M A I L B A G

Tremors from the blast in North Korea

I refer to H.K. Dua’s article, “Tremors from the blast: North Korea cocks a snook at the world” (Oct 11). With North Korea having gone nuclear, world will never be unipolar. The US rulers will have to reconcile themselves with the emerging new international relatives. They can’t afford to remain cocooned into their wishful thinking forever.

I agree with Mr Dua’s perceptive opinion that the US is not likely to attack North Korea in the near future. The Americans simply don’t know how to get out of Iraq. It is also correct to argue that Japan may now think seriously about having adequate defence mechanism on its own instead of depending on the US forever for this purpose.

During the Second World War, only the Americans had the atom bomb. And now after a gap of six decades, several countries have come to develop this dangerous bomb. The US hegemony has perhaps gone. The Americans may not like it but the ground reality does not favour their imperialist designs. North Korea is not Iraq. If the US decides to take on North Korea, it may perhaps end their monopoly in international politics forever.

I share the writer’s genuine concern for peace in Asia and a mad race among nation states for developing and manufacturing nuclear bombs for their “so-called safety”. No doubt, North Korea’s nuclear test has changed the dynamics of international politics beyond recognition.

RAJ BAHADUR YADAV, Fatehabad

II

North Korea has defied the world by exploding a nuclear device. Its regime has demonstrated scant regard for world opinion. The United Nations has now imposed sanctions, but Kim Jong is unlikely to take it seriously. Military strike(s) would create a war-like situation, but effective blockade with full Chinese and Russian involvement may bring Kim Jong to his knees and force him to renounce his autocratic rule.

If North Korea gets away lightly with this explosion, other nations like Iran (already on the threshold of going nuclear) and Japan and oil rich West Asian countries may follow North Korea in going nuclear against the tenet of Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty.

Brig H.S. CHANDEL (retd), Una (HP)

III

The writer has very correctly analysed the likely fall-out of the nuclear explosion by North Korea. The proliferation of mass destruction weapons is per se highly reprehensible. For India, there is added dread as North Korea, being an ally of Pakistan, can help the latter to go further berserk. Gen Musharraf in his autobiography, In the Firing Line, has admitted to his nefarious design of using nuclear weapons at the time of Pakistan’s treachery at Kargil.

India needs to make diplomatic efforts to woo North Korea away from Pakistan’s perfidious clutches. At the same time, India should develop weaponry that could be deployed as a pre-emptive measure against the rogue state.

There may or may not be peace talks with the military junta at Islamabad, but India must keep her powder dry. It should never be forgotten that at the international level or even in bilateral skirmishes, it is the military power that is the clincher and the final arbiter.

Any clichés about the efficacy of dialogues have no root in reality. Anyway, Pakistan will cling to the Kashmir issue like a limpet and will repeat her felonious acts of terrorism. Despite so many defeats, Pakistan will not feel humble, but will rather brazen it out.

GEETANJALI KORPAL, Advocate, Amritsar

IV

North Korea has now proved that neither economic status nor the threat of sanctions can stop a nation from its own safety accomplishing what it wants. True, at present all countries are actively participating in arms development. North Korea alone cannot be blamed for this situation. If the US, Russia, China and even India can develop and test nuclear bomb for their safety, North Korea too has the right to do the same.

Why do the so-called world leaders crying foul that possession of nuclear weapon by North Korea is a threat to the world peace? Why shouldn’t the US recognise North Korea as a state? The US should try to solve the problem amicably for world peace. It should not attack North Korea to create a situation like Afghanistan and Iraq.

BIDYUT KUMAR CHATTERJEE, Faridabad

ESI bonus hike

The government has decided to raise the ESI ceiling limit from Rs 7,500 to Rs 10,000 recently, but the bonus ceiling limit has not been enhanced accordingly. I urge the government to raise the bonus coverage limit from Rs 3,500 to Rs 10,000 retrospectively to give Diwali bonanza to all workers irrespective of their entitlement to bonus. The ceiling on bonus must go.

JOGINDER SINGH, Chandigarh

Chopper Squadron a must I refer to Girja Shankar Kaura’s report “Chopper Squadron for special forces” (Oct 11). Chopper Squadron is needed both for special forces and the normal infantry battalions. A soldier is too heavily loaded during the assault on enemy occupied position and his speed is cut down. Therefore, he is exposed to enemy fire for a longer period. He cannot cross the obstacles like barbed wire, slushy terrain with relatively greater speed. Hence greater exposure to enemy fire. In the Second World War, as the soldiers were carrying excessive load on their back, they, particularly on this account, suffered greater number of casualties. It was difficult for them even to jump out of the trench and set on a “jump start”. Now that the warfare is more modernised, there is need for the helicopter to lift soldiers’ heavy items to their destination soon after its capture. The helicopter should be integrated in the overall assault process. The soldier should only carry, during assault, his arm, ammunition, his first-field dressing and a water bottle. The rest should be carried to the destination by a chopper, more so in the hilly terrain and slopes like Kargil. Col MOHINDER BEHL (retd), Hendon, London

Survey of quacks

The Indian Medical Association’s attempt to conduct a survey of quacks is welcome. This will help curb quackery which is the need of the hour. But what happened to the IMA’s earlier slogans past promises, projects and slogans like ‘Anemia-free India’, ‘Ayo Gahon Chalan’, ‘Drug-free Punjab’ and so on?

The fight against quackery is an important social agenda. But I feel there is no need for a survey of quacks as most doctors have a list of the quacks in their areas. These quacks shower doctors with expensive gifts, arrange cocktail parties and pay commission money to them regularly. Common people like me have doubts about the IMA’s sincerity and earnestness to fight quackery.

Dr VITULL K. GUPTA, Bathinda

Unbecoming of CM

I refer to the editorial “President’s dilemma: Should a terrorist escape gallows?” (Oct 3). It was wrong on the part of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad to seek pardon for a terrorist. When the war against terrorism is on, seeking or granting pardon to terrorists will demoralise the security forces; it is also against the strategy of war. Pardon will also send a wrong signal to the terrorists and those around them who justify the killing of innocent people.

Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad has belittled his position in the eyes of the peace-loving people by seeking pardon for Afzal. The law should take its own course in this case. I am sure, it will.

SHYAM SUNDER AIRI, Kapurthala

A mirage

It is a matter of shame that due to dirty games played by politicians, facilities like clean drinking water, houses under the Indira Awas Yojna for the poor remain a mirage in Punjab. Our leaders are only interested in selling away the precious land to multinational companies. In such circumstances, who cares for the poor?

SUKHDEV SHARMA, Bhucho Mandi