II

Those of us who, at one time or the other during the past many decades, had been in the part of the country where The Tribune is most widely read or had the opportunity to have access to it know it for certain and can vouch, without an iota of reservation, the profound concern and tender feelings the newspaper has always displayed towards the armed forces of this country. As regards the pay scales or order of precedence, perks or promotion avenues, status or social recognition, the armed forces officers have invariably been given a shoddy deal over the decades. Otherwise, why is there an acute shortage of officers in the Army? Aren’t we playing with the paramount security needs of the nation?

The Sixth Pay Commission has provided the last straw on the camel’s back, thus triggering the unfortunate stand-off between the government and the defence personnel. Why has no representative of the defence services been ever associated with the pay commissions while deciding the fate of over 13 lakh-strong armed forces of the country? Why are the defence forces sidelined in the very things that concern them so intimately? This is gross injustice.

Wg-Cdr S.C. KAPOOR (retd), Noida

Treat the disease

Maja Daruwala’s article, “Ineffective policing” (Oct 9) was timely. I think systematic whipping up of communal polarisation to capture the reins of political power has emerged as the worst expression of vote bank politics. I strongly feel that the spread of terrorism is not because of soft laws but is because of a well established network of bitterly alienated families.

These families staying abroad hate India so strongly and virulently that they assist in terrorist acts which depend on a critical mass of individuals in India that provide the terrorists with secure bases of operation in cities. Whether it was Gujarat then and now Orissa, Karnataka and Assam where minorities have experienced the worst communal violence will definitely increase the number of bitterly alienated minority families providing a fertile ground for terrorism to take roots.

If the government, political parties and all secular minded people failed to react strongly against this brand of politics, the virus of terrorism, whose definition changes when it comes to the Hindutva extremism, is going to stay in India. It is in the interest of the Indian nation that we treat the disease of communalism and terrorism.

 Dr VITULL K. GUPTA, Bathinda

Barbaric act

The rape of a Christian nun in Orissa is deplorable and should be condemned by all. We agree with your editorial, “Dialogue is welcome” (Oct 10) that Mr L.K. Advani should bridle the goons committing violence against the peaceful Christians.

According to the Indian Constitution, every citizen of India has a fundamental right to follow any religion according to his/her conscience. There is no logic in the argument of some people that they are preventing “the forcible conversations”. The Christian missionaries have done a laudable work for the poor and the downtrodden and there is no reason for perpetrating violence against them.

AMAR JIT SINGH GORAYA, Griffith NSW (Australia)