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

Indo-Pak ties must be cordial

I congratulate Mr HK Dua for his front-page editorial, “The importance of taking a small step” (Feb 10). In fact, India and Pakistan are like real brothers separated because of avoidable blunders of the top leaders of the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League in 1947. It is in the interest of the common people of the subcontinent that two nations must have peaceful and cordial relations and in this purposeful direction, even small steps, as the writer observes are very important.

The foreign secretary-level talks between the two nations augur well for the future and should be conducted in a sincere and congenial manner. The rancour and bitterness of the past has to be forgotten and there should be genuine commitment of give and take. The writer has always through his thoughtful, perspective and sensible front-page editorials pleaded rationally for friendly ties between the two countries.

RAJ BAHADUR YADAV, Fatehabad

II

The editorial gave an insight into Indo-Pak relations after the 26/11. It is necessary to move ahead in view of the deteriorating law and order situation in Pakistan, which created a force of deadly terrorists for fomenting trouble in other countries, but is suffering at the hands of monsters it created.

The situation is rather complex, as Pakistan even if it wants peace has to work hard to create it in view of the hostile attitude of terrorists. In the present circumstances, it is necessary to start a dialogue with Pakistan. If Pakistan accepts the offer sincerely, peace is possible in the subcontinent.

KHAZAN SINGH, Kapurthala

Fonseca’s arrest

The editorial, “General Fonseca’s arrest” (Feb 10) aptly says that three decades of bloody ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka took its toll on its democratic ethos. However, it would now appear that it has also sprouted a bonsai leadership.

In Pakistan, Army Chiefs customarily came to power through coups whereas in Sri Lanka, for a change, it was heartening to see an Army Chief contesting through a democratic ballot, that too, after leading a victorious campaign.

The precipitate action of Mr Rajapaksa in arresting General Fonseca can only help to validate the traditional but futile notion of the superiority of bullets over ballots. This is no good augury for a nation that has a lot of development work ahead after decades of turmoil, to be inviting further avoidable schism from within. This is neither good news for the region nor for the speedy healing of Sri Lanka’s ethnic divide.

R. NARAYANAN, Ghaziabad

Tackle price rise

Since multi party alliances are governing various states and also the Centre, the parties often indulge in blame game over the issue of price rise. There are no answers as to how the sugar prices jumped from Rs 16 per Kg to Rs 45 per Kg and why pulses are not imported. States have failed to check hoarding and black marketeers. The statements of Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar are inexplicable. The FCI too has failed to store wheat and rice properly resulting in wastage of food grains.

It is time the export and import policy is reworked. Commodities of daily use must be made available to the common people at an affordable price.

SHER SINGH, Ludhiana

Craze for ‘foreign’

Sarbjit Dhaliwal’s article “Why Punjabis head for Australia” (Jan 29) was apt. Punjabis are hardworking people. They are ready to struggle anytime, anywhere but not in their own land. It is because they feel that they have no future in India. Our faulty education system is responsible for this blind craze to migrate abroad as it creates unskilled multitude of degree holders.

Education must be linked to vocational training right from the age a child has fundamental understanding of language and mathematical operations.

RAMANDEEP SINGH, Barnala

II

I fully agree with the views of the writer. Our politicians are least concerned about the problems of the public in general. There is not a single day when we do not hear of attacks on Indians in Australia. Authorities concerned must take substantial steps to save Indian students.

SM DHAWAN, Ambala Cantt

Tips for FM From the common man’s point of view, here is a wish list I want to present to Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee before he presents the Union Budget to Parliament. All figures mentioned for various tax purposes like the income-tax exemption limit, tax deduction at source (TDS), various exemptions and deductions, etc, must be raised to realistic figures to match the real intrinsic value of the rupee considering inflation and the fall of the rupee’s purchasing power in the market. Income-tax forms at present are most complicated. Even e-filing, supposed to make life easy for filing returns, is complex. The property tax form in Delhi is just one-page long, and is user-friendly. It should be the same for all income-tax forms. A senior citizen’s status must be given to those attaining the age of 60 years and not 65 across the spectrum. Wealth tax and capital gains must be abolished. The income-tax department must be given strict deadlines for each process. For example, assessment orders and refunds must be issued within three months of filing returns. MAHESH KAPASI, New Delhi

Aging blues

JL Gupta’s middle “Retired but not tired” (Feb 5) rightly stressed that ageing is a qualitative status of mind and body. In India, old age may be apparent at 30 years in some people while others at 65 years may be active mentally and physically. The age of retirement is considered to be the beginning of old age. A person does not become old overnight.

SAVITA KHURANA, Shahbad Markanda