The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Tuesday, May 21, 2002, Chandigarh, India

THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS

50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

M A I L B A G

Check private supply of military uniform

Often we witness massacres of civilians and military personnel by militants dressed in military uniform. Latest in this regard is the Jammu area episode of May 14 in which those who guard our families against enemies lost their own. Such uniform is easily available in most parts of our country, especially northern India. And in all sizes. While a part of such a supply filters out from Army outlets on the pretext of “defaced state”, the larger contribution is of private manufacturers.

It is not that the armed forces are not aware of this phenomenon. In fact, on many occasions it has not only voiced its concern but also taken action in some way or the other. Dressing up of private security guards like soldiers with colourful decorations on chests and shoulders was strongly objected to by the Army with the issuance of certain directions against such usage. Not many complied.

“Nip the evil in the bud” is the concept which needs to be brought into play in reality. Why cannot the government issue an “executive order”, making manufacturing of military uniform illegal. Only a few established firms or outlets could be designated for manufacturing of such material with exclusive supplies to the armed forces only. Internally, the armed forces could control the issue and return of these items in a manner that the returned “kits” are destroyed and not disposed of as “defaced”. Breach at any stage should be severely dealt with, associated with exemplary punishment.

It is high time that the government paid attention to these aspects and did something on a war-footing, otherwise someday, and that day is not far, our own soldiers would start suspecting their own comrades.

Wg Cdr P. CHAWLA (retd), Manimajra

Driven out

Corruption is eating into our system and soon we will find everything shattered. I myself am a victim of this. During SAD-BJP rule I worked as a lecturer on an ad hoc basis in Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar. After working there for two and a half years I was not selected on a regular basis but a female who was much less qualified than me and had no teaching or other experience was selected because her father was a bureaucrat.

I was forced to leave my country by these corrupt people. They call it brain-drain, but I think it is brain saving. At least in the USA I have the opportunity to work and do something for the benefit of mankind.

DR JASVIR GREWAL, by e-mail

In opposition

Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, MP, opposed Mr P.S. Badal, former CM, for bringing a multi-crore project of nuclear power plant for Punjab by highlighting its dangers and drawbacks. Now when the present CM wants it to be rolled back, Mann Sahib has again opposed the move calling it a boon for Punjab.

RAM MURAT SINGH, Barnala

Exam dates clash

The entrance tests for the MBA courses being conducted by Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla, and Guru Jambheshwar University, Hisar, are scheduled for June 16, 2002. The students thus cannot appear in both tests. Guru Jambheshwar University, which fixed the date later, should fix some other date.

PARUN KANSAL, Panchkula

Thank you, PM

This is to thank the Prime Minister for ignoring the “request” made on “personal and political” ground by Mr Badal to appoint Ravi Sidhu to the UPSC. Sitting in Delhi, he probably was more aware of Sidhu’s notoriety than Mr Badal.

RUPINDER B. SINGH, Chandigarh