M A I L B A G

For India’s peace and prosperity

I strongly share H.K. Dua’s concerns in his front-page editorial, “Let’s have an India at peace with itself” (Jan 1) on the growing culture of violence. Basically, Indian culture is characterised by the social values pertaining to peace, truth and non-violence.

Why do people act violently? Factors related to family, school, community, drugs and liquor, media, especially cinema, misuse of power and authority, unemployment, poverty, religious fundamentalism and socio-economic inequalities may be responsible for it. All the social agencies play their roles to shape the people’s behaviour.

Politicians and political parties have to play a major role to liberate India from degrading socio-economic ills. They must stop dividing the people on religious, casteist, regional and linguistic lines. Revamp the education system to make it modern and humanistic. The bureaucracy and the police should be humanised. Films and TV channels must shun showing sex and violence. Those indulging in female foeticide/ infanticide and domestic violence should be exposed and severely punished. Fundamentalism pertaining to religion and caste should be combated.

SUDESH KUMAR SHARMA, Kapurthala

II

The front-page editorial is an eye-opener to all those who engineer violence, arson, murders and even mass killings. The designers and perpetrators of such heinous crimes are primarily some political leaders and party workers for their narrow partisan ends.

Any number of inquiry commissions and judicial probes by the Centre and the states have proved to be exercises in futility and wastage of huge resources and public money.

The new year resolution by the political leadership, as envisioned by Mr Dua, is the need of the hour. May the Almighty enlighten all to contribute to the country’s peace, progress and prosperity.

S.S. ARORA, Mohali

Trouble in Orissa

I read the editorial, “Belated response” (Dec 31). The desecration of Christian schools and churches allegedly by the VHP activists in Orissa holds mirror to the ugly face of the Hindutva. Just imagine the plight of minorities, God forbid, if the BJP comes to power at the Centre. Obviously, the Orissa government is pulling punches in dealing with Hindu fundamentalists because the BJP is its ally.

Instead of issuing customary appeals for peace in the state, the Centre should give an ultimatum to the state government to bring the situation under control, failing which it should not hesitate to bring it under President’s Rule, albeit for a short time.

SATWANT KAUR, Mahilpur (Hoshiarpur)

II

The desecration of churches and subsequent violence in Orissa’s Kondhmal district is condemnable. The Centre and the state government should take all possible steps to protect the life and property of Christians.

OMAR LUTHER KING, Pitampura, Delhi

Poor ration quality

The soldiers are supplied sub-standard ration, uniforms and blankets. Apparently, senior officers are least interested to stem the rot. There is need for a thorough probe into how the quality of ration has been compromised.

Most service personnel have turned vegetarian because they get poor quality of meat and fish. The service blankets are so itchy that even dogs won’t use them in the chilly weather. The scope of the current investigation should be expanded to find out how the service personnel have been shortchanged so far. The Defence Minister should order a thorough probe.

Air Cmde RAGHUBIR SINGH (retd), Pune

Improve services

The quality of services provided by the BSNL — be it landline, mobile or Internet — is going down day by day. Consider the mobile service. During a visit to Vaishno Devi recently, my friend’s cell phone (BSNL) stopped working once we crossed Punjab. While my phone (Airtel) worked well, my friend could not make or receive a single call from his mobile. Local connectivity is also not good.

The BSNL should avoid huge spending on advertisements in the print and electronic media and instead divert funds towards improving its services including Internet to the general public.

P. N. GUPTA, Sangrur