M A I L B A G

Power brokers must be kept off the system

THIS has reference to H.K. Dua’s article, “Tragedy of politics: Power brokers are capturing the system” (June 9). I agree that despite significant progress made by the nation in many fields, there is despondency and lack of confidence in the countrymen. The reason: general decline in the political class and the games they play.

Almost all parties are being financed by power brokers through unethical means adopted in collecting funds, amassing personal wealth mostly by shady deals. Pramod Mahajan, Mayawati, Chautala, Natwar Singh, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Lalu Yadav and Sukh Ram have all prospered in politics.

The people have a very poor impression about the honesty and integrity of the politicians but the recent Food-for-Oil scam, Taj Corridor case and the latest Rahul Mahajan episode have taken that feeling to the lowest level. The doings of the deal fixers and fund-raisers lead to influencing the decision-making process in almost all parties.

It is time the guilty were brought to justice and served their desserts within a timeframe by amending, if necessary, the legal system. That may instill patriotic feeling among the people and restore their faith in democracy and rule of law.

Brig H.S. SANDHU (retd), Panchkula

II

The article is an eye-opener and may stir the conscience of the people from their deep slumber, but it would hardly affect our thick-skinned netas. There is nothing wrong with the political system. It is the netas who have betrayed the system.

Our netas are very powerful, privileged, highly protected and strikingly corrupt. The most clinical method to get rid of them is to vote them out. Let us get rid of the Mayawatis, the Rajabhaiyas, the Shahabuddins and the Yadavs.

H.S. BADHAN, Dasuya (Hoshiarpur)

III

When lakhs of people struggled for India’s Independence, they never expected the kind of depravity and poor governance that we see today. People are being fooled by slogans like “India Shinning”, higher growth rate and low inflation. Had it been correct, the index of happiness amongst the people would have been high.

The greater tragedy is that truthful, frank and courageous writings by persons like Mr Dua seem to have no effect on the political masters. There is lawlessness everywhere with increasing crime rate and administrative inefficiency.

Air Marshal P.K. JAIN (retd), Chandigarh

IV

It flies in the face of facts to say that L’affaire Pramod Mahajan is a representative case. Simply because Pramod’s son seems to have taken some drug in a moment of aberration, it doesn’t warrant an unfounded allegation against him. On the other hand, Lalu Yadav, Sukhram, Jayalalithaa et al are facing serious criminal charges.

The moral degradation, though extremely despicable, is not a peculiar feature of the politicians; every section of society including the judiciary and fourth estate are steeped in the malaise. Reservation and “secularism” are the worst features of the syndrome of public immorality. The way the country is plummeting down, only God can save it.

GEETANJALI KORPAL, Amritsar

V

It is a matter of grave concern that the people have been banking too much on the politicians to solve their problems; they are now convinced that the netas are not concerned about their problems or are incapable of tackling them.

Mr Dua has aptly pointed out in his article that public confidence in the politicians’ honesty and sincerity has been low for some years, but L’affaire Pramod Mahajan leaves a stink of corruption, regime, drugs, and depravity that characterise today’s politics.

SUBASH C. TANEJA, Rohtak

VI

The article has presented a perfect diagnosis of the current scenario in the country, making people lose faith in the system. The country is run by a breed of politicians who are dishonest, corrupt and selfish. There exists a nexus between politicians, bureaucrats and contractors. Only those with pelf and power are ruling the roost.

The common man has no say  anywhere in the system and people are basically a harassed lot in  view of the widespread corruption. The role of money and muscle power in the elections seems to be behind all the ills afflicting the nation. Only the Supreme Court can salvage the dwindling image of the system.

RAVI SHARMA, Jammu

God fails man? GOD will never ever fail a man who has faith in Him. But what happened to the man who bravely crept into the lions’ enclosure in Kiev Zoo, Ukraine? (Foreign Page, The Tribune, June 6). The man shouted “God will save me, if he exists”, but mauled to death by a lioness in Kier zoo. What was the force working behind that man? Was it Divine or evil? It is the same evil force working behind every person who attempts or commits suicide. The same force tempted Jesus Christ also. The devil set Him up on the pinnacle of the temple of the holy city and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down”. But Jesus said to him “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test” and overcame devil. (Matthew 4:5-7, The Bible) In the Bible, we see that Daniel was thrown into the den of lions for the sake of God. But God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they had not hurt him (6:22). God will surely help him who trusts Him and delivers him even from lions’ mouth. But don’t walk into the mouth of lion and tempt Him. ENJO VARGHESE, Chandigarh