M A I L B A G

Ban on cow slaughter a non-issue

The editorial “Banning cow slaughter” (May 8) gives an impression that an emotional and sensitive subject can erupt into a confrontation. We must try to know whether the self-styled Hindu leaders really love and respect the “mother cow” or they are raising this non-issue due to their deep-rooted hatred for Muslims, Christians, Buddhists and many other sections of society which eat beef. Is their demand political in nature or are they sincerely interested in protecting the cow?

If these leaders were really interested, they would have made arrangements for fodder to save millions of cattle from starvation. What do these protectors do when stray cattle eat toxic waste, plastic bags and even human excreta to satisfy their hunger? They do not organise any movement to keep them in sheds with fodder.

Thousands of these cattle are beaten and maimed by the farmers whose harvests they destroy in the villages. So the demand for a ban on cow slaughter is a sinister plan to befool and exploit the innocent religious feelings of common people and to achieve their political aims.

The tragedy is that small men occupy big chairs. There are no Nehrus and Sardar Patels today to counter these non-issues bravely and strongly.

Once during Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru’s prime ministership, when the same question of a ban on cow slaughter was raised by the Jan Sangh members in Parliament, he said, for him cow and horse were the same even if horse gave no milk. The demand was dropped immediately.

India needs brave and strong leadership to face the challenge posed by divisive, communal and fundamentalist elements. Clearly, ban on cow slaughter is a non-issue.

Ved Parkash Gupta, Bathinda

Insult to Sikhs

Apropos of Mr Roopinder Singh’s article “How a religious Website was hijacked” (May 29), it is extremely disturbing to know that this site is being taken over by pornographers. This is an insult to the entire community. Anyone, including a Sikh child, looking to find material on Sikhism and conservation can end up in this disgusting place.

I strongly feel that this should be stopped at any cost. Being personally involved in the nature preservation issues from a Sikh perspective from the last decade, this is hurtful to see a very noble concept being associated with repulsive ideas.

Rajwant Singh, National Chairman, Sikh Council on Education and Religion, Washington DC, USA

Gift to soldiers

Apropos of Lt-Cmdr R.S. Patial’s article “Reaching out to ex-servicemen with health cover” (May 14), the Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) is an admirable venture launched by the Central Government. A superb gift indeed by the Chief of Army Staff to his soldiers! It would attract more and more youth to the armed forces. Without looking a gift-horse in the mouth, the scheme needs to be absolved from minor oddities.

First, the entry to the scheme should be made simpler wherein an ex-servicemen hands over the cash and signs the application and affidavit kept with the nearest District Sainik Welfare Office to become a member. This will help give a kick-start to the scheme. Secondly, the ECHS seems more attractive than the Medical Benefit Scheme (MBS) launched by the Army Group Insurance Fund for retired officers. The MBS card holder needs to be educated on the benefits of the ECHS vis-a-vis the MBS. Those making use of the MBS identity card should be asked to pay only the balance amount to become members of the ECHS. And finally, the quality of treatment should be on a par with Service hospitals.

Neelam Bir Mann, Ferozepur

Increase free calls

The Union Government has decided to partially roll back telephone tariffs by increasing the number of calls. The subscribers will get some relief. The MTNL users in Delhi and Mumbai will get 60 free calls in a month instead of 30. The BSNL rural users will get 75 free calls from 50 calls and the urban users will get 50 free calls instead of 30. This implies that BSNL subscribers in urban areas will get 10 less free calls from even Delhi and Mumbai MTNL subscribers. Both the cities are metros. The BSNL should also allow 60 free calls for its urban customers.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India had taken three decisions in January this year. The first was to increase the telephone rentals from Rs 250 to Rs 280 per month, the second was to decrease the time duration from three minutes to two minutes and the third was to reduce the calls from 75 to 30 per month. The first two decisions were withdrawn by the authorities following pressure from various quarters. However, the third decision has been partial roll back. The BSNL subscribers have to bear the new burden of Rs 30 per two months. It would have been better if the free calls for MTNL and BSNL were kept at 60 per month.

M. L. Garg, Chandigarh