Two PMs, two voices

THIS refers to the news item, “Two PMs, two voices” by Hari Jaisingh (Sept. 25). International laws speak of “Pacta Sant Servanta” i.e. all states should respect the agreement entered between two states. Any such treaty held for more than 25 years becomes a custom, an international custom. Simla Accord is one such treaty covering both aspects.

The laws are broken by the bigger powers themselves. India is confident of its position on Kashmir and the mentioning of Kashmir by others should not worry it, especially in the context of advocating a peaceful settlement of a potentially combustible international dispute. Winning a “cold war” is as important as winning a “hot war” as in each case our liberty and our free institutions are at stake. A period of flux seems to be ahead where the Indian foreign policies need curvature.

VIVEK SINH MARGIRAN
Kurukshetra

* * * *

Anti-democratic

The partisan recommendation of Bihar Assembly dissolution just hours from the Rabri Devi Government proving its majority in the Assembly smacked of the sinister design of the BJP-led coalition government. This authoritarian, blatantly anti-democratic, unethical and heinous crime was condemned with all force by the cross-section of public opinion and almost all political parties which adhere to democratic values.

The BJP’s habit of acting in haste and repenting later is well-known. The bankrupt Central leadership bulldosed the Governor into recommending the dissolution and the Governor denigrated his office by going public in using Article 356. He acted as a stooge of the BJP Government. The role of the Governor in the Assembly was unparalleled in the history of parliamentary democracy. Even Mr R.K. Hegde, the Union Commerce Minister, and the ruling front constituent, criticised his act as against the principle of federalism.

The Rabri Devi Government had not only decisively won a confidence vote, it had also defeated a Central Bill on the formation of Vananchal. Should not the rejection signal the Central Government to resign? The Bihar Chief Minister by retaining the confidence of the House also vehemently conveyed the Assembly’s lack of confidence in the Prime Minister and the Home Minister.

The BJP, which had been so scrupulous about Article 356, has at the first available opportunity used it to serve its own political gameplan. Its swearing by Article 356, in retrospect of what it did in Bihar, sounds suspiciously like a case of the devil citing scriptures to suit his own purpose. However, thankfully, the President has hoisted them with their own petard, following the precedent in UP, with infamous goings-on of which another notorious Bhandari was involved.

Prof P. SOOD
New Delhi

* * * *

Reservation policy

I was pained to go through the main article written by Mr M.R. Sharma on reservation policy in The Tribune on September 28. His injudicious contention that reservation policy has dealt a blow to merit and efficiency is misplaced and erroneous. If Mr Sharma visits any government department, he would himself see how the officials belonging to Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes have surpassed and excelled in all spheres.

Secondly, can Mr Sharma tell how scheduled castes are working in newspaper establishments and multi-million private concerns where there is absence of reservation policy? Does this mean a scheduled caste individual cannot be a good journalist or a top private executive? Mr Sharma should know that Indian society is run on a caste basis and not on economic basis. The reservation policy, on the whole, has considerably improved the lot of the SCs and BCs and it is required to be continued for more years to bring them into the mainstream of national life.

Actually, there is nothing wrong in following the reservation policy for the SCs and BCs. What is more worrying is the problem that there are some Sharmas in India who are bent upon spreading canards and rumours thereby misguiding the general public.

AVTAR SINGH
Mohali

* * * *

Crime most foul

Incidents like gangrape of four nuns in Madhya Pradesh (Crime most foul, TT, Sept 26), assault on nuns and looting of convent (Convent looted, nuns beaten, Sunday Tribune, Sept 28) should make us hang our heads in shame and remorse. Christian nuns are known for their chastity and missionary spirit. Any assault on them is an attempt to throttle the concept of purity, truth, hard work and charity. The most painful thing is that these incidents are not the first of their kind. Peace-loving nuns have been many a time assaulted in our country and the Centre has never promised them adequate protection. Culprits doing such acts should be punished in a manner so that no one dares to repeat them in future.

The community which is running some of the best educational, medical and charitable institutes in our country, not only deserves decent treatment but perhaps a little more.

Dr SUNIL CHOPRA
Ludhiana

* * * *

Poor Clinton

It seems that a conspiracy was hatched to defame and oust President Bill Clinton after his re-election for the second tenure. This is evident from the fact Ms Monica Lewinsky has preserved her stained dress for many years.

As far as lying is concerned, both Mr Clinton and Ms Lewinsky had lied earlier. Indeed, Mr Clinton is guilty of lying; but he lied to save himself. He has not harmed anybody by lying. As a President of the USA he has not harmed his country in any way. It was his personal affair and it did not interfere with his official work.

As it is, Americans are not so rigid in sexual matters. Open sex is prevalent in the USA. Then why so much hue and cry? White House may be a sacred place for Americans but all the ministers and other officials working in White House may not be pious. I do not think that all of them are sincere to their wives and total strangers to extramarital relations. After all human weaknesses are there.

Ms Lewinsky seems to be an ambitious woman but her ambition to marry Mr Clinton and become the first lady of USA could not be fulfilled. However, she has reserved a seat in the history with Mr Clinton!

ARJUN SINGH CHHETRI
Manjoo (Solan)