Courting Jaya’s support

  APROPOS of the editorial “Courting Jaya’s support” (Feb. 9), notwithstanding the legal and constitutional implications of the Centre’s latest efforts to appease the AIADMK Supremo, Ms Jayalalitha, the intentions of the BJP-led alliance are very clear. It wishes to stick to power by fair or foul means. It stuns the common man that the political authority should be used so blatantly to twist and subvert the law in favour of an accused, and that too for a person who is sure to ditch the government at a more opportune time.

The BJP’s decision to placade Ms Jayalalitha in the face of her veiled (?) threats is not only a severe blow to the prestige of the BJP-led coalition, but also a threat to the independence and impartiality of the judiciary. Do our political leaders think that the Indian law is a slave at their doorstep, and they can decide when, where and for whom should it be applicable or slowed down?

Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee’s becoming the Prime Minister had given a hope of clean and efficient administration to the masses. They were enthusiastic that an old stalwart of the Nehruvian era had taken over the reins of power to realise the long-cherished but unfulfilled dreams of an all-round development and welfare of the masses. But in less than a year people stand disappointed and disillusioned as says the Muse:

Na woh Gaznavi mein tarap rahi,

Na woh kham hai zulf-e-Ayaz mein.

Mr Vajpayee must realise that it is better to make a graceful exit now than be unceremoniously thrown out later in the day.

VED GULIANI
Hisar

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Doctors’ strike

This refers to the news item “P.G.I. doctors go on mass leave”. It is disheartening to note that faculty members of the PGI, most of whom are expert in their respective fields of medicine, surgery and research, went on mass casual leave to protest against low wages and non-implementation of the modified Bakshi Committee report on pay scales for doctors of the PGI, Chandigarh, and the AIIMS, New Delhi.

It is for the first time in the history of the AIIMS that doctors went on an indefinite strike, demanding higher pay scales as recommended by the Bakshi Committee. The government should keep in mind the effects of the strikes which were held by the nurses and the teaching staff last year. It is unfortunate that now doctors of the PGI and the AIIMS have to resort to such a strike against the government on their demand for higher pay scales.

SUNIL K. DOGRA
Chandigarh

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Cheating the investors

This is with reference to the report “Promoters of Thaper Agro Mills missing” (Jan 31).

Thousands of companies have “vanished” after raising money from small investors through “Public issues”, which came to the open market from 1992 to 1997. Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee is today the most worried person and has asked the Finance Ministry to track down the “vanishing” companies and book the unscrupulous promoters. The Security and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and the Department of Company Affairs (DCA) have begun intensive investigations.

SEBI has sent a list of such companies to the DCA as raised funds on public issues even on a high premium at the boom time. The market regulators have asked the stock exchanges in India to furnish all details about such companies, their operation, financial results, addresses of their promoters etc.

The merchant bankers, public sector banks and financial institutions are responsible for introducing such issues of shaddy promoters. The government was a silent spectator to this daylight robbery. Now what should the poor investors do?

M. L. GARG
Chandigarh

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Loudspeaker menace

The step taken by the Ludhiana district administration (Feb 2), banning the use (abuse ?) of loud- speakers for a certain duration is most appropriate. It deserves public appreciation.

The same kind of a situation prevails in the entire state. The students of all the districts would shortly sit in the annual examinations. The inaction on the part of the other district administrations is most painful. It may prove to be greatly harmful for the students as the noise caused by the loudspeakers results in the loss of many hours of study.

The silence of the State Pollution Control Board is more depressing. Do the loudspeakers disturb the students of Ludhiana only? The Chief Secretary of the state may issue an order in this regard binding on all the district administrations.

SWARAN SINGH SANEHI
Shahpur (Phillaur)

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Need for a flyover

It is learnt from a news item published in The Tribune dated February 2 that a project to paint the entire Anandpur Sahib town white has begun as part of the tercentenary celebrations of the Khalsa. About 5000 houses of the town will be painted white to accord the town the status of a white city.

During my recent visit to Nangal I observed tremendous improvement in the roads. The work of four-laning of the road from Kirtpur Sahib to Anandpur Sahib is nearing completion. The two railway gates just close to each other, near Ganauly village, will be no more a hurdle as the work of providing an alternative road is in progress on a war-footing for the smooth flow of traffic. But the journey towards Anandpur Sahib from Chandigarh will be comfortable and convenient only if a flyover is constructed at the railway gate at Kurali.

T. D. KUMAR
Panchkula