Therefore there is a need is to make the Military Intelligence Wing and Army Auditors Department autonomous. These two departments should have the power to report the matters related to corruption and the involvement of senior officers in any case directly to the higher authority i.e. the Ministry of Defence so that timely action is initiated.

Military service is not a desk job. It needs corruption-free leadership wherein the morale of troops should remain undeterred. The faith of troops in their leaders must not crumble. Harsh punishment alone will not serve the purpose.

Dr KAMALJEET KAUR SEKHON, Patiala

II

In the article “Army’s image on the decline” (Aug 28) Maj-Gen Ashok K Mehta (retd) has rightly opined that the image of the Army has suffered. Despite the selection of officers through the SSB interview, which accurately reads the psychology of the person, one fails to understand why we are not able to select the right kind of officers.

NAVEEN RATHEE, Rohtak

Salary hike

The salary of members of Parliament has been compared with their counterparts of developed countries. But the comparison should also have been made with respect to the per capita income of the people of the respective countries. In advanced countries the elected representatives and senators draw a salary which is four to seven times the monthly income of the citizens of its country, whereas in India the MPs’ salary will be about 26 times the income of an average Indian.

Therefore some foolproof and common mechanism should be devised for fixing the salaries of MPs and other government officials so that the gap between the haves and the have-nots does not keep on widening.

VINAY KUMAR, Shimla

II

As if blocking the proceedings of Parliament was not enough, now our MPs have given themselves a massive hike in their salaries. The MPs cannot be equated with government secretaries who are selected on merit and reach these posts after 30 years of meritorious service. The job of MPs is part- time and ought to be selfless in character. Mahatma Gandhi envisaged honorary service from the elected representatives. Our MPs have further lowered their image in the eyes of the aam adami struggling to make both ends meet.

LIEUT (I.N) SUKHDEV SINGH GILL, Jagraon

Ways of justice

The editorials “Mockery of justice” and “Loss of control” (Aug 20) were bold and correctly analysed that there are different laws for the high and mighty and the poor. The high and mighty get all sorts of comforts and VVIP treatment even in jails due to their clout and political influence and take full advantage of the flaws in the law to bend justice whereas the poor get severe beating in the name of justice.

PRITAM SINGH, Amritsar

Condition of the poor

Who are the Maoists and Naxalites? Are they foreigners? No, they are, in fact, a section of the common people of India. About one-third of the Indian population is below the poverty line. Many are deprived of even basic needs such a food, shelter, clothing and healthcare. They are being forced to join Maoist ranks since the government is not taking any step to ameliorate the conditions of the poor. As a matter of fact, tainted and unscrupulous politicians are usurping the wealth of the nation and flourishing at the cost of the poor and the downtrodden.