M A I L B A G

Left ought to learn from China

I share the view in the editorial “Hu’s advice: The Left must take the right path” that the Left parties ought to learn from the Chinese comrades. There is nothing wrong in it. The way the Chinese leadership has “adapted itself to the changing needs of time” is laudable.

The editorial accuses the Left leadership of sticking obdurately to their doctrinaire beliefs. It disdains their consistent opposition to the US and puts forth a strange argument that they oppose this imperialist nation mindlessly.

My question is “Was the US invasion of Iraq justified? The second charge against the Left parties is that they thoughtlessly oppose the privatisation and the economic reforms. This is not just true. They have been fighting for the Navratnas, the BALCO and profit-making PSUs by opposing their privatisation.

Everyone has his own perception about the truth but it shouldn’t cross objectivity and the ground reality. Can West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya be acclaimed as the most powerful personality in that state so much so that he led the CPM to its landslide victory in the last Assembly elections?

The Chinese never neglect their labour and the peasantry. But we are squeezing the working class in the name of labour reforms. Our Union Ministers, industrialists and even journalists can learn form the Chinese people and their successful experiments in different fields of life.

RAJ BAHADUR YADAV, Fatehabad

It’s media’s credit

As regards the life imprisonment of Manu Sharma (Dec 21), it is well said by Juvenal, “Many commit the same crime with different result. One bears a cross for the crime, another a crown.”

The lower court has found Manu Sharma and his accomplices not guilty and has set them free for want of evidence. Had the media and the people not raised the issue of Jessica Lall’s murder case, Manu Sharma, the main accused, would have gone scot free.

The accolade for Manu Sharma’s conviction goes to the media and the voice of the people who made Jessica Lall’s murder a national issue. The manner in which the Jessica case was speeded up by the Delhi High Court should be emulated with all heinous crimes to restore people’s faith in the system.

SUBER SINGH PARIHAR, Yol (Kangra)

II

Life imprisonment for Manu Sharma is the result of constructive role played by both the print and electronic media. God bless them! But I feel the media glare is lacking in the case of Navjot Singh Sidhu. I appeal to the media to play a similar role in this case too. He is no exception.

DEPENDER BRAR, Faridkot

Metro for Chandigarh

There is a strong case for introducing the Mass Rail Transport Service (MRTS) in Chandigarh linking Panchkula and Mohali. The Tri-city has become a mega city consisting of over hundred sectors.

The traffic problem on certain busy routes like Madhya Marg, Mohali-Sector 17 route Tribune Chowk-Sector 22-Bus stand route have become chaotic and urgently need MRTS. The cost of the metro on this 35-km route would be Rs 35,00 crore which can be shared equally by Punjab and Haryana governments and the Union Territory of Chandigarh Administration.

The projects can be executed in four years after the financial closure. The metro rail system will be economically viable because the density of traffic volume is 4,000 vehicles an hour during rush hours. The Chandigarh Administration should take up this bold initiative urgently.

RAM NIWAS MALIK, former Engineer-in-Chief (Haryana), Gurgaon

Walk to freedom

This is in response to the news-item “Pak family walks to freedom” (Dec 23). India is a historical country. It has very rich culture and traditions. It has always stood for peace, freedom, friendship and harmony around the world. It has always been like a big brother to all its neighbours. Most of all, India is democratic, responsible and a mature nation.

I was shocked when I read that the Indian authorities had jailed a Pakistani family and their two young sons for two years for inadvertently entering into the Indian territory. It was a heartless, rather un-Indian, act to put them through such an ordeal for an honest mistake on their part. Why weren’t they immediately deported to Pakistan?

SUBHASH C. CHAUDHRY, Indianapolis (USA)

Cops in true colours

When a senior police officer is repeatedly pulled up by the Punjab and Haryana High Court for misbehaviour, it is time the state government did some explaining whether the officer is indispensable or in possession of some rare qualifications to continue in the same position.

In any case, it is disturbing to note that the officer concerned lacks not only the normal courtesy due to a High Court Judge but also the required respect with which a cultured lady needs to be treated. The fate of ordinary mortals at his hands can better be imagined. Perhaps he represents the state police in its true colours.

R.P. GUPTA, Karnal