In contrast, Indian law provides for payment of cane price within a period of 15 days from the date of supply of sugarcane irrespective of sugar sales. Thus payment to the farmers is primarily based on the credit made available by the banks who seem to be too scared to meet the requirement, notwithstanding your surmise that ‘profits keep rolling in’ to the sugar mills.

In the Indian context, the mechanism of sugar releases is a carefully designed system with the primary objective of ensuring a steady level of sugar price, protecting the interests of sugarcane farmers on the one hand and the consumers on the other. It is true that if the system is broken today with an extreme glut of sugar, the prices which are already ruling at levels way below break even, would virtually collapse. But will that really serve long term consumer interest?

S.L. Jain
Indian Sugar Mills Association
New Delhi

Temple issue

Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee deserves praise for the courage to express his candid opinion on the contentious Ayodhya issue thus: “The wrongs of a medieval past cannot be righted by a similar past cannot be righted by a similar wrong in modern times”. While observing that the status quo at the disputed places of worship at Kashi, Mathura, etc. must remain undisturbed, he remarked: “Far from indicating Hindu society’s weakness, this will show the strength of our national ethos of tolerance and religious harmony”. All sane people of secular temperament will agree with him.

It is true that construction of Ram temple is an expression of national sentiment. But there is also no doubt that demolition of Babri Masjid was a historic blunder. There must be a peaceful solution of the issue, i.e., either in accordance with the judicial verdict or through an amicable agreement between the two communities.

In case any organisation tries to create law and order problem, the government must take vigorous steps to restore peace.

The Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, is reportedly toying with the idea of creating four new districts in the state and, for that matter, has asked the bureaucracy to study financial implications of the proposal.

Mr Dhumal’s “brain-wave” on the subject seems timely, worth giving a practical shape the sooner the better.

Experience shows that a small administrative unit district is easier to manage and is undoubtedly better-administered. (given, of course, a reasonable administration). Una and Hamirpur districts of the state provide glaring/pertinent examples — unmistakably showing how the size of a district materially affects the pace of its development.

The area comprising the said districts, it may be recalled, formed part of Kangra district earlier. The other public hardship apart, the pace of development in the area under the then dispensation was painfully slow. However, it (pace of development) picked up appreciable momentum after the twin smaller districts were carved out of the unwieldy Kangra district some twentyfive years ago.

Chronic financial crunch afflicting the state would, of course, pose a serious hurdle in the matter, as the editorial “New Himachal Districts” (Jan 17) pertinently points out. But then where there is a will there is a way.

This refers to your editorial ‘The attack on Farooq’ (Jan 16). The dastardly attack on Farooq Abdullah by the Mujahideen is not just outrageous, it is also one more unislamic act of violence perpetrated by Pakistan against India. Whatever be Pakistan’s internal compulsion to deflect public attention from the misgovernance and a shattering economy. India must safeguard her security interest and public life at all cost.

One really wonders why should India be soft towards those killers of innocent civilians and those who spurn our offers of a peaceful solution to bilateral problems. It is ridiculous, if not shocking, that the Hizbul chief Salahuddin wants to see more ‘tangible proof’ of India’s sincerity behind the unilateral ceasefire. Are they the guardians and votaries of peace? Ironically on the one hand Hizbul and Hurriyat talk of initiating the peace process and on the other keep up their nefarious terrorist activities.

It is really time that India displayed its strong stand against militancy not just in words and warnings but in deeds, lest its peace offers are treated as cowardice and political compulsion.

International opinion and support will come India’s way as many countries are already fed up with the fast spreading menace of state-sponsored terrorism. Above all self-defence is not an offence but it is our sovereign right.