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

Returning to a bipolar world

The internal conditions in Syria are getting complicated day by day and turning it into a global issue. The super powers are directly or indirectly indulging themselves to decide the future of Syria.  It is taking the form of another cold war. On one side is the Syrian President Bashar Al Asad supported by Russia, China, Iran, Cuba and Lebanon.

On the other side, Syria is represented by the Syrian National Conference (SNC) and the Free Syrian Army (FSA) supported by the US, European Union and Sunni Arab nations. The million dollar question is why international community is so anxious to indulge in the internal issues of Syria?

The US believes that Syria trains Palestine-based “Hamas” terrorist group. On the Palestine-Israel issue, Syria also stood with Palestine.  Now United Nations also admits that Syria is moving towards economic, social and political devastation.  World powers are once again becoming bipolar. The Third World nations are confused. Another organisation like NAM is also not possible at this juncture.

SEHDEV KUMAR SHARMA, Jalandhar

Brief concern

Every time a terror attack takes place, for a brief period the government of the respective state, the government at the Centre especially the Home Ministry tries to show sincerity in tracking the culprit. However, in the due course of time, they become lackadaisical, while lapses continue to afflict the security system.

The security agencies and government hardly take any serious lessons from the past. The perpetrators of violence must be apprehended for the sake of the country and its people's security.

MOHD MUDASSIR ALAM, Kishanganj, Bihar

Licence to vandalism

Will the trade unions after the two-day strike persistently and forcefully pursue the minimum-wages issue bringing about a sensible proportionality between the salaried classes’ earnings and the consumer price indices? What will come of such strikes that aggravate the price situation because of disruption in supply line of essential commodities?

As much as the trade union members need to stop treating strikes as a license to vandalise, the workers’ leaders would do well to move away from the customary practice of holding morchas and public rallies and engage in healthy dialogues with the government and alleviate the sufferings of the working class.

With a government at the helm accused of being in a haste to introduce ‘big ticket’ reforms, should this countrywide agitation then be seen as a vociferous condemnation of its misplaced agendas by different sections of the society? Or is it the voice of the marginalised section of the population, fragmented into classes financially, which finds itself hopelessly stranded in the middle of nowhere fighting for survival? But the big question is will the strike bring about any visible changes in their present status or ‘reform’ their conditions? For after this brief ‘enforced pause’ they will once again be back to their old grind, treating the unproductive period as a national event.

PACHU MENON, Goa

III

The miscreants who indulged in harming government and public property during the Bharat bandh were vividly seen on TV doing illegal and wrongful acts of violence. The authorities must take legal action against such persons based on this footage otherwise more of such uncalled-for events shall take place in future and encourage more people to indulge in vandalism.

MAHESH KUMAR, Delhi

Legendary figure

The life history of centurion marathon runner Fauja Singh should be included in school curriculums the world over. The UNO should make him an ambassador of health and veteran sports.

He is a role model for perfect health. His achievements can inspire one and all to shun a sedentary lifestyle to gain good health. Freedom from diseases is the mool mantra for longevity of life and property.

The ‘turbaned tornado’ Fauja Singh enjoys a super human quality at this age which none can emulate (OPED article ‘David Cameron to take up NRIs’ case’, February 19). Only a few centurions are surviving and many of them are virtually confined to beds what to speak of running marathon races. He is a sterling example of good health, enormous energy and envious longevity.

KARNAIL SINGH, Kharar

No discrimination

With reference to a news report ‘Longer stay: Class IV staff shifted, seniors spared’ (Himachal Tribune, February 18) regarding HP State Forest Development Corporation Limited (HPSFDC), it is clarified that the High Court had directed the shifting of surplus staff and not the staff with longest stay. All Class I and Class II officers are taken on deputation from the Forest Department and as such there is no surplus officer. Reference to senior officers’ stay in Shimla is, thus, irrelevant.

The corporation has about 1,000 chowkidars, of which 97 were found surplus and they had to be shifted. Those with the longest stay were declared surplus for shifting against vacant posts. Thereafter, some adjustments were made on compassionate grounds.

JS WALIA, MD, HPSFDC, Shimla