BJP’s message

It has taken long for Delhi to acquire the status of a UT, with a promise of full statehood (‘The Delhi Bill’). But with the Centre now introducing the Government of NCT of Delhi Bill, it will be tantamount to asking the Delhi Government to stop governing. With this proposed law, the Centre will be arrogating all powers to itself, which will undermine Delhi’s elected government. Implications of the proposed law extend beyond the AAP vs BJP political conflict. By making it mandatory for an elected government to route its files through the Lt Governor, it threatens to take away the autonomy that any elected government requires for governance. Does the BJP-led Centre want to send out the message that it will support greater autonomy for Delhi Government only if a BJP government rules Delhi? It is a mockery of the votes cast in favour of a party. The Congress and other opposition parties should provide full support to Delhi’s AAP government in this matter. Though Delhi is not yet a full state, it does have a legislative Assembly which shouldn’t be rendered meaningless.

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SK SINGH, Amritsar

Vengeful act

Apropos of ‘The Delhi Bill’, the Central government with its vicious agenda never misses an opportunity to scuttle the powers of a duly elected popular non-BJP government. The undue haste is obviously a vengeful act, being the absolute rejection of the BJP in the MCD bypoll. In consonance with the spirit of federalism, as enshrined in the Constitution, ideally the Centre should accord full statehood to Delhi to strengthen the well-performing government.

BAKHSHI GURPRIT SINGH, JALANDHAR

Army selection system

The involvement of certain Army officers in the recruitment/selection scam has brought the selection process into disrepute. There is a need to put the incident in a correct perspective, lest people regard the selection system as compromised. The selection of officers is done by the Service Selection Board (SSB). It is a multi-tier system comprising 12-13 assessors. The board is presided over by an officer of the rank of a Brigadier or a Major General. All of them give their opinions independent of one another and evaluate the suitability of candidates using a standardised protocol of evaluation system which constitutes personality, intelligence, psychology tests and interviews. Psychology sheets of a candidate are never destroyed and are preserved in the library of the Defence Institute of Psychological Research. It is a five-day evaluation process. The present instance relates to allegedly declaring candidates ‘fit’ during a review medical board. Candidates recommended by the SSB are medically examined by a board. The candidates found unfit are straightaway rejected. But those with minor medical conditions are declared ‘temporarily unfit’. Such candidates invariably treat their ailments, get cured and appear before a review medical board. There is no element of corruption here. It is the people’s propensity to bribe which is exploited by unscrupulous elements in society. Even though money might have exchanged hands in the ibid case, there was no ‘quid pro quo’. Our selection system is above board.

Lt Col GS Bedi (Retd), Mohali

Farming and industry

Both the Centre and farmers’ unions should work out a modus vivendi to diversify by keeping farm laws at abeyance and bringing in reforms in a consultative manner. The sustainable growth of agriculture hinges on improving infrastructure, enhancing research and development, besides the close knitting of linkage between agriculture and industry. The income of farmers, in the long run, cannot go up substantially unless non-farm activities, including rural and agro-based industries, are developed.

KB Singh, Ludhiana

Low allocation

The Haryana Government has proposed an outlay of Rs 18,410 crore for education in the total budget of Rs 1,55,645 crore for 2021-22. This allocation for education comes to 8.45% of the total proposed budget. This total share for education includes Rs 14,913 crore for school education, which gets merely 1.04% of the total budget. It does not seem possible to implement most of the components of the National Education Policy (NEP). The NEP has proposed to spend 6% of GDP on education. It was earlier said by the Education Commission (1964-66). This factor does not seem to have been considered. The allocation falls short of the needs of the NEP. Factors like teachers’ professional preparedness and school leadership do not seem to have been given enough importance. Hopefully, the government will try to allocate some more amount during revised estimates so that the important issues are not left behind.

S Kumar, PANCHKULA

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