President Clinton on Kashmir

In his speech at the UN, President Bill Clinton made a strong plea to combat terrorism on an international plan to rid the world of this curse, which was killing a large number of innocent people. He mentioned Kashmir also. The statement was intended to help Pakistan and embarrass India by hinting at third party arbitration on Kashmir.

The question is: who is guilty of indulging in terrorism in Kashmir, India or Pakistan? Repeated demands have been made to declare Pakistan a terrorist state—never India. Pakistan has fought three wars ( 1947, 1965 and 1971) to grab Kashmir and is now in the midst of the fourth Kashmir war—proxy war or guerrilla war. Since Pakistan desires Kashmir at all costs, it is implied that the only way to stop Pakistan’s terrorism is to put pressure on India to present Kashmir to it on a platter. It has already killed some 25,000 innocent citizens. Does America want to reward terrorism or aggression?

They talk of 50-year-old UN resolutions on Kashmir. Their first condition was that Pakistan must vacate Kashmir not only the Indian part of Kashmir but also the Pakistan-occupied territory of Kashmir. Is Pakistan ready to comply with this condition? During the past 50 years, the world situation has changed past recognition and any old UN resolutions have become dead as dodo.

Why should India part with her Kashmir that has been an inalienable part of this country for centuries? Kashmir’s history is a part of India’s history.

If Mr Clinton is sincere about his desire to rid the world of international terrorism, he should make his protege Pakistan to wind up its bloody terrorism in Kashmir. India is taking only defensive action.

Pakistan has absolutely no claim on Kashmir. Its only argument that Kashmir has a Muslim majority has no validity. Against 40 lakh Muslims in Kashmir, India has over 12 crore Muslim population—more than Pakistan has. India has an ageless reputation for tolerance and its Muslim population is indistinguishable in citizens’ rights and activities from others.

Pakistan once called its aggression as a war to liberate Kashmir. Today it is a Kashmir war sans Kashmiris. Their interest evaporated only because a prolonged war was robbing them of peace and their prosperity and income from tourist and other sources. Today it is only an operation by Pakistan troops (in mufti) and other foreign mercenaries, may be with a few local hirelings.

P.D.SHASTRI

Chandigarh

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Politicians & their politics

This refers to Ms Tavleen Singh’s “Politicians & their politics” (Sept 19). Politics is an art (knack) of gaining power and retaining it to the befoolment and even bewilderment of the others in the race. While our politicians have perfected the art of dirty politics of power, they have totally ignored the question of socio-economic growth.

Our political leaders in the government sing songs of India’s achievements, but in reality we have failed to evolve a system of health and education for all. We love to discuss and analyse the sex scandals involving the President of America, but avoid the basic economic issues affecting the everyday life of Indians.

We take pride in constituting committees and commissions, which take years to suggest only “generalities” for the improvement of the country’s economy. Is it not a cruel joke on the nation and its economy that our Prime Ministers and Chief Ministers should sermonise on reducing the financial unproductive burden on the national exchequer but they themselves go on expanding the already jumbo-sized ministries only to keep themselves in power?

Our political and bureaucratic leadership does not tire of exhorting the youth to come forward and serve the nation with determined sincerity, without ever realising that it is these leaders who have themselves failed to formulate and implement any long-term rational policy.

VED GULIANI

Hisar

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Religious institutions

Apropos of the article “Issue before the SGPC” by Mr S.S. Dhanoa (Sept 19), the learned author has enlightened the readers by putting forth some well-researched facts and events to clear the background of the issue. At the same time he seems to have faltered, as any human could, in the interpretation of two institutions.

Firstly, the Jathedar of a Sikh Takht cannot be termed as merely a poojari or a granthi, though in the real sense these two terms are also not demeaning in anyway and would be held in high reverence in any religion. Takht is a seat of “Miri” and “Piri”, and the head of such a seat is not only a “granthi” or “poojari” but a temporal head too. That is why the heads of Takhts are termed as Jathedars whereas the head of a gurdwara is a Granthi or Head Granthi — Shri Harmandar Sahib has a Head Granthi and not a Jathedar. The mode of eligibility QR for their appointment is, however, still debatable.

Secondly, the president of the SGPC cannot be called the Jathedar of the panth. He heads only a parbandhak committee and is the administrator of gurdwaras, and can best be called a head sewadar. His interference in spiritual and temporal affairs is not called for. However, like any other humble Sikh, he has the right to his opinion and appeal.

BHAGWANT SINGH

Mohali

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Gambling as a national curse

Gambling in any form is an antisocial practice, may it be satta, animal races or government-sponsored lotteries. All such activities are rooted in avarice sans morality, and the poor are led to believe that such decadent paths offer the only chance to acquire huge amounts of money without hard labour. However, the odds may be one to a million.

Gambling cannot be totally eradicated from a society where the polity, the bureaucracy and business houses are corrupt. But we can individually decide to abstain from gambling, and also educate our friends not to be mesmerised by such false touch of golden rods.

B. C. MAKHAIK

Shimla

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Mustard oil and butter

It is shocking to learn that more and more cases with symptoms of dropsy are pouring in because of the sale of adulterated mustard oil. The Press deserves our thanks for educating the public to stop the use of mustard oil and switch over to desi ghee or butter till the situation becomes normal.

I want to bring to the notice of the administration that shopkeepers have started charging higher prices for milk products. To quote a case, a famous brand of butter (100 gm) is being sold by retailers at Rs 14 in Ludhiana whereas the printed price is Rs 12 only. Let us admit that both ways traders are benefited. After all, nature keeps the balance for them. I am afraid if the soaring prices are not checked in time, the people will suffer more than they would have done because of dropsy. This is the pitiable situation of the common man.

J.R. SAGGAR

Ludhiana

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Problems with quota policy

Recently I had an opportunity to dine with a gentleman working in a nationalised bank as an officer. During the course of informal discussion, I came to know that his wife is working as a doctor in a government hospital. His children are studying in a top convent school of Chandigarh. The gentleman belongs to one of the Scheduled Castes. Looking at his style and status, I saw no reason to think about him as a Dalit. Rather I envied and looked at him as a privileged person.

I cursed myself for being born in an upper caste family due to which I am being denied many opportunities. My son did not get admission to any professional institution whereas scores of reserved seats are lying vacant. Panjab University had to de-reserve as many as 59 seats in the undergraduate courses because there were no takers from among the reserved categories.

Another glaring example of the faulty reservation policy is that the Delhi Administration recently advertised 1,643 posts of constable. Out of these, only 422 posts are meant for the general category whereas the remaining posts have been reserved for different other categories.

The reservation policy needs to be reviewed keeping in view various factors so that the benefit of reservation goes to only those who really need it.

YASH PAL SINGH

Panchkula