M A I L B A G

Quotas can’t continue in perpetuity

Reservation as a policy needs to be reassessed to know whether it has delivered the desired results (Editorial, “Exclude by necessity”, Nov 24). Will anyone tell for how long we must have quotas? Surely, we cannot have quotas forever.

However noble this cause may be, it has caused irreparable damage to the quality of services in the nation. Knowing this fully well, the politicians advocating its continuance go abroad for medical check up instead of relying on the medical facilities available in the country.

Adding salt to the wounds of the general category candidates, this unjustified practice was extended in promotions. Here the basic idea behind the policy is defeated, because the aim was only to assist the downtrodden to earn that much, with which they could feed their family and educate the children. But why reservation in promotions?

ARVIND DHUMAL,
Advocate, Jalandhar

II

It is ridiculous that the Dalit organisations and Left parties are questioning the rationale of introducing the creamy layer among the SC/STs on the plea that enough eligible candidates are not available among them to fill all the posts reserved for them. It shows their bias in favour the well off.

On one hand, a large population of deserving SC/STs is not eligible to reap the benefits of reservation for being educationally backward. And on the other, the benefits meant for them are cornered by a handful of people. The well off among the SC/STs have become the gate keepers. They don’t allow the reservation benefit to percolate to the most deserving by opposing the concept of creamy layer among the SC/STs. This is called pedagogy of oppressed.

Sadly, eligible candidates are not available among the SC/STs despite 60 years of Independence. The government, therefore, should come out with a concrete plan to provide the best of the education to the poor SC/STs so that they are in a position to compete and the benefit of reservation reach the large sections. We should stop playing cheap politics.

PURAN SINGH, Chandigarh

III

Initially, reservation was proposed for 10 years to help the underprivileged come up on a par with other sections. But the present-day politicians have made it a permanent fixture to protect vote banks. Essentially, the SC, ST and OBCs need good schools and colleges with dedicated teachers and infrastructure for their all round development. But this is totally neglected.

It is a pity that though our Parliament and State legislatures boast of many highly educated members, they are not promoting good education, but harp on reservation only. The UPA government helps the Muslims, increases the Haj subsidy and other facilities which no other country gives.

B.S. GANESH, Bangalore

Stem the rot students indulging in subversive activities at Lucknow University on the eve of students’ union elections is a very sad development (Editorial, “College capers”, Dec 11). How pathetic it is that the students, who are supposed to be a disciplined force, have no respect for their teachers and the rule of law. They do not seem to be bothered about their studies too. The aim and very age of the students do not permit them to indulge in such activities in the temples of learning. I feel such ugly agitations are mostly started by third divisioners who have neither love for studies nor any aim before them. This problem can be tackled if we restrict the admissions in colleges only to high class students and check with an iron hand the interference of political parties, as advised in the editorial and as recommended by the Lyngdoh Committee Report. R.K. JAIN, Principal (retd), Panchkula

Roots of conflict

This has reference to G. Parthasarathy’s article “A challenge before Europe”. The article is informative, but one needs to examine the root cause of the psychological conflict between the Muslims and the Christians.

The conflict between these two communities began when crusades were started by the Christians on the then Pope’s orders to evict the Muslims from Jerusalem. The Muslims responded with jihad. The Christians were involved in a long war against the Muslims for about three centuries (12th to 14th centuries) with varying fortunes. Ultimately, the Muslims triumphed as Jerusalem remained with them. It hurt the Christian psyche. The last words of French king Louis VII before he died were, ‘Oh Jerusalem’. Louis III was taken prisoner by the Muslims and he died in the prison.

The Europeans’ treatment of the Muslims was quite harsh in the succeeding centuries. During the First World War, the Arabs were organised by the allies against the Turks. Though the Arabs were promised land after the war, the English and the French divided it between themselves.

The Muslims were greatly annoyed when Israel came into being in the middle of the Arab heartland. To assuage their feelings, some compromise should have been made instead of taking Israel’s side by going out of the way.

European powers, particularly America and the Muslims, should highlight the greatness of their religion and culture. An atmosphere of conciliation and harmony should be created instead of indulging in violent acts.

V.P. MEHTA, Chandigarh

Set things right

India is the world’s largest democracy. Yet, it appears its national TV channels are not subject to viewers’ feedback on the quality of its programmes. Some programmes like Ahsas, Ek Ghar Ki Kahani had lot of suspense and clear cut story. It was suddenly wound up. Now the programme Kashmaksh Zindagiki has hardly a story and characters are not clearly drawn up and no one knows which character belongs to which group. One hopes something will be done to set things right.

ANAND SARUP, Chandigarh