M A I L B A G

Elections: Why Congress is no match to NDA

IN her article “Congress badly bruised by poll defeat” (Jan 1), Ms Anita Katyal said, the no-confidence motion tabled against the Vajpayee government by Mrs Sonia Gandhi was easily the year’s high point. But the motion was tabled by her to gather some political mileage in the assembly elections. The Congress exposed itself during the debate on the motion and the advantage clearly went in favour of the BJP and its allies.

Another blunder committed by the Congress was to depute Captain Amarinder Singh for poll campaign in Hindi heartland states. This produced a negative effect in the minds of the electorate. In the overall campaign, the Congress campaigners including Mrs Sonia Gandhi could not match the debating and campaigning skills displayed by even second generation BJP leaders like Pramod Mahajan, Arun Jaitley, Uma Bharti and Vasundhara Raje Scindia. Odds having gone against the Congress, it is no wonder that the Congress had to suffer a devastating defeat in three states.

NATHA SINGH, Ludhiana

II

Apropos of Mr. S. Nihal Singh’s Article “Congress in Catch-22 situation” (Jan 6), I suggest the Congress leaders, party workers and sympathisers to think objectively and dispassionately to strengthen the party by adopting a viable, people-oriented, nationalistic programme. Devoted leadership at all levels should be cultivated to equip the workers with the ideology of the party. If they are properly prepared, then certainly no place will be left for the feudalistic hot-headed leaders who take the party away from the masses. Leadership needs to be evolved and not imposed on the workers. The party’s organisational structure is very weak. There should be a party unit in each and every village/mohalla to keep the masses closer to the party.

Moreover, the Congress should endavour to come out of the confusion on socio-economic and foreign policies of the country. People expect the party to formulate a concrete and practicable agenda to take the country forward. I think the alliance with other political parties on “left of centre” and “ nationalistic” programme can be a good alternative to the NDA programme.

SUDESH KUMAR SHARMA, Kapurthala

III

Intra-party defections are not a new phenomenon in India. But it is for the first time since Independence that one party, i.e. the Congress is playing musical chairs in full public view. The Central leadership has become the referee. The people are mere spectators in the general enclosure, awaiting for the referee to blow the whistle. Three chairs for the game and it’s players!

M.P.S. RANDHAWA, Dhapai (Kapurthala)

Pitfalls of birth registration APROPOS of the report “Only 55 per cent births get registered” (Dec 24), I would like to mention a few reasons for low percentage of birth registration in the country. First, the registration staff is not cooperative with the general public. We are not aware of the first free copy or about other facilities. There is total lack of information and no efforts have been made by the authorities concerned over the years to educate the people about the importance of birth registration. I suggest that the people should be made aware of the importance of the document and in every office concerned, a message be displayed regarding the availability of the first copy of birth certificate free of cost. Secondly, the staff concerned should be directed to be more cooperative with the people. KULBIR SAGGU, Batala

Discord at concert

This refers to the report “Discord at Bismillah-Amjad Ali Jugalbandi” (Dec 24). I was taken aback when I read Amjad Ali Khan’s statement about Bharat Ratna recipient Bismillah Khan that he stopped playing shehnai abruptly on the stage in the middle of a jugalbandi concert at Kolkata as he was paid only for an hour.

Incidentally, I happened to read this incredible news, just after evaluating the answer sheets of the Second Terminal English Examination of Class Ninth (CBSE B Course) where a mention is made of Ustad Bismillah Khan declining the many offers he had received from the celluloid world as he was not interested in money making or fame.

I remember to have taught that lesson, included in the NCERT English textbook of Class IX with pride. However, if Amjad Khan is to be believed, it is so shameful to Bismillah khan and we, the teaching community, will be ashamed of teaching the said lesson.

KURIAKOSE V.K., Abohar