M A I L B A G

Sangh Parivar losing credibility

RSS chief K.S. Sudarshan’s statement calling upon Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Mr L.K. Advani to retire and make way for the younger generation of leadership (“Bunch of old thoughts”, editorial, April 12) is not the first instance of the intra-party wrangling in the Sangh Parivar.

This presents a grotesque picture of a deeply divided house. No wonder, the Sangh Parivar is losing its credibility even as exposing itself to censure and ridicule from its opponents who know how to fully exploit the situation and derive maximum mileage out of it. It is time the BJP redefined its relationship with the RSS.

As a hardcore outfit, the RSS is becoming more of a hindrance than help. The BJP should try to refurbish its image to win back the people’s confidence and occupy its rightful place in the country’s governance.

Wg-Cmdr S.C. KAPOOR (retd), Noida

II

The Vajpayee-Advani leadership was never the invincible juggernaut that some made it out to be and their turf has turned from green to brown. Far from sanctimonious ranting,  Mr K.S. Sudarshan’s advice for a change of top BJP leadership is a refreshing plea to unveil a new look.

Is it too wishful to expect the other parties to follow suit and shed their brand names (some possessed nothing more than fortuitous matrimony and passed through lineal descendant) at the sole behest of party faithfuls?

GANESH S. KRISHNAN, Nebraska Ave (USA)

China’s retraction

China’s retraction from total support on the issue of permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council is not without reason. In spite of CBMs like bus journeys, MFN status, people-to-people contact, politicians and mediapersons crossing the borders etc., our immediate neighbour is unable to shake off its hostile intentions towards India.

J.K. MAGO, Panchkula

Sino-Indian ties

India and China should join hands in high technology. During a visit to India, the Chinese Premier rightly said that effective cooperation would help both nations. While India is far advanced in software, China is a leader in hardware. Mr Wen rightly remarked that co-operation between the two Pagodas would make them world leaders. This, in turn, will promote world peace.

Prof P.K. GUPTA, Bathinda

Flouting guidelines

The letter “Flouting guidelines” (April 9) regarding furnishing of own or hired houses of Punjab Ministers at government expense, missed an important point. Last year, Punjab’s Education Department spent more than Rs 1 crore on furnishing a hired building for the office of the Sarv Siksha Abhiyan Authority in Chandigarh to benefit the landlord. The Education Department and Audit staff have a lot to explain.

The Audit staff did not point out such anomalies, apparently, to help corrupt officers. The government should fix responsibility on the guilty staff and recover this huge amount from them.

Gr-Capt M.S. RANDHAWA (retd), Amritsar

Reservation counter

Kotkapura, the main revenue earning railway station, has been anxiously waiting for the computerised reservation facility. Work on this project has been completed at the station long ago.

In the absence of this facility, residents of the town are forced to go to Ferozepur or Bathinda for reservation and cancellation of tickets. Early commissioning of the computerised reservation facility at Kotkapura will help people.

Er RAJ KUMAR AGGARWAL, Kotkapura

Contract employees

At the Centre and in the states, contractors give daily wages to the contract employees as fixed by the Labour Department. The latter should be vigilant enough to ensure that wages are given to the employees as per the labour laws and employees’ provident fund schemes. The government should initiate action against those violating the labour laws.

Some contractors pay their employees less than 70 per cent of the daily wages and, after deduction of EPF, a little more than 50 per cent. Suitable action should be taken against these contractors.

N.M. HANSI, Ludhiana

Speed breakers

In Shimla, speed breakers have been installed unscientifically and no traffic engineering standards have been followed. They differ in height and shape. As ragards painting white, zebra lines and signboards, the less said the better. I wonder who is responsible for this deplorable work.

RAJNISH, Shimla