M A I L B A G

Criminals must be defeated in elections

Mr H.K. Dua’s front-page editorial, “Parliament — A Sadhu’s sanctuary” (Aug 26) was timely and thought provoking. It is a fact that some MPs who call themselves as people’s true representatives do not deserve to sit in Parliament. Why should those with criminal records be allowed to contest the elections at all?

Would the Union Government and the Reserve Bank of India appoint a Chairman and Managing Director of a nationalised bank against whom a criminal or vigilance inquiry case is pending? No. How could people like Sadhu Yadav and Prabhunath Singh get elected to Parliament from Bihar?

Mr Dua’s comment that “in these days of politics sans morality, no political party, big or small, is shy of supping with the devil, if necessary”, is absolutely true. It is now for us to elect only those with a clean record, those who can lead our nation successfully.

R.C. SUNEJA, New Delhi

II

The editorial is in tune with the current mood of the common man and an eye-opener for the general public. The masses can closely watch the conduct of the elected representatives at the highest level and can lament how their hard-earned money is being wasted.

Unfortunately, corruption has come to stay. It has become an inseparable part of our life. I do not know how can we check it. The whole country is burning with numerous problems. In Punjab, drug addiction has become a big menace. Who will check this?

MEHAR CHAND, Bagli Kalan (Ludhiana)

III

India is a country where the sacred Ganga flows. This sacred soil has given birth to such stalwarts as Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhash Chandra Bose and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. India is indeed mahan as there is no dearth of men and women of integrity, character and vision.

That’s why Mr Dua said in his editorial that Parliament’s character will depend upon the character of men and women elected to this institution. Men like Sadhu Yadav have converted Parliament into an akhara giving a bad name to the country. The editorial would have served the purpose if political parties give tickets only to those who deserve to be our MPs.

K.L. JAITLEY, Dobhi (Kullu)

IV

When the issue is one of raising their pay and perks, there is all-party consensus and the Bill is passed promptly. But when the whole nation is concerned with so many problems, the members abstain from the session or disturb the proceedings. There should be an all-party consensus on how to ensure smooth conduct of the parliamentary proceedings. Every political party is responsible for the conduct of its members in Parliament and state legislatures.

Dr DARSHAN SINGH, Sirsa

V

The hike in pay, allowances and pension of our MPs will cost an additional burden of about Rs 60 crore a year to our exchequer. The question is whether our MPs deserve this hike.

Are they doing their job properly? Everyday one can see ugly scenes in both houses of Parliament. One wonders what they are doing and what they want to convey to the people through their shoddy conduct.

Dr NARESH RAJ, Patiala

Truth versus sham I refer to the news-item, “Occult practitioners helping people turn over a new leaf” (Aug 31). If Dr Sidharth claims about his search for the divine truth, nature revealing him her mystery and divinity started guiding him directly are true, how come he has nothing to explain as to what exactly took place in his life? What did the nature reveal to him? Why did he lock himself in his room for a year despite his encounter with the divinity? A spiritual person with a deep inner realisation is considered wise and selfless and he always has some words of wisdom for the common man. I found him saying nothing. What is his message to those who are not able to take his courses? Also, I find tarot card is nothing but a scam to fool people. Over four decades ago, I used to see people with no education, sitting on the roadsides and playing this trick. SUBHASH C. CHAUDHRY, Indianapolis (USA)

Fiat to nab criminals

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s directive to all Superintendents of Police to prepare a list of top criminals in their respective areas and also the names of those who fund them is timely. Open trial of criminals who are holding the nation to ransom is a step in the right direction. Chief Ministers of some other states where the criminals are on the rise should follow suit.

There is, no doubt, that hardened criminals in some states have made our country morally weak. Honest Indians, especially political leaders, do not appear to be coming forward to enforce discipline in the country. Timely punishment to hardened criminals and their supporters will surely help India march forward.

Prof B.M. RAWLLEY, Nabha

No interviews

On Feb 20, 2003, the Punjab State Warehousing Corporation invited applications for the posts of Technical Assistants, Godown Assistants and Accounts Clerks. A written test was conducted later. Candidates who qualified in this test were called for interview in July 2003. But it was postponed. The interview was rescheduled in September 2003. This too was postponed. There is no further news about this test or interview.

Is it proper for the government to keep the candidates in suspense for years together, after having collected lakhs of rupees from them towards application form fee?

RUPINDERJEET PANDWALA Dera Bassi

Commendable job

Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal dared to undertake the Herculean task of cleaning and reviving the sacred Kali Bein rivulet. This is highly commendable. President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam acknowledged his efforts in his speeches and visited the Kali Bein. Baba Seechewal’s efforts may be taken as a role model to clean the other polluted rivers.

S. ONKAR SINGH, Pandori Nijjaran (Jalandhar)