M A I L B A G

Defeat the criminals in elections

I refer to H.K. Dua’s front-page editorial, “Parliament — A Sadhu’s sanctuary” (Aug 26). If the political parties do not stop fielding criminals in the elections, incidents like the one on August 24 will be an everyday affair in Parliament and state legislatures.

Most of the times, the options before the voters are between a rapist, a murderer, a cheater, a money-spinner and a corrupt leader. Who should they elect? For them it is always a Hobson’s choice. If they send some good gentlemen to Parliament, the old dogs will not let them have their way. This leaves the field wide open for these corrupt politicians. What is the solution?

Let the people and the media start a persistent, unrelenting campaign against corruption and criminalisation of politics. We just cannot leave things to these Sadhus and Lalus. Tainted MPs and ministers must be shown the door. I think, India needs another Mahatma Gandhi to free it from the clutches of these so-called leaders.

TARSEM LAL MOHAN, Mississauga (Canada)

II

Sadhu Yadav, MP, was creating nuisance in Parliament while at the same time hoodwinking the law and order authorities and evading arrest in Bihar. Why wasn’t he arrested in New Delhi? These criminal-turned politicians create trouble in and out of Parliament. The result: the common man’s problems will never be resolved by such tainted representatives.

Who will ameliorate the conditions of the Aam admi if we send criminals to Parliament and state legislatures? Ultimately, the onus is on us. We should elect only those candidates having a clean track record, impeccable credentials and good leadership qualities.

SHER SINGH, Ludhiana

III

As India turns 60, let the old order yield place to the new. Let’s shift from parliamentary democracy to the presidential form of government. This may result in better governance. We have had enough of parliamentary democracy. Let’s give the presidential form of government a chance. Change is the only constant thing in the universe. So, why not fall in line?

K.J.S. AHLUWALIA, Amritsar 

IV

Close on the heels of the hike in the salaries and perks of MPs with the taxpayers’ money, Sadhu Yadav and Prabhunath Singh have shown the ‘circus’ show (or shall we call it wrestling match?) in the Lok Sabha. August 24 was a sad day in the annals of the world’s largest democracy.

These criminals have no respect for the Speaker or the Prime Minister. Doubtless, all the political parties should accept the blame and apologise to the nation for their shoddy behaviour in Parliament.

M.L. GARG, Chandigarh

V

The decline in the standards of parliamentary proceedings is just an honest reflection of the decline in the values of society as a whole. If we as a society have become depraved enough to elect people like Sadhu Yadav as our representative, we can only expect such behaviour from these worthies. They cannot emulate the likes of a Nehru or a Patel.

The fact that the whole proceedings are telecast live these days had raised hopes that it may act as a deterrent for such unruly behaviour. But it has been of little use. What a pity!

Dr HARSH SHARMA, Mohali

VI

To some extent, we ourselves are responsible for the ugly incident in Parliament because we have voted and elected such goons, musclemen and history-sheeters to the august house. All the political parties  have only a single aim — capture power by hook or by crook. If a goonda can ensure victory in the election, political parties will be ready to have a pact with him. After all, it is a question of  their survival. The Election Commission has failed to debar those with criminal antecedents from contesting elections. The solution lies in the  voters’ hands. We should defeat tainted candidates and those with criminal antecedents in the  elections. We should not send them to Parliament or state legislatures in the larger interest of the nation.

RAJESH THAKUR, Gumma (HP)

Not a retrial

The headline of PTI news-item “Retrial in Kanishka bombing case begins” is inaccurate (The Tribune, Page 15, June 23). The story clearly states that this is an inquiry or a probe, which “does not have the ability to retry the matter or find fault”. Hence not a retrial.

AMARJIT SINGH BUTTAR, Vernon (USA)

Have a heart for ex-servicemen The Tribune has been carrying articles and letters on the problems faced by the ex-servicemen in the implementation of their contributory health scheme. I would like to highlight the plight of those living in remote areas. The authorities should provide extra wards in all the military hospitals in the country in proportion to the population of ex-servicemen living in the area. Facilities like cardiac surgery, renal transplantation, cardio-thoracic chest treatment, urinary and eye surgery can be provided in these hospitals. Ex-servicemen in the evening of their life and living in remote areas cannot visit these hospitals. To provide timely medical help to them, doctors with paramedical staff can visit them now and then by well-equipped ambulances. Is it too much to expect from the authorities for the services they have rendered to the nation? JAGDISH CHAND, Hon. Captain (retd), Narola (Mandi)