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L E T T E R S T O T H E E D I T O R

Bold policies are need of the hour

H K Dua in his front-page editorial “Dr Manmohan Singh can now go in for bold policies” (May 25) has rightly pointed out that the voters of our country are very intelligent. They reject rulers who come to power on the basis of false slogans. The people of India have brought the Manmohan Singh government to power because the Prime Minister is capable of pulling the nation out of global recession.

Dr Singh can now put his ideas into practice boldly and can complete the unfinished agenda. Now, it is the moral responsibility of the PM, his ministers and the party to come up to the expectations of voters who have reposed faith in them. The government should focus upon burning issues like security, recession, poverty, education and health.

SURJIT ARORA, Moga

Unsafe crossings

Of late, there has been a spate of accidents (editorial, “Crossings or death- traps?”, May 22) at unmanned level crossings resulting in the loss of precious lives. The safety standards are abysmally low throughout the country and smack of criminal neglect. Defiance of rules has become a norm. Preventive measures that may substantially minimise accidents are the need of the hour.

The state and district authorities should join hands for an aggressive awareness and education drive for road users. Advance warning systems should be put in place. It is an irony that even in the 21st century we are struggling to develop and introduce foolproof safety systems at unmanned level crossings.

B M SINGH, Amritsar

The railways has been upgrading rail services in the country. But not enough attention has been paid to the safety concerns at unmanned level crossings. It is shocking that the railways, which has been posting profits, should be worried about the cost involved in converting an unmanned crossing into a manned crossing.

It is a matter of deep concern and shame that accidents and deaths due to unmanned level crossings are on the rise. The recent Bilga mishap, in which seven school-going children and the driver of a van lost their lives at an unmanned level crossing, is another example of gross negligence. Steps should be taken to prevent such accidents.

HARPREET SANDHU, Ludhiana

III

It is a shame that the railways did not man the level crossing even though a fatal accident had claimed lives at the same crossing earlier too. When railways boast of a surplus budget, why can’t it spend money to make level crossings safer. There is no doubt that accidents also take place due to sheer carelessness of rash drivers who are least bothered about safety.

SHER SINGH, Ludhiana

Indians in Australia

What may have begun as a series of random assaults on Indian students, “curry bashing”, could easily snowball into something bigger and more menacing. The xenophobia seems to be the unfortunate byproduct of the economic slump.

The ongoing recession has hurt the Australian economy. Some Australians cannot digest the fact that many Indians who went there as students have settled in Australia with professional visas or as permanent residents.

Now, the Australian cricketers can play a crucial role and deliver public-service messages and reassure the Indian community. The authorities in Sydney and Melbourne need to ensure every Indian student’s right to life and liberty.

J AKSHAY, Secunderabad

Say ‘no’ to smoking
Now it has become mandatory for manufacturers of tobacco products to display (news report, “ Tobacco products get pictorial warnings,” June 1) pictorial
warnings. This is likely to sensitise the public against smoking and consumption of harmful tobacco products.
This is a laudable step and could discourage tobacco consumption and the Union Health Ministry deserves all kudos for this. Previously, the statutory warning “smoking is injurious to health” was written on cigarette packets. Smoking was banned in public places. Still, even today many valuable lives are lost due to lung cancer.
The law alone is not enough to tackle the problem. Let us all join hands to build a strong public opinion against smoking and thus make it a mass movement.
HARBANS SINGH CHOPRA, SAS Nagar

Family affair

The manner in which the DMK has behaved recently reeks of blatant nepotism. In fact, the functioning of regional parties has become a family affair. Be it the Karunanidhi clan, the Chautalas or the Badals, their only aim is to advance the careers of their kith and kin. The national parties are also afflicted with this malaise to some extent.

If only the MPs elected from these states dealt with the problems of their respective constituencies in a proper manner, such selfish leaders could be discouraged.

P N SHARMA, Ferozpur City