M A I L B A G

Women have no safety in trains

The rape of a 19-year-old girl in the Toofan Express is a reflection of the conditions prevailing in the trains. She was raped by two Travelling Ticket Examiners and their accomplices.

But this is not an isolated incident. Rape, hooliganism, thefts have all become too common in the trains these days. The quality of train services is deteriorating day by day. While undertaking a train journey, one is not sure of his/her life and honour. Even the railway employees are not helpful and cooperative. If this is the real picture, passengers do not know whom to look up to in their hour of need?

Such incidents make a mockery of the tall claims made by Railway Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav. A large number of people including students and employees travel by trains daily. Girls have to travel alone either to go to their colleges or to reach their workplaces. It is the duty of the authorities concerned to give them adequate safety and protection.

RUPINDER PAL KAUR, Faridkot

II

This has reference to the editorial “Rape in the train” (Sept 15). Besides colossal financial losses, Indian Railways have been known for years for its substandard and inadequate services to the travelling public.

The majority of the people, who travel by trains are poor and middle class and have no alternative. They have become used to all the corruption, inconvenience, sufferings, poor service, rude behavior, endless waiting, overcrowding etc. It is getting worse day by day.

The recent rape of a young woman travelling on the Toofan Express by six railway employees did not surprise or shock me. The lawlessness has touched all bases of life in India. The common man is helpless. Those guilty of rape should be sacked from service immediately.

The victim needs to be compensated adequately by the Railways. However, I doubt whether anything of the sort will happen. Instead, she may be coerced and threatened by the rapists and the police to change her statement.

SUBHASH C. CHAUDHRY, Indianapolis (USA)

III

The rape of the hapless woman passenger should open the eyes of the authorities concerned. Railway Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav may rightly take credit for having improved facilities in the trains and replacing plastic cups with kulhars. But the rape incident is a black spot on the railways.

The police do not enjoy a good name. The railway ticket collectors have joined this class now.

MULTAN SINGH PARIHAR, Jalari-Hamirpur

IV

It is most unfortunate that rape has become too common these days, especially in New Delhi, Mumbai and other cities. After rape in buses, now it is the turn of trains.

There should be summary trial of the culprits and they deserve severe punishment within one month of the crime as was done by the trial courts of Jodhpur and Jaipur.

The TTEs should be dismissed from service and the vendors’ contract terminated. All those involved in the heinous crime should be prosecuted quickly. Then only, it will act as a deterrent.

SHER SINGH, Ludhiana

Punjab should follow HP The Himachal Pradesh High Court has rightly quashed the appointment of eight Chief Parliamentary Secretaries and four Parliamentary Secretaries. All of them have resigned promptly following the historic ruling. However, those in Punjab continue in their respective positions. Why? All the Parliamentary Secretaries in Punjab should quit forthwith. What are they waiting for? Congress President Sonia Gandhi, on the one hand, says that she is not interested in power. She said this while renouncing the post of Prime Minister. On the other hand, she is worried about retaining power in Punjab in the ensuing elections. K.K. BHARDWAJ, Patiala

Message from Gohana

Our politicians are responsible for happenings like in Gohana. The main reason is our election system in which political parties have to collect election funds. Elected MPs/ MLAs can’t make such laws under pressure from their financers.

Moreover, as Dalits are precious vote banks of the political parties, even after 58 years of Independence, they remain as they were earlier. The political parties have a vested interest in their backwardness.

The Gohana incident proves that some people are above the law of the land. That’s why successive governments at the Centre have been extending reservations for SC/ST and OBCs after every 10 years.

N.M. HANSI, Ludhiana

Double standards

Time and again women are denied of their rightful and dignified place in society. The guilty have not been convicted in the numerous cases of violence against women. Is there an end to all this?

On the one hand, men exploit women in whatever possible way they can. And on the other, they talk of “empowering” women by giving them 33 per cent reservation in Parliament. For God’s sake, shun these double standards. Learn to love and respect the woman for what she is and what she has given you — your life.

SARIKA SHARMA, Kullu