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

India must tighten security

The editorial, “Tackling future Headleys” (Nov 16) has rightly cautioned the nation to come out of its slumber and has exposed the slackness on the part of our intelligence and investigating agencies.

The arrest of US citizen David Coleman Headley and his Canadian associate Tahawwur Hussain Rana by the American FBI has unravelled various dimensions of the conspiracy against this country with active Pakistani involvement.

Is it not appalling to know that Headley ran a visa facilitation agency in Mumbai for three years? No verification was carried out of his antecedents. All this exposes loopholes in our intelligence. The Centre and the states must beef up the security apparatus at various levels.

Capt S K DATTA, Abohar

Capt AMAR JEET KUMAR, SAS Nagar

II

Indeed, world over nuclear power has regained acceptance because of it being cleaner and cheaper than coal-generated power. The political masters need to understand that nuclear power is, indeed, a viable option. 

GURNAM SINGH RATHORE, Khanna

A plural society

When we are in India and are living as citizens of India we shall have to accept our traditions, culture and laws (article, “India’s is a plural society” by Kuldip Nayar, Nov 13).

The same rationale applies to the MNS MLA’s who must follow the law of the land. The MNS legislators must be given stern punishment for their deplorable act in the Maharashtra Assembly. If similar incidents are allowed to recur, India will be divided again and this division will be worse than the partition of 1947. The plurality of India must be ensured at all costs.

DALIP SINGH WASAN, Patiala

Nothing is impossible

The middle “On the run” (Nov 13) by Pramod K Chaudhari has a message for all of us, who have much faith in the word impossible. This word is widely used as an excuse to avoid hardships. The road to success is always full of hurdles and distractions.

However, nothing is impossible in this universe, provided one has the will to achieve it. Hard work, dedication and focus help realise one’s goals. As they say — When the going gets tough, the tough get going.

HARBANS SINGH, Ambala Cantt

Quality education

We cannot build institutions of excellence with wishful thinking. Modern universities are organisations that effectively disburse knowledge. Multiplication of their numbers with scant regard to quality adversely affects education standards. Higher education should be made affordable to all, but not at the cost of quality.

The focus of education should shift from examination to teaching and research. Rationalise the process of recruitment, promotion and evaluation.

Dr JASPAL SINGH, Amritsar

Ban vulgar songs

It is a pity that in the land where Guru Nanak said “so kyon manda aakhiya jit jammey raajaan” (why should she, who gives birth to great men, be disparaged?), women are shown in bad light in Punjabi songs (news reports “Cultural bodies for action against singers, comedians” and “Sabha serves ultimatum on govt”, Nov 8 and 9). Is this the glorious Punjabi culture we take pride in? Vulgar songs should be immediately banned.

BHAGWAN SINGH, Qadian

II

The trend of vulgarity in the Punjabi songs is shocking. Is this the Punjabi culture of which not only Punjabis but the whole country is proud of? Some folk singers and lyricists are caught in the trap laid by commercial companies whose only objective is filling of their coffers. Action should be taken against those who write and sing obscene songs.

RAJESH BAJAJ, Ludhiana

Unethical merger

The recent floor crossing by five MLAs of Haryana Janhit Congress (HJC) party to the Congress is unethical and against the peoples’ mandate. If an MLA wants to join another party, then he should seek re-election. MLAs should not desert the party on whose ticket they have fought and won elections.

PARAMJIT SINGH ‘PARWANA’, Patiala

Mamata’s obstinate ways While the Ministry of Railways is literally derailing, Ms Mamata Banerjee is spending more time in politicking in West Bengal to take on the Left in the 2011 Assembly election than in attending to ministerial duties (editorial, “Mamata on the move”, Nov 17). As of now she is pursuing her political agenda to come to power in her state. It is doubtful that she will pay heed to the Prime Minister’s intervention. If pressed further to take her work more seriously, she may even quit the ministry. She does not like to be distracted from realising her life-long mission. The results of the Lok Sabha elections and now of the assembly bye-elections in the state indicate that the Left is on the way out and Ms Banerjee is all set to sweep the elections with the support of the Congress in 2011. But the question is — whether Mamata will be able to run the government with a sense of maturity and seriousness required for good governance, given her volatile and mercurial nature. In politics, theatrics and street politics do not pay for a long time. She will have to be on her guard. HEMA, Langeri, Hoshiarpur