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Post-Lokpal hurdles: Find solutions now

My prime issue of concern is the mode of appointment and the check on Lokpal, whether a single or plural entity. Will impeachment be the only course to tame it? Impeachment is no easy solution.

India has an excellent constitution. However, its working is guided by the quality of man power using it. Post-1947, Rao Kahn Singh, once a deputy minister and later Speaker of PEPSU (Patiala and East Punjab States Union) was the first known defector.

When the Pepsu Assembly was dissolved, to have his grievance heard he went to Dr BR Ambedkar, the person who framed the Constitution and then the Law Minister to the Government of India. On hearing him, Ambedkar flared up and threw the copy of the Constitution out of a side window.

He said annoyingly, “Every one with a frog’s brain wants to become a minister these days. I worked late hours in the hope that I was serving the country. Now, I know better. You never deserved this constitution”. This incident happened many decades ago. Since then the country’s character has taken a further dip. So, now what is more vital for Anna is to take up the challenge of social cleansing, rather than jumping into the political arena.

V IK SHARMA, Jalandhar

II

I endorse the writer’s views in the editorial “Making Lokpal accountable’ (December 17), but it missed out the vital point of the consequences, if the all-powerful institution alongwith its paraphernalia, gets infected with the virus of corruption. Looking at the fact that impeachment has failed to punish judges of doubtful integrity; this remedy is not likely to check the Lokpal as well. Rather than rushing through the Lokpal Bill, the parliament should dwell on the issue slowly and cautiously.

The parliament must not buckle under pressure from any quarter whatsoever in the larger interest of the nation.

TARA CHAND, Una

Faith and politics

The judgement regarding voting rights to Sehajdhari Sikhs in SGPC elections is a landmark judgement. The reaction of SGPC chief was on expected lines and he has every right to challenge the judgement in the apex court. The reaction of Shiromani Akali Dal is politically unwise. As a political party SAD should not have a problem, as more Sikh votes means benefit to SAD.

They might surely lose votes, if they publicly oppose the judgement. Sikh leaders and Jathedars should understand that the SGPC is only a caretaker of the gurudwaras and educational/health institutions.

The SGPC should not resist if more Sikhs are getting rights. Caste has no place in Sikhism but it is sad to note that it exists. SGPC has a lot of work to do for the upliftment of humanity. Entry of Sehajdhari Sikhs might bring SGPC closer to the problems faced by Sikhs, in general. The judgement can be used as an opportunity to help mankind.

Dr SURINDER GUPTA, Ludhiana

Estranged friends

This is with reference to the editorial ‘Uncanny estrangement’ (December 21). The jubilation of party workers, who resented the extreme powers exercised by Jayalalitha’s close aide Sasikala, was expected. Their 25-year old friendship is famous as a fable.

Whether their friendship was based on political expediency or for fighting a common political rival is anybody’s guess. World history is replete with instances of political murders and sacking of colleagues for political ascendancy to satisfy their lust for power, so estrangement between the two friends is nothing new.

SURABHI AIRI, Vadodara

Black money

This is with reference to the editorial ‘Political posturing again’ (December 16). It rightly pinpoints that the will to trace black money is missing among the political class. The government has clearly admitted its defeat in fighting the menace in the Supreme Court by refusing to divulge names of the culprits because it will open a Pandora’s Box before the elections.

Certainly names of Congress leaders will also come in front of the public. The Congress- led government is guilty, that is why the will to trace black money and to bring it back is not palpable. But we, the citizens of India, are not stupid not to understand their dirty political gimmicks.

SANJAY CHAWLA, Amritsar

Class division

Our society is divided into two classes, labour class and the so-called intellectual class (policy makers). The people who do physical labour are paid less and the educated class gets more. The farmers are getting poorer day by day, the middlemen are earning in millions. The high government officials get pension up to Rs 50,000 whereas a labourer earns less than Rs 200 a day.

The Punjab government is spending crores on big advertisements to get back to power, but has no money to pay the pensioners.

So where is our democracy heading to? We don’t need a Lokpal but reforms in administration, judiciary, police and parliament.

Perhaps, some day the central government might also be privatised by calling tenders from Infosys, TCS and may be foreign firms to rule the country.

A K KASHYAP, Chandigarh

Making an excuse The article ‘Fighting corruption with RTI’ (December 21) enlightened the readers on the Official Secrets Act, 1923, having no connection with the Right To Information (RTI) Act, 2005. Based on this ignorance, the common man has given up seeking information on any case when it was denied to them by the officials concerned under the false pretext of the Official Secrets Act. The article has given us an insight into the tactics used by petty officials to deny information. The Official Secrets Act, 1923, is not applicable to general cases like information on the set-up of the organisation or its working or why a particular person was denied promotion or selection for a particular post, etc. Such information is of general nature and cannot be denied under any rule or law of the land. What has the Official Secret Act, 1923, got to do with such general information? Such information does not relate to the security of the nation or its defence forces or any top secret information. The government officials have been befooling the common man. R K KAPOOR, Chandigarh

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