BHU stand admirable

Why this hullabaloo over a teacher of Sanskrit being a Muslim? The protests by some BHU students are outrageous and deserve to be condemned in the strongest terms by all. The Constitution forbids any form of discrimination on the basis of religion, and no institution in India hires faculty based on the religion of a candidate. The ruling party at the Centre, BJP, has always been making efforts to promote Sanskrit. It should come out in support of Professor Khan. BHU, with its admirable stand in support of the professor, must stick to its decision, and the entire university community should stand by him. Our Constitution, secularism and democratic rule of law will be on test in this case.

PRAKASH HANSPAUL, by mail

Keep religion out

Refer to ‘BJP leaders back besieged BHU prof’ (November 22); it is very disappointing to see the young generation indulging in anti-religion talks, especially in terms of work. Work, especially education, should have nothing to do with any religion. If youngsters will have such a mindset how and who will lead our country? Rather than opposing the Muslim scholar of Sanskrit, the students should have appreciated that even Muslims are connected to Sanskrit. This language is not limited to a particular community or religion.

Deeksha Sharma, Chandigarh

Why expert view not taken?

Reference to the editorial ‘Welcome respite’ (November 22); after years of planning and technical feasibility report for the construction of the flyover at Tribune Chowk, its construction has caused fear of destroying the heritage of the city, besides affecting ecology. The move is largely being opposed by former architects, planners and prominent citizens who have hailed the High Court’s stay in this regard. Why was expert view not called for and taken into consideration before undertaking the feasibility report? Stalling the work means wastage of taxpayers’ money, a repeat performance like CDH Metro rail project. The authorities in future must ensure at the planning stage adequate deliberations, expert and public views for any new project, especially those likely to cast a shadow on the heritage and environment of the city, to avoid infructuous expenditure of public money.

SS Arora, Mohali

Slip roads better

Flyovers or fly-unders do not clear bottlenecks; they only shift them. Slip roads are the best. At the Tribune Chowk, the restricting element is the roundabout. No doubt, roundabouts add beauty to the city. The architects probably could not foresee that the city would have peripheral townships also. Transplantation of trees has not been successful.

Wg Cdr SS Randhawa (Retd), Chandigarh

Make them answerable

‘Appalling apathy’ (November 18) rightly criticises the negligence of authorities towards the tenacious problem of pollution affecting millions of people. Ignorance of established laws and bylaws by authorities adds to the problem. Construction and demolition rules are not followed efficiently. Despite NGT’s repetitive monetary penalties, the menace has not been put to grave. Officials/public representatives should be penalised for their non-serious and negligent behaviour. Their ACR should include it, so that officials face a sense of compulsion. A permanent committee, at the Centre and state level, should be constituted to mark answerability of public representatives. The use of monetary penalties cannot be considered as a primary resort, but a passive countermeasure. Primary attention, however, should be given to set up answerability criterion for bureaucrats and public representatives.

Rabinder Datta, Abohar

NRC will be disastrous

Apropos the editorial ‘Replicating NRC mess’ (November 22), the humungous NRC exercise consuming time and resources is a failure, as it has resulted in dividing the plural state into identity-based, polarised society. Now, the proposal to implement NRC on a national scale to establish identity would only create further ruckus. Instead of acknowledging our diversity and creating uniformity, this exercise would threaten our unity.

Divya Singla, Patiala

Way to go

Refer to ‘Anita 1st Hindu woman in Canadian Cabinet’ (November 22); Punjabis are making impressive progress in political scenario globally. Their induction as Cabinet ministers has set an example of success through hard work. They should be a ray of progressive hope for the commons based in Canada. The way the Canadian PM has reposed faith in Indian-origin ministers shows his vision.

Harpreet Sandhu, Ludhiana

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