M A I L B A G

We must learn to respect our war heroes

I had the good fortune to serve under both Lt-Gen Harbaksh Singh and Lt-Gen Jagjit Singh Aurora. Both were illustrious and inspiring leaders. All great commanders have some striking qualities.

Aurora, apart from being a strategist, was a brilliant instructor and a staff officer whereas Harbaksh Singh was an outstanding field commander. He commanded from a platoon to an Army in war. He was always close to the battle scene and his presence inspired the troops engaged in battle.

Harbaksh Singh saved Punjab from falling into the hands of Pakistan in the 1965 Indo-Pak war. And Aurora split Pakistan and created Bangladesh in 1971, and took surrender of over 93,000 Pakistan soldiers.

Sadly, the country ignored both the Generals after their retirement. We should learn from the western countries how they respect their war heroes and commemorate victories.

Brig DALIP SINGH SIDHU (retd),
Patiala

II

Lt-Gen Jagjit Singh Aurora’s achievement was unique, monumental and historical. A grateful nation should have honoured the hero. Even now it is not too late to make amends. Lesser mortals have been given highest awards of the country.

Air Vice Marshal KULDEEP SINGH, Mohali

Clean up the Yamuna Clean up the Yamuna river is getting polluted day by day. Ironically, it is India’s holy river and large population of Delhi is using its water. Delhi-ites use plastic bags which are very harmful to our environment. The effluents of some industries are discharged into the rivers without any treatment. This waste contains many harmful chemicals like carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulphuric acid etc. The polluted water can trigger water-borne diseases like cholera, diarrhoea etc. I suggest Delhi-ites to come forward to clean up the Yamuna. NGOs should guide us how to keep the river clean. The government should advise people not to pollute the river. DEEPAK BHANDARI, New Delhi

War allowance

Some 40 years ago, the Punjab government granted War Jagir allowance to those parents who offered the services of their only son for the India-China War of 1962. The amount sanctioned was Rs 50 per year; this was subsequently increased to Rs 100 about 10 years back.

Now that the Punjab government has graciously increased the allowances for the armed forces’ gallantry award holders, the War Jagir allowance should also be increased. At present the total number of beneficiaries would not be more than 50.

Brig HARDIT SINGH KAPUR (retd), Chandigarh

No work culture

The Punjab government is planning to privatise government schools and hospitals other than the PSEB. Health and educational institutions in rural areas are in a bad shape. Employers are responsible for this mess. There is no work culture. But the government has its own responsibilities. The system has collapsed because of corruption.

No doubt, privatisation is the need of an hour but providing basic education and health services is the duty of the government. Where will poor people go?

DEVINDER KUMAR, Barnala (Sangrur)

Bestial act

I was shocked to read the news item “Woman paraded naked by rape victim’s kin” (May 2). The man, who raped the girl, perpetrated a bestial act. And her brother, who stripped the sister of the accused and paraded her in the streets, also committed a grave offence. Both of them do not deserve to be called civilised human beings. They are barbarous persons and should be dealt with severely.

Sadly, such heinous crimes are committed against the fair sex in the land where Guru Nanak declared: So kyon manda aakhiyai jit jamme raajaan (why should she, who gives birth to great men, be disparaged)?

BHAGWAN SINGH, Qadian

Easing congestion

The report on encroachments in Chheharta is timely. The worst part is in the Partap Bazar. Some years ago, the problem was eased when all encroachments in the Partap Bazaar were removed and one-way traffic for heavy vehicles through the Bazaar was enforced with the agreement of the shopkeepers. For sometime this decision was enforced. Later, the police restored status quo.

I suggested a meeting of all the shopkeepers along with public men of different hues so that suitable steps are taken by the police. The SHO has been reminded.

SATYAPAL DANG, Chheharta

Not in HP’s interest

Reference the news-item “HP signs pact on selling power” (May 17). Such an agreement may not be in the larger interest of the state. Instead of selling power through the Power Trading Corporation and giving them a commission of about Rs 4 crore per annum, the HP government should have given this free power to the HP State Electricity Board for supplying power to the rural domestic consumers where the cost of power is must higher than the applicable tariff.

The HPSEB is a baby of the state government, though spoilt. But then, it does not mean that we should discard our own spoilt child and adopt an outsider.

Er C.L. GUPTA, Jaidevi (Mandi)