M A I L B A G

Congress must learn from its mistakes

The Congress is not ready to learn anything from its mistakes. This is unfortunate. Its leaders seem to have developed the same old big brother attitude which has done a great harm to the Congress-NCP alliance in Maharashtra by “preferring Mumbai to a relationship” (Oct 29).

The Nationalist Congress Party should have got the post of the Chief Minister as it has got more Assembly seats in the Assembly elections. The Congress leaders seemed to be arrogant. They did not bother about the genuine problems of the Dalits and when the Bahujan Samaj Party was born, they tried to discourage the backward classes and the Samajwadi Party came into existence.

The senior leaders of the Congress ought to ask themselves: Why did Charan Singh leave the Congress? Why did so many party leaders say good-bye to the 100 year-old party? Why has its tally remained below 150 in the Lok Sabha?

Dr RAJ BAHADUR YADAV DEHATI, Fatehabad

Say no to crackers It may be Dasehra, Divali, marriage, win of our cricket team or elections — our friends make one excuse or the other for merry-making by displaying fireworks and crackers. The bright flames and the unrestricted noise of fireworks and crackers cause horror to wildlife, livestock and pets. They can run into the path of incoming vehicles or get lost in panic. Every year during Diwali celebrations, many animals get injured, maimed or even killed by fireworks. It is the moral imperative of the respective owners to protect their pets and animals from the gruesome effect of crackers. The fireworks should not be let loose near any animal. They should be kept indoors after dark. As dogs and cats are extra-sensitive, they should be kept in safe rooms. The curtains of these rooms should be closed and TV/radio kept on full volume to camouflage the noise of crackers. Large animals should be herded into safe sheds. Wrapping explosives round the dogs and tails of animals is an offence under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. If we don’t buy fireworks on one single Diwali, we can build many hospitals from the funds thus saved. Dr SOSHIL RATTAN, Amritsar

Helping elders

Apropos of the letter “Elders need social security” (Oct 30), 50 per cent bus travel concession allowed by the Chandigarh Administration to the senior citizens is only within the limits of the Union Territory of Chandigarh. This concession needs to be extended to long route outstation journeys. It will not materially affect the finances of the Transport Department as the elderly go on long journeys outside Chandigarh only in the case of emergencies.

At least two seats in every bus should be reserved for senior citizens. No other person should be allowed to occupy these seats if senior citizens are travelling in the same bus. It is distressing to see them standing when younger persons occupy seats. A little sympathy will show that they are being cared for in the evening of their life.

Further, regarding the letter “Pension parity” (Oct 27), Punjab pensioners will not object to Haryana giving 5 and 10 per cent additional pension to those at the age of 65 and 75 years as also monthly medical allowance. Punjab has so far not given this benefit. This is genuine and can be given to those who retired before January 1, 1996.

G.R. KALRA, Chandigarh

II

The Punjab government has announced all pensionary benefits to the employees of the corporations. However, it had stopped pension to the teachers and employees working in government-aided schools from June 1, 2003 by passing a resolution in the Vidhan Sabha last year. The government should undo the resolution and sanction pension and other benefits to the teachers and employees of aided schools.

ASHOK BHANOT, Jalandhar Cantonment

Demarcate land

Ever since the common land (Shamlat) of Bari Karoran and Chhoti Karoran villages in Majri Sub-Tehsil of Kharar Tehsil in Ropar District was divided among the villagers, no demarcation has been done. There is also no chart available with the Patwari. While the villagers sell their holdings at normal price, in the absence of any chart and demarcation on the ground, whosoever purchases a piece of land encircles it indiscriminately by barbed wire.

This was brought to the notice of the Punjab Agriculture Minister, the Ropar Deputy Commissioner and the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA) authorities at Mohali. Let the Revenue Department carry out land demarcation as per the Patwari’s records. If demarcation is difficult, let the PUDA or Forest Department acquire this area and develop it. If Punjab constructs a 2-km road and joins it with the last village of Haryana, this will become the shortest route to Kalka from Chandigarh’s Sector 17 Bus Stand.

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

DA delayed

The Punjab Government should release the DA instalment which became due on July 1, 2004, at the rate of 3 per cent to its pensioners immediately. Let this be a Divali gift. The government did show such gestures in the past.

S.P. ARORA, Jalandhar

A-plus grade

Apropos of the news-item "A-plus grade colleges" (Nov 2), Hans Raj Mahila Maha Vidyalaya, Jalandhar, has stood first with a score of 94.05 per cent as against 93.7 per cent of Lyallpur Khalsa College among the colleges of India by NAAC. In all, six colleges affiliated to Guru Nanak Dev University have been given the A-plus grade.

PRINCIPAL, Hans Raj Mahila Maha Vidyalaya, Jalandhar