M A I L B A G

Fund shortage should not hit NCC activities

The NCC training activities have been suspended in all the schools and colleges under the command of NCC Group Headquarters, Patiala, covering the districts of Ropar, Fatehgarh Sahib, Patiala, Sangrur and Bathinda since August 2003 due to non-release of adequate funds by the Punjab government. Consequently, no activities including normal institutional training and annual training camps have been organised in these areas since then.

Senior Division cadets have become the worst victims as they cannot compete for the Republic Day Camp, 2004, or other national level camps. Nor will they be eligible to appear in Certificate ‘B’ and ‘C’ examinations next year for their failure to attend the required number of NCC camps and parades.

In the absence of 'C' certificate, the students will not be able to compete for seats reserved for NCC cadets in the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun. They will also be deprived of various incentives being given by different departments at the time of recruitment to the cadets holding 'C' Certificate. Above all, the very purpose of joining NCC will be defeated. It is time the authorities concerned took appropriate steps soon keeping in view the larger interest of the NCC cadets.

N. K. Gosain, Bathinda

Two-party system

Apropos of Mr H.K. Dua’s article “Who is to govern India?" (Oct 7), I share his guarded optimism that ultimately it is the people who have the power to shut the doors of power on criminals masquerading as politicians. What we find today is a deformed polity, a distorted system, a dwarfed vision, a demeaned bureaucracy, and a defeated democracy. People can definitely shut the doors on these pilferers of power but they need guts.

Electoral reforms are necessary to check the role of money and muscle power. It may sound Utopian, but I suggest a way out. We should have a two-party system. There is no need for elections because people always give an anti-establishment vote. If the BJP and its allies are in power now, after completing four years, the Congress and its allies should take over the charge.

Once in power for four years, a party may have to face a plebiscite after two years, a la vote of confidence. The Opposition need not pull down the government. Instead, it should frame its policies and programes for the coming years. Also let the politician renounce his/her blessed cucoon and come out to address the problems of the people.

We have a republic, but we don't have a Plato. We have people who are ready to act, but not a single viable philosophy to conduct us out of the present turmoil. Sadly, political parties hardly show any tenacity of purpose. They thrive on the sacrifices made by their leaders for a cause. Where is the cause? Where the sacrifice? And do we have leaders who believe in sacrifice? Or even a cause?

DR J. S. ANAND, Bathinda

II

Mr H.K Dua has rightly portrayed the factual position of the political set-up in his article “Who is to govern India” (Oct 7). The situation in UP and Bihar is bad to worse as people with criminal background are ruling the two states. Alarmingly, criminals are grabbing ministerial berths in the states.

The Supreme Court and the Election Commission have powers to close the doors of Parliament and State Assemblies to criminals. If the political parties are sincere enough to stop the mafia from entering the temples of democracy, they should bow to the guidelines of the highest court of the land.

Nachhattar SINGH, Odhan, Sirsa

III

Mr H.K. Dua’s article “Who is to govern India?” (Oct 7) is an eye-opener. It is a bitter truth that with crimes all over, mafia dons will rule India unless an “Ankush” (restriction) is imposed at all levels. If people are determined and committed, criminals can be rooted out of politics.

But then, everyone should vote for the right candidate in the election. A volunteer-team in all localities, villages etc. should be set up to check the growing incidence of crime.

S.K. HANS, Jalandhar