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| Friday, September 15, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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State of Indo-US relations THIS refers to Mr Hari Jaisingh’s article, “State of Indo-US ties: challenges before Vajpayee” (September 8). Peace must be a condition where international changes can be made peacefully. So, as we strive for peace, let us not see peace in isolation, or as a case of stagnation. A peaceful world needs inter-communication. It does not need to be a world of free trade and free emigration or immigration. But it does need to be a world in which national boundaries do not have iron curtains. The answer lies in making the world such that those who use evil methods will not, in fact, achieve great success. That means inventing policies which will cause evil methods to fail. There is little doubt that the Pakistani methods of fraud, terrorism and violence are repugnant to most of the countries. But the repugnance is largely emotional. VIVEK SINGH MAR GIRAN |
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TERRORISM A CORE ISSUE: Change of a party government in a country rarely and least affects its policy on foreign affairs. The Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, has rightly lambasted Pakistan for doublespeak. Since its formation Pakistan has shed false tears over the Kashmir issue at every world forum. On the UN directions, India has played a vital role to be reckoned with by deputing its soldiers in various strife-torn parts of the world from time to time. I do not, however, agree with the author’s assertion: “He must be clear and categorical on eliminating Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in Kashmir and finding for India its rightful place as a permanent member of the UN Security Council.” India is not to beg this seat. Judging its role in the world forum, India merits to deserve and bag the seat as a permanent member of the Security Council. For India, cross-border terrorism is the core issue. The proxy war is worse than a full-scale declared war. Any talk on the Kashmir issue can be bilateral — between India and Pakistan — and not trilateral, as the Hizb wanted to. The growing menace of terrorism in South Asia will escalate and grip every part of the world sooner or later if it goes unchecked. Much has been said on this issue at the recently concluded United Nations Millennium Summit. The need of the hour is to translate the resolution of the summit into practice. The UN ought to punish the countries indulging in or encouraging terrorist activities anywhere in the world. The least the world body should do is to sack the membership of the offending country or countries. This will serve as an effective deterrent to curb terrorism. IQBAL SINGH Validity of entrance tests Of late, it has become a trend that various universities and education boards have began conducting entrance tests for academic as well as professional courses. It appears that the universities and other professional education boards are doubtful about the marks secured by a candidate in the lower examination. His performance in the lower examination has ceased to be trustworthy. Therefore, those conducting the entrance examination are trying to drive home the point that the lower examinations have been rendered useless. If this is true, then why are the students pushed into the examinations? What is the justification for it? A student and his parents have to suffer doubly since he has to make frantic efforts for the lower examination. Thereafter he joins a professional academy for coaching to face and clear the entrance tests in the case he does not, he finds his all academic qualification is futile. The methodology adopted in all entrance examinations is unheard of by him. It is suggested in the interest of students either the academic studies should be made entrance test-oriented or the universities and boards should stop conducting the lower examination. Instead a certificate of completion of studies should be issued to all those who complete their school education. Students must be saved from this double stress situation at the end of their studies. GURDIP SINGH BHAMRA
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Military and media Ever since the Subrahmanyam’s Committee report on Kargil, there appears to be a concerted attempt through the press at maligning the military in general and the Army leadership in particular. The latest being the series of articles appearing in a Delhi newspaper against the present Army Chief, Gen V.P. Malik, and the most recent exposure in another daily of the 1965 war report, wherein it has blamed the then Army Chief, General
Chaudhuri, for, as it calls, “Lost Victories”. What is being lost sight of is that such matters, even if there is an element of truth in them, have a very telling effect on the general morale of the Army, involved in a life and death struggle on our borders, and its faith in higher leadership. Unfortunately, in our country the Army cannot hit back, as its voice is
stifled by the system. Finally, let us accept the cruel fact that over the years our politicians have “prostituted” most of our time-revered institutions except the judiciary and the Army. Lately, however, even the former’s authority is being challenged, thus leaving the Army as the sole custodian which can hold the nation together, and in whom the people have their trust. Let us not then destroy its image, otherwise the nation will perish due to want of both internal and external security. Brig N. B. GRANT
(retd) GND Varsity’s ignored dept This is to draw the attention of the public towards the step-motherly treatment meted out to Guru Nanak Dev University’s Department of Journalism & Mass Communication
(DJMC), Regional Campus, Jalandhar. Even since the establishment of
DJMC, it has been shifting from one place to another. Started in the Basti Nau area of Jalandhar, it has been continuously shifting and is now in its present abode in Doaba College, Jalandhar. This causes great inconvenience to students, especially those coming from far off places. Though there is a plan to construct a permanent building for the department on Ladowali Road, the project has not even started as yet. One can easily imagine the plight of the students on a rainy day when all the roads are waterlogged. At such times there is virtually no way in which one can reach Doaba College without being drenched. AMRIT PANESAR A good decision Senior citizens feel delighted over the government decision to grant a 30 per cent rail-fare concession to women senior citizens aged 60 years and above instead of 65 years. This has solved the problem of those couples who need to travel together by rail but the age of the male counterpart is 65 years or above while the age of his spouse is 60 years or above but less than 65 years. The authorities of Indian Airlines Sahara, Jet Airways, etc, should similarly reduce the age of women to 60 years for a 50 per cent air fare concession to senior citizens. R. K. JAIN Tailpiece Name the two Vs that matter in India. Answer: Vajpayee and Veerappan! K.J.S. AHLUWALIA
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