Hoarders and the common man

THE steep and sudden hike in the prices of essential commodities has hit the common man where it hurts the most. There is not much of a shortage of any commodity, still the prices are soaring everyday. One wonders what can one do to help the situation. I am sure we can contribute our bit specially in the case of onions and potatoes. Their prices have gone up because of hoarding. Every trader wants to hoard as much as possible to make quick buck, and the ordinary man is succumbing to his diktats.

The prices of anything are determined by the law of demand and supply. If someone is choking the supply line let us squeeze demand. I am sure we can do without onions for a little while. Let all of us, whatever the economic status, stop using onions in our kitchens for a while. The prices will come crashing down as they went up. The government will certainly do something, but why should we be dependent on the authorities? Why should we not react?

No amount of rallies or protests are going to solve our problems. Therefore, let us act and show the government that we cannot be taken for a ride for anyone.

My earnest request to all the readers of The Tribune is to stop using onions for some time to teach a lesson to those responsible for today’s mess.

VIJAY SINGH JASWAL
Chandigarh

PLIGHT OF THE PEOPLE: The editorial “Tall talk, no action” highlights the miserable plight of the millions of people who are worst hit by the severe blow of the price rise.

The unprecedented rise in the prices of essential commodities has become the cause for great concern as it is affecting the health of a large number of people. It is chiefly because of the greediness of certain unscrupulous traders who are hell bent on amassing wealth by creating artificial scarcity. It is high time the government took strong action against such elements.

J. P. SHARMA
Thanesar (Kurukshetra)

BRING PRICES DOWN: Reports from Delhi, UP and Bihar that edible salt was being sold at a very high price — ranging from Rs 20 to Rs 60 — caused panic buying in parts of the Union Territory of Chandigarh. Timely action by the administration prevented its hoarding. As a result, there was no hike in its price.

During the past few months the public has witnessed a hike in the prices of almost all the essential commodities. What to talk of the poor, nowadays it has become difficult even for the middle class families to main their normal living standards.

As action has been taken in the case of salt, measures should be initiated to bring down the prices of all other essential commodities.

DINESH KUMAR SHARMA
Chandigarh

Keep politics out

Apropos of the editorial “Keep politics out,” dated October 24, I do feel that no right-thinking person will appreciate communalisation and politicalisation of education in a multi-racial, multi-religious and multi-lingual democratic country like India. He will welcome what is essentially good for an intelligent student in Indian literature whether it is an ancient one or medieval one or modern one.

Unfortunately, the bulk of the Indians are still facing an acute economic distress. Consequently, poverty and pangs of misery haunt them and keep their wards away from the would-be-fruits of free and compulsory education enshrined in the Constitution. The suggestion “Each one, teach one” can make a difference provided the literate people take up education seriously and go ahead earnestly keeping in view that education is their national concern.

This ought to have been the top priority at the recent Education Ministers’ conference, and not the non-secular controversial issues evoking avoidable walk-outs and mud-slinging.

J. S. NAGPAL
Amritsar

Use of Punjabi

The issuance of notices by the Deptt. of Languages, Punjab, to some government officials for not using Punjabi in official communication/notings is a step in the right direction. It deserves to be appreciated. It was long overdue in view of the intransigence of the bureaucracy in the matter. It was the late S. Lachhman Singh Gill who decided to introduce Punjabi as an official language of the state. It is unfortunately, however, that even after 30 years it has not been implemented in letter and spirit. To our mind, the reason for non-implementation of this policy is bureaucratic apathy and lack of will on the part of political bosses.

The use of the people’s language by the administration not only helps to ensure efficiency and transparency, but also brings the administration close to the common populace. The linguistic states were created to fulfil the popular aspirations for the development of regional cultures and identities. The very purpose of unilingual state of Punjab will be defeated if Punjabi is not used by the administration in right earnest.

The use of Punjabi must be ensured at all cost, and the penal clauses should be used against those wilfully sabotaging the implementation of the State Official Language Act. The department concerned would be well advised to develop such administrative terminology as is easily understandable by the masses.

KEHAR SINGH, S.K. SHARMA
and other Punjabi University dons, Patiala.

An uncaring govt

Someone has rightly said that the “government sleeps while the public weeps”. The government is functioning contrary to the aspirations of the general public.

Is this the price we have to pay for bringing them to power? Ministers are just not bothered about bringing the prices down.

So infatuated are our MLAs and MPs with their white Ambassador cars (and their caravan of Gypsies) that they have no time to listen to the woes of the people. But when Madam Jayalalitha sneezes in Tamil Nadu, BJP ministers airdash to ask for her well-being. Is this the “Ram Rajya” they had promised prior to their coming to power? Even Lord Ram would have preferred to live in exile than living in such a messy situation as he stood for truth and only truth.

How can those who requested for votes (with folded hands) only months back be so uncaring and indifferent to the agony of the people? The enthusiasm with which the people supported the BJP coalition is gone. In fact, the public feels it has been hit below the belt.

SANDEEP SINGH
Ludhiana