MPs’ salaries

The editorial “MPs deserve more” (Aug 18) rightly calls for making MPs accountable for their acts of omission and commission. The electoral politics should be seen as an extension of social work. Political power in the hands of honest and selfless individuals can do wonders for the country. Unfortunately, this is not the case today as most of our elected representatives use it only as a tool for self-advancement and accumulating wealth. To stem the rot, the entire political system needs to be overhauled so that only honest and dedicated men with missionary zeal are encouraged to enter politics and all others who pursue politics purely as a lucrative profession and a means of earning livelihood are kept out.

Demand for pay and perks at par with the government servants is fine. However, will our honourable members of Parliament also accept the service conditions applicable to the employees which restrict their freedom and make them liable for punitive action for every small act of omission and commission?

HEM KUMAR, Shimla

II

The salary of a Member of Parliament has been more than trebled. The salaries of government employees were raised after 10 years and were called a bonanza. Salary is the only source of income for almost all employees.

However, many of our MPs are crorepatis. If service of the people is their sole mission, how have they become fabulously rich?  The leaders can justify everything to their advantage.

Prof B S AGGARWAL, Panchkula

Rotting grains

Inder Malhotra’s article “Hunger still haunts us”(Aug 21) hit the nail on the head when it described the faulty public distribution system as the reason for the inaccessibility of food. When wheat stocks rot in the open, how can food be denied to the starving people? The Food Corporation of India has failed to create adequate storage space.

The government also did not goad the Central Warehousing Corporation to share the burden of storage in the country. The other agencies, in the absence of suitable scientific storage space, have no option except to store on the low-level surface. The decision of the apex court to direct the government to distribute food grain stocks among the poor and the needy before it gets damaged is a wise one.

GURMIT SINGH SAINI, Mohali

Games mess

In other countries, whenever Olympics, Commonwealth or Asiad Games are held, noted former sportspersons of the country are made chairman and secretary general of the organising committee.

For 2012 Olympics, London, Olympic gold medallist Sebastian Coe is the chairman of the London organising committee LOCOG.

In our country, Suresh Kalmadi is the chairman and Lalit Bhanot is secretary general of the Organising Committee of the forthcoming Commonwealth Games. None of them have won even a bronze medal in any discipline of the game even at the state level, what to speak of at the national level. Serious corruption charges have been levelled against them. They should be removed immediately and the CBI should question them.

NARINDER SINGH, Chandigarh

II

The common man is aghast. Everyday a new scam related to the preparations of the Commonwealth Games is coming to the fore. These games were planned to enhance ‘national pride’ but eventually, it may turn out to be a ‘national shame’.

On hindsight, it is surprising why and how, in the first place India bid for these Games, knowing fully well how corrupt and incompetent often our officials and organisers can be.