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

War talk will not help

If Pakistan is preparing for a war against India, then it will prove to be its biggest enemy. Presently, Pakistan is in throes of an economic crisis and war will add to its economic meltdown. Pakistan has not learnt any lessons from the past. If Pakistan chooses once again to be belligerent, then it will reveal that their army calls the shots.

The dubious support of Taliban to the Pakistan Army against India proves that terrorism is alive and well in Pakistan. That’s why the world community and India have to teach Pakistan a lesson.

First, the world community has to take stringent actions against Pakistan. India too must take harsh steps but war is not a solution to the current impasse because both countries are now nuclear powers.

Therefore, time has come to punish Pakistan but by joining hands with the world.

ANUVRAT ARYA, New Delhi

II

India and Pakistan must avoid war at all costs. People in both countries want peace.The war between the two nuclear-armed nations may lead to nuclear conflagration.

According to an American estimate, if there is a nuclear confrontation between the two nations, millions of people will perish in the first nuclear strike and millions will be critically injured. The land in both countries will become barren and the water will be poisoned. So we must avoid this nuclear suicide.

AMAR JIT SINGH GORAYA, Griffith (NSW), Australia

No celebrations

To express national concern over Mumbai carnage, we should not be having celebrations to herald the New Year. Also with the war clouds on the horizon, it is time to firm up rather than partying mid-night in gay abandon.

We can emulate our Indian Navy Chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta who had cancelled the Navy Day celebrations on 4th December in the wake of Mumbai carnage. 

AIR CMDE RAGHUBIR SINGH (Retd), Pune

II

New Year countdown has started. This is that time of the year when a series of celebrations are lined up.

The country is in a state of mourning, and welcoming 2009 is set to be a low-key affair. After the recent Mumbai terror attacks most of the big hotels around the country have scrapped plans for New Year eve celebrations, yet many are going ahead with New Year festivities.

Shouldn’t we be more considerate to the loss of life in the recent terrorist attack in Mumbai? Isn’t it time to demonstrate support and solidarity with the families of the victims? Or have we become so self-obsessed that we fail to see the Mumbai carnage as a national tragedy?

RAJESH KRISHNAN, Chandigarh.

Mockery of justice

In the editorial “Mockery of justice” (Dec 22), you have definitely given voice to the grief of the affected persons. The observation that different yardsticks should not be applied for different persons is very relevant. The tragedies like Uphaar are very shocking. If the persons responsible for such fatal omissions would not be meted out proper punishment, the faith of the victims in judiciary will not be sustained for long

HARDESH GOSWAMI Bhiwani

Matter of concern

The news “Education mess in Sangrur district ” (Dec 20) by Sushil Goyal reflects the deteriorating condition in the education department in the district.

It speaks volumes of many administrative lacunas. Several teaching and non-teaching posts are lying vacant in government senior secondary schools of the district.

Efforts must be made to equip government schools with teaching faculty, equipments and other vital necessities. Only then will we be able to educate and thus change the destiny of our youth.

ONKAR SINGH, Moran (Jalandhar)

Against the Constitution! Nine nominated councillors hold the key to the Chandigarh Mayoral elections. But they are not technically eligible to vote. Under Section 2 (a)(i) of Article 243 R of our Constitution (as incorporated by 74th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992) there is a provision for appointment of persons having special knowledge or experience in municipal administration as nominated members in every municipality. But the proviso to the said section clearly prohibits the voting rights of these nominated members. The Chandigarh Municipal Corporation is governed by the Punjab Municipal Corporation (Extension to Chandigarh) Act, 1996, from July 24, 1994. Although the parent Punjab Municipal Corporation Act, 1976, has no provision for voting rights of nominated councillors, the same has been incorporated in the above said 1994 extension to the Chandigarh Act. Although in union territories, the President under Article 243ZB of our Constitution, may direct certain exceptions and modifications in the provisions of 74th Constitution Amendment Act, 1992, but is it wise to supersede a constitutional bar by way of a legislative enactment? Permitting nominated councillors to vote is against the spirit of Article 243 of the Constitution. HEMANT KUMAR, Advocate Ambala city