Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and his elected colleagues must, likewise, camp in all trouble spots of their respective constituencies and reinvigorate their interaction with the masses, which is the quintessence of democratic functioning.

GOVIND SINGH KHIMTA, Shimla

Law to protect whistleblowers The decision of the Union Cabinet to clear the decks for the introduction of “The Public Interest Disclosure and Protection to Persons Making the Disclosure Bill, 2010” in Parliament is laudable (news report, “Bill to protect whistleblowers okayed”, Aug 10). A comprehensive and efficacious law for the protection of whistleblowers has been hanging fire for some time. In the wake of the murder of Sateyendra Kumar Dubey in 2003, the Supreme Court of India was seized of the matter and issued directions to the Central government to do the needful. Consequently, the government had issued a resolution in 2004 on public interest disclosures and protection of informers wherein the government authorised the Central Vigilance Commission to receive written complaints for disclosure on any allegation of corruption or misuse of office and recommend appropriate action. In 2006, the government introduced The Whistleblowers (Protection In Public Interest Disclosures) Bill, 2006, in the Rajya Sabha. Sadly, thereafter, the Bill went into oblivion. In August 2009, the CBI in its 17th Biennial Conference of Heads of States Anti-Corruption Bureau exhorted Parliament to enact the Whistle Blower Act as recommended by the U.N. Convention against corruption and directed by the Supreme Court of India. The Public Interest Disclosure and Protection to Persons Making the Disclosure Bill, 2010, envisages an exceedingly vital role for the CVC to protect the interests of the whistleblowers. The grievances of the RTI activists regarding the failure of the CVC to protect the interests of whistleblowers, particularly the failure to shield their identity, have amply been taken care of in the proposed Bill by way of providing for stringent punishment for the violators. The murder of RTI activist Amit Jethwa in Gujarat again shows that social crusaders are on a sticky wicket and need to be provided an adequate and potent legal framework. RAJENDER GOYAL, Bahadurgarh

Fraud billing

There is no alibi for taxation officials in the case of clandestine business of bogus billing by unscrupulous firms registered in different names just to get the benefit of refund of tax purported to have been paid on inputs purchased and used in manufacture (news report, “More than Rs 10,000 crore bogus-billing scam busted”, Aug 9).

The taxation authorities seem to be hand in glove with such firms. It is clear that rather than checking the malpractice of bogus billing being carried since 2005, they allow them to prosper at the cost of the public exchequer. Justice and fair play demand the registration of criminal case against both tax evaders and the delinquent taxation officials for committing a fraud.

AJIT SINGH, Windsor, Canada

Helping hand

Krishna Mohan’s middle “Good Samaritans and us !” (July 2) was thought- provoking. The incidents mentioned and the personal assistance rendered in cases of road accidents/happenings by the writer speaks volumes of his compassion, caring attitude and humanism. His helping hand to the needy has set an example for others to follow and can go a long way in making life more meaningful for humanity.

HARMOHINDER SINGH ARORA, SAS Nagar

True patriots

Kuldip Nayar’s article, “The ignored revolutionaries” (Aug 9), was interesting. The Ghadari babas were true patriots and secular to the core. They believed that we should put aside the differences of caste and creed and devote ourselves to the service of the motherland.

Alas, we have forgotten their supreme sacrifice. We should celebrate the centenary of the Ghadar Party in 2013 in a big way.

AMAR JIT SINGH GORAYA, Griffith, Australia

Adopt altruism

The editorial “Social responsibility: Gates-Buffet initiative is exemplary” (Aug 9) was apt and should serve as an eye-opener to the Indian corporate sector. The magnanimity of the American billionaires deserves a pat on the back but it is not a new concept to India.

The ‘trusteeship’ of Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the nation, has many lessons for the corporate sector. Everyone should remember that great wealth must be spent for socio-economic development.

Altruism, the principle of living and acting for the interest of others, needs to be understood, analysed, interpreted and adopted in totality by one and all in India and elsewhere in the world.