The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Letters to the Editor

NEWS AND VIEWS

PUNJAB

HARYANA

JAMMU & KASHMIR

HIMACHAL

REGIONAL BRIEFS

NATION

OPINIONS

LETTERS

BUSINESS

SPORTS

WORLD

SPECIAL COVERAGE

CHANDIGARH

LUDHIANA

DELHI

THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS

50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

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

Goodwill is a two-way ticket

Prem Prakash’s article: “It is the army that owns Pakistan” (Dec 16) is a beautiful commentary on the Indo-Pak relations and the approach of some publicity-hungry people in India who keep making noises about “people-to-people relations, one culture” et al and march to Wagah border with candles. Indo-Pak relations cannot be improved by adopting an ostrich-like approach. The trains and buses plying between the two countries have become a conduit for ferrying anti-national elements into our country.

No one can dispute the observation made by the writer: “There has been a quantitative rise in these attacks, as the enemy has been able to use these services for frequent incognito visits.”

Goodwill gestures, unless reciprocated by the other party, never yield desired results. It is true that in the current global economic scenario, no country can afford to be insular. We need to have trade links with our neighbour.

But does that mean we accept Pakistan as it is? For, it is futile to expect it to
respond to our demand of closing down the terror camps or handing over the
wanted criminals.

LAJPAT RAI GARG, Chandigarh

Right to be defended

The Mumbai Metropolitan Magistrate Bar Association’s resolution of not defending Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Kasab is uncalled for and improper.

No doubt he is a dangerous criminal. He and his group killed about 180 innocent persons, without any cause or provocation.

India is the biggest democracy of the world. It is governed by rule of law and constitution. Every person, howsoever bad, cruel or immoral, has a right to be defended, by a counsel of his choice.

If a client is ready to pay the fee of the advocate, then his case cannot be refused merely because the accused is a dangerous, bad or cruel person. If any accused is too poor to engage a counsel then free legal aid is provided to him.

G S GREWAL, Chandigarh

Tackling terror

B G Verghese’s article “Fighting terrorism” (Dec 15) was interesting and analytical. Our approach to terrorism has all along been tepid and timid. Our political leadership loves to mouth phrases on terror in a manner, as if they were making some speech in an election rally. However, nothing substantial ever is done.

Hence, terrorism makes its brazen presence felt at regular intervals. 26/11 was a humiliation, worse than the drubbing the Chinese gave us in 1962.Yet we have not learnt to rely on our resources to fight the terrorism. We fail to realize that the US has its own compulsions and needs Pakistan’s support to fight the Taliban and
Al-Qaeda.

We should mobilise international pressure on Pakistan and aim towards dismantling Pakistan’s terror infrastructure. More importance has to be given to executing the long over-due reforms of the internal security system. So far, nearly all political parties have scuttled these reforms.

Unfortunately our leaders try to gain political mileage out of every incident of terror, including the unprecedented and tragic Mumbai assault. The need of the hour is that along with strengthening and reforming our internal security and building international pressure on Pakistan we should encourage pluralism.

VED GULIANI, Hisar

College elections

The Supreme Court’s recent observation that it cannot allow a university to become a political battlefield, nor approve of free flow of money and muscle power in students union elections is timely and historic.

While hearings matters related to JNU Students Union Elections, it expressed concern over the fact that elections in universities have become parliamentary polls. There is uncontrolled use of money power in such elections.

Indeed, major political parties vie for supremacy in the temples of knowledge and excellence. The excessive use of money by a student clearly proves that it has come from wrong quarters. For no sensible parent would allow his child to blow his hard-earned money.

The court also expressed strong displeasure over vandalism by students in colleges, suggesting severe punishment for the wrongdoers. All states should work towards guaranteeing free and fair elections.

O P COUSHIK, Kurukshetra

An ode to radio

In this era of television, majority of us have forgotten the good old radio. The romance brought to us by radio fills our heart with solace, soothing calmness and heavenly joy.

The scintillating music emanating from the airwaves gives us immense pleasure.
The melodies of old songs aired by All India Radio, its Urdu service programmes
make our day.

Moreover, we can enjoy radio in the cosy comfort of our bed and do not have to strain our eyes. The romance on airwaves is a unique feeling, which transcends and surpasses all happiness and joy, otherwise known to us.

KARUN KUMAR SABHERWAL, Khanna

Golden silence

I endorse the editorial “Silence is golden” (Dec 3). Politicians hardly have
anything to say, yet go on jabbering. They forget the famous words “It is better to keep your mouth shut and be thought of as a fool than to open it and remove all doubts about it.”

Actually, politicians are primarily responsible for the ills that afflict the country. Frankly speaking, the greatest enemy of India today is not Pakistan or any other country, but the politicians. No power can possibly weaken the country so devastatingly as politicians can. The politicians are the villains of “peace”.

The way politicians of all hues are behaving to grab power is distressing. Democratic norms have been slaughtered by power—hungry leaders.

D V JOSHI, Bartana (Zirakpur)

Justice delayed is…

In the editorial “62 years for justice!” (Nov 26), you are right in saying that the wheel of justice can move fast, if judges and advocates sincerely take interest in their work. A 62- year wait for justice is not only denial of justice, but deficiency in service as well. That is why people have started losing faith in judiciary.

Now litigants seldom go to courts to seek justice. Some go to seek “delay” by way of stay, so they can continue to protect their wrong ways. Thus they take advantage of the present slow moving justice delivery system.

V K KAURA, Panchkula