II

Mr Shivraj Patil’s exit, belated hough, has made every Indian happy. The cronym AICC for All-India Congree Committee has become All-India Chamchas’ Committee, Patil being the biggest chamcha of the Congress president. It’s time the authorities realised that individuals should match the institutions they hold.

As advocated by Mr Dua, we need a Central modal agency, but it takes two hands to clap. Mere creation of a new formulation wouldn’t help until those who man them are correct and competent. The right people at the right place should be the motto and saying goodbye to chamchas would be in the national interest.

K.J.S. AHLUWALIA, Amritsar

III

While the terrorists in Mumbai were fully trained, fully conversant with the locations under attack and were equipped with latest weapons, our fighting squads were poorly armed and the bullet jackets supplied to them had holes in them. The Centre owes an apology to the nation.

Rolling down of a few heads, including Patil’s exit, won’t make any difference. The federal agency and other steps announced by the Prime Minister have been overdue. Their implementation must not be lost in procedural wrangles. The revamping of the intelligence and new recruitment to vacant posts in police and other establishments should receive top priority.

The security cover provided to  the leaders as a status symbol must be withdrawn early. If the leaders are afraid of going to the public without escorts, they don’t  deserve to lead them.

Prof MOHAN MAITRAY, Patiala

IV

Peace is important for development. If terrorists can strike anywhere in the country at will without any hindrance, how can the country survive? Construction of big factories, dams, buildings, roads and huge money spent on them will become useless if a common man in the street is insecure and unsafe.

As for security, there should be special wings in the Army and state police exclusively for tackling terrorism and no other duty should be assigned to them. Their intelligence network should be modernized.  The anti-terrorist wings of the forces in the Army and police need thorough training.

KHAZAN SINGH, Kapurthala

V

I read the editorial, “Attack on India: Pakistan is wholly to blame” (Nov 29). We have been hearing of foreign hand, ISI or Pakistan involvement for over three decades. And after every terror attack, it is the same old story. As a nation, what have we done to prevent them? Remember Kargil war? What have the panels, councils, boards, packed mostly with bureaucrats and non-professionals achieved so far?

The greatest problem India faces today is the wrong men in wrong places, self-serving politicians and the bureaucracy, with little or no accountability. Unless and until we address this problem with the urgency it deserves, things will  not improve.

Lt-Col M.S. KANWAR (retd), Chandigarh