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

India cannot sign unfair NPT

The editorial, “A world without N-arms: Universal disarmament can’t be discriminatory” (Oct 1) has rightly emphasised the need for a ban on the production, stockpiling and use of nuclear weapons, equally to all powers, including those with large stockpiles in their possession.

The US President, Mr Barack Obama, has succeeded in his mission in getting the UN Security Council adopt a resolution, asking all non-NPT states, including India, to sign the NPT. Countries like India cannot be arm-twisted to sign the NPT and the CTBT. More so, when terrorist outfits like Al-Qaeda are in touch with Pakistan’s nuclear scientist A Q Khan’s nuclear network.

Dr Manmohan Singh has done well in reiterating India’s stand that global non-proliferation, to be successful, should be universal, comprehensive and non-discriminatory. IAEA Director General Mohammed ElBaradei has supported India’s stand by remarking: “I don’t expect India to sign the NPT in its present form.”

LAJPAT RAI GARG, Panchkula

Number one boxer

Hats off to Vijender Singh. The Olympic and World Championship bronze medallist has achieved yet another landmark in boxing to become the world’s top-ranked pugilist in the middleweight (75kg) category.

This Bhiwani lad has again created history and made India proud. His dedication, commitment and perseverance have paid him rich dividends.

DILBAG RAI, Chandigarh

Inefficient Air India

Indeed, putting the Maharaja back to good health is going to be a tough task and there is already a clamour for Air India’s privatisation (editorial, “ Maharaja buys truce: Not easy to bail out Air India”, Oct 1).

The time has come when Air India should call it a day. For Air India, customers were never a priority. Even competition from private airlines has not changed its bureaucratic ways.

R NARAYANAN, Ghaziabad

Media’s role

T P Sreenivasan’s article “Media under attack”(Sept 24) was enlightening. The ruling elite might feel discomfort on account of media’s “peeping toms” but the public considers the media as its ears and eyes.

India has suffered tremendous losses during the 1962 aggression and the general public is wary of a similar situation. Let the media make a noise whenever complacency creeps in the system.

L R SHARMA, Sundernagar

Power politics

Gobind Thukral’s article “Power play in Punjab”(Sept 28) was analytical and bold. After coming to power, the SAD government did not learn from its past mistakes and did not take initiatives to put the economy back on the rails.

First it spent huge amount of money at the swearing-in ceremony of Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal as the Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab. The Finance Minister of Punjab is a competent person, but his hands are tied.

RAM NIWAS MALIK, Gurgaon

Combat killer diseases The editorial “Killer heart disease” (Sept 30) sensitising people about the increasing threat from killer heart diseases emphasising that India must combat it effectively is an important media effort to create awareness. The demographic and epidemiological transition, forces of rapid urbanisation and industrialisation, changes in food consumption and sedentary life styles have contributed to heart aliments. India is confronted with a health paradox because on the one hand India’s rich and urban population is facing an epidemic of obesity and on the other hand India is home to a large number of malnourished population, many of whom are children. The urban-rural divide has widened further. Social, political and professional will is required to combat killer diseases that are affecting both the rich and the poor, though for different reasons.  Dr VITULL K GUPTA, Bathinda