BJP's patchwork politics

  MR Hari Jaisingh's well-argued article "BJP's patchwork politics: citizens left high and dry" (The Tribune, Oct 23) is a stinging indictment of the BJP-led coalition government at the Centre for its stark failure on almost every front.

No doubt, the BJP has failed to deliver the promised goods. The government seems to be just muddling through, to the acute disillusionment of the nation at large.

The plight of the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, is simply pathetic. Leave alone policy matters, the "august functionary", it appears, cannot have his own way even in small matters viz-a-viz the governance/party affairs. The solution to the burning public issues — sickening poverty, runaway inflation/sky-rocketing prices, rampant corruption, mounting unemployment, the growing spectre of terrorism, etc — remains a far cry. The people at large virtually feel cheated. If somebody tries to reassure them that Mr Vajpayee is aware of their problems and would tackle them, the harried people retort:

Meri qismat ke bal woh khak nikalein ge bhala,

Apni zulfon ke kham to unse nikale na gaye.

I do not share the view that the "Presidential system", as advocated by the writer, is the answer to our ills. To my mind, it seems wrong to blame the system for the obtaining mess. In fact, the fault lies with the "moral underlings" increasingly manning the system. Advocating a change in the system at this juncture virtually tentamounts to bailing out the "khichhri government" headed by Mr Vajpayee.

TARA CHAND
Ambota (Una)

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RULERS' INDIFFERENCE: "There has been a general failure in creating an alternative system which can revolutionise the very process of a peaceful transition." I would like to add to this sharp observation of the author that in case the peaceful transition does not take place, a nation-wide anarchy can engulf our socio-economic and political life.

Most of the leaders of our great land behave as true disciples of Machiavelli (1469-1527). They are not, in any way, less adept in changing their colours than the small lizard, chameleon. The only difference is that these gentlemen live in beautiful bungalows, whereas the latter's home is in thick green bushes.

As far as I am able to visualise it, caste and class conflicts are going hand in hand in this ancient country. The Dalits, the backward people and the poor among the upper caste Hindus today feel greatly distressed at the non-performance of the different state and Central governments. The tall claims of performance enlisted in full-page advertisements are not going to humour them for long.

The basic reason for this dismal state of affairs is the utter negligence of top national leaders towards the burning problems affecting the common people.

RAJ BAHADUR YADAV
Rewari

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TOO SOON TO JUDGE: In the article "BJP's patchwork politics" it has been stated that "there is hardly any difference between the BJP and the Congress". This all has been said on the basis of six months’ rule of the BJP-led coalition at the Centre.

In my opinion it is not fair to give such a judgement due to a number of reasons. When the Congress came to power in 1947, people were bubbling with nationalistic feelings and willing to do something for the nation. There was very little corruption. The Congress was so powerful that it could take any decision it wanted.

Now after 50 years of Congress misrule, what has the BJP-led coalition government inherited? All-round corruption! Degradation of moral values! Complete absence of nationalistic feelings. Wish to amass wealth without hard work, and by hook or by crook. Very high internal and foreign debts. And, above all, the BJP being not in absolute majority, it is facing strong opposition not only from opposition parties but also its alliance partners.

Under such adverse circumstances, it would be unfair to pass any harsh judgement, and that too so soon.

ANAND PRAKASH
Panchkula

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FOR PRESIDENTIAL FORM: I support the call for switching over to the Presidential system of government. The simple reason is that there will be only a few leaders to govern the masses, as compared to an endless row of ministers (take the case of UP).

In the Presidential form of government there will be only a chosen few to rule and they will be directly under one head — the President. In the present form, there is no one under anyone. Everyone is a boss in himself/herself, and nobody has strings in his/her hand to pull up any erring politician. This is unfortunate. Despite several cases coming to light in the media, no one (particularly the politicians) has been punished.

UJAGAR SINGH
Chandigarh

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PUNISH THE HOARDERS: The unusual rise in the prices of onions and other vegetables is not because of crop failure alone. It is mainly because of hoarding. The BJP should not remain a silent spectator. The hoarders should be exposed and punished.

The owners of cold stores and other places where essential commodities are hoarded should also be brought to book. The hoarders cannot succeed in their nefarious designs unless they have collaborators.

HARI OM MITTAL
Ludhiana

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“BEAT, LOOT AND RULE”: The democracy which has been adopted by India is just conversion of the people into voters. They do not know for whom they are voting, and what will be done by the man elected.

People who have joined politics have perfected the same way of governance as had been prevalent in the days of imperialism. We have got the same laws. The concept of "divide and rule" has been changed into "beat, loot and rule".

DALIP SINGH WASAN
Patiala

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Parental pampering

Mr I.M. Soni's article "Hazards of parental pampering" was timely and highly informative (Oct 18).

Almost every family is facing the problem of maladjusted or spoilt children. The boys far outnumber the girls.

During more than three decades that I have been dealing with college students, I have observed that spoilt boys often belong to the nouveau riche class. They develop aversion to moral values and honesty.

Then TV serials and films are playing havoc with our social fabric. Parents are generally portrayed as the laughing stock. The trend must be checked.

(Prof) BASANT SINGH BRAR
Muktsar

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It's now or never

Dr Sampooran Singh's article on the human psyche and terrorism published recently provided an insight into the mind-brain-body system of the modern man struggling to cope with the demands of the changing times. I have condensed the author's thoughts into a poem with a transparent message:

Are you listening?

Hello! can you hear me?

O global leaders of humanity

I am your conscience

Appealing for a whiff of sanity

I feel suffocated and sick

In this din and noise, thick

With smoke of bombs

Exploding inside the embassies

Established for goodwill among nations

Killing people unrelated “n” innocent

These cruise missiles and gunships

Stealthy monsters of destruction

Fill my heart with a foreboding

Of your imminent ruination

Can you, even now, rise above

Your obsession with nebulous notions

Of deterrence and power equations?

The mirage of national security

Devouring so much of your resources

While a majority of humanity

Wallows in utter neglect and misery

Undernourished and under-clad

And carrying their own cross

While you advise them solemnly

To cheer up and eat grass!

It is time for a revolution

Of the human psyche, a mutation

Emergence of a global ethic

From a non-dual human perception

A new holy and holistic

perspective of life with a mission

Where there is no war or aggression

It is quite clear

It is now or never.

AIR VICE-MARSHAL MANJIT SINGH (retd)
Chandigarh

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Tailpiece

Question: How do you take the change of Chief Ministership in Delhi?

Answer: To rob Peter to pay Paul.

SUNDER SINGH GIANI
Dialpura