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

HJC MLAs’ exit: Merger or defection?

The recent floor-crossing by five MLAs of the Haryana Janhit Congress (HJC) to the Congress is a clear case of “en bloc defection” and not “merger”, if viewed in the strict technical sense (editorial, “Last man standing”, Nov 12). The HJC as a party has not merged with the Congress, as its President Kuldeep Bishnoi has not assented to the merger.

The HJC is a recognised state party and if it has to merge with any other party, it must be of the party as a whole and not only of its five legislators. Even though the five MLAs do form two-third of party’s strength in the Haryana Vidhan Sabha and the anti-defection law, clearly lays down that disqualification on ground of defection would not apply in such a case. However, five members voluntarily gave up the membership of their parent party against the will of party’s leader.

HEMANT KUMAR, Ambala City

II

The MLAs belonging to the Haryana Janhit Congress headed by Kuldeep Bishnoi joined the Congress leaving Mr Bishnoi high and dry. This has proved beyond any doubt that greed gets you nowhere. Whosoever nurtures unwarranted ambitions and is unable to assess ground realities can never be successful.

Mr Bishnoi should have acted in the larger interest and agreed to merge with the Congress. The move would have benefited him and his party MLAs. He became a victim of his self-seeking aspirations, as he did not care for the sentiments of others.

Capt AMAR JEET KUMAR, SAS Nagar

Ban MNS

I agree with the views expressed in the editorial “Goonda Raj’ (Nov 11). What the MNS MLAs did in the Maharashtra Assembly was unpardonable and against democratic and constitutional norms. Raj Thackeray and his goons deserve stern punishment.

The MNS should be immediately banned. A political party that endorses divisive politics does not deserve any place in a democratic country. What will happen to the unity of the country if all the regional political parties start such hate-campaigns? Does Mr Thackeray want that all Maharashtrians should be ousted from other states? Does MNS have any plans to combat poverty, illiteracy and socio-economic ills?

I congratulate Mr Abu Azmi for his firm stand on taking oath in Hindi. The nation should stand against all those who believe in violence and hooliganism. Fascist and communal forces must be exposed, isolated and dealt with a strong political will.

SUDESH KUMAR SHARMA, Kapurthala

II

The editorial has rightly reflected concern over rowdyism of MNS MLAs in the state assembly. Apparently, Raj Thackeray and his cadre believe in the ideology of “might is right” and consider themselves above the law. They have no faith in democratic traditions and do not follow the basic tenets of civilised behaviour.

Their manhandling of Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi for taking oath in Hindi instead of Marathi is unpardonable. Had the government snubbed them earlier they would not have dared to act in this abominable manner.

Fascist tendencies are not to be tolerated at any cost. Keeping in view the possible repercussions of this incident in the country, the MNS should be banned and must not get away with sacrilege.

Capt S K DATTA, Abohar

III

What MNS legislators did is unpardonable. India is a mosaic of different faiths and cultures. The insensitivity of the MNS to the national language and to other cultures and non-Maharashtrians is appalling and needs to be condemned. It is time to ban the MNS for its anti-national activities.

AJIT SINGH, Windsor, Canada

Right to childhood We must celebrate this Children’s Day a little differently. On this day, let us reach out to children and try to understand their feelings and emotions. Let us dance and play with them. For a change, we should not give them sermons. Instead, we should try to learn from them, the joy of innocence. Besides, we must spare a thought for those children who despite laws are compelled to work as child labour. These children are not only deprived of pleasures of childhood but also lose out on education. We all have a responsibility towards these underprivileged children. Children are the wealth of the nation. Children’s Day should shake our conscience into giving these children their right to childhood. Col R D SINGH, Ambala Cantonment