Table White Paper

Illegal mining at various sites across Haryana, be it riverbeds or hilly areas, has been going on with the collusion of the mafia, the police, departments responsible for checking it, and politicians (‘Of cows and quarries’, Nous Indica). This nexus has emboldened the mining mafia. This nefarious business, worth crores, has been thriving. There exists a nexus between various government agencies to help loaded trucks pass from one area of jurisdiction to another, with ‘proper sharing of money’. A commission of inquiry must be convened and a White Paper be tabled in the Assembly so that people get to know who are the hidden faces behind this illegal business. Mud-slinging by the political leadership will not help.

Ravi Bhushan, Kurukshetra

Sponsoring crime

Apropos of ‘Of cows and quarries’ (Nous Indica), cows and quarries are only a pretext; the malaise is deep-rooted. The real culprits are the ones who pay for illegal activities. Operators and eventual beneficiaries should be nailed. Organised crime cannot be sustained without political patronage. Criminalisation of politics and politicisation of crime are interwoven. The complicity of a pliable bureaucracy and political bosses is compromising the rule of law. Unless polity is isolated from discretionary whims and fancies of political masters, the elimination of vested interests and sponsorship of crime would remain elusive. The onus is on media and higher courts to be the proactive sentinel and saviour.

Lalit Bharadwaj, Panchkula

Won’t make difference

The election of Droupadi Murmu as President will not result in the uplift of women and the tribal community. It is just a symbolic celebration, keeping in view our past experiences. The outgoing President was from a Scheduled Caste. What did he do for SC betterment during his tenure? There are many examples from the past — Jagjivan Ram, Ram Vilas Paswan, Mayawati, to name a few. They remained on top positions for a long time, but most of them worked only for themselves and their families.

Bhupinder Kochhar, Panchkula

Women achievers

Reference to the article ‘Women of substance’; the profiles of Murmu and Alva are strikingly different, but the mission is similar with avowed adherence to the dictates of conscience in conformity with the Constitution. Whether we have this combination of two distinguished women working in tandem towards the same goals is rather difficult, considering political and mathematical calculations, but India deserves a top spot in the comity of nations for having broken the glass ceiling often with ‘women of substance’.

Harbans Lal Kapoor, Mandi

Gandhis not above law

The manner in which the Congress has reacted to the summons issued by the Enforcement Directorate to party president Sonia Gandhi is shameful. The Gandhis are as much subject to the laws of the land as other citizens, and are duty-bound to give appropriate replies to questions raised by the government authority.

RAMESH GUPTA, NARWANA

Far-fetched

The middle ‘The trees of Subedar Singh’ seems unrealistic. A JCO is shown befooling a Commanding Officer (CO) and a Brigade Commander by painting the withered plants with green paint to give them a fresh look. And the writer calling it a military lesson in resourcefulness is strange. It is impossible that a CO or a brigade head can be fooled by subordinates. Won’t it send a wrong message to the Army?

WG CDR CL SEHGAL (RETD), JALANDHAR

Bandh woes

Apropos of ‘Price the common man must pay’; the writer is right to ask if it is fair, but the moot question is, who is actually responsible for it? Does any government address the grievances of people organising the bandhs, to avoid such situations and the hardships caused to the public? Does the government, or the police administration make alternative arrangements/routes for emergency situations during a bandh? It is their failure. They are responsible for any untoward situation that may follow.

Satender Singh Yadav, Kurukshetra

Disruptive protests

Reference to ‘Price the common man must pay’; bandhs or dharnas are common in India. People block roads and damage public and private properties even as the masses face problems. This is unconstitutional. We have a right to protest against any government or authority, but peacefully. Who has given us the right to burn or damage properties?

SATYAPRAKASH GUPTA, GURUGRAM

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