Boris Yeltsin should go

APROPOS of M.L. Madhu’s article, “Russia in Turmoil: Should Yeltsin Step Down?” (Nov 2), it is really painful to read about the sad story of our honest and great friends of Russia. Yes, like many Russians, I also feel that Boris Yeltsin should go. His dangerous experiment of ringing American type-democracy and economic prosperity in Russia has very badly fallen through. The mightiest nation of the world has become beggarly and pathetically helpless because of the defective economic policies pursued by the pro-American rulers of Russia.

Yes, the Communists of the past are also responsible for the horrible miseries of the Russian people. They practised red-tapism, nepotism and parochialism at the cost of the basic tenets of Marxism and Leninism. They gave up sincere efforts to educate their party cadres after sixties and foolishly claimed to know “the present, past and future absolutely” and were rightly thrown out of their cosy offices. Their arrogance and utter neglect of ideological work made them abominable among the common people. They could not have a Deng Xiao Ping like in China who could educate them properly to fight out the acute economic and social problems of their great nation.

The new economic policies adopted at the behest of capitalist countries have brought economic depredation in Russia. The common people in Russia today feel greatly cheated and let down.

Lenin warned his followers about the dangers of capitalist economy on June 23, 1919: “Both the landowner state and the capitalist state have always and everywhere helped the rich to rob the working people, helped the speculators and the rich to get richer at the expense of the poor who become poorer.”

The Russians are known as great fighters and they shall overcome the present crisis also. We Indians hope so. It is really heart-rending to hear and read about our trusted friends’ starvation.

RAJ BAHADUR YADAV
Rewari

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Exercise in futility

In a laudable exercise the Chandigarh traffic police is endeavouring to segregate the fast moving traffic from slow moving traffic along Madhya Marg by making use of the side lanes. The home guards deployed at entrance point to such lanes do try and even succeed to an extent in getting many of the cyclists, rehri-wallahs, cycle-rickshaw wallahs etc. to obey. I wonder whether this exercise, however, is actually worthwhite. Because, unfortunately, no sooner this slow moving traffic is tucked into the safety of the by lanes, then many of them manage to emerge through breaks in the road divider just a couple of yards ahead and, rejoin the main road. At times this happens right under the vigil of the traffic police officials but they try to do nothing about it.

On the other hand this effort defies all logic if the slow traffic separated at one end of the road is then again made to mix with the main flow on Madhya Marg at each round-about, as is being done at present. Isn’t this self-defeating?

Besides, it might be saving grace if speed-breakers were constructed at exit points of all such bylanes, before they rejoin the main road. More often than not almost every vehicle that joins the main road through either the bylane or the slip roads (which unfortunately are already risky by virtue of being rather short) does so suddenly, without bothering to slow down. In the process these vehicles enter the main road to precariously mix with and hit the traffic already moving at high speed on the main road. Obviously, this causes avoidable accidents and the consequent frequent traffic jams.

Why do we remorselessly exhibit utter disregard for traffic rules and regulations and, a shameless lack of civic sense? Doesn’t this abhorrent attitude bear a sad testimony to the state of our minds? Half a century after the British left, we still seem to subscribe to civil disobedience, nationwide! Why don’t we realise that this way we end up inflicting harm on our own selves? By not giving due regard to the others’ rights we make it extremely difficult for them to be able to give due respect to ours. And when we are at the receiving end, we crib no end!

VIVEK KHANNA
Panchkula

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Pre-1986 retirees

It will be a good gesture on the part of the Punjab Government to extend the date of receiving option forms from the pre-86 retirees for revision of their pension in terms of the recommendations of fourth Punjab Pay Commission at least up to 31.3.1999., since the orders regarding revision have not come to the notice of a good number of pensioners residing in remote villages, small towns, and other parts of the country. Neither the proper guidance regarding the benefit accruing to them consequent upon revision, nor the necessary option forms are easily available there.

As per normal practice, the revision may be given effect to only if it is beneficial to the retirees. Another difficulty may arise in the case of those pensioners whose service books are not traceable in their respective offices, wherefrom they retired; particularly those who are in their late seventies.

Let the benefits of pension-parity-principle reach one and all.

S. S. GILL
Patiala

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Vulgar numbers

In a recent interview, ghazal maestro Jagjit Singh has come down heavily on vulgar songs. I could not have agreed more. Numbers like Tera pair bhari ho gaya.... are indeed an embarrassment for all lovers of good music.

But I have a question for Jagjit Singh. While these songs are rendered by bit singers, how come he himself has stooped to singing ribald lyrics like Dhai din na jawani hai jhall di kurti malmal di...? One of its lines, Patli kurti de vichchon di, roop jhatiyan marey...., happens to be more objectionable than Choli ke peeche kya hai.... Just because some rowdy boys start dancing when he renders this song during concerts does not mean that he should allow himself to cross the limits of decency.

Another song which he gleefully presents at many concerts is even worse. It goes something like this: Teri meri nahin nibhni, tu Telan main Sunyara.... Could there be anything more casteist!

While Jagjit Singh has every right to preach morality, he should make himself the first target of his cleansing exercise.

PRABHMANDEEP KAUR
Chandigarh