M A I L B A G

Medha is on the right path

YOUR editorial, ‘Medha: not the right path’ (Oct 25) raises more questions than it tries to answer. It says “The issue was settled once and forever the moment Supreme Court delivered its verdict. The issue now is whether any individual has the right to hold in contempt, through street demonstrations and irresponsible statements, the dignity and legal wisdom of the judiciary".

It needs to be debated what is inviolable; the people and their life or the institutions created to cater to the masses. It presupposed the inviolability of the apex court. Men be damned.

If at all a sacred cow exists, it is life first and institutions later. The dignity and legal wisdom of our judiciary, which is overwhelmingly urban in colour, can always be contested.

Environmentalists are the conscience keepers of our nation, the brakes on runaway lust which is at times misinterpreted as scientific progress. Medha has not fought for victory or defeat that she should accept defeat with grace. She stood for justice and if it is not delivered she is well within her right, which no constitution can spell out, to show her dissent.

The line written about Arundhati that “she has allowed the Booker prize to get the better of her ability to think rationally” is in poor humour.

NIRLEP SINGH
Bathinda

Fine diplomat

Reading the news item "Lawmakers' adieu to Indian diplomat" (Oct 28) gave me immense pleasure. The man in focus, Mr Taranjit Singh Sandhu, First Secretary (Political), studied with me at the School of International Studies, JNU, for postgraduate courses.

He stood first among the candidates chosen for the Indian Police Service, and he was offered his home state (Punjab) cadre on a platter.

But his flair for diplomacy made him opt for the Indian Foreign Service.

Today, Taranjit Sandhu's aptitude and integrity has paid rich dividends and he has brought laurels back home as is evident from the statements made by Rep Sam Gajdenson and Rep Benjamin Gilman of the US Congress. Both Taranjit and his wife, Reenat Sidhu (who served as First Secretary, Commerce, at the Indian embassy in the USA), have done a commendable job in making the Clinton visit to India, and the reciprocal Vajpayee visit to the US successful.

They would be an asset for India and Punjab in paving the way for American investment here as is clear from Mr Gilman's statement. "You should know that he has (Sandhu) been very effective in educating policy makers on Capitol Hill".

H. M. SINGH
New Delhi

Anandgarh project

This refers to the news item, "Another row dogs Anandgarh"(Nov 8).

Since Anandgarh is going to be a special project, the planners must ensure that the proposed city is sensitive to the site, eco-friendly and in keeping with the local culture and climate, reflecting the local and regional life-style.

Most cities planned by HUDA in Haryana are almost exact replicas of each other, leaving nothing to the imagination of the visitor. Each city should have its unique character which can be created by way of planning unpredictable city designs.

People should be encouraged to build environment-friendly designs for their houses, with the use of local materials and which are better insulated and therefore less dependent on supplementary energy — and also have greywater recycling facilities.

PAVNEET BECTOR
Singapore

Go, Governor, go

I fully agree with your views expressed in the editorial “Go, Governor, go” (Nov 6) that former Governor of Uttar Pradesh Suraj Bhan was trying to set up a rival power centre at Raj Bhawan. After his transfer from UP to HP he has issued a statement that he is not a rubber stamp Governor and no one should be. As a matter of fact, he was directly interfering in the functioning of the government. This was beyond his constitutional powers.

He can play an active role in politics only if he puts up his papers as Governor.

SUBHASH C. TANEJA
Rohtak

Kashmir cries for sanity

Your editorial observation that "Kashmiris are getting tired of the never-ending violence" is timely while being poignant at the same time (Nov 7).

The age-old, unresolved Sunni-Shia conflict has surfaced again in Kashmir in the form of a landmine explosion killing six, including the prime target, the respected Shia leader, Agha Syed Mehdi. Pakistan inspired militant outfits may be responsible for this mindless carnage.

Sunni-dominated Pakistan is known for its intolerance and ill-treatment of all minorities; not just Christians alone but also non-Sunni Muslim sects like Shias.

K. R. RANGASWAMY
Madison, Wisconsin
(Received in response to the Internet edition)

HP hydro project

This refers to the news item "208 applications for 105 hydro projects in HP" (Nov 5). Development of micro-hydel projects in Himachal Pradesh has acquired all the ills of crony capitalism. The authorities and promoters appear to be collaborating to create private wealth at the cost of public assets and expense.

Projects are being doled out purely on subjective criteria and without consideration for ensuring the lowest cost of generation.

Highly viable, simple and approachable projects were initially awarded on much more stringent conditions with very low returns, thus precluding serious developers. Conditions were subsequently relaxed to ensure that chosen ones could garner the benefits with returns in some cases having been increased by almost 25 per cent.

Rules of fair play and open and transparent economy demand that all the projects should have been re-advertised after a change in the terms and conditions.

KESHAV SINGH ATTRI
Chandigarh