M A I L B A G

CBI should pursue cases after raids

The CBI’s nationwide raids at the houses of corrupt public servants to unearth assets acquired through illicit means have come as a pleasant surprise to ordinary citizens who started to believe that tackling corruption was very low on the government’s agenda. This impression is quite natural as many tainted ministers continue in the Union Cabinet.

However, the message is tough and clear. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, a very clean man, understands that corruption hinders development and is an obstacle to foreign direct investment. But these exercises will be pointless if the cases are not pursued to their logical conclusion, even by amending the law.

The ill-gotten wealth should be attached and credited to nation’s accounts. The trial of these modern dacoits should be fast and through summary procedures although they should be given due opportunity of being heard.

S.C. CHABBA, Ropar

II

I read the editorial “Punish the guilty” (Oct 3). CBI raids should be conducted every month and its scope should be extended to all kinds of politicians including ministers at the Centre and in the states, MPs and legislators. Those who have properties disproportionate to their known sources of income should be booked and dealt with in accordance with the law.

Moreover, why should the CBI seek the government’s permission to book officers above the rank of Joint Secretary? If the CBI has to book corrupt officers, it should be given the right to take up cases involving all bureaucrats, however high they may be. The Centre would do well to amend the rules in this regard.

SHER SINGH, Ludhiana

III

The leakage of the impending CBI raids once again reveals how wide and deep corruption has spread in India. Even the CBI is not immune to this menace.

Corrupt leaders and officials are the nation’s enemies. They not only harass and exploit the gullible public to extort money, but also hinder the country’s progress and development. No wonder, India continues to be poor even after 58 years of Independence.

Tracking down corrupt officials was long over due. The Manmohan Singh Government and the CBI deserve to be appreciated for their resolve to curb this evil practice. Though the raids accomplished very limited success, as the editorial “Punish the guilty” said, it is better than nothing. By eliminating corruption, India can resolve 75 per cent of its problems. The raids must be pursued to their logical conclusion.

SUBHASH C. CHAUDHRY, Indianapolis (USA)

No end to renaming drama On Wednesday, the Uttaranchal Assembly passed a resolution seeking renaming of the state as Uttarakhand. The Centre will in due course approve it. But the point is when will this renaming drama come to an end? Every political party, after coming to power, takes to naming or renaming institutions. There was a big furore after the Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy government in Andhra Pradesh renamed the Hyderabad Airport after Rajiv Gandhi. Is there no end to this rat race? This trend needs to be halted forthwith. If necessary, national projects should be named after freedom fighters like Bhagat Singh, Subhash Chandra Bose, Chandra Sekhar Azad, warriors like Rana Pratap and Shivaji, scientists like Sir C.V. Raman, Homi Bhabha, J.C. Bose or renowned writers like Rabindranath Tagore, Prem Chand and Ghalib. J.K. MAGO, Panchkula

Heartening news

Surveys and studies occasionally forecast India emerging as a superpower around 2025. It is heartening news. Yet, the prospects of India attaining the big league status seem remote in the foreseeable future, given the prevailing conditions in various spheres of our national life, the level of cohesiveness and commitment to the cause of development.

We must not also forget that the rich developed countries, even as seen to be on our side, may insidiously do all they can to stop the Third World from posing a challenge to their long-established global supremacy. This

may sound uncharitable but it is the harsh reality of international life. The break-up of the erstwhile Soviet Union will for long remain an object lesson in this regard.

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

Improve health care

The UPA government at the Centre is all smiles about our economy, but when it comes to public health it is far behind many countries. The vaccines for the prevention of the Japanese Encephalitis, could not be imported at the cost of the lives of hundreds of people in Uttar Pradesh.

When would the government realise the true value of human life? It must realise that power lies with the people and so, it should not take it for granted.

MOUSAM SHARMA, Shimla