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Deal with separatists firmly

During the visit of the all-party delegation to Kashmir, the separatist leaders` attitude and utterances against India are highly condemnable. Stringent action must be taken against them for raising anti-India slogans.

It is an individual`s choice whether to vote or abstain. Similarly, to support, oppose or even speak against a government`s policy or action is valid. However, instigating people against the rule of law and perpetrating violence is not only condemnable but also warrants strong action by the law enforcing machinery.

The police will have to check these fissiparous tendencies with a firm hand, unmindful of personal, regional or religious considerations. Jawaharlal Nehru, an embodiment of peace and non-violence, did not oppose the imprisonment of his friend and confidant, Sheikh Abdullah, in public interest.

KRISHAN GAUTAM, Chandigarh

Any peace-loving person will be distressed to see the turn of events in the Kashmir valley. It is sad to see that the bigotry of fundamentalists has reached new heights.

The common people of Kashmir are living as refugees in their own country and the Kashmiri children have not been able to attend schools and colleges for the last three months. The Centre and the state should enlist the cooperation of all peace-loving people and try to resolve the Kashmir tangle.

The demand for withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in Kashmir requires serious introspection. There is no problem in the country that cannot be solved through debate, dialogue and discussion across the table.

K.A. SOLAMAN, Kaithakkal, Alappuzha, Kerala

Step up vigil

I read the editorial, “Security concerns in Delhi” (Sept 21). The countdown for the Commonwealth Games has started. But the Indian Mujahideen ultras are out to spread fear and panic among peace-loving citizens. We must remain vigilant always. The police and the Army should be alert to thwart their nefarious designs.

JAYESH RANE, Bhandup, Mumbai

Why blame us?

Sajla Chawla’s article “Damned and condemned” (Sept 18) was interesting and timely. She rightly stressed the need to stop blaming women for the crimes against them. Instead, we must rectify our legal system and the executive machinery to ensure that the criminals are not spared and the victims are not further victimised. Women are dignified members of society.

The writer rightly said that no one invites assault of any kind. The fact that most victims are vulnerable due to various compulsions must make society and the state ensure speedy justice to the victims.

It is really a blot on the nation that women are subjected to cruelty. The rule of law demands equal respect to women in all aspects.

RANJU K. SINGH, Chandigarh

Quota blues

Apropos of the editorial, “Quota conundrum” (Sept 15), the founding fathers’ idea of reservation was like that of the crutches lent to a physically challenged person until his limbs grow up and he stands on his own legs. The time has come for a review of the entire policy on quotas. The quota based reservation policy, a part of the affirmative action, envisaged as a tool of egalitarianism now stands catapulted as a ‘prized booty’.

The common refrain of the protagonists of the Jat reservation is that when some other peasantry castes in Haryana already enjoy the benefits of the reservation, why the Jats should be deprived of the same? The remedy lies in not giving quotas to any such caste.

RAJENDER GOYAL, Advocate, Bahadurgarh

Internet business

Nowadays, every class of people spend too much money on Internet business in the hope of doubling or tripling their money in a short period. Agents of these companies deceive the poor, gullible people easily and are minting money. This is a fraud and the need of the hour is for the government to catch the mastermind behind these schemes and save the poor people.

KAMALJIT MALWA, Mansa

Letters to the Editor
Letters to the Editor, neatly hand-written or typed in double space, should not exceed the 150-word limit. These can be sent by post to the Letters Editor, The Tribune, Sector 29, Chandigarh-160030. Letters can also be sent by e-mail to: Letters@tribuneindia.com
— Editor-in-Chief

Need to protect tiger
The editorial “Saving the tiger” (Sep 20) shows concern that the tiger population worldwide has fallen from an estimated 5,000 in 1998 to 3,200 now. At this rate, it will take just a decade for the tigers to vanish from the wild.
In India, too, since there has been a drop of 60 per cent in the past decade in tiger population (the most recent audit of wild tigers has estimated their number to be 1411), there is an urgent need for the states to establish a Tiger Conservation Foundation, based on the good practices emanating from some tiger reserves having the administrative autonomy for fund generation to foster eco-tourism, eco-development and related activities involving the local people.
The Centre should set up a Wildlife Crime Control Bureau in close cooperation with the states and collect intelligence relating to wildlife crime. Special attention is required to develop the infrastructure and capacity building for scientific and professional investigation into wildlife crimes so that the states are assisted in successful prosecution of such crime.
If the whistleblowers are adequately compensated for providing information about poachers, poaching can be stopped. The body parts of tigers are in great demand, especially in neighbouring countries.
The editorial rightly concludes that strong and vigorous efforts to protect the tigers alone can save them and for this there should be allocation of the necessary funds and proper resources to protect one of the most majestic predators of Indian jungles. The cost of saving them is nothing as compared to the cost that mankind will have to pay if we lose this species.
DILBAG RAI, Chandigarh