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India needs to be extra vigilant

By debunking the Pakistan National Assembly’s resolution against the execution of Afzal Guru, the Indian Parliament has made it categorically clear that it will not tolerate any kind of interference in its internal affairs (Editorial ‘Guru in Pak parliament’ March 16).

The recent fidayeen attack on the CRPF personnel in Srinagar, frequent cross-border firing and infiltration attempts, increased militant activities in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) and the existence of terror training camps there, prove beyond doubt that Pakistan has unashamedly backtracked from its earlier commitment of not exporting terrorism to India. With political situation being very fragile in Pakistan, there is likelihood that political parties will indulge in anti-India propaganda to garner votes in the upcoming elections in May.

This will surely escalate terrorist violence in India. Given Pakistan’s obnoxious behaviour, India needs to be extra vigilant. It has done well to suspend all cross-border trade and call off the planned hockey series with Pakistan. Amidst the prevailing political discontent between the two neighbours, there is no use continuing with the dialogue process for improving bilateral relations. Also, the UPA-led government at the Centre should sternly warn the ruling National Conference, the People’s Democratic Party and other politicians and moderate Kashmiri separatists in Jammu and Kashmir not to sacrifice national interests at the altar of political opportunism. Since the security of the country is of paramount importance, the government should also not yield to their oft-repeated demand of repealing the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from the state.

DS Kang, Hoshiarpur

Unhelpful postal staff

In England, in over four years in the 1970s, I often had reasons to go to the post office. I do not remember a single occasion when I faced rudeness there. Indeed post office staff were often helpful, telling me how better to do something or how I might save money.

In contrast, in several of Delhi's post offices I have routinely encountered clerks and postmasters who are not merely unhelpful but actually obstructionist. It is a major effort to get them to do anything.

The latest example is a parcel to the USA whose label clearly asked for “Registered” but which was sent by the more expensive Speed Post (or priority). The surly and unyielding clerk at the Connaught Place post office insisted that what he had done was correct. He seemed now to know that the identifiers of registered articles begin with the letter "R" and that CP226814541IN cannot be anything but Speed Post. The very cost of postage is another clear indicator.

Shall I ever get back the money I was over-charged? How many hapless citizens are ripped off in this way each day?

Mukul Dube, Delhi

Agri challenge

The article ‘Sustainable agriculture’ (Tribune, March 19) is thought provoking. To find economically viable solutions for our challenges in Indian agriculture, we need policy implication-oriented research and not t-value significance at 95 per cent level of significance with many disconnections among various performance indicators of agricultural economy.

For qualifying an agricultural process as ‘sustainable’ the essentials include 5 Rs (resistance, resilience, regeneration, redesign and replenishment). All developmental processes must essentially pass through the test of 5 Rs which have been thought off to show that it is in our hands to design developmental programmes so that they ensure environmental safety.

The one practical solution of these problems is to develop military farms on the barren land for bringing more land under cultivation.

Rural industrialisation ( not industries located in village) with backward and forward linkage with agriculture can certainly make agriculture economically viable vocation if not profession with selective mechanisation and use of vermin-culture biotechnology and genetic engineering removing perish-ability in agro products like pometo (Tomato plus potato).

Prof MM Goel, Kurukshetra

Effective policing

The article “Being forewarned is forearmed”, March 19, raised the current requirements for making effective policing in our nation. Community participation is necessary for making an effective public service provider institution.

But some recent act of police like the Tarn-Taran girl assault case” by the Punjab Police and brutal handling of people protesting against Delhi gang rape case by the Delhi Police have shown unethical and irresponsible behavior of the police. Police personnel should be imparted training to avoid such incidents and for making them accountable to the general public.

Bhagwan Dass, Bathinda

Mounting road casualties It is a pity that despite the fact that scores of people are getting killed or injured in road accidents almost every day in the country, little or no attention is being paid by the Central and state governments to raise the strength and efficiency of the traffic police and the Transport Department and to upgrade the ramshackle infrastructure to prevent accidents. Most cities have battered roads which are seldom checked for their condition much less properly repaired. When repaired most times it was as good as not done. A cursory look at the moving traffic on the roads in cities or on national highways convincingly proves that it is free for all. Fear of the law is completely absent. Latest in the series of major accidents is an accident occurred on March 19. At least 37 persons were killed and seven injured when a speeding Mumbai-bound luxury bus plunged into the Jagbudi river in Ratnagiri district in the wee hours. Will the authorities not bestirred to do something to check the mounting road casualties. RJ Khurana, Bhopal