M A I L B A G

Troop cut in Kashmir not desirable

The Centre should not order troops cut in Jammu and Kashmir bowing to the demand by the PDP. Terrorism got a big boost when Mufti Mohd Sayeed was the Union Home Minister. Now exploiting the Ghulam Nabi Azad’s dependence on the PDP, this party has been putting pressure on the Centre for the withdrawal of the security forces from Jammu and Kashmir. The PDP is playing with fire to cultivate its vote bank.

In the national interest, the Centre should take a firm stand and reject the PDP’s anti-national demand. The exigencies of national security should prevail over political convenience at any cost and let the state go to elections, if need be.

The Centre and the state are legally and morally responsible to protect the life and property of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Any withdrawal or even marginal reduction of security forces at this critical juncture is unwarranted because Pakistan is determined to destablise India by hook or by crook.

Col S.K. AGGARWAL (retd), Panchkula

II

Despite Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad’s firm stand, the PDP has been demanding complete withdrawal of security forces from Jammu and Kashmir. The Centre should not buckle under the PDP’s pressure.

Both the PDP and the NC leadership cannot digest Mr Azad’s achievement. The two parties always play spoilsport for political reasons, not to speak of the Hurriyat leaders who live in Kashmir with a remote control in Pakistan. We are a sovereign nation and why wilt under the PDP’s pressure?

The Army and the paramilitary forces have done a good job to control the situation. We must support Mr Azad on the issue and see through Pakistan’s gameplan to hoodwink India diplomatically.

KARNAIL SINGH, Kharar

III

As terrorists are killing innocent people in Jammu and Kashmir day in and out, there should be no reduction or withdrawal of security forces from that state. The Indian Army must remain there to combat Pakistan’s ISI-backed ultras who are equipped with sophisticated lethal weapons designed for carrying out guerilla warfare. Jammu and Kashmir should not be demilitarised at any cost.

GOPAL BHARGAVA, New Delhi

IV

When Mufti Mohd Sayeed was the Union Home Minister, he released hardcore terrorists in exchange for the release of his daughter. After he became the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, he had released many terrorists from the jail. These terrorists, after their release, killed many innocent people and even dared to attack the Raghunath Temple in Jammu.

Mufti Mohd Sayeed wants withdrawal of troops from Jammu and Kashmir so that the terrorists may go berserk. It is not understood how long he will continue his relations with the terrorists, compromising the safety and welfare of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

G.D. GUPTA, Jagadhari

V

The Prime Minister should not have invited Mufti Mohd Sayeed for talks on troops cut in Jammu and Kashmir. Will the Mufti ever tell the countrymen why, as the Union Home Minister, he got so many hardcore militants released in exchange for his daughter?

If the Mufti feels that the situation in the Valley has become normal, why should so many security personnel guard him and his family round the clock? His attitude towards the Hindus living in the Valley is well known.

MULTAN SINGH PARIHAR, Jalari-Hamirpur (HP)

Action plan to check AIDS AIDS, the dreaded disease, is spreading fast. The governments — at the Centre and in the states — should take all possible steps to check it. I suggest an action plan to fight AIDS. It would be better if every school insists on an HIV test certificate of the student concerned for admission to any class. At the Matriculation level, this certificate will have to be made mandatory. At the time of seeking employment, the authorities must insist on at least a one-year-old HIV test certificate of the candidate. At the time of marriage, the current certificate should be made a legal requirement for the couple and thereafter compulsory registration of marriage to control fraud marriages. The latest certificate should be made a part of the driving test for a person seeking a heavy vehicle driving licence. The HIV test should be made mandatory for patients seeking admission to hospitals for any serious disease and blood transfusion. JASWANT SINGH KOMAL SANDHU, Ludhiana