Punjabi Antenna
Lively debate on vital issues
Randeep Wadehra

Rumours that some policemen facilitate flight of jailbirds were confirmed recently when the intrepid Daljit Singh of PTC News tracked down a convict — a sacked cop — to his romantic rendezvous in Kharar. The convict was not only allowed to illegally leave the jail, where he was serving his term, but also given a lift on motorbike to his ladylove’s place by a cop in uniform. However, Daljit got the wind of this secret tryst and revealed it all on the primetime news bulletin.

Isn’t this how dangerous murderers and terrorists have been breaking jails, thus jeopardising both law and order and national security? Just think.

Ritesh Lakhi conducts the proceedings as an anchor in an able manner

In a primetime interaction with Davinder Singh, long time friends HS Phoolka (a senior Supreme Court advocate and human rights activist) and HS Sarna (the DSGPC chief) seemed to be at loggerheads over the 1984 anti-Sikh riots issue, especially on pursuing cases against Congress MP and Cabinet Minister Kamal Nath. A recipe for a lost cause. Would intra-Sikh politics keep relegating humanitarian issues indefinitely?

Last fortnight Masle’s two editions anchored by Ritesh Lakhi focussed on two vital issues — faujis’ woes and khap panchayats. The first edition’s panellists included Captain Sidhu, a retired emergency commissioned officer, who had lost his limbs in action, and yet had participated in the 1971 war. In return he was pensioned off on a princely sum of two hundred and odd rupees. He and others like him had to struggle hard to get pension at par with regular commissioned officers — they burnt their artificial limbs and medals in New Delhi to protest against governmental indifference.

Yet, Sidhu opposed political activism for getting the faujis’ grievances redressed. However, Colonel Phoolka and Colonel Sohi seemed more interested in parroting the Akali and Congress viewpoints, respectively. Although Colonel Boparai appeared sympathetic to Congress policies, it was Brigadier Harwant Singh who kept the perspective balanced.

One rank one pension was the most prominent issue; those who retired after 2006 get far more pension than those who had retired earlier, whose plight has worsened due to inflation. Other grievances included the treatment meted out to soldiers’ widows by the babudom (even during "peace time" more than five women become widows daily). The Indian soldier is one of the poorest paid in the world — a government peon in India gets far better pay packet than the jawan.

One of the points that needed to be highlighted was the manner in which the Honorary Commissioned Officers are being treated. After being "honoured" with a commission, they are marginalised, for they are not considered at par with commissioned officers, and are treated unfairly.

A very pertinent point was raised. Why would a young man seek employment in the armed forces when he can get far better pay packets in the civil? That, too, with added attractions like not having to stay away from one’s family for indefinite periods of time, not having to risk one’s life and limb both during war and peace, and no frequent dislocations due to transfers from one end of the country to another at a short notice. If this trend continues, then we may experience shortage of manpower even at the PBOR level soon.

In a subsequent edition Masle took up another burning issue — the khap panchayats. Although the majority view among panellists was in favour of completely doing away with these anachronisms, Santosh Dahiya seemed to be sympathetic to the khap system. Justice JC Verma pointed out how the law was adequate enough to deal with khap-inspired illegal acts, while Rajesh Gill, DR Chaudhury and MS Malik were against honour killings as well as continuation of these extra-constitutional set-ups. They advocated amendment of the relevant laws. Lakhi suggested "codification" of khaps. Any takers?