M A I L B A G

SC ruling a strong deterrent

In an era where money and muscle power are calling the shots, the Supreme Court’s timely ruling of a month’s imprisonment for Maharashtra Transport Minister Surupsinh Naik and Additional Chief Secretary Ashok Khote for contempt of court should act as a deterrent.

It is a warning to those politicians and officials who have the audacity to disregard the orders of the judiciary, an important and indispensable
pillar of our Constitution.
Politicians should realise that their position and social status does not give them the right to interfere with the administration of justice by willful
disobedience of the court directives.
In the current Pratapsinh Rane’s government in Goa, we have a
minister or two who are laws onto themselves. This does not augur well for Goa and needs to be checked.
The bureaucrats also have to act with caution. They must demonstrate their courage by upholding the rule of law. They have an obligation to the tax-payer and should not keep dancing to the fancies of their political bosses.

AIRES RODRIGUES, Ribandar (Goa)

Synthetic milk

This has reference to the news-item regarding unearthing of synthetic milk in a big factory in Sangrur district (May 9). It is strange that though poisonous milk was manufactured and supplied in tankers to the tune of 12,000 litres daily to the milk plant, neither the police nor the health officials could detect it.

Moreover, the fact that synthetic milk was accepted by the milk plant without any check gives credence to the connivance of various government agencies. Spurious medicines are being sold with the help of those who exercise control over it. The government must amend laws and give strictest punishment to these enemies of society.

Maj NARINDER SINGH JALLO (retd), Mohali

Vadodara riots

Till the Centre intervened, Gujarat 2006 was not looking much different from Gujarat 2002. Apparently, mobs were allowed to cause mayhem. In 2002, the Godhra carnage and the riots that followed killed many people.

Now again people from both communities have become victims to mob violence in Vadodara. Mr Narendra Modi has proved to be an incompetent Chief Minister who cannot ensure law and order. He has divided Gujarat on religious lines. What a pity!

PRANAV SACHDEVA, New Delhi

Helpful scheme

The ECHS is primarily intended to provide medical treatment to the ex-servicemen and their families. Initially, a nominal fee was to be deposited in cash for registration. The ECHS has contributed a lot since its introduction.

A commendable example is the experiment in the Yol Cantonment where hundreds of ex-servicemen and their families get treated everyday. As a retired soldier in late eighties, I appeal to brother soldiers to avail themselves of this facility to get rid of the undue harassment in government and private hospitals with hefty medical bills.

I thank the present Chief of Army Staff General J.J. Singh for having launched this scheme for the benefit of the ex-servicemen and their families.

Maj SARD SINGH PARMAR (retd), Yol Cantonment (Kangra)

Defective ATM

The SBI ATM machine at Dharamsala is not functioning properly. It takes a long time to process the card and is thus wasting our time. There is no one to rectify the machine. Though Dharamsala is an important place of Himachal Pradesh, there is only one SBI ATM in this district.

People holding SBI ATM cards have to rush in an emergency but there is no scope of withdrawing cash during off hours except through ATM. The authorities should look into the matter urgently.

SUBER SINGH PARIHAR, Yol (Kangra)

Jat heroes’ torture

As the death anniversary of Lt. Saurabh Kalia of 4 Jat Regiment is fast approaching, I am reminded of the Kargil conflict and death of 4 Jat’s 
men in captivity. Pakistan violated international law by torturing the soldiers.

In 1982-83, my father took me to a mountain near the Poonch border. He showed me the water fountain from where he rescued a bullet-ridden Colonel of the Pakistan Army while my father was participating in the 1971 war (cactus lilly) as part of the HQ 33 Infantry Brigade.

He told me that they brought back the Pakistani officer to the unit base and treated him. After a few days, he even had dinner with the Indian General, but died of bullet wounds in his head. The Indian Army treated the officer well.

BALJIT SINGH GHUMAN, Brampton (Canada)