucial developments for the General have been an undeterred judiciary under Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry and the massive turnout of support for Benazir Bhutto in Karachi. But the “wise and experienced” General has overlooked one crucial factor i.e. the age-old practice of “takht” or “takhta” (crown or gallows) in Pakistan.

Parvez Musharraf also seems to be hanging between these two extremes little realising that the new Chief Justice A.H. Dogar may cancel certain judicial orders and even legalise the tainted presidential elections but it would be difficult to silence the people of Pakistan who have seen, if not experienced, the bliss of democracy around them. General Musharraf has thus put his life at great risk by refusing to respect the will of the masses.

VED GULIANI, Hisar

II

Musharraf is doing everything possible for extending his rule. The Emergency means no chance for democracy. Political instability in Pakistan poses a danger for India. Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif must come together to pave the way for democracy in Pakistan.

KARNAIL SINGH, Kharar

Sex ratio figures

The sex ratio normally projected is based on the 2001 census. Are the census figures really trust-worthy? I have my doubts. For the last 40 years I have been residing in Jalandhar. I can recollect only once when somebody came for a census. It seems the records are completed by making suitable alterations in the previous statistics.

Pressure is mounted on scanning centres. The raiding parties seal the centres on flimsy grounds like record keeping. Do you think anybody would keep records of women undergoing a sex-determination test? It is like expecting civil servants to keep records of corruption. I request the government to educate and motivate people instead of pushing doctors against the wall.

Dr ROHIT MAHAJAN, Jalandhar

Rizwan’s death

In Rizwan’s death, even before it could be proved whether it was a suicide or a murder, whether he was a loving husband or a womanizer, he has been made a martyr and Ashok Todi a murderer.

The media thinks it has unrestricted rights to malign anyone. The real victim in this episode is Ashok Todi, whose identity is referred to as the “father-in-law” of Rizwan, a bigger disgrace than being labelled as a murderer.

It is being made out as if it is the moral duty of the parents, more so if they are also rich, to immediately agree to the marriage if their daughter happens to love a boy of another caste.

Ashok has also to suffer in Kolkata because he is a Todi and not some Sen, Bhattacharya or Mazumdar. His community may be cash-rich, but is not vote-rich. So he must be sacrificed at the altar of pseudo-secularism.

P K MITTAL, Delhi

II

In the news item “CBI files cases against Todi” (Oct 20) the half name of Rizwanurrehman has been mentioned as Rizwanur. This is not correct. It should be either Rizwan or Rehman, as “ur” is a preposition. Rizwan is the name of the angel, who is a paradise janitor. It also means God’s pleasure. Rehman means most merciful, an attribute of God. The full name should be written as Rizwanurrehman or Rizwan-ur-rehman. Apparently, the reporter is not conversant with Urdu and Persian.

BHAGWAN SINGH, Qadian

Economic growth

India is an agro-based economy and about 70 per cent people in the country depend on agriculture (“Fighting poverty”, editorial, Oct 16). If we have to think about India’s development, then we have to develop agriculture through better irrigation facilities and flood control.

Agriculture production will increase the rural purchasing power, which will push up demand and then only industries will develop because a robust internal market is very important for industrial development.

M L SINHA, Banga