M A I L B A G

Politicians are ruining the nation

Mr H.K. Dua’s front-page editorial, “Freedom for whom?” (Aug 15) raises a very pertinent question: Independence and democracy for whom? Is it for the elector or the elected? By and large, it is for both. The elected are enjoying at the cost of the electors. They are ruining the country. There has been all round decay in the values. No doubt, India has progressed by leaps and bounds during the last 59 years of Independence. We have so many achievements to our credit. We are internationally recognised. Yet, we could not achieve the full potential to provide jobs to the jobless, bread to the hungry and homes to the homeless. A large chunk of our population is still below the poverty line.

Sadly, there are huge leakages from the developmental funds. Corruption is rampant and we are experiencing floods and drought of even more severity despite six decades of planning. Our valuable resource is going waste.

PURAN SINGH, Project Economist, (Haryana), Chandigarh

II

I have gone through both Mr Dua’s front-page editorial (Aug 15) and Mr Jagmohan’s article (Oped Page) in the same issue.

For the successful functioning of our democracy, the Chief Justice of India must crack the whip and issue a directive on speedy disposal of cases. This will help improve public life considerably.

At present, owing to transgression of human rights, there is inordinate delay in the dispensation of justice. Once the powers that be understand the essence and spirit of human rights, there will be great improvement in the system.

Today, the courts give importance to criminal cases as against economic offences. It should be the other way round.

A killer harms one or a few persons, but an economic offender snatched the bread of thousands of people.

K.K. LAKHANPAL, Chief Engineer (retd), Haryana, Chandigarh

III

In his front-page editorial, Mr Dua has succintly outlined the characteristics of our politicians who are supposed to guide the destiny of the nation. It is most depressing to see the conduct of our representatives in Parliament and state legislatures. Even outside these institutions, consider how they behave — be it misuse of Railway passes, demanding the placement of trains at their chosen platforms, misuse of the MPs’ Local Area Development Scheme, asking for luxury cars and the like.

As for now, it is the elected — and not the elector — who are enjoying the fruits of Independence and democracy, as elucidated by Mr Dua. The need of the hour is to spread awareness among the electors to elect only upright, righteous and enlightened representatives.

S.S. ARORA, Mohali

IV

Mr Dua rightly highlighted the plight of the poor and downtrodden despite 59 years of Independence. Basic problems like education, health care, drinking water and shelter can be handled well only by honest leaders and administrators like Sardar Patel and Lal Bahadur Shastri. Both gave their best to the country, receiving in return people’s love and respect.

Today, most politicians have only one-point agenda — how to make money by hook or by crook. I am afraid, conditions created by these politicians are leading to a civil war-type of situation which will have to be prevented at any cost.

Parliament, the symbol of our parliamentary democracy, has become a place for slogans and fisticuffs. Our elected representatives must follow parliamentary procedures in letter and spirit and give it the respect it deserves. It is much more than a debating society.

MULTAN SINGH PARIHAR, Jalari-Hamirpur 

Khushwant makes history I refer to the report on the release of Khushwant Singh’s new edition of the book, Train to Pakistan (Aug 17). This reminds me of my brief encounter with the great writer at a function in New Delhi’s Max Mueller Bhavan in June 1964. While speaking on the state of Indian literature, Khushwant said, “not a single Indian writer will be remembered for their works after 50 years.” I promptly stood up and asked him whether he would hold the same view about his book, Train to Pakistan? It is an eloquent tribute to Khushwant Singh that today, after 50 years, this book is still remembered and honoured. Indeed, Train to Pakistan is a monumental work. It must be read by all those who have not seen the 1947 carnage during Partition. SAROJ VASISHTH, Shimla