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

Bandhs can’t be a solution

In his article “Let’s develop work ethos”, (Saturday Extra, July 17), Khushwant Singh has rightly questioned the Opposition as to what it would do to bring the prices down if it were in power. It is the tendency of the Opposition to point fingers at the government, but finds it difficult to solve the same problem if it is itself in power. The bandhs should be totally banned as these do not lead to any conclusions except harassment of the public and a monetary loss to the nation. The recent bandh was against the rise in the prices of petrol and diesel. Let the people sacrifice by not using the vehicles for a week’s time to teach a lesson to the oil companies by making it surplus in the market, thus compelling them to reduce the price. The bandhs have to be replaced with a work culture to compete with the world market as we are not short of any infrastructure as compared to China.

Rani Asra, Ferozepore

Gosh Gurgaon!

Sunit Dhawan has done a great job by highlighting the irritants of Gurgaon city in his article “Gurgaon, the Bubble Bursts” (Saturday Extra, July 17). The negligence in the infrastructure development of this important city, which fetches 46 per cent revenue to the state exchequer, boldly speaks of a sleeping (mal)administration and the state government. The situation in the town is much worse than what has been described in the lead article. Even the bus stand at Khar-Khoda is much better than that of Gurgaon. What is shocking is that the administration and the government have become insensitive to the woes of the people in spite of frequent news about it flashing in all the newspapers. The newly elected MLA from Gurgaon (a known property dealer) is now a minister in the Haryana Government. Even he has failed to motivate and compel the administration to take some remedial measures. So long as the MCG is not strengthened adequately with authority and staff, the problems of the residents of Gurgaon will continue.

Baljeet Singh,Gurgaon

Victims of natural disasters

The write-up “In search of a home” by Ajitha Menon (Spectrum, July 11) makes for an enlightening read. The writer aptly narrates the nightmarish tale of the victims of earthquakes, floods, cyclones, etc., who migrated to a city like Kolkata in search of home and livelihood.

Their living in degrading conditions does no credit to the country where they dwell. They are under constant threat of eviction even from the squalor of slums, undulating pavements under flyovers and the vicinity of rail lines, where ordinary citizens won’t even defecate and urinate. Scared of the shoddy and downright sleazy tactics adopted during their eviction, women there often succumb to the pressure of burly policeman for sexual gratification.

Dr Soshil Rattan, Amritsar

Kashmir trouble: creation of politicians Maj-Gen Pushpendra Singh (retd) in his article, “Targeted from within” (The Tribune, July 18, Prespective), has painted a true picture of the activities of Pakistan’s Lashkar-e-Toiyaba, aided by anti-national elements, including some political parties. These elements want to curtail the operational freedom of our security forces, who are ever ready to lay down their lives for protecting the unity and integrity of the country. The present problem in the Kashmir valley is politically created. It is a tragedy of this great country that our political leadership is afraid of acting with grit and determination due to the fear of losing vote banks. For them regions and religions are more important than the interests of the nation. MULTAN SINGH PARIHAR, Jalari-Hamirpur (HP)