M A I L B A G

Strengthening Sino-Indian relations

INDIA and China share many similarities. First, both provide abundant manpower. Both expect GDP of 8 per cent and 15 per cent respectively in the manufacturing sector.

During a visit to Australia, I found every departmental store, big or small, flooded with Chinese goods which were in great demand. Surely, if India and China join hands, both can capture 2-3 per cent of Asian market.

China has been accepting for the past many years. Investors show a lot of interest due to its landscape, good climate and quality infrastructure.

A concrete example of joint cooperation can be seen in the field of energy with China’s National Petrol Corporation and India’s Oil and Natural Gas Commission. These companies jointly won a bid for 38 per cent stake of Petrol-Canada in Syrian offshore. If they continue to cooperate this way, they will be great players in political and corporate areas.

KANUPRIYA BARIA, Student, SMDRSD College, Pathankot

Landmark rulings

In the case of former Union Minister Shibu Soren and film actor Sanjay Dutt, the judiciary has given landmark verdicts. The judges are delivering bold judgements without any pressure. This s a healthy sign for our democracy.

The historic rulings have raised the people’s confidence in the judiciary. Nobody is above the law, however high he or she may be.

SIMMI MOHINDRU, Jalandhar City

Illogical argument

To save some tainted ministers in the Manmohan Singh government, the UPA members have made the most illogical argument. How can they raise the question of Mr L.K. Advani’s charge-sheet in the Ayodhya case? This clearly shows their mental bankruptcy. (News item, “MPs bicker over Soren and his ilk”, Nov 30). Equating Mr Advani’s case with those of tainted ministers in the UPA government is absurd.

In any case, Mr Advani’s charge-sheet was a shameful case of blatant misuse of CBI by the then Congress government. Continuation of the Ayodhya case is, in fact, an insult to the nation.

A.K. SHARMA, Chandigarh

Why buses stop at Ganour? I travel by bus regularly between Delhi and Chandigarh. The Haryana Roadways bus drivers (from Delhi), after an hour’s journey, stop at Ganour for meals. There is no need to halt at Ganour where the bus stand is most filthy and open urinals stink. The food served in the hotels is unhygienic. As the rates are not displayed, passengers are overcharged. They supply salad and raita with standard thali meals even if not asked for. As a result, if someone partakes these items, he /she has to unknowingly pay Rs 30 for the two extra items. Drinking water is supplied from the ladies toilet which is very bad. When I asked a driver about the Ganour stop, he said he was only carrying out the orders of his superior authorities. The buses should stop for meals at Haryana Tourism outlets. These are well maintained and quality and hygienic food items are served at reasonable rates. If buses stop at these outlets, this will add to the income of Haryana Tourism. VINAY KUMAR GOEL, Chandigarh

Tread with caution

Maoists have brought the Kingdom in Nepal on its knees and brought a coalitional democracy in the country. The process has provided a strong foothold to Maoists who had been struggling for the purpose for a long time.

Maoism is now at our doorstep. India will have to watch the Maoists’ activities more closely and not as a distant entity.

MOHINDER BEHL, Gurdaspur

II

The coverage given to Prachand addressing a leadership summit by the newspapers on the front pages is unfortunate. Such acts encourage Maoists, Naxalities and insurgents creating law and order problems in Bihar, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh and North-East.

India, the land of the Gautam Buddha and Gandhi, and ruled by Gandhians, should not provide a platform to violence mongers to express their views in the larger national interest.

KALWANT RAI AGGARWAL, Bathinda

Help others too

I would like to draw the Punjab government’s attention to the genuine demand of government pensioners. The government has rightly decided to restore the old commutation formula. This has been implemented from October 31, 2006. Thus, many pensioners will suffer. The formula should be made effective from the date it was scrapped, i.e. September 2003.

Dr PREM N. BHATIA, Ludhiana

Wisdom of life

J.L. Gupta’s middle, “Deference to the difference” was interesting. We Indians lack in human instinct. We possess more of animal instinct. For example, many people urinate on the walls and spit wherever they like. Who cares for decency and cleanliness? We remained slaves for centuries. The people’s habit to urinate on the walls is attributed to this slavish mentality.

About 70 per cent of the country’s population lives in villages. Poverty and illiteracy are other reasons for the malady. The government should do something to teach the rural sector in this regard. India can even surpass Switzerland if we are trained how to behave and conduct ourselves.

G.S. TURKA, Ambala Cantonment