L E T T E R S    T O    T H E    E D I T O R

Left, BJP on the same side

After reading the editorial “CPM in strange company” (July 15), one feels sick to think that the secular and progressive Leftists are in league with the communalists to dislodge a secular government which they supported for four years to keep the BJP away from political power.

Till today, the critics of the nuclear deal have failed to convince the nation about their stand. Will they tell the nation if India is a signatory to the Hyde Act? India will be concerned only with IAEA, NSG and the proposed Indo-US deal. Our nuclear reactors will work with full capacity. Otherwise, from where India will get uranium needed to run our reactors?

SUDESH KUMAR SHARMA, Kapurthala

II

I appeal to all MPs to rise above petty political considerations and support the deal in the national interest. Dr Randhir Singh Goniana stated in his letter (July 16) that all the NRIs in the US support the deal. I can assure him that all the NRIs in the UK, too, are in favour of the agreement.

If the Shiromani Akali Dal doesn’t support the deal in the Lok Sabha on July 22, the NRIs may not support the SAD. I sent e-mail to eight SAD MPs requesting them to support the Manmohan Singh government on the deal.

BALDEV SINGH GILL, Avebury, Slough (UK)

III

Our comrades, unlike Caesar’s conspirators, are truly honourable. They are highly knowledgeable too. So they should know better what is good or bad for this country and its common people. They are true patriots too. But the only problem is that their patriotism extends to the north-east boundaries of our borders. Hence, good or bad is highly relative to them like Stalin’s truth.

Our nation must understand their invincible approach to scientific socialism versus capitalism. Political power and position for them is merely to serve the downtrodden. Surely, then, Comrade Karat is no Noble Cassius to hatch a conspiracy to topple the Manmohan Singh government. Or do we trace any hidden motive behind his actions? Let our countrymen ferret out the truth.

BALBIR SINGH SIDHU, Chandigarh

IV

It is surprising to know that 80 per cent MPs in the 543-member Lok Sabha don’t know anything about the nuclear deal. Why are they criticising each other if they are ignorant about the deal? Unfortunately, none is bothered about energy security and India’s future.

As a responsible citizen, I am very much disturbed over reports of horse trading of MPs before the confidence vote on July 22. When will our leaders behave as responsible politicians?

S. K. NAYAR, Panchkula

V

I agree with Maj-Gen Himmat Singh Gill (retd) that Badals should support the nuclear deal (July 11). Badals should support the UPA government in the national interest. The SAD should not behave like the Shiv Sena which is interested just for the party sake and not for nation’s sake. Badals are political and not religious leaders.

Col B.S. GHUMAN (retd), Mohali

VI

The nuclear deal should not be strictly viewed as any political party or alliance’s deal as it is concerned with the energy needs of India. We have exploited almost all our rivers for hydro-electric power; all good coal has been reserved for the iron and steal industry. As our thermal plants are direly in need of coal, we are importing it now.

Wind and solar energies are not yet technologically available. The nuclear energy is very clean and it will help our commissioned atomic reactors which are facing an acute shortage of fuel and hence are working below their installed capacity. There is no alternative to nuclear energy. We should learn from France which has met its energy need from nuclear energy.

P.S. BHATTY, Amritsar

VII

“Mistrust those in whom the urge to punish is strong”, this quote by Friedrich Nietzsche aptly applies to the current political scenario. The Samajwadi Party’s support is imperative for the UPA government. Having realised this, Mr Amar Singh has reportedly placed undue demands like imposition of the windfall tax and removal of EOU status to private oil firms. He is a close friend of Mr Anil Ambani and these demands are obviously his way of hampering Mr Mukesh Ambani’s oil and gas business.

Mr Amar Singh’s stand against private oil companies seems to be his way of getting even with Mr Mukesh Ambani, for trying to jeopardise Anil’s multi-billion dollar MTN deal. The SP is not setting a good precedent by playing politics of favour and should the government give in to its demands, it would harm the nation and the economy as a whole.

PRIYADARSHINI KUMAR, New Delhi

VIII

The opportunistic politics being played by the regional and small parties at the Centre has once again lowered the prestige of the world’s largest democracy. The manner in which these outfits are dictating terms to the Centre reminds one of the saying that it is the fox, and not the lion, which is the king. The nation should debate on such blatant opportunistic role of regional parties and its repercussions in national politics.

Dr RAJESH LAKHANPAUL, Mukerian

Stay firm, Mr Speaker! Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee is a ray a hope in the otherwise extremely gloomy political scenario that the country is presently experiencing. At a time when politicians are taking the country deep into the morass of chaos, he has stood firm as the last sentinel of parliamentary democracy. If Mr Chatterjee buckles under pressure of both the Left and the Right and resigns, it will be the last nail in the coffin of democracy. I am sure he will stay firm and not let us down. R.J. KHURANA, Bhopal

An eye-wash

The recent reduction of VAT on petroleum products is merely an eye-wash. It is likely that the dealer, instead of the consumer, will pocket the little relief given by the Punjab government.

For example, after reducing VAT on LPG cylinder by 95 paise, it should cost Rs 345.85 to the customer. However, the dealer or transporter will ask for Rs 350 as is done hitherto, thus pocketing Rs 4.15 a cylinder.

While standing in the long queues, one can’t argue for the excess charge. To add to the customer’s pity, the dealer does not issue cash memo as in Sangrur. As a result, one can’t ask for the excess money charged. Thus, the dealer is getting the benefit of VAT reduction instead of the consumer.

P. N. GUPTA, Sangrur

Power tariff hike

The Punjab government has increased the electricity tariff for both domestic and industrial consumers. That too, from April 1, 2008. Not an iota of thought was given that public gets uninterrupted power supply.

In this part of Punjab (somewhere the position is worst in the state) the Punjab State Electricity Board has started imposing unscheduled power cuts after the municipal elections were over. The bonanza is over and the residents are once again at the mercy of the PSEB.

Hardly a day passes when there is no electricity failure in Bartana and surrounding villages. Sometimes, the duration of the hide and seek game of electricity is of seven to eight hours! All complaints in this regard have fallen on deaf ears. Is an electric shock needed to awaken the power supply authorities from their deep slumber?

D.V. JOSHI, Bartana (Zirakpur)