Prices: why blame the BJP?

  I read the editorial "BJP: blaming others won't do" (Nov 12) in which the BJP has been castigated on various counts, specially the price rise.Firstly, the BJP has not indulged in any wrong act which could result in a sudden rise in the prices of certain items. Secondly, in a free economy and democratic set-up, prices are controlled by demand and supply. This is specially so in the case of perishable items like fruits and vegetables. Some people are raising hue and cry even for tomatoes, an off-season non-essential item. Has the government ever controlled the prices of these perishable items.

Fourthly, what is the definition of hoarding? These items cannot be hoarded. Of course, some of these can be stored in cold-stores to prevent their decay for a limited period.

And, lastly, why is India exporting huge quantities of fruits, vegetables and other food items instead of feeding its own population? The foreign exchange that we earn by cutting into the people’s stomach is wasted in the import of petrol to pollute our towns and cities. Why has the government encouraged the use of cars and scooters/motorcycles to such an extent that they have become public nuisance, rendering the roads unsafe?

The government has followed the Western pattern in commerce and industry, which has increased the use of commercial vehicles to a great extent, thus putting more and more pressure on our economy and foreign exchange requirements.

In a nutshell, the government has encouraged the supply of polluted air to the people, instead of fresh fruits and vegetables. Certainly, the BJP is not responsible for setting this wrong trend during the past 50 years, and it is impossible to change it overnight.

ANAND PRAKASH
Panchkula

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Traffic rules

Knowing that traffic rules permit the crossing of zebra markings while the amber light is on, I did exactly that at the Hotel Aroma chowk on the morning of November 7. I noticed the light changing from amber to red when I was caught in the middle of the intersection, a distance of about 20 metres from the zebra crossing I had left behind. To my surprise, I was stopped on the other side by a traffic constable, who declared that I had jumped the red light. When I told him the factual position, he said I should not have crossed the zebra markings when the light was amber.

Meanwhile, a senior officer, a Head Constable, appeared and proceeded to challan me. "Red light cross" was written down by him as the offence. He turned down my suggestion to add "crossed zebra markings at amber light" to the offence, saying that he could not write that on "government paper".

I have two suggestions to make to the Chandigarh police. Firstly, the enforcers of traffic rules should be taught the traffic rules. Secondly, zebra markings should be painted regularly so as to be clearly visible at all times to a constable positioned more than a hundred metres away, allowing him to make correct decisions even if he knows the rules.

BALJIT SINGH
Chandigarh

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Board exams in Haryana

With regard to the report "Recruitments bog down school board" (Nov 13) we have to say that the examinations in September were conducted by the board smoothly and peacefully.

As regards the pendency of re-checking cases, it is worthwhile to mention here that no case is pending at the level of the Board of School Education, Haryana. A few cases are pending with sub-examiners for clarification. The board is taking urgent steps for collecting the pending cases from the sub-examiners, and no extra funds are being spent on it.

As regards recruitments, the matter is under consideration, and the same will be completed shortly.

It is wrong and baseless to say that a sum of Rs 20 lakh to Rs 25 lakh will be spent on processing the recruitment applications. The staff have been taken from the branches of the board itself.

It is also pertinent to mention here that the board had issued a notification through the newspapers for space as no one is offering space at the district headquarters as the past experience shows. Students are being properly attended to at the adjoining district coordination centre.

MEENAKSHI SHARMA
Publicity-cum-Welfare Officer
for Secy, Haryana School Education Board
Bhiwani

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Tibetan issue

This refers to the news-item "Tibet: China buying time" (November 8) in which TYC General Secretary, Mr L. Pema Lhundup, is quoted to have said, "They are just counting the years in the life of the Dalai Lama, as they are aware that the Tibetan issue would die with his death." This statement is something that I did not make.

What I really said was that "China has no intention to solve the Tibetan problem and they are just counting the years of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. They strongly feel that after the death of His Holiness the Dalai Lama the Tibetan issue will also die."

Since the issue is related to the precious life of His Holiness, it is really a very sentimental matter for the Tibetan people.

L. PEMA LHUNDUP
Mcleodganj (Dharamsala)

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A symbol of Nehru era

It is an irony that property belonging to National Herald, a symbol of the Nehru era, was put to auction on Nehru's birthday, being celebrated by the whole nation. He had such a great love for National Herald that he once commented, “I will not let National Herald close down even if I have to sell Anand Bhawan.”

In the inaugural issue of the Herald, Jawaharlal Nehru wrote, "National Herald stands for something more than the mere dissemination of correct news. It is a missionary in the cause of Indian freedom, of world peace based on freedom, and cooperation between peoples and nations. It will view everything from this point of view and will endeavour in every way to serve this great cause."

Nehru was a great patron of National Herald and had great admiration for two of its editors, Rafi Ahmed Kidwai and M.C. Rau. He was the founding father of the Herald. He took great interest in the working of the paper and wrote personal letters to its editor.

It is said that Nehru was very enthusiastic about making the Herald a paper of the masses by voicing the atrocities being done on them.

ATUL KUMBHKARNI
Chandigarh