A suggestion to the President

INDIA is on the brink of catastrophic uncertainty. All that we hear and see is corruption, scams, power struggle and horse trading. Politicians are changing party alignments like clothes, just for the sake of ministership or other benefits, and claiming that they are doing all this for the sake of the country.

In the present circumstances, inviting the largest group of parties to form a government or holding another election is no solution to the real problem because of the absence of party loyalties. Even if one single group gets the majority, it will not last very long. Happenings in Gujarat and UP are an eye-opener for everybody. A national government is possible, but only when the people’s representatives have the welfare of the country as their first priority.

The President should invite all parties to offer their candidates for the post of Prime Minister, if they can get the sponsorship of at least one-third of the strength of the Lok Sabha. Then members of the Lok Sabha should elect the Prime Minister by a secret ballot under the preferential system of voting (i.e. they can give a first preference to one candidate, a second preference to another candidate and so on). Whosoever is elected Prime Minister should continue till the term of the present Lok Sabha lasts and can be removed only by a two-third majority. To avoid horse trading, they should be given only 48 hours to decide, and if they don’t cooperate, place the country under President’s rule and bring in the presidential form of government.

I do not know whether the Constitution allows all that I have written but one thing is certain: the Constitution is meant for the people and not that the people are meant for the Constitution.

RAJINDER NATH
Ambala

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Aspirants for PM’s post

In the present political scenario the precedent set by President K.R. Narayanan has opened the floodgates of aspirants for the Prime Ministership (leaders of scores of political parties), besides horse trading and corruption.

We have had over half a dozen Prime Ministers in the recent past, and ours is considered as one of the most corrupt countries in the world.

May God give good sense to our people to give the nation a stable government and a place of honour in the comity of nations!

GANDHARV SAIN
New Delhi

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Jhuggi-dwellers

This refers to the High Court order on jhuggi-dwellers published in The Tribune dated 19-4-1999. The jhuggi-dwellers have been occupying prime land in elite urban estates of Panchkula, Gurgaon and Faridabad. The court has ruled that these people will not be evicted from the government land until they are provided with alternative sites or houses built for the economically weaker sections of society.

The verdict is fair and in line with the concept of social justice that everybody has the right to live honourably and for this one needs food, clothes and a house. The state is bound to provide these.

The jhuggi-dwellers of Madrasi Colony in Sector 21 Panchkula are HUDA’s own employees. Their average monthly income ranges from Rs 4000 to Rs 7000 per family. They got the news of the High Court order the same evening — April 19 — from their counsel that the case had been decided in their favour, and HUDA had lost the case. Hearing this, their joy knew no bounds.

The residents whose houses are very close to Madrasi Colony are in passive mood and saying, “God knows when we will get rid of this slum”. No time limit has been indicated in the court order for the allotment of alternative sites or houses.

The Bench consisted of Mr Justice G.S. Singhvi and Mr Justice Shingal, who delivered this judgement on a bunch of petitions by jhuggi-dwellers of Gurgaon, Panchkula and Faridabad, and directed “the respondents to constitute a committee preferably headed by the Chief Administrator, HUDA. The committee, first of all, will determine the seniority of the residents of jhuggi-jhompri colonies in the respective urban estates and offer vacant EWS houses and plots in order of seniority by determining the rates keeping in view the policy already framed.

Those who cannot be accommodated in EWS houses will be offered alternative sites at distance of 7 to 10 km from their present place of residence. They will be entitled to the allotment of plots measuring one to two marlas and not more.

Those who accept the offer of allotments should be given nine months’ time to vacate the land in their possession. Those who do not vacate the site after the expiry of nine months from the date of offer of allotment will be liable to be evicted without any further notice. Those who have been living in huts for over five years will be entitled to alternative plots or houses.

T. D. KUMAR
Panchkula

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Save the Nabha school

The Punjab Public School is a landmark for the town of Nabha and a prestigious institution of Punjab and India. The news report about some criminals trying to take over land belonging to the school using religion as a weapon is shocking.

Society must not succumb to the designs of Dr Satpal Aggarwal and his tribe who seek to destroy the very foundations of civilisation for personal gains and profit. Holding night-long “Jagrans” in the premises of a school is an insult to the Goddess of Learning, Saraswati. Loud music does not please gods; it is only a ploy to threaten and intimidate citizens. God respond to even whispered prayers in the confines of one’s own house. The gangsters must be thrown out of the Nabha school. The people of Nabha must not succumb to unholy pressures and allow the reputed school to close down. Action must also be taken against the district police chief who failed to do his duty and permitted hooligans to interfere with the destiny of our future generation.

Those who see every playground as a commercial space are responsible for our shameful performance in sports. Let us pledge to preserve our temples of learning and keep them free of religion and politics. All the residents of Nabha should seek penance for the misdeed by rebuilding the school boundary wall by “kar seva” and seek forgiveness from Goddess Saraswati.

HARRY KANDAH
Shimla