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Dynastic politics afflicts all parties

Insinuating that Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal is more indulgent towards his son and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and that there is no inner democracy in the Shromani Akali Dal Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira is touching Badal Senior’s raw nerve (news report, “Sukhbir above party: Cong — Khaira questions junior Badal’s contibution to SAD”, Oct 21).

But can Mr Khaira say with full honesty that his own party, the Congress, is not suffering from what he is accusing the SAD of? For example, does the Congress follow the one-person-one-post principle in letter and spirit? If not, why single out the SAD?

Many Congress leaders in the states and at the national level are holding two posts — one in the party and the other in the government. In the recently held elections for the membership of the state committee, the Punjab Congress leaders themselves had accused one another of bogus membership and inducting their own kith and kin into it through dubious ways. In fact, the Central Congress leadership has to intervene to sort out the irregularities in the election.

Dynastic politics is ruling the roost barring the Left parties. So, people who live in glasshouses should not throw stones at others. The pot calling the kettle black only shows double standards.

Even over their reaction to the ouster of Mr Manpreet Singh Badal from the party and the Cabinet, there are serious differences in the state Congress. Instead of taking a principled stand on this development, the Congress is calculating the electoral advantage it can draw from the rift in the Badal family in the 2012 assembly elections. Opportunism and partisan interests are taking precedence over morals and principles.

There are no takers in politics for people with conviction and conscience. The political parties will like to use Mr Manpreet Singh Badal only for serving their own political interests and will not stand by him for his principles for which he had to pay a heavy price.

TARSEM SINGH, New Delhi

Farce in Myanmar

The editorial “Myanmar charade” (Oct 5) expressed anguish and indignation at the prevailing turmoil and turbulence in Myanmar. Justice, liberty and human rights are missing there. Tolerance, accommodation, political dissent and humanism too are at a discount in Myanmar. The scenario is quite dismal and disturbing and defies all remedies and logic.

Aung San Suu Kyi’s detention for years is a matter of concern for the world at large. Moreover, the prevailing draconian laws in Myanmar will certainly thwart the electoral process.

JARNAIL SINGH BRAR, Bathinda

Probe Games

The editorial, “Probe the ‘murky game” (Oct 18), was apt. The Prime Minister has done well by ordering a probe. The world witnessed the spectacular show and India took pride in hosting the Games successfully. Now, let there be a fair probe without much hullabaloo.

GURMIT SINGH SAINI, SAS Nagar

II

The Prime Minister has appointed a high-level committee to investigate into the alleged corruption charges into the Commonwealth Games. But the three months allotted for the investigation are too long. The CAG must conduct the audit before time and present all the facts before the people of India within 90 days.

SARABJOT KAUR, Zirakpur

SAD development

It is a sad development that a true son of Punjab has been sacrificed at the altar of self-serving and corrupt politicians of the party that purports to be the sole saviour of the state. Mr Manpreet Badal was making a sincere effort to rid Punjab of the debt trap.

It is a simple law of economics that you should match your expenditure with your income. Otherwise your next generation will be doomed. It is a well-known fact that the SAD cannot tolerate well-intentioned and educated persons like Mr Manpreet Badal.

H S CHAHAL, Former IAS officer, Amritsar

Congress, BJP are to blame Kuldip Nayar in his article “The Karnataka crisis : Congress, BJP are to blame” ( Oct 18) has expressed genuine concern regarding the deteriorating standard of our polity in general and our legislatures in particular. His observation that both leading political parties, the Congress and BJP, are to be blamed for the political mess in our country speaks of his political wisdom. In order to stay in power by hook or by crook, the political parties are destroying the sanctity of constitutional institutions, be it of the Governor or the Speaker. Both national parries should reach a consensus for the sake of development of the country and need to look beyond party politics. Mr Nayar’s suggestion that the anti-defection Act needs to be amended to reform our political system is good. However, one must remember that it is not only the law that needs to be amended but the behaviour of political leaders, too, needs to be altered. Our national parties, both the BJP and the Congress, should set good conventions. JAGDISH MITTER GANDHI, Gurgaon