Only family matters

Winnability is all that matters to political parties. Tickets are being given to singers, actors, comedians etc, but not to intellectuals and subject experts, so that their talents can be used for the benefit of the state. Now, a Punjab minister wants that the AICC should withdraw its one-family-one-ticket policy, just to get a ticket for his son. Most are ministers because of their father, and not because of their own abilities. This is height of selfishness as they want to perpetuate the party’s dynastic rule. It depends on the workers now if they still want to attend rallies to show party strength and lift chairs and durries, because tickets are reserved for those who are already sitting in the Assembly. Politicians want sycophants around them, but their own family members should be in the House. Where is the need for elections and wastage of funds and time? No work is done in any office during elections.

Sukhwant Bhullar, Chandigarh

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Fund misuse in polls

According to ‘To curb money misuse, EC declares...’, there is no denying that the misuse of muscle and money power holds the key in the polls held in our country. Elections are held under the nose of the Election Commission which acts as a lame duck amid the deafening din of the free flow of money. The EC has now declared 17 constituency segments as ‘expenditure sensitive’. The entire narrative appears to be nothing but a ploy to hoodwink the public. If the government is serious about solving the issue, it needs to identify and punish those involved, which may include debarring candidates from contesting the election. Putting patrolling teams, static video surveillance teams, flying squads on the job would serve no purpose until we have a working legal system to stop this practice. We need to have a permanent system where elections can be fought based on issues and achievements.

RAMESH K DHIMAN, Chandigarh

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Aya Ram, Gaya Ram

Come elections, the Aya Ram, Gaya Ram of the Indian political system rears its head. Leaders from all political parties are changing sides citing vague excuses. The public can understand that nothing is in the interest of political ideology, nation, state or people. Most politicians are in the field to make themselves and their loved ones rich, bring them to power and then exploit power for their own benefits. They will stoop to any level to influence the public for votes, and after winning they are out of the reach of the common people.

SS Verma, Longowal

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Women cadets

Apropos of ‘Limited intake’, women are leading and competing in almost every work field and segment. They deserve equal growth opportunities in the defence forces as well. Their intake in the forces should increase to a much higher number as they have equal capabilities and leadership skills as male officers.

KIRANDEEP SINGH, CHANDIGARH

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An extra tear

I was a voracious reader of the analytical articles published in The Tribune on theatre performances by Chaman Ahuja. He was known for his critiques and rare scholarship, and was held in high esteem for his objectivity in evaluating a dramatic performance. The performers waited anxiously to read his comments as they were the authentic stamp on the standard and worthiness of the performance. I remember a meeting with him at his residence long ago. Replying to my question as to how he would explain melodrama, his answer, which I have cherished till date, was: ‘When a director wants to draw an extra tear from the eyes of the audience.’ What an answer!

Chaman Arora, Ferozepur City

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Starvation deaths

It is not for the first time that a news report appeared claiming a starvation death in Tamil Nadu, as doctors did not find food in the body of a 5-year-old child during a post-mortem examination. Earlier, too, there have been reports about starvation deaths across the nation. As on April 20, 2020, India had a stock of 524.5 million tonnes of food grains. It is shameful that even with such a buffer stock, people are dying of starvation, and we are ranked 102 out of 119 countries on the Global Hunger Index.

SK Khosla, Chandigarh

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Court language

It is no surprise that the Supreme Court was taken aback by the language used by the Himachal Pradesh High Court in its judgment (‘Court language’). The use of such language is also seen in many judgments and orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court and lower courts of these two states, which are difficult to understand, not only for litigants, but also for lawyers. All judgments, decisions or orders of the courts should be very clear and the language should be simple. In all lower courts, the testimony of all kinds of cases should be written in languages with official status and the hearing should also be held in these languages.

Shakti Singh, Karnal

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