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Can Hooda draw crowds sans govt aid?

While you have eulogised Bhupinder Singh Hooda for his massive show of strength in your editorial “Standing tall” (November12), you have rightly advised him to not ignore the significance of the absence of both Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi from the rally. But the million dollar question that arises is: “Would Hooda have been able to organise such a big rally if he was not the CM of Haryana?” It is not really a big deal to organise such mega shows when you have the government resources at your disposal. Eulogising Hooda would have been justified had he organised the rally on the strength of the Haryana Congress party and not of the Haryana government. There is a big difference between the two situations.

A.K.SHARMA, Chandigarh

Taken for a ride

Recently, I took an autorickshaw from the Sector 21-34 dividing road in Chandigarh to Zirakpur. The driver asked me to sit on the seat. Although only one seat was vacant, he made two persons adjust, thereby making four people sit in the place meant for three. Then, he took one more person in, seating him behind the driver's seat. We come across this situation in almost all autorickshaw journeys.

Thereafter, the driver was challaned by the traffic police near the Sector 32 roundabout for overloading passengers. He was then charged that since his licence was of Punjab, he was not entitled to drive the vehicle in Chandigarh. Thus, he was challaned on two accounts without the issuance of a challan receipt. Policemen make a mockery of the law as well as of poor illiterate people in this way. And then they advise the general public to follow rules. If one has a driving license of a certain state, isn’t he allowed to drive in its capital city?

The duty of the traffic police is to make the people aware of rules and guide them, not to cheat the poor for their selfish motives.

Neeraj Prajapati, Chandigarh

Modi using Sardar

This refers to the editorial, “Saluting the Sardar: Politics over Patel’s legacy” (October 31). It is a shame that prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi is indulging in dirty politics by maligning the Nehru-Gandhi family. Modi has nothing to do with Sardar Patel's legacy. His only agenda in election speeches is to find excuses to malign the Nehru-Gandhi family. This time, he has chosen Sardar Patel’s birth anniversary to express his hatred by saying that had Patel been the India's first prime minister, things would have been different for the country today.

He has tried to appropriate the legacy of Sardar, forgetting the fact that Sardar Patel hated the RSS for its communal outlook. Instead of telling the people how he or his government would work for the eradication of corruption, hunger, unemployment and poverty, he campaigns only against the Nehru-Gandhi family. Does he think that he will become the prime minister on the basis of his hatred against the Congress with his tainted background and by heading a communal party like the BJP? Sardar Patel belongs to India and not to any individual. His name should be used in a sensible and respectable manner and not dragged into murky political controversies. Modi should show some maturity in his utterances.

R K KAPOOR, Chandigarh

II

Sardar Patel, who had banned the RSS when he was the Home Minister of India is being lovingly mentioned by Narendra Modi as his hero. Strangely, even a seasoned politician like L.K. Advani is doing the same. However, this statesman's name is mentioned only to undermine the legacy of Pt Nehru. Modi is also talking about the greats like Dr Ambedkar, Maulana Azad and Kriplani. But one wonders why he does not mention his heroes from the RSS, Jan Sangh and the BJP.

M.K.SHARMA, Amritsar

Stamp on Sachin

The decision to issue a commemorative stamp on Sachin Tendulkar on his playing 200 Tests is not justified. There are many living legendary spoortspersons like Milkha Singh, Gavaskar, Leander Peas and some Olympians who have won laurels for the country. Following the principle of not issuing stamps of living persons, no stamp was issued on them. Why is this exception being made? It will amount to undermining the achievements of other players. Earlier, his nomination to the Rajya Sabha was also a sort of exception as he was still playing and seldom attended Parliament.

I.P.S.Anand, Mani Majra