M A I L B A G

Scams: Punish ministers and officials

In the context of the revelations in Telgi and Judeo cases, doubts persist in the minds of people about the functioning of the police and the vigilance. Their primary role is to act as watchdogs of the government regardless of the party in power.

Sadly, however, they are made to act like underdogs of public servants; a tool in the hands of one to beat the other. Any irregularity or malpractice ought to be brought to book without fear or favour by these agencies. This seldom happens.

The pattern of recent exposures indicates as if the police and the vigilance act as conduits between the ruling party and unlawful activists — be it the fodder scam in Bihar, Telgi in Maharashtra or Ravi Sidhu in Punjab. Who would save if the fence starts eating the crops?

Civil servants play to the tune of their political masters while criminals are patronised by the leaders. Unlawful elements continue to operate and eliminate honest people like Satyendra Dubey in Bihar.

Therefore, there is need for a mechanism to fix accountability on civil servants vis-a-vis politicians. Whenever an irregularity comes to the fore, the ministers as well as civil servants should be made accountable for dereliction of duty.

LT-COL BACHITTAR SINGH (retd), Mohali

Where are sparrows? The chirping of sparrows has become a thing of past. These tiny birds have disappeared from our region. A few years back, the media was agog about vultures having met the same fate. Apparently, this is because due to poisonous sprays and fertilisers. Naturalists, environmentalists and wildlife protection enthusiasts under the leadership of Mrs Maneka Gandhi should look into the matter so that such species are not exposed to the verge of extinction. MANJEET SINGH RURKI KHAS, Garshankar (Hoshiarpur)

Dangerous highway

This is regarding the increasing number of accidents due to heavy rush of traffic on the Ambala-Zirakpur-Chandigarh highway.

There is only one road on Chandigarh-Zirakpur-Ambala stretch. As a result, 35-40 accidents occur every month. This road may be strengthened and widened to check the accident rate.

There is also a long queue of vehicles of the octroi, taxation and revenue departments and other vehicles on both sides of the road from Zirakpur to Lalru. This hinders smooth flow of traffic. A separate parking place has become imperative.

AMAR NATH, Gurudwara Nada Sahib, Panchkula

Onus on Nehru

Apropos of Mr H.K. Dua’s article “Sad times for Sonia” (Dec 10), though he has drawn our attention to Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and the rabbit to be pulled out of the magician’s hat, Priyanka Vadhera, he has failed to expose the blunders of the founder of this dynasty — Nehru.

Mrs Sonia Gandhi like the Bourbons has learnt and unlearnt nothing from modern Indian history. She took many days to install Mrs. Sheila Dikshit as Chief Minister of Delhi. Mrs. Dikshit is the Congress’ only Chief Minister who has, by her hard work, won the people’s mandate. Then why did it take so many days for the party to give Mrs Dixit the green signal to occupy the Chief Minister’s chair?

Further, what has Mrs Gandhi done to resolve the crisis in her party in Punjab?

GURSHARAN SINGH, General Secretary, Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), New Delhi

Follow GNDU model

For making a just and fair selection of lecturers, the Guru Nanak Dev University at Amritsar has adopted the scorecard performance formulated by the Ministry of Higher Education. But why is Punjabi University lagging behind? Transparency in selection must be visible which is the main objective of Capt Amrinder Singh’s government. The copy of the criteria scorecard can be seen from the website of GNDU for common man's knowledge.

BALJEET SINGH, Patiala

Neglected town

Khem Karan is a border town with a historical background. The Punjab government made it a sub-tehsil in 1971. The tehsil’s office building is located near a pond which is known for its filthy water collected from the town without an outlet. On one side of the building are heaps of rubbish, garbage and cow dung. In front of this is the dusty area where people gather for official work. During rainy season, access to the building is difficult and a footpath is laid for entering the building.

The Naib Tehsildar and staff are least interested to develop the area. In the absence of residential accommodation, they live outside Khem Karan and most employees report for work late. The same is the case with Patwaris. They stay in a mess in the town and work at their sweet will. There is no telephone in the court to contact the Tehsildar, reader or any tehsil employee in case of emergency or otherwise. Let the Deputy Commissioner, Amritsar, the SDM, Patti, and other revenue officials pay surprise visits to this place and develop Khem Karan in public interest.

Lt-Col P.S. SARANG (retd), Chandigarh

Deciphering India

What does INDIA mean? I (Ideal); N (Notable); D (Democratic); I (Infinite); and A (Atop in each field).

KRISHAN KHERA, Lohian Khas (Jallandhar)