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

VIP security is a white elephant

One is pained to read the editorial “Security mania” (Dec 19). The police forces meant to provide security to the common man, generally end up guarding the VIPs. In New Delhi the VIP security costs the government a fortune. But the situation is the worst in Punjab. What is more appalling is that more than 1000 policemen are guarding only the extended family of the CM. The matter does not end with the salaries of these police personnel.

The cost of their hospitality multiplies manifold and the vehicles in the caravan are invariably, highly expensive. Add to it the cost of the petrol, and the strain on the public exchequer is unimaginable. Is it any wonder then that the government cannot recruit more schoolteachers and doctors for the hospitals? Such extravagance is bound to impact the plan expenditure.

In contrast, the American President has far fewer security personnel, only better trained and well armed. The governors of America’s states travel with only one or at the most two security vehicles. But then, perhaps the present day “rulers” want to keep old traditions alive and travel in grandeur, like the emperors of the yore.

HARJAP SINGH AUJLA, New Jersey, US




Dalai Lama factor

Kuldip Nayar’s article “Beijing silent on Pak hand in terror” (Dec 13) was thought provoking. The Dalai Lama has been running the Tibetan government-in-exile from the Indian soil since 1959. One wonders whether this has anything to do with our strained relations with China.

China is a big and a powerful country. Having good relations with them is in our national interest. During the Beijing Olympics, India had to request the Dalai Lama and his followers not to do anything that would hurt our relations with China.

Unfortunately, despite our full support for the Tibetan cause, the Dalai Lama finds India “too cautious” in its approach towards the Tibetan issue and the joint Indo-China military exercise annoys the Tibetans living in India.

Dalai Lama is a revered spiritual leader. He is our honoured guest. But there is an old dictum that a guest, who overstretches his stay, may lose the respect of his hosts.

WG-CDR CL SEHGAL (retd), Jalandhar






Stop the recruitment charade

The front-page news ‘‘RTI exposes gaffe in recruitments” (Dec 15) and a few similar reports have tackled the issue of lack of transparency in the examinations conducted by high courts and public service commissions for recruitment to State Civil Service (judicial branch). Thousands of candidates apply and pay Rs 500-1000 as the fees. Most of the candidates are unemployed and thus the hard—earned money of their parents is spent.

Ironically, there is no transparency in the format of the declared result, creating a genuine mistrust and doubt in the minds of candidates. The whole procedure, including the declaration of marks and the relative order of rank or merit of each candidate, is kept a top secret. Transparency can be visibly introduced by displaying the overall detailed results on an appropriate website, to minimise doubts about fairness and the credibility of the examination.

Otherwise, in the prevailing circumstances, the posts in the state services should be openly auctioned and the highest bidder should be selected. This way fleecing of the poor public would stop and the common man will not nurture false hopes and delude himself that merit prevails.

DR I M JOSHI, Chandigarh

Satyam’s double deal

Satyam’s decision to benefit its family concerns by taking highly controversial decision has unfolded the harsh truth that independent directors on the boards of Indian companies have only ornamental presence.

The sad fact is that majority of the Indian companies are run by the promoters as their personal fiefdom. The independent directors have a very insignificant role. The independent directors are inducted only to meet the company’s law requirements and are appeased with an attractive fee and other junkets like foreign trips.

BHARTENDU SOOD Chandigarh

Love or betrayal

Commenting on the former Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Mr Chander Mohan’s second marriage in “All’s fair in love” (Dec 12) Vibha Sharma writes that there may have been cases abroad where people have forsaken great fortunes for the sake of love, but the leader from Haryana may, perhaps, be the first in the history of Indian politics to sacrifice his “takht aur taaz” at the altar of love.

What a unique sacrifice, indeed! However, one is provoked to ask a pertinent question— What about Seema, the hapless first wife of the neo- hero, left behind in the lurch?

TARA CHAND, Ambota, Una

Empty words

I fully endorse the middle “Yes, we can finish!” by Vepa Rao (Dec 11). Tongue in cheek, he has depicted the picture of wise men and politicians of India out to fight terrorism tooth and nail through words and meetings alone.

The stark truth is that politicians do little and each time innocent people of India are silenced by fiery of speeches and false promises of their leaders.

P S MEHTA, Hisar

Ailing Bathinda

Bathinda city is in dire need of better medical facilities. Cancer treatment is a
major problem for the poor villagers of the area. The need of the hour is to open
a super-speciality cancer hospital in the area, which can provide medical facilities
at affordable rates.

JASLEEN SINGH Bangi Kalan, Bathinda

 





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