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

The case against azadi

I read Sushant Sareen’s article, “No vivisection of India: The case against azadi is water-tight” (Sept 13). Indeed, one may ask of the separatists and their ilk to first introspect and then specify what is it exactly they hope to achieve through ruthless pursuit of cold-blooded vivisections?

Division has never been a just, long-lasting, viable solution to any dispute in a healthy social setup, at any level; in fact it never will be. The desire for separation is a mental pathology that lies at the root of all kinds of partition mentality. Instead of solving problems, this kind of thinking always sows seeds of dissent creating its own set of new problems.  Rather than providing freedom, partition restricts everyone’s boundaries; it creates newer self-imposed constraints and stunts growth.

Partition is no solution to domestic differences of opinion which are best sorted out within the family. Sheen Kaaf poignantly laments:
Pehle zamin banti, phir ghar bhi bant gaya Insaan apne aap main kitna simat gaya

VIVEK KHANNA, Panchkula

Attack on churches

The recent attacks against churches and Christians in Karnataka, Orissa and Uttarakhand are most unfortunate. Clearly, these are being perpetrated by the Bajrang Dal and other factions.

It is appalling that the Christian community, which has been serving the nation in providing quality education, healthcare and social services, has been targeted on the label of ‘converting’ the masses.

Let us Indians not tread down the gory path of communalism, but unite together and solve the real problems the nation faces — poverty, corruption, lack of infrastructure, pollution, illiteracy and unemployment.

PRASHANT SOLOMON, New Delhi

Lopsided decision

On having read the editorial “U-turn on PU”, I marvel that now the Punjab government itself and some of the radical outfits are opposing the idea of Central status to PU, though it received a standing ovation from the public outside. This honour to PU would surely add another feather in its cap. The plea that it would dilute Punjab’s rightful claim over Chandigarh is ludicrous.

In my village, Palampur, the state government sanctioned a centre of agricultural university. The move was laudable, but the conservative villagers raised a hue and cry over it on flimsy grounds. However, in Dehra, the residents are almost on a warpath to have a new Central University. Clearly, in Chandigarh and Punjab, the winds are taking a U-turn. Strange enough!

RAVI DATTA, Dehra (Kangra)

Alarming scenario

Many foreign companies are entering India in almost all sectors. It reminds one of the entry of the East India Company, which was the first step of the British Raj in Indian history.

I hope unlike the British Raj, the Indian industrial sector shall remain in Indian hands in this global market as India shall be a giant nation in the near future in the business sector too. We have to wait and see whether some Indian business house shall re-buy all these foreign companies in India.

However, according to a TV report, in 2005, 56 Indian companies were taken over by foreign companies. In 2007, the number rose to 112. This is alarming for our corporate sector, stock market and government too. The government should take suitable measures in the national interest.

MAHESH KUMAR, New Delhi

Split command

There is need for a unified central command to thwart the imminent danger of Islamic terrorism spearheaded by the Taliban and its corollary Al-Qaeda which operate clandestinely under the single command of Osama Bin Laden.

After the Soviet Union’s exit from Afghanistan in 1989, the Taliban has emerged as a strong force which was joined by Laden as a companion in-arms with same ideology, with active hobnobbing of Pakistan’s ISI, to carry the agenda of jihad ahead, world wide. 9/11 was their flashpoint.

Grant R. Jeffrey, in his recent book, The Next World War has given startling exposures that Laden is bent on a holocaust with the Russian nuclear arsenal of the size of a suitcase. Unless Al-Qaeda’s kingpin Laden is nabbed, the world is heading for a more dangerous situation.

B.M. SINGH,Brockville (Canada)

UT monopoly

The Union HRD Ministry has directed the Central Counselling Board that in two National Institutes of Technology, where admission is based on AIEEE as conducted by the CBSE, the remaining vacant leftover seats out of 50 per cent seats reserved for the area in which these institutions are situated, will be filled by candidates from all over India on merit basis.

But in CCA, Chandigarh, where 85 per cent seats are reserved exclusively for the students of Chandigarh, the seats falling vacant in any category out of 85 per cent also go to the UT open quota. This is unfair as only five seats are reserved for the All-India category. So many vacant seats go unfulfilled. This way CCA, Chandigarh, is more or less the monopoly of Chandigarh UT. The authorities concerned should be more considerate towards candidates from other parts of the country by increasing their share of admission.

K. K. KHOSLA, Ludhiana