M A I L B A G

Police brutality knows no bounds

THIS refers to the editorial, “Poor Captaincy” (Sept 23). The action of the Punjab Police of lathicharging and manhandling the girl students is beyond comprehension. The incident was highly brutal, barbaric and immoral. It’s indeed shameful that Capt. Amarinder Singh gave a clean chit to the guilty cops.

Girls should be given due respect in every walk of life. The Captain should have found other alternatives to stop the protest instead of using police force. It’s time for him to immediately appologise to the Punjab state for this inhuman act.

Also, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University should be given due recognition across the state, in no time.

SOURABH BAMBA, Ferozepore City

Futile CBMs

The US based Human Rights Group has clearly stated that the so called “Azad” Kashmir is a “Closed land” deprived of all liberties, from where Pakistan continues to infiltrate militants into Jammu and Kashmir as a policy. Even General Musharraf in a recent meeting at Brussels declared that Kashmir runs in the blood of every Pakistani!

The confidence building measures, however good-intentioned they are, would remain an exercise in futility as long as the “core” issue of Kashmir’s future status remain unresolved. Meanwhile, crossborder terrorism has to be dealt with firmly, regardless of how long it takes to eliminate this scourge!

Brig H.S. CHANDEL (retd), Una

Dental care

The government of Punjab has appointed a large number of rural medical officers in the rural health dispensaries through Zila Parishad offices to provide general health care. There is an urgent need for dental care as healthy teeth are foundation of general good health. It will be very useful if Dental Officers are also appointed on the same lines in rural areas. It will meet the urgent need of the people and provide employment to large number of BDS doctors who are unemployed and need some gainful employment.

It is suggested that at least 500 rural dental doctors should be appointed in the villages and vacancies may be adjusted against the further recruitment of rural medical officers which were announced by the government recently.

DALIP SINGH, Bathinda

Blood donation IT is sad that with a healthy population of over 1200 million people, we still have to import blood. This is because voluntary blood donation culture has still not taken roots in our psyche. Rural people are willing but their fears have to be allayed about blood donation. Very few are aware that donating blood once in every three months, between the age of 18 and 65, is absolutely safe. Infact, it paves the way for regeneration of fresh and healthy blood. I am donating blood for the last 34 years and am ticking. What better joy than guarding the borders, along with saving a life with a bottle of blood. So, let’s donate blood on October 1 ( Blood Donation Day) and make it a  national habit. Colonel R D Singh, Commandant 213 Transit Camp, Jammu (J&K)

Tourism gift

This year the most memorable and special gift is offered by Indian Railways which started Chandigarh-Morinda new rail line and also started one Jan-Shatabdi Express train between two holy cities i.e. Amritsar and Haridwar on the day of World Tourism (September 27).

It would have been more appreciated and more beneficial for the residents of this part of the region if this train could also provide some direct rail link between Chandigarh and Amritsar. Two AC coaches and three non AC coaches of Jan-Shatabdi should start from Chandigarh or Kalka and attached with Haridwar-Amritsar Jan Shatabdi Express at Ambala cantonment.

GURPREET S. MALHOTRA, Kansal

Whither NAM?

The recent summit and the revival of the so-called NAM is an irrelevant and wild goose chase. NAM was relevant only during the Cold War. It has no meaning and place in the present international situation.

The present international contradiction is between the international terrorism and the peaceful nations, including India, who are facing its lethal effects. I think India should not have joined the Havana summit. What have we common with the rabid anti-Americans like North Korea and Iran? As a nation committed to the ideas of Gandhiji we should not have joined them to endorse the resolution of the proliferation of the atomic bombs all over the world.

AMARJIT SINGH GORAYA, Australia

Senior Citizens’ Day

Senior Citizens’ Day falls on October 1. Unfortunately, no relief is being given to them by Centre/State governments except that banking organisations have provided increase in rate of interest on fixed deposits.

The Punjab Government should provide them concession in state-run buses. PUDA, HUDA and improvements should have provision for old-age homes at affordable rates.

O.P. GARG, Patiala