L E T T E R S    T O    T H E    E D I T O R

Name the tainted politicians too

After reading the report “Punjab names its tainted” (April 25), I’m really surprised to know that 28 IAS and 10 IPS officers are facing various cases and inquiries. Some of these distinguished officers are facing trial under Section 420 of the IPC.

What good of the state is expected from such officers? The “tainted”’ officers must be busy most of the time thinking about their next date of hearing and planning how to save their skin!

And if we can have a list of political leaders who are also tainted, then it would become clear why various schemes launched by the Central and state governments for the welfare of the poor and the downtrodden do not benefit them.

A leader, be he/she of any political party, mints money and the bureaucracy helps him/her in siphoning the money and in the process it also makes the proverbial hey while the sun shines!

ARUN HASTIR, Babehali

Una’s past

S. Chandan has done a commendable job in highlighting “Una’s undying past” (Himachal Plus, April 23) while drawing from various authentic sources. 

The history of Una town can be traced to a small shrine on the petrol-station premises (adjoining the bus terminal) built to commemorate the arrival of Guru Hargobind (which finds a reference in “Mahan Kosh” by Kahan Singh Nabha) at this place while on a journey to Kiratpur Sahib.

It was not Baba Sahib Singh Bedi, but his father, Baba Ajit Singh, who became the first baptised Sikh of the illustrious Bedi clan. Thereafter, the bounty of Guru Gobind Singh rained aplenty and Baba Sahib Singh Bedi was born. It is a little known fact that it was on the order of Baba Sahib Singh Bedi that Maharaja Ranjit Singh framed Harmandar Sahib in gold.

While religious fanaticism is on the rise globally, it is heartening to see devotees from all faiths frequenting these shrines to drink deep at the spiritual fountains and dancing majestically in this historical town.

KULDEEP SINGH, Una

Nepal treaty

By demanding the scrapping of the India Nepal Friendship Treaty, 1950, Prachanda has demonstrated that a jungle brigand has been handed over the highest political platform in Nepal. The new boy should understand that he is in a different league now and the gun is no more an answer to every problem.

He should learn manners of the polished world in dealing with respectable ministers and diplomats of economically and militarily stronger nations such as India and the US. He had been dealing with a tattered monarchy in Nepal with his muscle power. People of Nepal have helped him in doing away with the monarchy.

 He must remember that arms will no more be of any strategic advantage to a tiny Nepal against India. India has supported Nepal’s trade, agriculture and economy. Should he choose to take an aggressive stance against India, he stands nowhere before the Indian might.

It is in the interest of both nations to forge friendly and vibrating relations for the peace and prosperity of their people. Nepal in particular must make a sincere effort in this direction.

 RAHUL JAIN, Ambala

A shattered Army

Gen Vijay Oberoi’s lament on the dissatisfaction in the armed forces (“A shattered Army”, April 21) is an apt and timely comment. Undoubtedly, the defence services’ image has suffered because of a number of factors.

The main reason is the lack of adequate knowledge or outright underlying contempt by our political leadership and bureaucrats towards the soldiers.

Consider this: a semi-educated or an illiterate person who becomes an MP/MLA by dint of his muscle power, bribery or both and is made a minister overnight without any administrative experience of running an establishment. 

Due to the lack of knowledge of many and varied problems he has to deal with, he becomes merely a pawn in the hands of his advisers (bureaucrats). The latter take full advantage of his ignorance. How many politicians’ or bureaucrats’ children have joined the defence services during the past decade or so? If not, why not? A survey on the subject would be an eye-opener.

Lt-Col (retd) B S SAHORE, Middle Bakrota, Dalhousie

Menon deserved better? In his article “Menon deserved better” (April 24) A. J. Philip seems to be quite magnanimous towards the late Defence Minister of India. I had seen V.K. Krishna Menon once after the China war. His erudition and intellectual calibre was put under shade by his bad temperament and extreme arrogance. A formidable logician and an irresistible speaker, Menon was more of a tactless person. He lacked the resilience of a politician and a statesman. His biting sarcasm and non-accommodative stance gave the impression that he was an expert in the art of making enemies. During the days of the cold war, Menon was mistrusted and hated by the West. The international community was surprised to find a stark divergence between a suave and good-humoured Nehru and an aggressive and destructive Menon. Nevertheless, his marathon Kashmir speech in the UN, his stand against colonialism and apartheid and his strong advocacy of the non-aligned movement are some of his best contributions to the Indian cause. Menon’s fearless and vituperative attitude towards the capitalist world was indicative of his ultra-socialistic leanings. A man of paradoxes, Menon remained an enigma. His political career came to an end with China’s military operations against India. Considered responsible for the debacle, he was denied the Congress ticket for the 1967 parliamentary elections. He resigned from the party to fight as an independent. R. VATSYAYAN, Ludhiana