Letters to the editor
Refer to ‘Lifesavers on roads’; it is shocking to learn that eight out of every 10 car occupants killed in accidents last year were not wearing seatbelts. Road safety rules should not only be followed by motorists, but also by pedestrians, cyclists and others. While on the road, one must diligently observe traffic rules. Accidents will be reduced to half if all follow basic safety measures. It is the duty and responsibility of all concerned to adhere to the rules and regulations while travelling and reduce the death rate as much as possible.
Subhash C Taneja, Gurugram
Obey rules, save lives
Apropos of ‘Lifesavers on roads’; most of us believe in the power of idols of deities and other religious symbols placed in our vehicles than seatbelts. Given the penchant for speeding and breaking all traffic rules, it is no wonder that in 2021, 1.53 lakh people lost their lives in 4.12 lakh accidents. In cities, unauthorised vendors encroach upon footpaths, leaving no other option for pedestrians but to walk on busy roads, creating traffic snarls. There is a tendency among young drivers to violate traffic rules, thus increasing chances of accident. This chaotic state of affairs has to be taken care of before we attempt to reduce traffic accidents.
Anthony Henriques, Mumbai
Step up surveillance
Apropos of ‘Drone incursions’; the manifold jump in drone incursions, especially in Punjab, is a matter of concern for all and more so for the security establishment. Punjab accounts for 84 per cent of the total drone activities reported along the entire western border this year. The smuggling of arms, ammunition, narcotics and fake currency close to the international border in Punjab is not possible without state support and patronage from across the border and tacit complicity of anti-nationals and drug peddlers on our side. The shooting down of drones speaks volume of the alertness of BSF. Against a desperate adversary like Pakistan, relentless vigil and prompt counter-action well supported by technology is required for effective border management. Identifying, isolating and decimating the anti-social network and modules on our side of the border should get equal attention.
Gp Capt JS Boparai (Retd), Bhadsali
Unforgettable legacy
Refer to ‘King of beautiful game dead’; Pelé was one of the greatest footballers on the planet. With his demise, an era has come to an end. He was a revered figure in the world of football and the only player with three World Cup titles. The Brazilian soccer king was widely regarded as one of his sport’s greatest players. His death has left a deep void in the heart of every football fan. He leaves an eternal, unforgettable legacy. Pelé’s name will forever be synonymous with the sporting artistry. Rest in peace.
Ramesh G Jethwani, Bengaluru
Pelé an inspiration
Pelé achieved this exalted position in the game with his dedication and perseverance. He mesmerised the players and fans with his samba-like flair and swift moves on the field. He exhibited a fast, fluid style that revolutionised the game. He was an inspiration to millions of people, including football legends Maradona, Messi and Ronaldo. His death is a great loss to the game. Pelé has left indelible footprints on the sands of time.
Gurpreet Singh, Mohali
Fix accountability
First, it was the death of about 70 kids in the Gambia and now it is that of 18 children in Uzbekistan. This is how made-in-India image takes a hit in the wake of rampant business by sub-standard pharma companies. What are drug regulatory authorities meant for? India’s healthcare authorities should also take the blame for the fiasco. Scores of pharmacies under doubtful authentication are running in every state. Whether it is Noida-based Marion Biotech or Maiden Pharmaceuticals, persistent denials by drug regulators that the ingredients were not adulterated cannot mend the malpractices in the pharma sector. Rather than going into the deny-and-attack mode, the Ministry of Health and the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation should investigate and punish those responsible for deaths in the Gambia and Uzbekistan.
Rakesh Sudan, Kurukshetra
Modi’s tribute to mother
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tribute to his mother, who passed away peacefully at the iconic age of 100, is a humble recognition of motherhood. It signifies and enhances the role of a mother in one’s life, especially in the context of Indian values. The PM’s devotion towards his mother during her lifetime will be fondly remembered by future generations.
Jagdish Chander, Jalandhar
Letters to the Editor, typed in double space, should not exceed the 200-word limit. These should be cogently written and can be sent by e-mail to: [email protected]
Reference to ‘Tying up with Taiwan’; it is time for India to see through the nefarious designs of China. Instead of trying to mend fences, India should go ahead and expose China’s policies on various global platforms. China has been continuously making incursions on borders with India despite having a ‘package settlement’ in 2005. There is a strong need to devise an exhaustive policy instead of making piecemeal policy changes to deal with China. It is evident that President Xi Jinping is vindictive towards India. Despite PM Modi’s warm welcome to him during his visit to India, China has been showing hostility towards us. India should stop pleasing China and think of curtailing trade relations with it. Rather, it should consider exploring trade avenues with countries such as Taiwan.
V Kumar, Ludhiana
Mock drills sensible
Refer to ‘India tests Covid readiness with drills in hospitals’; holding mock drills is a sensible exercise. These drills are needed to curb infections in view of the New Year celebrations. While Covid-appropriate behaviour is really warranted, tightening operating conditions for the service industry can wait, as, at present, India’s caseload is quite low. A speedy rollout of vaccines in 2021 was a very effective measure to combat the pandemic, but when it came to booster shots, the performance this year has been disappointing. Measures such as mock drills, masking mandates and vaccination drives should be the priority. These can help keep infections under control without derailing economic growth.
SK Panesar, by mail
No comparison
Former minister Salman Khurshid shouldn’t have compared Rahul Gandhi with Lord Rama and the Congress leadership must pull him up. No human, however great, ought to be compared with the divine. However, it is odd that if the BJP compares PM Modi with Lord Rama, it is acceptable, but if the Congress does so in Rahul’s case, it is not.
Ramesh Gupta, Narwana
Revive OPS
The revival of the old pension scheme (OPS) has become a contentious issue. Those who oppose it say that its revival is nothing but a populist measure being announced by some political parties to woo voters. However, the huge burden having been inflicted on the exchequer by writing off loans taken by rich corporate houses doesn’t stir their conscience. The argument that the revival of the OPS for government employees, who represent a miniscule number as compared to that of free foodgrain beneficiaries, will put a huge burden on the future generation is bizarre. The revival of the OPS is akin to rectifying the wrong done in 2003.
Roshan Lal Goel, Ladwa
Boost industrial growth
Refer to ‘At 8-9% growth, India will take 20 years to become developed nation, says former RBI Governor’; no doubt PM Modi’s vision is to take India to dizzying heights and he is working to the best of his ability. At present, India with per capita income of $3,472 is known as a middle-income country; to be classified as a developed country, it would require to raise its per capita income to $13,205, which is a distant dream at the moment. To raise the growth rate, policymakers will have to bring about drastic changes in policies, especially in the field of industrial growth, which is the only solution to boost economic growth.
Raj Kumar Kapoor, Ropar
Improve collegium system
Refer to ‘Collegium system of appointment needs a rethink’; there is no wrong in reviewing the collegium system. Parliament should come up with a new measure. However, there is no point criticising the Supreme Court’s 2015 verdict that struck down the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) and the 99th Amendment. This will further spoil the executive-judiciary relationship. The CJI is right in saying, “The executive must show constitutional statesmanship and avoid public grandstanding on the issue.” His opinion on strengthening the collegium system also sounds good. One or two cases of ‘wrong selection’ of judge(s) since its having been in force cannot be the ground to disprove the system’s fairness. Mere criticism or delay in appointments will not help improve the present system. The executive should adhere to the fixed timelines to clear appointments except in exceptional cases.
Raj Kumar Goyal, Patiala
Pay MGNREGA workers
Delay in payments to MGNREGA workers highlights the gross failure of the government. The government has not taken any earnest measure to tackle the issue. This scheme has and continues to be a saviour for a number of destitute people and it does not behove the government to turn a blind eye towards them.
Aanya Singhal, Noida
Letters to the Editor, typed in double space, should not exceed the 200-word limit. These should be cogently written and can be sent by e-mail to: [email protected]
Refer to ‘Zelenskyy’s appeal’; the Ukrainian President has taken a thoughtful step in the right direction by requesting the new G20 President, India, to mediate in the Ukraine-Russia war. His phone call to PM Modi has drawn international attention. The Ukrainians have fought well. India wishes for immediate cessation of hostilities between the two neighbours. Zelenskyy, too, is thinking about the plight of millions of his people. He should negotiate with the Russian President in the larger interest of his nation and the entire humankind. If Zelenskyy is ready to end the logjam, India will certainly stand by him.
Raj Bahadur Yadav, Fatehabad
Appoint judges regularly
Refer to ‘Vacancies in district courts’; shortage of over 5,000 judges in the district courts portrays a poor picture of the country’s justice delivery system. How can courts effectively fix dates for litigants if they themselves can’t fix time for disposal of cases pending with them? Matters being settled after decades or even after a litigant’s demise are fairly common, negating the purpose and spirit of justice delivery. The condition of consumer courts in Punjab can be well-imagined as a single judge looks after three to four districts. A consumer loses interest in the judgment if a case is disposed after years. Why can’t the government start regular and time-bound selection and appointment of lower court judges like civil services selections?
Wg Cdr Jasbir S Minhas (retd), Mohali
Improve justice delivery
Vacancies in district courts is really a matter of concern. Why the judiciary as well as the Centre or state governments are not able to fill the vacant posts of judge in the subordinate courts within the stipulated time? The number of pending cases is increasing day by day because of which the citizens have to bear the brunt. The judiciary and legislature should forget their mutual differences and improve the justice delivery system to protect the interests of the citizens of the country. Develop a system so that the pending cases are disposed of at the earliest and the citizens get instant justice at their doorstep.
Shakti Singh, Karnal
Rationalise political perks
It is surprising that a hue and cry is being raised on the restoration of OPS in some opposition-ruled states citing huge burden on taxpayers. But nobody is talking about the huge burden on taxpayers on account of the numerous freebies being given to politicians. Time has come when a committee should be formed under the supervision of the Supreme Court to study and rationalise the perks being given to ministers and politicians, besides the hefty salaries, palatial bungalows, and pensions, etc.
Bhupinder Kochhar, Panchkula
OPS only after review
Refer to ‘Unfunded OPS tax on future generations: EAC member’; employees and pensioners of states which have announced the revival of the OPS are elated. The reason is obvious that they will get huge monetary benefits. The move is laudable, but if we go by the words of Sanjeev Sanyal that unfunded OPS is a tax on future generations, the state governments must do study the outcomes of this exercise. Announcing something as a poll sop is easy, but implementing it is a Herculean task. Also, from where will these states get funds for the revival of the scheme?
Bir Devinder Singh Bedi, Sangrur
Cap medicine price
The government is taking proactive steps in the wake of the increasing number of Covid cases in China. However, why has this scare led to increase in the prices first-line drugs? In the past one week, the rates of paracetamol, azithromycin, cefixime and deflazacort have shot up by 50 per cent. Are the active pharmaceutical ingredients in short supply or the traders have formed a cartel for profit? The government needs to interfere urgently, otherwise the common man is bound to suffer due to steep increase in the prices of basic medicines.
Yash Khetarpal, Panchkula
Simplify tax code
The Union Budget slated to be presented on February 1 is expected to showcase that the government means business as the Budget in 2024 will only be an election budget. Sparing the EWS section (gross income up to Rs 8 lakh) from the income-tax levy will be just and fair. The tax code with revised tax slabs must be simplified. The government should do away with twin taxation options — one with exemptions and the other without them. All compensations/exemptions/incentives to employees and others to promote housing, savings et al should be routed through direct benefit transfer to curb crafty manipulations.
Lalit Bharadwaj, Panchkula
Letters to the Editor, typed in double space, should not exceed the 200-word limit. These should be cogently written and can be sent by e-mail to: [email protected]
Refer to ‘Unfunded OPS tax on future generations: EAC member’; any well-intended economic reform by the government always faces a stiff resistance from opposition parties as well as the public, specially if the reform is to discipline government spending. Expenditure on pensions is a prominent part of the government budget. It was a milestone reform in 2003, when the NDA government overhauled the pension policy. The new policy lightened the burden on the exchequer by sharing the pension amount partly from a pensioner’s salary. But in political expediency to garner votes, parties have raked up the issue without giving a thought to how detrimental it would be to the dwindling economy. The powers that be must not ignore the line where welfare ends and profligacy begins.
Yoginder Singhal, by mail
Bar Council’s silence
The very purpose and importance of the Bar Council of India (BCI) lies in its task to protect the prestige, might and independence of the Supreme Court and the judiciary from any untoward attack from anti-democratic forces, so that it can effectively safeguard rights of the citizens as enshrined in the Constitution and also keep the government adhered to its democratic character. Now, when the integrity of the Supreme Court is being directly or indirectly attacked, on the lame excuse of certain quarters having vested interests, the silence on the part of the BCI is intriguing. The issue is serious and affects not only the prestige and independence of the judiciary, but also the very existence of democracy and the rights of the people.
SS Chahal, Amritsar
Food security
Reference to ‘Free food scheme’; the dependence of a huge population on a government-run programme to satiate their hunger is alarming. The NFSA was a good move as it provided relief to the poor, especially during Covid, but amid all these factors, one cannot deny the fact that the scheme is a tentative measure which can’t resolve the hunger issue for a long time. The government needs to consider for how long it will be able to support those who rely on such schemes to feed themselves. It creates a hefty burden on the public treasury. The government should create the means through which the deprived people can earn their bread.
Rishika Kriti, by mail
Reduce power tariff
Apropos of ‘Zero bill beneficiaries touch 90 per cent; power demand increases’; it is an irony that the number of 'zero bill' consumers has touched over 90 per cent and the number of total subsidised domestic consumers have reached 97.9 per cent in December. The maximum power demand has also increased by 1,000 MW as consumers have installed more than one meter in their houses. The PSPCL should reduce tariff instead of offering free power.
Upendra Sharma, by mail
Appointment of judges
The debate on the appointment of judges of high courts and the Supreme Court remains unabated and under the prevalent circumstances, it appears that no consensus can be reached. The parameters for the selection of judges were the duration of legal practice coupled with the integrity of the incumbent and an unblemished past record. These traits were evaluated by the judiciary only, without any interference of the executive or the legislature. The current controversy is the result of diluting the time-tested system of the selection of judges and the result is for everybody to see.
VK Anand, Chandigarh
Posts of judge
It is surprising that thousands of posts of judge in district courts across the country are vacant. There is chronic unemployment in India. Young educated students are migrating abroad due to the non-availability of jobs. The ever-increasing pendency of cases is a cause of serious concern. The appointing authorities should be alert and fill the vacant posts, either through new recruitment or by promotion. Sub-judice cases should be disposed of in time so that the litigants can get justice.
RK Pawar, by mail
Taliban diktat
Apropos of ‘Women banned from varsity’; all rights are applicable till the barrel of the gun, beyond that is the silence caused by tyranny. This is evident in Afghanistan. The latest despotic diktat by the Taliban is the ban on the entry of women in universities. We already are a divided society — in religion, caste and colour. Innovation in social divisions has peaked, with its old grandeur reflected in the new form of gender bias that rips apart opportunities for women. The rhetorical condemnation of other countries is no match to the sounds of bombs and the religious extremism and hatred sowed in the soil. No amnesty or self-styled leaders of the free world seem to be effective in protecting the rights of Afghan women.
Mayoor Tripathi, by mail
Letters to the Editor, typed in double space, should not exceed the 200-word limit. These should be cogently written and can be sent by e-mail to: [email protected]
Refer to ‘Chanda’s decline and fall’; those in higher echelons are in positions of immense power and must discharge their duty with professional integrity. Deceiving the trust of common people is highly disgraceful. Such culprits not only tarnish the reputation of the organisation they serve, but also cause a dent in the national economy. Chanda Kochhar may not be alone in the shady deals; all involved in the malpractice must be brought to justice. All government, public and private sector organisations must have strict checks and balances to ward off any chance of corruption. Apart from punishment to the offenders, the amount swindled should be recovered too.
Subhash Vaid, New Delhi
Fraudsters no more safe
Refer to ‘Chanda’s decline and fall’; in India, the masterminds behind these frauds are no longer safe and are vulnerable to being caught by the law. Now, digital India is strong enough to punish these fraudsters and prevent similar incidents.
Kushagar Bansal, by mail
Public cooperation must
It is heartening to note that the Centre and state governments have started making necessary preparations in the wake of increasing Covid cases globally. Along with this, the whole-hearted support and cooperation of the general public is necessary. People must follow Covid-appropriate behaviour such as wearing masks, washing hands and maintaining social distancing, especially at public places, rallies and social and religious congregations. Unless the public cooperates fully, government efforts to control the spread of Covid-19 will go in vain. People must abide by the advisory issued by the health authorities in their own interest.
NK Gosain, bathinda
Evolve aerospace power
Apropos of ‘IAF deficiencies’; the urgency and seriousness of the situation can be gauged from the fact that the Chief of the Air Staff used a public platform to voice his concern. Inadequacy of air assets and other weapon systems have been haunting the IAF for quite some time now, but the budgetary constraints, cumbersome procurement process and its vulnerability to corruption charges and, of late, emphasis on ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ have forced the successive governments to go slow, impinging upon national security. The probability of a two-front war is no longer a paper exercise, but a reality faced by the nation going through a tense border scenario. The requirement of state-of-the-art lethal weapon systems, air platforms and force multipliers is inescapable.
Gp Capt JS Boparai (Retd), Bhadsali
Let judiciary work
Apropos of ‘Opening the collegium doors’ (Nous Indica); the collegium system has been working well for decades. The proposed National Judicial Appointments Commission will allow the political executive to meddle with the judges’ appointments. Who is better qualified than the senior-most judges to appoint suitable and efficient judges? What is wrong with the judges already appointed by the collegium? Instead of throwing a spanner in the works of the judiciary, the executive should clear all recommendations made by the collegium at the earliest to fill judges’ vacancies in the interest of the nation.
Amarjeet Mann, Nangal
Common man suffers
Refer to ‘Collegium system of appointment needs a rethink’; before the collegium system came into being, the judges were appointed by the CJI and after the collegium system too, judges are appointed by the CJI in consultation with the four senior-most judges. In both cases, the executive had no role to play. The ever-increasing pendency of court cases is a cause for concern. The executive should refrain from interfering in the work of the judiciary, and the latter should make themselves more transparent. Amid the fight between the two, it is the common man that suffers.
CS Mann, una
Scheme reeks of politics
Refer to ‘Free food scheme’; no doubt, to help the needy is noble, but it reeks of politics. It would be in the fitness of things if these beneficiaries are provided free-of-cost education and medical facilities too. Giving free ration is just vote-bank politics; it comes on the top of the inability of the government in creating more and better employment opportunities for the youth. Who these 80 crore poor to be benefited by the scheme are and how they have been identified is not clear. Under the scheme, the government has planned to spend Rs 2 lakh crore. Care must be taken to ensure that the funds are not misused or siphoned off.
Raj Kumar Kapoor, Ropar
Letters to the Editor, typed in double space, should not exceed the 200-word limit. These should be cogently written and can be sent by e-mail to: [email protected]
Apropos of ‘Opening the collegium doors’ (Nous Indica); for a democracy to survive, the judiciary should remain independent. That can only happen when the government of the day has no role in the appointment of judges. There should be an independent body such as the UPSC, under the supervision of the Supreme Court, to select judges. There should be no ‘bhai-bhatijavad’ in judicial appointments. Only competent lawyers should find a place in the judiciary.
Ashok Kumar, by mail
Not perfect, but better
Refer to ‘Opening the collegium doors’; if the system of appointments in other important constitutional institutions are examined, one will find how pliable persons appointed on the whims of the ruling party are sidelining the constitutional mandate to appease their political bosses. The collegium system may not be perfect, but if it is dismantled in favour of the NJAC, the autonomy of the judiciary would stand compromised and judges — such as Governors and other constitutional functionaries — would dance to the tunes of the government. What is wrong with the process of judges appointing judges if the ‘superspecialists’ of this profession — the CJI and senior judges — recommend the elevation of junior judges on the basis of a well-defined criteria? The allegation of nepotism and opaqueness is not tenable till it is substantiated with instances of appointment of family members without merit. The collegium system is superior to the NJAC since the latter would have predominance of politicians who want to subvert the independence of the judiciary.
Roshan Lal Goel, by mail
Best of both
Reference to ‘Opening the collegium doors’; we should welcome the debate on the proposed NJAC vis-a-vis the present collegium system. There should be a middle path between the two extremes — retain the finest points of both concepts to bring in complete transparency in judicial appointments. The judiciary and the executive cannot lock horns on the issue forever. They must arrive at a consensus. Like bureaucrats, we must not expect our judges to become ‘committed’ to a political party or ideology.
RAJ BAHADUR YADAV, Fatehabad
Taliban order
Apropos of ‘Women banned from varsity’; the Taliban’s latest announcement does not come as a surprise. In the recent past, we have seen them ordering the women to be fully covered and women news anchors to cover their face. These restrictions will crush their basic rights. The latest diktat means that for a girl child education is not an option anymore. Education will not only help these young women but also will aid Afghanistan’s economic growth and stability. It is indeed a far cry from their promise when they seized power in 2021. All those promises of being moderate have evaporated in thin air.
Bal Govind, Noida
Air superiority
Refer to ‘IAF deficiencies’; shortage of 11 fighter squadrons in the inventory cannot take on a two-front war. Indigenisation of weapons have saved foreign reserves and made India self-reliant but the speed at which it develops the systems pits the country against better-equipped enemies. The development of area near the LAC and building airfields by China further add to the worries of our air warriors. Only air superiority with force multipliers can make the ground forces advance in enemy area. Procurement and indigenisation of weapon systems on a war footing can reduce the shortage.
Wg Cdr Jasbir S Minhas (retd), Mohali
Vajpayee’s charisma
Vajpayee’s remarks were peppered with anecdotal quotes (‘Vajpayee’s sense of humour’). He hailed the then PM as ‘Tu Indira nahi Durga hai’ when she came rushing to the Lok Sabha to break the news of the dismemberment of Pakistan. The former PM offered Kullu schoolgirls Rs 100 for sweets and apologised for the paltry amount after he went there on losing the vote of confidence in 1996. Nehru could envisage this wordsmith to lead India in future after Vajpayee referred to him as a rare amalgamation of Churchill and Chamberlain. Vajpayee’s charisma transcended across all social orders.
Abhinav Sharma, Ludhiana
OROP arrears
In reference to ‘Govt revises OROP’; it is good for both the government as well as the ex-servicemen. While the retirees would get their long-awaited dues, the government would get back 20 to 30% money back by way of 30% TDS while paying the arrears. Keeping in view the present economic situation, more money in circulation will help ease inflation. However, the government has still not intimated the date of release of the first instalment of the dues. Veterans will have to wait for two years before their dues are cleared.
Lt Col JS Dullat (Retd), Patiala
Letters to the Editor, typed in double space, should not exceed the 200-word limit. These should be cogently written and can be sent by e-mail to: [email protected]
Refer to ‘Countering narco terror’; the experience of countries in the West has shown that a booming drug trafficking network can hollow out the state apparatus, jeopardise the future young generations and create a parallel economy that becomes impossible for the government to tackle or control. The government is right to put the country on alert and crack down on traffickers and peddlers, especially when certain states are reeling under the adverse impact of the drug menace.
RAMESH GUPTA, NARWANA
Narco terror
In reference to ‘Countering narco terror’; drug menace continues to exist despite promises made to eradicate it by all political parties in their election manifestos. Panchayats, NGOs, religious groups, awareness among students, effective police administrations, security on borders and robust will power of the government may halt this rapidly growing evil. The routes, be it by sea, air or land, must be put under the vigilance of strict and honest officers equipped with modern gadgets like mobile position systems, along with autonomy to take action without any interference by anybody. There are many checkposts and other detecting system. The smugglers can never reach their destination without the cooperation or knowledge of persons deployed at check points at airports, seaports or railway stations.
Dilwar Ali Meerak, Tohana
Chinese challenge
Refer to ‘China & rhymes of history’ and ‘Deadlock persists even after 17th round of India-China talks’; China has been building border infrastructure against India for long and seems determined to challenge India militarily. China has constructed rail lines and highways in inhospitable regions exclusively to grab Indian territory. India still lacks infrastructure and railway lines and roads for military deployment at its borders. We don’t have any mass transportation mode to man the borders from the east to west.
Ashok Kumar Goel, Panchkula
Issue of security
Apropos of ‘China and rhymes of history’; why is the policy of obfuscation and reticence being adopted by the government over frequent Chinese transgressions into Indian territory? China wants to hurt us in every conceivable way to scuttle our economic growth and impede our fast-emerging image as a superpower. The nation must be taken into confidence by apprising Parliament about every detail of such critical developments. The cult image of PM Modi cannot be sustained and bolstered by concealing and distorting facts pertaining to national security. What plagues our system today is the disingenuous attempt of the ruling dispensation that the Opposition is sabotaging national interest and is not cooperating with the government in meeting security challenges. All credit for any success on the border issue is given to the current powerful regime. Distorting ground reality would exacerbate the crisis.
Roshan Lal Goel, Ladwa
The ‘right man’
Reference to the middle ‘Vajpayee’s sense of humour’; wit and humour were his trademark. Vajpayee’s oratorial skills stumped everyone, especially the Opposition. Author Khushwant Singh once wrote that Vajpayee was the right man in the wrong party. The Opposition would take on the BJP for the party’s hard line on religious issues but praised Vajpayee for his moderate approach. He used to retort, ‘If I am the right man, how can I be in the wrong party?’ His observation about Pakistan that one can change one’s friends but not neighbours (‘Aap apne dost badal sakte hain, padosi nahi’) is well known. He would also remark, ‘Deewaron mein jharokhe toh hon, taank-jhank ke liye.’
Jaswant Singh Gandam, Phagwara
Homeless and cold
The homeless are the worst-hit in winters, with no place to call home. People are found sleeping on footpaths adjoining bridges, flyovers, temples, parks, railway platforms, etc., but nobody is concerned about their plight. The Supreme Court had passed an order recommending the provision of night shelters to the homeless in winters. The authorities concerned should be duty-bound to mark at least temporary night shelters or halls and provide quilts and mattresses to the needy. NGOs should also take up this genuine issue and widely publicise shelter homes for the homeless in the ongoing extreme cold days.
Harpreet Sandhu, Ludhiana
Letters to the Editor, typed in double space, should not exceed the 200-word limit. These should be cogently written and can be sent by e-mail to: [email protected]
Refer to ‘Covid resurgence in China’; the detection of cases of the highly transmissible BF.7 Omicron variant in the country should alert the government as well as the people. This variant is responsible for the current Covid explosion in China. The hard lessons learned from past Covid waves should not be forgotten. The random sampling of India-bound international passengers may not suffice. All passengers coming from China must be tested and put under observation at least for a week. Travel to China should be allowed only in very pressing cases. States should be directed to be ready for a renewed vaccination drive. A second booster dose should also be encouraged. It is the duty of all citizens to go for the necessary vaccination and wear masks in crowded places.
HL Sharma, Amritsar
Covid surveillance
Alerted by the new highly transmissible Omicron variant in China and some other countries and detection of such cases in India, the Union Health Ministry has aptly swung into action, asking people and state governments to step up Covid surveillance. Strict self-regulation and precaution is the key to escape stringent regulations that impact lives, livelihoods and economy adversely. The government should incentivise updating vaccines to overcome challenges of more deadly variants, and also assess the need for a third shot to the more vulnerable sections. International travellers need to be monitored. Covid knows no politics and it ought not hamper synergy in nipping the evil in the bud.
Lalit Bharadwaj, Panchkula
Go back to testing
Refer to ‘Covid resurgence in China’; the Centre has reacted promptly in the wake of the rising Covid cases in China, Japan, the US and parts of Europe. Covid infections continue to remain flat in India, but this could be due to reduced testing. It will be difficult to get an early warning of an upsurge in India unless states get back into the testing mode. India should adopt a strategy of vigilance through clinical and genomic surveillance and scenario-based planning. It should keep all systems on alert for a rapid, scaled-up public health response, enforcing Covid-appropriate behaviour attuned to the changing levels of threat and constantly gathering global intelligence on the patterns of infectivity, immune evasion and virulence of circulating variants.
Sanjay Chopra, Mohali
Remain vigilant
Though people are widely protected through India’s excellent vaccination coverage, they should remain vigilant and proactive to avoid contracting the virus again. There are widespread reports around the world of people getting reinfected despite full vaccination. The low numbers of cases in India doesn’t mean that the cases won’t rise again. We must follow the well-established Covid practices at all times. Along with vaccination, washing hands frequently, maintaining minimum space while interacting with others and masking etc., will help contain the virus.
Sanjiv Gupta, Australia
Expose hypocrisy
Reference to the article ‘Tepid response to India’s call’; the writer has rightly called for urgent action on the international level to expose the hypocrisy of big countries towards terrorism. A majority of terrorist activities are sponsored and supported by big powers to meet their own nefarious motives, whether it be America or China. The US felt the heat of terrorism only at the time of 9/11 or when its citizens were killed in the Mumbai attack. It is hardly concerned with killings by terrorists in India. It is evident that in India, terrorism is being spread by the neighbouring country, which is supported by the US and China. The need of the hour is to expose the hypocrisy of these countries and force them to stop supporting terrorism against India.
Surinder Kumar Mahna, Karnal
Political vendetta
Apropos of ‘Govt denotifies 73 revenue offices, 180 health institutes’; the new government has the prerogative to review, though the decision apparently smacks of political vendetta. The political agenda and public pressure behind the sanctioning of these amenities can’t be ruled out, but magnanimity should have been more appropriate. Has not the mandate been abused? What is the fault of the areas and the public affected by these denotifications? Why should the public be made to suffer in this tug of war of political parties? New health institutions, revenue offices and educational institutes are a modern-day requirement mandated by the increasing population. Easy access to these amenities is a right and change of government should not affect it.
Gp Capt JS Boparai (Retd), by mail
Letters to the Editor, typed in double space, should not exceed the 200-word limit. These should be cogently written and can be sent by e-mail to: [email protected]
Apropos of ‘Terror activity drops’; decline in terrorist attacks is appreciable. Efforts should continue to restore normalcy because people can progress only under peaceful conditions. Accelerate the existing pending projects and bring in new development plans to engage the youth in a constructive manner. Synergy among security forces is important to dominate the affected areas. Intelligence apparatus should isolate elements who give shelter and provide administrative and logistics support to terrorists. Political leaders must provide positive leadership to the people. It will be better if democratic processes are reinstated early for common citizens.
Subhash Vaid, New Delhi
Stop political advertising
Delhi Lt Governor VK Saxena needs lessons on how to hold the constitutional status. The Supreme Court has barred the ruling parties from putting pictures of their leaders in advertisements on welfare schemes. However, the Prime Minister himself violated this by putting his photo on bags containing free wheat for the poor. These advertisements cost thousands of crores. How can the learned Lt Governor forget this violation by his own party? If the AAP has to pay back Rs 97.14 crore, the PM and the BJP must return the amount spent on their advertisements. All these advertisements are gross misuse of public money that must stop. The achievements of governance must be visible on the ground and not on banners, posters and TV channels.
Capt Amar Jeet (retd), Kharar
Not a ‘love letter’
Apropos of ‘AAP to pay Rs 97 cr for political ads: Delhi L-G VK Saxena’; the L-G has rightly directed the Chief Secretary to recover the money from the AAP for ‘political’ advertisements published in the ‘guise’ of government advertisements. The AAP spokesperson and MLA has crossed the line, terming the order as a ‘love letter’ and diktat. The L-G’s order is in tune with the directions of the Supreme Court and the Delhi High Court.
Vijaya Sharma, by mail
Need more int’l flights
Considering the increase in the number of flyers from Punjab and its neighbouring states, a significant expansion is required in international flights. Changes in the open sky policy should be done to enhance the number of metros getting air connectivity. Instrument-lending systems should be upgraded to CAT3 so that flights can operate in winters also. Recent incidents of chaos at the Delhi airport show that it needs to be decongested. Chandigarh airport’s expansion will help in managing the crowd and expedite the process of making Chandigarh a smart city. This will also reduce the losses being suffered by the aviation sector. The Centre and the authorities concerned should resolve the issue quickly.
Asha Rani, Yamunanagar
No social security
Refer to ‘Rewarding non-performers’; it is an established fact that all employees are not corrupt. Besides, there is a need to find the reason behind rampant corruption in various departments. The root cause of corruption in our country is the absence of social security. The government has not provided any social or old-age security to the citizens. There is no provision for medical facilities for people when they get old. If the government takes care of this aspect, it is certain that a majority of people will do their work with full honesty.
Surinder Kumar Mahna, Karnal
Qadian jalsa
Refer to the middle ‘Qadian jalsa comes alive’; I, too, have seen Manzoor Ahmad Cheema sahib. His youngest son, Mubarak Ahmad, was my class fellow at Taleemul Islam High School (now Senior Secondary) at Qadian. The writer describes swarg and narak in Qadian. There are two graveyards; one is called Bahishti maqbara (heavenly graveyard) and the other is known simply as qabristan. Due to lack of knowledge, ‘Bahishti’ is misconstrued as swarg by some people. The maqbara was founded by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad sahib, the founder of the Jama’at Ahmadiyya in 1905. He donated a plot for this purpose. He laid some conditions for burial in that graveyard. One who wishes to be buried there should make monetary contributions (at least one-tenth of annual income) to meet the expenses, and also leave a will stipulating that one-tenth of one’s property is left for the Jama’at, and that the person making such a will should be righteous. Those who do not make such a will are buried in the common graveyard.
BILAL AHMAD SHAMIM, PORT BLAIR
Letters to the Editor, typed in double space, should not exceed the 200-word limit. These should be cogently written and can be sent by e-mail to: [email protected]
Refer to ‘Relations with China not normal, says EAM’; when the government’s stand on China is questioned, it accuses the Opposition of criticising jawans and the Army. The government criticises the jawans when they demand their legitimate OROP right. It allows a lathicharge on veteran soldiers peacefully protesting at Jantar Mantar. The court allowed pension to disabled soldiers, but the government has challenged such cases. All this is insulting to the soldiers. When Jaishankar says ‘relations with China not normal’, why is PM Modi hesitant to discuss the issue in Parliament? Our import trade with China is increasing even when the same goods can be imported from other countries. Why this ‘most-favoured status’ to China? Why the import from China is not done in rupees?
Capt Amar Jeet Kumar (Retd), Kharar
Reservation rights
Refer to ‘SC, ST officers denied promotion on fake charges: Parl panel’; it is a shocking revelation which needs to be looked into so that those sitting at the helm are suitably punished. The parliamentary panel is expected to take an initiative to prevent excessive privatisation of PSU banks, insurance companies, etc., that might take away or minimise the reservation facility. MPs belonging to the SC, ST and OBC categories are expected to come together, irrespective of their party affiliation, to prevail upon the Centre to stop the privatisation of PSUs, Railways, airports and ports, etc., in the interest of the reserved class which constitutes a very large percentage of the population.
ROOP SINGH NEGI, Solan
International flights
Apropos of ‘Flyer rush, demand for more int’l flights grows’; there are about a million Punjabis in Canada, accounting for roughly 3 per cent of the country’s population. Thousands of Punjabis travel to Punjab frequently to meet their family. However, currently, there are no direct flights between Canada and Amritsar and passengers need to undertake multiple stops, making the journey unnecessarily long and arduous. The only option for travellers is to wait up to seven hours for a connecting flight or take an eight-to-10-hour road trip. In the past, on a number of occasions, it was announced by both the Indian and Canadian governments to start direct flights, but in vain. The direct flights will go a long way in mitigating the ordeal of a long journey. It will also reduce the unprecedented rush at the IGI airport, New Delhi.
Balbir Singh Kakkar, Jalandhar
Policy for senior citizens
Apropos of ‘Rewarding non-performers’ (Nous Indica); there are several government employees who are not corrupt. We face corruption in every field, but a large number of people do their duty honestly. Pension provision should also be for the private sector. Prices are too high and there are medical expenses. Pension for politicians is non-taxable. A government employee gets salary for 10 months, the rest is deducted as tax. Even the GPF is taxable. All employees are not clerks, and certainly not corrupt. If the government can’t afford to pay pension, let it frame a policy for senior citizens, wherein the government will look after the elderly post retirement and bear their medical expenses.
Saroj Banyal, Hamirpur
NPS flawed, unacceptable
The article ‘Rewarding non-performers’ has come down hammers and tongs on the concept of pension and justified its criticism of the OPS while tarring all government and public sector employees with the same brush of corruption. Pension is accepted the world over as the payment for the ‘past services rendered.’It is a deferred wage. The silent network of corruption is embedded in the system, both public and private, but this evil needs strong administrative measures and not denial of pension to retired employees ipso facto. The new pension scheme is not only ridden with uncertainty of payment of a fixed amount of pension, but family pension, GPF, medical facilities, etc., are also denied to the pensioners. It is flawed and unacceptable. And as such, ways have to be found to pay pension for the care of the elderly pensioners at a time when they have to fend for themselves since the family support system has weakened these days.
Prem Singh Dahiya, Rohtak
Toll plaza contracts
Reference to ‘Punjab CM checkmates farmers’; Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has ordered the removal of the toll barrier at Lachowal on the Hoshiarpur-Tanda road as the contract had expired. The Punjab Government should display the expiry date of contracts of each toll plaza. Every traveller is disappointed to see the board which reads, ‘toll plaza ahead’. Mentioning the contract expiry date will help somewhat.
Prit Pal Singh, by mail
Letters to the Editor, typed in double space, should not exceed the 200-word limit. These should be cogently written and can be sent by e-mail to: [email protected]
Reference to ‘Messi wins World Cup’; the chief architect of the victory was Messi who has carved a niche for himself in the annals of football legends such as Pele and Maradona. It was also a contest between 35-year-old Messi and young star Mbappe of France. Messi’s inspiring spirit to win, combined with his stamina, defied the age barrier by demonstrating an incredible performance for his country and millions of fans the world over. He can now retire in glory and continue to motivate the new generation of players throughout the world.
GURPREET SINGH, MOHALI
Messi’s done it
At the age of 11, Messi was diagnosed with hormone deficiency and he was shorter than children his age. He was told that he could never become a footballer. Today, we take his name in the same breath as the greatest footballers, Pele and Maradona. What an inspiring story! This was indeed football’s greatest World Cup final match, with the magic of both Messi and Mbappe on full display. But it seemed that even God wanted to help Messi have a dream end to his great career.
Bal Govind, Noida
Mediatory role
Refer to ‘Modi-Putin talks’; although India is on the side of peace, it hasn’t condemned Russian aggression on Ukraine unequivocally. On the other hand, Modi’s regular calls to Putin must be reassuring to Putin that he is not completely isolated. Continued procurement of oil by India reinforces this belief. The US has asked India to talk to the Ukrainian President as well, but India doesn’t have his ear. All this dents India’s potential for mediation, notwithstanding its G20 presidency. However, the significance of the talks lies in the fact that it took place in the wake of the India-China skirmish near Twang. Continued cooperation in various fields, including security, is reassuring. However, one wonders if Russia has any leverage over China in the present geo-strategic environment.
Lt Col GS Bedi (Retd), Mohali
One-man show
Apropos of ‘Who will take on Modi?’; in the days to come, we will see Bharat leading the world. How much time it will take is unknown, but we are moving in the right direction. At the same time, there are many challenges. How the Opposition converts them to its advantage in 2024 remains to be seen. Our democracy is becoming a one-man show, but collective efforts of the Opposition can bring about changes in the face of many public-oriented issues, like security, food for all and jobs. The charisma of a leader does work in the Indian political tradition, but hollow slogans will harm the masses.
Jasvinder S Humsafar, by mail
Pressure on students
Refer to the article ‘Pressure to perform taking a toll on students’; in a highly competitive world, pressure and stress cannot be avoided. Parents do not want their children to lead the kind of lives they did, and see the education of their children as a passport to a better quality of life. Parents often tend to take an exaggerated view of their children’s intellectual capacities when they perform well at school. At higher levels, the students realise the folly of their decisions, but it is too late to back out and some take the convenient way out. Blaming coaching centres is not correct. As long as there is demand, such centres will exist in one form or another.
ANTHONY HENRIQUES, MUMBAI
Foreign campuses
The write up ‘Strengthen our institutions to curb students’ exodus’ reveals startling statistics of the number of students migrating to foreign universities and the huge expenditure involved. The government is contemplating to rope in foreign universities of repute for establishment of their campuses on Indian soil. Two pertinent questions arise. Firstly, will our Indian universities be able to compete with these foreign centres of excellence; and secondly, why does the Indian Government, with foreign consultancy, not qualitatively strengthen reputed Indian universities that have due to varied factors started shrivelling?
VK Anand, Chandigarh
Hostile neighbours
India is facing its two hostile neighbours Pakistan and China, who are sheltering and protecting terrorists. Pakistan is the hub of most-wanted international terrorists while China is protecting these dreaded terrorists hiding in Pakistan at the United Nations by using its veto power. Both are also engaged in anti-India activities. While Pakistan is breeding terrorism in Kashmir, China is eyeing the territories of Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim. One is supplying arms and ammunition and the other is using them for cross-border terrorism in Kashmir.
RK Arora, Mohali
Letters to the Editor, typed in double space, should not exceed the 200-word limit. These should be cogently written and can be sent by e-mail to: [email protected]
Refer to ‘Rewarding non-performers’ (Nous Indica); implementation of the OPS will adversely impact the engine of India’s growth. A private job entails long working hours, highly competitive settings and deadlines to be met in a stressful environment. A government job provides job security, perks, a comfortable environment and post-retirement benefits. Private companies can downsize the workforce anytime. The fear of being fired weighs heavy on an employee’s mind. Expecting private sector employees to fund the old-age security of the already privileged government workforce is harsh.
Anita kataria, Patiala
Unfair to others
‘Rewarding non-performers’ has presented a real picture about the non-performance and corrupt practices of unscrupulous employees. This is happening despite politicians’ tall claims of eradication of corruption. The main aim of parties is to win elections by making even impractical promises which may jeopardise the economy. Eminent economists have opposed the OPS as being economically unviable, but vote-hungry politicians are ignoring this hard fact. In Himachal, where most of the funds are spent on paying salaries and pensions of employees, obviously, the rest of the population has to fend for itself.
Deepak, by mail
No link to pension
‘Rewarding non-performers’ gives the impression that the public sector has not contributed to the economy at all. As if all that the public sector has received is bribe money. In fact, a robust public sector is the need of the hour. With increased privatisation, there is reduction in corporate taxes and increased profit retention. What link does a financial policy such as OPS and NPS have with corruption? Action taken or not taken against corrupt employees is not dependent on what kind of pension they may receive. In the name of promoting entrepreneurial spirit, corporates are allowed to evade their responsibility towards the economy, but a government employee’s pension is regarded as a burden on the taxpayer.
Vibhu Singh, Shimla
Not all corrupt
Dubbing all government employees as non-performers is a sweeping statement (‘Rewarding non-performers’). Government employees are not getting pension under OPS as a political largesse, but in lieu of spending their entire active life in the service of the government. All the three scenarios discussed by the writer are hypothetical. Not all clerks and JEs are corrupt. Painting all with the same brush is unjustified. It is true that employees in the private sector, too, should be brought under the NPS. Also, like Punjab, multiple pensions to MPs and MLAs must be stopped forthwith. Further, old-age pension must be given to all citizens to ensure economic justice, as enshrined in the Constitution.
CS MANN, UNA
Comparison not fair
The hypothetical comparison cannot be justified, as benefits are enjoyed by both private and government employees (‘Rewarding non-performers’). Pension is not a ‘benefit’ because it is given as loyalty share. Often, government employees are called for duty after working hours, odd hours and on holidays. The change of job/loyalty by employees of private concerns cannot be compared with the working conditions of government employees. The pay hike on change of job cannot be compared with the meagre increment paid to government staff. The corruption angle is not justified. Who will remain loyal to the nation while serving at the border if benefits — like the ones not given to five-day week white-collar employees — are denied to them? The comparison of OPS cannot be done with incidents of corruption. Compare all benefits, easy/difficult situations and dangerous conditions in which government and private employees work.
Wg Cdr Jasbir S Minhas (retd), Mohali
Pharma industry
Refer to ‘Clean chit to Maiden’; pharma industry in India is largely unregulated, both in terms of quality and pricing. While this regulation is an exclusive prerogative of the government, doctors are strangely and, unfortunately, dragged into an unnecessary controversy for ‘prescribing branded or costly products’. Now that this pharma company has got a clean chit, can we expect some lawsuit for tarnishing the integrity of the company and the country?
Sandeep Chaudhri, Karnal
Medical tuition fee
The decision of the Supreme Court to uphold the decision of Andhra Pradesh High Court’s order quashing the state government’s decision to enhance the tuition fee in medical colleges to Rs 24 lakh for each year, is appreciable (‘Education is not a business’). It is quality and not quantity that matters. The government should promptly accept the court’s decision.
VIPASHA SHARMA, by mail
Letters to the Editor, typed in double space, should not exceed the 200-word limit. These should be cogently written and can be sent by e-mail to: [email protected]
Day in and day out, we read about and see corruption all around — in the departments of police, excise and taxation, food and civil supplies, revenue and what not! Still, the Punjab Government claims that the state is now corruption-free! How ridiculous is this? More so when the AAP supremo went on announcing with pride that the Punjab Chief Minister had performed the miracle of eradicating corruption in just one month. An inference can easily be drawn from the daily news how rampant corruption is in the state. Mere declarations will not serve any purpose. Concrete steps should be taken if the government wishes to rid Punjab of this menace.
Sat Pal Sharma, Bathinda
Medical reimbursement
The decision of the Punjab Government to resort to the old practice of giving medical reimbursement to its ministers and MLAs at the prescribed government rates is commendable. ln the past, former CMs, ministers and MLAs have been claiming medical reimbursement against bills involving huge amounts of money which burdened the state exchequer as well as taxpayers. But even the present decision suffers from a lacuna. While the MLAs can claim medical reimbursement as per CGHS rates, the ministers have been allowed to claim as per PGI and AIIMS rates. Why two different reimbursement rates when both are public representatives? Both these categories should be paid as per CGHS rates. The Chief Minister should look into the matter and remove this anomaly.
NK Gosain, Bathinda
Reform UN urgently
Refer to ‘Straight talk at UN’; External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has raised valid points to highlight the failure of the United Nations Security Council in maintaining international peace and security. Countries having veto power have misused it many times: China blocked the blacklisting of Hafiz Saeed as a global terrorist time and again. Why should only five permanent members control the world while the 10 non-permanent ones remain silent spectators? The UN needs to be reformed urgently to extend powers to more member countries.
O Prasada Rao, Hyderabad
Bans rarely work
Reference to ‘Review prohibition’; leave alone Bihar, perhaps no ban can be implemented anywhere in the world. In India, most bans are announced without thinking about the socio-economic and practical implications. Corruption, insincerity and the lack of workforce are the major reasons for the failure of such bans. For example, the ban on plastic bags in Chandigarh is a complete failure. Sporadic raids on traders, particularly small-time hawkers, result only in undue harassment. Besides, most local chemists in the city continue to sell medicines without an authorised doctor’s prescription and without issuing proper receipts, a legally banned practice!
Balvinder, Chandigarh
Prohibition policy
Apropos of ‘Review prohibition’; prohibition has failed in whichever state it has been imposed because at multiple levels it has taken a toll on the state. It is no surprise that a parallel economy flourishes wherever prohibition is imposed. Though the middle class can afford to buy IMFL brands smuggled from other states, the poor have access only to unsafely produced country liquor like hooch. For smugglers and some police personnel, prohibition has provided to be a cash cow. Rather than imposing prohibition, Nitish Kumar would do well to provide more domestic water connections. Now, there is a tussle between the JD(U) and the BJP to claim credit on this score, which makes all the noise surrounding prohibition unhelpful to Nitish’s cause. Prohibition doesn’t stop people from drinking liquor. Rather it is economically and socially damaging.
LAJWANT SINGH, by mail
Fighting fire
Every time there is a fire in a congested area or narrow lane of old Patiala City, the fire department expresses its inability to fight it since there is no route to reach those areas. I have been living in Patiala for 66 years. Hydrants in the old city were installed by former rulers to fight fires in narrow lanes. The municipal corporation laid new water supply lines, but failed to install hydrants in narrow lanes. At the site of hydrants, small jeeps of the fire brigade, fitted with pumps, used to douse fire as big vehicles were not able to reach the spot. It is simply a case of wrong planning of the water supply board and the municipal corporation.
Inderpal Singh Saini, Patiala
Letters to the Editor, typed in double space, should not exceed the 200-word limit. These should be cogently written and can be sent by e-mail to: [email protected]
Reference to the editorial ‘Review prohibition’; prohibition in any state is totally uncalled for and mostly counterproductive. It also denies moderate or occasional social drinking which is a citizen’s right and has to be viewed differently from drunkenness or addiction. The revenue — prohibition denies the state enforcing it — goes to illicit liquor producers and smugglers. More prolonged prohibition in a state means more established illegal trade in liquor, mostly with the patronage of unscrupulous politicians. Those indulging in making fast money from illicit hooch are blind to the quality of their produce and it so often results in the tragic deaths of many innocents. The Bihar Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar, goes to the far extreme when he calls all those who drink ‘anti-nationals’. Revenue generated from the liquor trade should be, instead, spent on education and skill development since poverty and lack of proper education account for more drunkards and addicts.
Hira Sharma, by mail
United against China
Apropos of ‘Provocation in Arunachal’; while the ever-vigilant Indian troops deserve kudos for thwarting an attempt by the Chinese PLA to unilaterally change the status quo in the Yangtse area, it’s unfortunate that opposition political parties are seeing the latest border skirmish as an opportunity to corner the Modi government. Instead of standing united and taking China to task for its yet another pre-planned aggression at the LAC, they are devising ways to find fault with the government’s preparedness to deal effectively therewith.
Vinayak G, by mail
Scourge of casteism
Apropos of ‘No caste references’; caste and religion are deeply embedded in our electoral politics. We have been distributing tickets on the basis of the dominance of a particular caste in a particular constituency or region. Abilities and capabilities of candidates are insignificant in the face of the caste factor becoming a passport to entry into Parliament. Kudos to the Lok Sabha Speaker for drawing a line and telling the member that there is no room for caste orientation in Parliament. The sanctity of the temple of democracy cannot be breached, howsoever strong one’s argument may be. But caste system ruling the roost in daily societal life is a tragedy. Without exception, during election campaigns, all parties exploit castes to garner votes in their own peculiar way. When we have failed to root out casteism from our daily life, selective criticism of playing a victim card is akin to hypocrisy.
HMS Nagra, Faridabad
Fit and active life
Reference to the article ‘Don’t exceed your endurance limit while exercising’; people have become more health conscious and fitness is the mantra of life these days, not only for youngsters, but also grownups. Consequently, gyms and yoga centres are flourishing like never before. However, it is important to be aware of one’s stamina and health issues before starting any form of exercise. Being healthy does not mean just having a fit body, it also implies a healthy mind, which plays a crucial role in our physical well-being. A balanced and judicious approach towards health and fitness can help us lead a fit and active life.
Sumita Kanwar, Yamunanagar
In public interest
Refer to ‘Uncertainty looms over 10 offices opened by BJP govt’ and ‘Denotify 32 offices, power employees urge govt’; it is clear that these offices were opened at the eleventh hour to woo voters. If the government was really interested in public welfare, it should have opened these offices two years back. It is nice to note that the present government would review the decision. The foundation stone-laying spree is also observed during the fag end of the five-year term to attract voters. Such unhealthy practices need to be stopped to avoid colossal waste of public money.
ROOP SINGH NEGI, Solan
Exemplary woman
Reference to ‘Purdah, lipstick and a witty Begum’; it is exhilarating to learn about a woman like Qudsia Aizaz Rasul. At a time when women were shackled by enormous conjugal duties, she took pride in pursuing her beliefs. Through her actions, she demonstrated immense courage by refusing to bow down before patriarchal practices. Even after being subjected to personal attacks, she didn’t retreat her steps. She was an exemplary woman and leader who later became an inspiration for women of all generations by thriving in a male-dominated profession without losing her ground.
Rishika Kriti, Ludhiana
Letters to the Editor, typed in double space, should not exceed the 200-word limit. These should be cogently written and can be sent by e-mail to: [email protected]
Reference to ‘Provocation in Arunachal’; the recent incursion attempt by the Chinese soldiers in the Tawang region has failed miserably. The Indian troops successfully pushed the foes back to the other side of the Line of Actual Control. Beijing’s increasing restlessness over its expansionist policy and dominance is indicative of a troubled government. The recent anti-government protests in China and the India-US joint military exercise in Uttarakhand seem to have triggered this knee-jerk reaction by the PLA. Indian Army’s promptitude in Tawang speaks volumes of its readiness for the future.
AMARJEET MANN, Nangal
Against Parliament spirit
Apropos of ‘No caste references’; Parliament is the supreme and sacred body whose main function is to legislate laws on the basis of arguments and counter-arguments put up by public representatives on issues of public and national importance. The House provides an equal opportunity to raise the issues of national importance to all public representatives without any discrimination on the basis of caste, colour, creed or religion. Arguments can have a bearing on framing of laws meant for public welfare. Hence, the Lok Sabha Speaker is right in pointing out that there should be no references to caste during the course of discussion. Any such reference by any public representative is uncalled for as it is against the spirit of the House.
Ravi Sharma, Dhariwal
Cut its roots
Reference to ‘No caste references’; everybody knows that caste and religion are used to divide the people, but it is not easy to get rid of this evil. Though it is not in our blood, as Dr BR Ambedkar had said, ‘Caste is not a physical object like a wall of bricks or a line of barbed wire which prevents the Hindus from co-mingling, and which has, therefore, to be pulled down. Caste is a notion; it is a state of the mind.’ We have to cut its roots.
Om Parkash Sandhu, Naya Nangal
Crossing the line
Apropos of ‘Never refer to anyone’s caste, religion in House, warns Birla’; the Speaker has rightly warned members against referring to anyone’s (including own) caste and religion in the House as they were not elected to the Lok Sabha on the basis of their caste or religion. He asked the Congress leader in the House to rein in his members against interrupting the Speaker on any issue in future. He was judicious in allowing the Congress MP from Telangana to speak after warning him against his remarks against the Speaker made earlier in the day. Such MPs must be aware of the fate of an editor after he allegedly defamed Lok Sabha Speaker Hukam Singh in his editorial.
Vijaya Sharma, by mail
No AAP MP in Lok Sabha
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh has claimed that the party has become a national party after the recent Gujarat Assembly election results. But an interesting fact to note is that despite the AAP being in power in the states of Delhi and Punjab, and its claim of being a national party, it does not even have a single MP in the current Lok Sabha.
RK Arora, Mohali
Violence of silence
The concluding paragraph of the write-up ‘The prejudiced academics’ contains the seeds of the undoing of the entire argumentative built-up of the case itself. Utopia is fact-in-fiction with the element of feasibility only in the mind of an unrealistic person. But what carries weight is the well-reasoned assessment of the situation that only liberal values inculcated through the liberal system of education can counter the obnoxious impact of prejudiced academics. Violence of silence is doing irreplaceable loss in academic fields, and for that, honest intellectuals will have to take up cudgels on behalf of the amenable youth of the country.
DV Sharma, Mukerian
On a lighter note
Reference to the middle ‘The boy who rose to become CM’; on a lighter note, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu having occupied the coveted chair of the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, he too would have blushed and smiled on recalling the incident narrated by his cousin. By now, the Chief Minister’s father, the late Rasil Singh, would have come in his son’s dream to not only congratulate him, but also say, ‘Sukhvinder beta, don’t ever bunk the Assembly. Remember that now you are the headmaster of the “best school”. Your mother and I are proud of you.’
SPS Narang, New Delhi
Letters to the Editor, typed in double space, should not exceed the 200-word limit. These should be cogently written and can be sent by e-mail to: [email protected]
‘China’s influence’ over Pakistan should certainly be a cause of concern to the US, but would it be enough to wean it away from China or shun it? Pakistan has always been of geo-strategic importance to the US. Pakistan and India serve US’ diverse interests. Even as Pakistan hails China as an all-weather friend, quid pro quo is the norm which may take a different shape and size in the time to come. No wonder Pakistan’s Prime Minister returned empty-handed from China last month. Ultimately, it is the US-backed IMF which bailed it out. Therefore, we shouldn’t be living in the illusion of persuading the US to stop supplying weapons to Pakistan. The solution lies in making ourselves militarily strong. The raw bravery shown by our soldiers at the LAC in Arunachal Pradesh in face of Chinese soldiers gives us a lot of strength. Whatever accolades we may earn at G20, it will, ultimately, be our military strength which will give us the necessary heft and earn us our rightful place in the emerging international order.
Lt Col GS Bedi (Retd), Mohali
Harmony on campus
Refer to the article ‘The prejudiced academics’; such incidents will not be tolerated as JNU belongs to everyone. Educational spaces should be used for debate and discussion and not for poisoning society and the community of students. The thinking that Brahmins are keeping the religion and culture of our country alive, and tradesmen are playing an important role in the business of the country, should be crushed. This is an attempt to break the country and cannot be tolerated. Disturbance of peace and harmony on campuses should never be condoned. Any differences can be resolved through dialogue at the university level.
Sikandar Bansal, Shimla
Agitating lawyers
The news of striking lawyers in Odisha vandalising courts and preventing judges from entering the court premises is disturbing. Visibly piqued, the Supreme Court’s direction to the DGP to appear through video conferencing and spell out the measures to deal with the situation is appreciable. It is a professional misconduct to ransack the courts. It calls for not only strict disciplinary action, including cancellation of their licences, but also booking them under the relevant provisions of the IPC for obstruction of court work.
Maheshwer Sharma, by mail
No ‘good’ terrorist
Apropos of ‘Era of labelling terrorists “good” or “bad” must go: India at UNSC’; besides rightly opposing exemptions for UN-listed terrorists and entities earlier this week, India’s opposition to classify terrorists as good or bad is yet another right step. Since terrorism is a serious crime against humanity, it must be condemned in all its forms. The concept note circulated by India at the UNSC has clearly spelled out that any classification of terrorism would weaken the global resolve to end terrorism. The international community should make determined efforts to ensure global peace and security and frustrate the evil designs of terrorists.
CS MANN, UNA
Groundwater crisis
Refer to ‘Groundwater level in state worrisome’; successive governments have done little to deal with this issue of importance. The Centre can’t evade its responsibility by saying that water is a State subject. Both Centre and states are equally responsible. Major reason for groundwater depletion is the sowing of paddy, which is a water-guzzling crop. Punjab farmers are glued to wheat, maize and paddy crops and are not shifting to other crops as they are uncertain of getting remunerative price for their produce. There is talk about diversification but there is no concrete MSP policy for different crops. Another reason is that despite the worrisome situation and that more than 10 districts in Punjab have been declared dark zones, new tubewell connections are still being issued by the government. The government should stop giving tubewell connections across the state. Also, almost every household, especially in unplanned colonies and mohallas, has installed submersible pump to meet the domestic water consumption as municipal committees have failed to provide adequate water supply.
Raj Kumar Kapoor, Ropar
Hooked on phones
Reference to the middle ‘Be aware of all that life offers’; truly our lives are influenced by smartphones which occupy most of our waking hours. We have the urge to send our photographs on social media instantly. Showing people that we are happy is now more important than actually being happy. Our minds are becoming wired for instant gratification and virtual life. This is making us short-tempered and impatient. Let us adopt a phone-life balance else it will be too late.
Vikramjit Singh, Amritsar
Letters to the Editor, typed in double space, should not exceed the 200-word limit. These should be cogently written and can be sent by e-mail to: [email protected]
Reference to ‘Muslim girls’ marriage’; in this particular issue, religion comes later. The primary concern should be the physical and mental health of girls. A consensus must be reached through dialogue and the opinion of medical experts to make changes in the marriage age of Muslim girls. As per the prevailing Acts of India, only girls aged 18 years can marry. The difference in age below 18 years for Muslim girls cannot be justified, especially from the medical angle. There should be a single Act in the country for the marriage age of all girls, free from any religious and societal pressure.
Wg Cdr Jasbir S Minhas (retd), Mohali
Health first
Apropos of the editorial ‘Muslim girls’ marriage’; undoubtedly, parity in law should be made by the higher authorities of the land, irrespective of religion. This will boost the confidence of Muslim girls and encourage them to study further, which they are unable to do at present due to religious and family pressures. Also, a new law that raises the marriage age will ameliorate the health conditions of Muslim girls and newborns as a result of early marriage.
Tarunjot Kaur, Kharar
Educate them
There is no doubt that the marriageable age of Muslim girls should be fixed by the government, regardless of their religion. That will help them complete their basic studies, which will, in turn, develop their mental and cognitive thinking. The adage — if you educate a man, you educate an individual, but if you educate a woman, you educate a nation — is apt.
JS Saini, by mail
Unified health plan
Reference to ‘Medical inflation’; we are a country of 140 crore people and the push for a unified health programme is driving the new face of healthcare in India. We are already known as the world’s pharmacy. During the pandemic, India launched the world’s largest vaccination drive and successfully completed it. With booming investment and infrastructure, we are stepping towards a medical revolution. The gaps in our healthcare system can be closed by taking the right steps. The doctor-patient ratio is 1:834. By providing easy loans, students of all strata can be encouraged to pursue medical studies. Also, there should be more emphasis on healthcare screening and plans. Covid has provided an impetus to local manufacturing capabilities. At the same time, we require a collaborative approach to fight against such emerging virus threats.
Tashi Baheti, Ujjain
Standardise treatment
Reference to the editorial ‘Medical inflation’; the overworked, overburdened, underpaid and stressed out staff at many civil hospitals are doing their best, but the sheer volume of patients is impossible to handle. So, even poor patients have no option but to go for private treatment, which can burn a big hole in their pockets and lead them into a debt trap. No wonder, then, that a humungous seven per cent of our population is pushed back into poverty every year. A standardised rate of treatment would be hard to enforce, but it would be useful to cap the costs of tests prescribed by doctors. Public health and education are the two most neglected areas in our country and need to be addressed on a priority basis.
ANTHONY HENRIQUES, MUMBAI
Women cadets
Reference to ‘NDA cadets first, women later’; ever since the first girls’ batch passed out from the NDA, their photograph has gone viral and a lot of discussion is taking place around their cropped haircuts, unnecessarily though. What matters is their priority, which is not maintaining their long hair but being a part of the rigorous training schedule and coming out triumphant. Today, women constitute merely three per cent of our armed forces and we have a long way to bridge the gender gulf. Women officers are still not a part of the combative role yet, but we should not be surprised if more and more girl cadets join the NDA and make us proud.
Bal Govind, Noida
Right choice
The Congress high command has taken a good decision to appoint Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu as the new Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh (‘Will restore OPS: CM Sukhu after oath-taking’). He is an experienced leader as he has remained the state party president for six years. He has also been the president of the Youth Congress. It is heartening that though it was a tough competition for the Congress against the BJP, the party managed to win the elections in Himachal Pradesh.
Sanat Laul, Shimla
Letters to the Editor, typed in double space, should not exceed the 200-word limit. These should be cogently written and can be sent by e-mail to: [email protected]
Refer to ‘Gujarat’s Hindutva heart’ (Nous Indica); Gujarat appears irreversibly polarised with a well-cemented consolidation of Hindu votes. AAP’s tally of five seats and 13% vote share is not due to its show of soft Hindutva, but because of people’s preference for the promised free or affordable and quality education and healthcare, corruption-free governance, besides jobs, unemployment allowance, and some freebies that could ease their burden due to soaring prices. For the real development of the nation and the welfare of the people, elections have to be fought on such issues only, otherwise who wins or loses will be of little concern for the majority of voters, as the low turnout in Gujarat and Delhi MCD elections indicates. Kejriwal’s pro-people politics is appreciated. He should avoid dependence on any Hindutva card and focus on the politics he is the proponent of. As for the Congress, it needs to rediscover itself.
HL Sharma, Amritsar
Lesson in strategy
Apropos of ‘Gujarat’s Hindutva heart’ (Nous Indica); the poll results are more a lesson in strategy for the Congress than for the BJP and the AAP since they were clear about their strategies and the resultant outcomes. It is the Congress that ought to reflect on its vote and seat share and compare it with the Himachal Assembly results. For the Gandhi family, the days of basking in reflected glory are over. This realisation has dawned on Rahul Gandhi. His Bharat Jodo Yatra is an earnest step in the right direction. He has started from scratch to connect with the masses. It is sure to bear fruit in the long run. But this has not been realised by those who matter in party affairs.
DV Sharma, Mukerian
No to freebies
The Gujaratis were smart enough to realise that the AAP model of freebies is bad for the state in the long run and correctly rejected them. Hopefully, the Punjab Government will now get back to what it was elected for in the first place — governance. An account of expenses, of public finances for political gains incurred in this exercise by the Punjab Government, will be in order, keeping its avowed claim of accountability. The silver lining is that most AAP leaders seem to have learnt the dandiya!
JS Chima, by mail
AAP national party
Refer to ‘Gujarat’s Hindutva heart’ (Nous Indica); the BJP has created history in Gujarat, but lost in Himachal Pradesh. The people of Himachal have shown maturity and given a chance to the Congress. They were not impressed with the promises of the BJP. In Gujarat, the AAP has made its presence felt and attained the status of a national party. It can be well presumed that sooner or later, Kejriwal will be a key figure in central politics.
Subhash C Taneja, Gurugram
New era in politics
PM Modi is the chief architect of the BJP’s landslide victory in Gujarat. Though the Congress has been able to cash in on the anti-incumbency factor in Himachal Pradesh, reports of disregard for the instructions of the high command and squabbles among state leaders for CM’s office can convert this victory into defeat. AAP’s rise to the stature of a national party and registering its presence by securing 12.92 per cent of the total votes polled in Gujarat, is indicative of the beginning of a new era in Indian politics. At the same time, Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra should not be belittled or ridiculed as every leader should work hard to survive in politics with honest efforts.
RAJ BAHADUR YADAV, Fatehabad
BJP’s big win
The BJP’s thumping victory in Gujarat overshadowed its narrow loss in Himachal Pradesh. For the Congress, its victory in Himachal is a consolation against the crushing defeat in Gujarat. The Gujarat results prove that the BJP’s status as the superpower in Indian politics remains unchallenged. The voters reposed their faith in the BJP. The AAP’s entry into the Gujarat contest worked to the BJP’s advantage.
RAMESH GUPTA, NARWANA
Iran’s protest toll
The editorial ‘Hanging of Iranian protester’ brings to the fore the dichotomy of rights. In these times of great connectivity, such rigid practices, like compulsorily covering the face and hair, are not sustainable in terms of equality between the genders. Harsh punishments have been the hallmark of the tottering regimes. Given the predominant position of Iran in West Asia, it should make necessary amendments which are in sync with rights across the globe. Covering of head or face should be a matter of choice, not compulsion. The spirit of the 21st century is unstoppable, irrespective of the nature of regimes.
Jagvinder Singh Brar, Patiala
Letters to the Editor, typed in double space, should not exceed the 200-word limit. These should be cogently written and can be sent by e-mail to: [email protected]
Apropos of ‘BJP’s Gujarat’; the party’s record win is creditable. By giving yet another term to the ruling party, the people of the state have voted for growth and continuity, ignoring the plethora of freebies promised by the opposition parties. It is time the voters in other states too emulated their example, not so much for being a staunch and steadfast supporter of a single party, but in the way they have rejected the revdi culture. As for Himachal Pradesh, though the verdict is in line with the anti-incumbency mood of the voters, the Congress has done well in getting a comfortable majority. It remains to be seen if the legislators elect a CM and get down to the serious business of governance, without a public spectacle of infighting and power mongering.
V Jayaraman, Chennai
Incredible win
Reference to ‘Cong wrests power in HP’; it is an incredible win for the Congress, despite infighting and absence of the charismatic stalwart, Virbhadra Singh. The BJP juggernaut was stopped by the efforts of emerging leaders. The cloud of Old Pension Scheme and rebel candidates shadowed BJP’s chances. Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur succeeded in saving his face by winning nine out of 10 seats in his home district Mandi. The tedious task of choosing the Chief Minister is on the way, where both factions will leave no stone unturned to step up their game.
Virender Sharma, Shimla
Challenge ahead
Apropos of the editorial ‘Cong wrests power in HP’, the victory in HP will help the Congress revive its fortunes. With the new political culture of poaching MLAs of the winning party by the ruling dispensation, the problem of keeping the flock together will be a challenge, since the Congress has already witnessed loss of power in MP, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Goa. Now, the gaining party is praised for being ‘adept’ at statecraft. But the Congress’ worst-ever performance in Gujarat has blighted the sheen of its victory in HP. It remains to be seen whether the high command will be able to resolve the leadership issue by reconciling the competing claims of various factions.
Roshan Lal Goel, by mail
Stimulus for Congress
After a string of losses in the state elections, the Congress has emerged victorious in Himachal Pradesh (‘Cong to hold meeting of newly elected MLAs in Shimla today’). The victory could enhance the party’s prospects for the Assembly elections scheduled for nine states in 2023. Its comeback could further brighten its chances of performing well in the parliamentary elections in 2024. Incidentally, this is the first election that the Congress has won after Mallikarjun Kharge took charge as party president.
Devendra Khurana, Bhopal
Another national party
Reference to ‘AAP fails to make the cut, but gets tag of national party’; there are eight national parties in India and the AAP is a new addition. The Telangana Rashtra Samithi also wants to join the list and has changed its name to Bharat Rashtra Samithi. Taxpayers’ money, instead of being used for development of the country, will be spent on freebies to come to power. No party can get majority when their numbers are big, resulting in hung Parliament. They spend time fighting among themselves, leading to frequent elections. The present criteria for recognising a political party as national party are lenient. It needs to be modified to stop the mushrooming of such parties.
O PRASADA RAO, HYDERABAD
No freebies, please
Reference to ‘Punjab Government’s free power scheme bleeds PSPCL’; it is unbelievable that PSPCL is suffering a loss of over Rs 1,880 crore in contrast to a profit of Rs 1,069 crore it generated in March 2022, even as it has already raised a Rs 2,300-crore loan this year with additional meters in demand, thanks to the government’s populist free power scheme, leading to ‘zero bills’. Buoyed by the government’s largesse, many consumers are opting for more than one connection. Though the state has reportedly told PSPCL that it will pay Rs 15,845 crore as ‘power subsidy’ for the current year, the question is, where such a huge quantum of money will come from? Why mix dirty vote-centric politics with economics?
Kumar Gupt, by mail
Power tariff
Tariff directly affects how the energy is used by domestic consumers, as brought out by the report ‘PSPCL feels the heat as consumers make beeline to avail power subsidies’. Earlier, the state had exempted payment of arrears of bills up to June 2021 worth crores. Now, the consumers don’t have to pay up to 300 units. In winter, the consumption is low. The state can’t afford to burden PSPCL.
OP GARG, PATIALA
Letters to the Editor, typed in double space, should not exceed the 200-word limit. These should be cogently written and can be sent by e-mail to: [email protected]
Refer to the editorial ‘AAP bags MCD, too’; municipal elections rarely get attention outside their respective municipal areas, but elections to the MCD was different, where the AAP has secured a majority, replacing the BJP. It marked the tough competition between India’s biggest national political party, the BJP, and its major competitor, the AAP. Unlike most regional parties, the AAP is the only party which is broadening its base. Soon, we will witness another high-voltage contest for the BMC, India’s richest urban body of Mumbai, where the two Sena factions and BJP have a lot at stake. But do fierce contests bring positive results for voters? Certainly not. The turnout for the MCD was just 50%, below the 2017 level, which reflects the poor functioning of India’s urban bodies. Municipalities largely depend on property tax for revenue and RBI’s data shows that the MCD’s tax revenue lags behind the national average. Indian cities need more than just dramatic elections.
SANJAY CHOPRA, MOHALI
Healthy democracy
Apropos of ‘134 seats, AAP wrests MCD from BJP; Kejriwal promises to rein in corruption’; the end of 15-year run of the BJP in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi indicates that voters in Delhi have reposed their faith in the Aam Aadmi Party. This always happens in a healthy democracy. It is heartening to see that Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal sought the blessings of PM Modi. It is a positive gesture.
Upendra Sharma, by mail
‘Burden’ of cap
Refer to the photograph under the heading ‘Key accused, aides received Rs 30L’; a police officer is seen without a cap, which is being carried by a havildar walking behind him. For a person in uniform, a headgear and his weapon are a symbol of great pride and authority in the eyes of the public. If a uniformed person finds it cumbersome to even carry his headgear, one wonders how he is going to take the load of the responsibility entrusted to him. It is due this this attitude that many a criminals keep escaping while in police custody.
Lt Col JS DULLAT (Retd), Patiala
Old-age homes
Refer to ‘No funds, seven senior citizen homes on verge of closure’; though the Central and state governments have made a policy on having a senior citizens’ home in every district, they are not serious about it. Who bothers about people in the sunset of their life? To help senior citizens and provide them a dignified life is the duty of the government. Like the elderly, old-age homes are also crying for attention. It is not too late even now. NGOs are ready to help and take all responsibility of maintaining old-age homes, but it is not possible without the help of the government. The earlier we wake up to this cause, the better it will be.
S Chaudhary, by mail
Repo rate hike
The RBI has rightly hiked the repo rate by 35 points to contain inflation. Higher repo rate will make the money costlier, leading to decrease in demand and money supply in the economy. Prices reduce when less money chases the same stock of goods. The supply of money can also be reduced by attracting people to save more and deposit in banks and post offices. Increasing the deposit rates makes the general public happy and also controls inflation, resulting in a win-win situation for the government.
NPS Sohal, US
Unburden PSPCL
Refer to ‘Free power scheme bleeds Punjab corpn’; fiscal burden on PSPCL is increasing by way of loans. It is the result of immature promises made by the state government and a consequence of appeasing voters by extending free power during elections. The culture of subsides, doles and freebies is draining the coffers. Not just PSPCL, other departments like the Punjab Roadways are also suffering. Giving freebies shows the inefficiency of politicians that they are unable to create employment opportunities. The government should pay attention to this serious issue. A drastic rejig in policy is needed to unburden PSPCL of debt. The government should rise above appeasement politics and take action judiciously.
Raj Kumar Kapoor, Ropar
The fall of masjid
Apropos of the article ‘Wasn’t just masjid that fell’; the masjid was a disputed structure, built on the remains of a temple that was destroyed. Why the name ‘Babri’ Masjid? No masjid is named after a human. Someone, at some point in history, when his writ ran, demolished a temple, which in Hindu belief is considered a house of God; whereas a masjid is a place to worship God. The court case was never about masjid or temple, it was just a title suit. The issue was settled in the highest court of the land. Was this demand unjustified, to just settle the three issues of Ayodhya, Kashi and Mathura?
Sudhir Kumar Kad, Hoshiarpur
Letters to the Editor, typed in double space, should not exceed the 200-word limit. These should be cogently written and can be sent by e-mail to: [email protected]