M A I L B A G

A nation brought to its knees

IN 1948 the advancing march of the Indian Army was suddenly stopped and we created a Kashmir problem. In 1962 we suffered humiliation, surrendered large areas and were content to accept a unilateral ceasefire by China. In 1965 when on sound military ground, we failed to act diplomatically and in the bargain lost our Prime Minister. In 1971 we liberated Bangladesh but did not have the wisdom and foresight to push back Bangladeshi refugees.

We signed the Simla agreement, released more than 90,000 Pak PoWs but inexplicably forgot to ensure the return of a few hundred Indian PoWs languishing in Pakistani jails — many of whom our valiant soldiers.

We encouraged LTTE cadres, lost heart and sent the IPKF, bruised our force and licked our wounds.

In Kargil we allowed a situation to develop which took such a heavy toll of our brave young officers and men. We are sacrificing our soldiers daily in J&K.

And now Bangladesh has the temerity to invade our territory, take BSF personnel as hostages, torture them and mutilate their bodies. We certainly lack inspiring leadership.

It is not tolerance but rank cowardice, not firmness but meek defence, no bold initiative but abject surrender. It is a shameless nation brought on its knees. All this is unpalatable, but better grasp it fast before it is too late.

SUDARSHAN SHARMA, DIG (retd), Garh (Palampur)

Minister clarifies

It refers to the contents published in the Editor’s Mail under the heading “Doctors forced to pay for minister’s functions” in The Tribune dated June 11, 2001. The story mentioned in this letter is absolutely baseless and politically motivated to tarnish my image in the eyes of electorates as the assembly elections are going to be held within less than a year.

Health-related functions are organised throughout the state by the Health & Family Welfare Department and for these functions necessary funds are released by the department itself. Doctors or other employees working in the Health Department are never forced to contribute money for organising such functions. Neither the Senior Medical Officer in charge of Chakowal nor any doctor or employee ever brought to my notice that district health authorities are forcing them to contribute money for organising such functions. I was also never informed that the health authorities are not releasing funds for organising community related health functions. Nor worthwhile gifts were ever presented in such functions.

It appears that my political opponents have tried to defame me as they have lost control of their minds due to the much publicised development works carried out in the various parts of the Shamchurasi assembly segment.

MOHINDER KAUR JOSH, Punjab Health Minister

A tortuous bus journey

On May 20 I embarked on a journey from Delhi to Palampur by the HRTC night bus. Earlier in the day, I went to the ISBT for advance booking of two seats. When I asked the fellow manning the HRTC reservation counter about a suitable bus for Palampur, he suggested the Delhi-Baijnath one departing at 7.30 p.m. Since the time and the end station seemed just all right, I booked the seats for two of us.

However, in the wee hours of the morning, I discovered with consternation that instead of following the regular, well-known route, it was labouring through the Hamirpur hinterland on a long narrow winding road. It had digressed to Nadaun from where it ascended to Sujanpur, then took still another diversion through Naura, Dheera (Kangra) and again turned towards Sulah Nanaon before finally returning to the highway just a few kilometres from Palampur.

We were thus subjected to a gut-churning, tortuous and much longer journey — something, which at least I had neither anticipated nor bargained for. I wish the clerk at the reservation counter had been reasonable enough to inform me about the route to be followed by the bus to enable me to exercise a better option.

And does it make any sense at all to subject the hapless, unguarded and uninformed passengers like me to this kind of agony by diverting the long route buses to such unfamiliar tracks? Obviously such practice is resorted to for local political considerations without the slightest regard for passengers. I hope the government will instead provide alternative transport facilities for these difficult areas and spare the poor long-distance traveller avoidable grind and suffering.

SUBHASH C. SHARMA, Palampur

Haryana industries

This refers to "Policy fails to revive industry" (June 3) and "Power tariff hike defies logic" (June 4). It is evident from the reports that in Haryana, there is no coordination among different departments dealing with industries. Small or cottage industries set up in the non-conforming area are provided power connections, pay sales tax, excise duty etc but the District Industries Centres do not register them. If industries in the non-conforming ares operating for the 20 or 30 years have offered to pay development charges, the government should accept this proposal and regularise such zones.

The imposition of a high rate of MMC by HVPN will stifle new entrepreneurs. The only way to tackle unemployment is by encouraging young entrepreneurs to set up small units of their own. For this the state should provide a hassle-free industrial policy and infrastructure keeping in view the current and future requirements of tiny, cottage and small scale industries.

RAJIV CHAWLA, Faridabad

One-upmanship

I read with interest Mr Shrinivas Joshi's middle "One-upmanship in bureaucracy" (June 2). On the same day I telephoned him: "Tauji for once you are wrong. It was in Deewar and not Zanjeer that Shashi Kapoor says: "Mere paas Ma hai". (He replied" I know that It was purposely done to observe how seriously readers read a middle and respond."

Ah, one-upmanship of bureaucrats!

ANKITA JOSHI, Shimla