Former Congress president Sitaram Kesari, who had himself been questioned by the CBI in a disproportionate assets case, could hardly be “Mr Clean”. He realised that if he wants to remain the party leader, he cannot be fussy about scams or scandals. Even otherwise, it is not possible to wash the daub of corruption that has got stuck to the white khadi that most Congressmen wear.

Like the BJP, the Janata Dal, which was constituted in the wake of Janata Party, was also contaminated by the Congress culture of mixing power with politics. The Janata Dal was expected to provide a third force and retrieve the standards which the BJP and Congress have forgotten because of electoral strategies. Unfortunately, the Janata Dal did not rise above political comforts or personal differences. A party, whose president Lalu Prasad Yadav is an accused in the Rs 1,000 crore fodder scam, cannot claim to set examples of integrity.

Sadly, the failure of the third force reduces options before the voters who are sick of both, BJP and Congress. Most regional parties use similar slogans, their rule also reflects the same arrogance of power.

DINESH K BHARDWAJ, Zirakpur

Humility speaks

I met the Army chief to-be Gen Bikram Singh for the first time in 2010 at Nabha during the 50th anniversary celebrations of our school. I was asked to speak at a ceremony dedicated to honour the support staff (‘Class IV’ employees in the Indian bureaucratic parlance). A stage was set up for the guests but all the Class IV staff members were seated cross-legged on the grass.

Gen Bikram Singh was also asked to address the gathering. Unlike all other speakers, he switched to Hindi to address the gathering, rather than the customary English, so that he could be better understood by the intended audience.

He acknowledged the services of the humble staff members by comparing it to that provided by his own parents in terms of caring. At the end of the speech, he did something unexpected of someone so distinguished. Wiping his own moist eyes, he came down from the dais and sat down cross-legged amongst the staff for a group picture. His simple gesture of humility touched all.

Dr RUPINDER SINGH BRAR, US

Not the reality

India is admired by outsiders for having a woman President, CEOs, top bureaucrats, Olympic winners, et al. This is the story of just a handful of Indian women. Even today the mass of women population is a victim of oppression and maltreatment at workplace and home (“The female factor”, March 12). National Crime Records Bureau recorded 22,172 and 9,961 cases of reported rape and sexual harassment respectively in 2010. It is only one out of the ten cases that is reported.

It is high time for the government particularly and we, the people in general, to make India safe for the fairer sex.

AASTHA BAGGA, Hoshiarpur

Avoid sops

It is learnt that the Punjab government is going to increase the retirement age of its employees from 58 to 60. In their manifesto, the Akalis had promised to give employment to 10 lakh people and government jobs to 2 lakh unemployed. By increasing the age of retirement, it will take away the chances of unemployed youth who are educated and have know-how of the latest technology and are more competent.

The government should curtail their expenditure on politicians, populous schemes like free water, free electricity, atta-dal scheme, free bicycles, disbursement in ‘sangat darshans’ etc. The interest of general public should be foremost than a particular group of people.

SP SINGH, Patiala

II

The ‘red beacon’ culture and the manned security cover to the elected legislators should be discouraged. Badal should give ministries to the chosen ministers as per their knowledge quotient relevant to the portfolio (“Man it right”, March 10). As SAD-BJP has clear cut majority, the chief minister need not “please” anyone. Sukhbir Singh Badal has worked magic with his political skills in bringing the combine to rule second time so need of the hour is to provide people efficient and clean administration with humility and accountability.