The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Letters to the Editor

NEWS AND VIEWS

PUNJAB

HARYANA

JAMMU & KASHMIR

HIMACHAL

REGIONAL BRIEFS

NATION

OPINIONS

LETTERS

BUSINESS

SPORTS

WORLD

SPECIAL COVERAGE

CHANDIGARH

LUDHIANA

DELHI

THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS

50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

L E T T E R S T O T H E E D I T O R

Punish those behind Adarsh scam severely

I fully endorse the views expressed in the editorial “Adarsh loot” (Nov 2). Politicians, defence personnel and bureaucrats involved in the Adarsh Housing Society (AHS) scam have brought shame to the nation. Since all the grabbers and their patrons have been identified and exposed, criminal cases should be registered against them.

There are other questions that need answers. How was the AHS able to build a 31-storey building instead of six stories? Why didn’t the AHS secure the Coastal Regulation Zone clearance? How was it that the authorities of the Coastal Regulation Zone allowed the construction of the building? Did the AHS get the “environmental clearance”? If the plots were reserved for war heroes and widows then how were they transferred to the AHS? So many facts will come to light when this multi-crore AHS scam is thoroughly probed by the CBI and the defence authorities.

It is an open secret that the land mafia with the patronage of certain politicians and bureaucrats is active in the country. It is time for all the political parties to think over the “issue” seriously and do everything to get rid of “bad elements”. An institutional mechanism is needed to keep the vested interests away. The media, intelligentsia, social organisations and activists should generate public opinion against such scams. Surely, one hopes that the scandal will be taken seriously followed by stern action against the culprits.

SUDESH KUMAR SHARMA, Kapurthala

The recent exposé on misappropriation of authority and mass-scale bungling in allotment of flats in Adarsh Housing Society, particularly by the top brass of Army and the Navy is shocking and disgraceful. Like many soldiers, I feel pained as to how these officers with complete disregard of the age-old military values of selflessness, honesty, integrity and above all being custodians of the welfare of subordinates, particularly the war widows, could resort to such manipulations to achieve their selfish ends.

This malaise is deep-rooted and has been repeatedly committed by the top echelons of military hierarchy more so in the Army simply because their culpabilities have been overlooked in the past.

Those involved in the Adarsh exposé have not only tarnished the reputation of the Armed Forces but have also disgraced the supreme sacrifice of martyrs. It is even more shameful when these officers, especially retired Army and Naval Chiefs plead ignorance that the society in question was meant for Kargil heroes and their families. It is prudent to highlight that there is just a minuscule percentage who are demeaning the reputation and time-tested traditions of the Armed Forces. Therefore the entire institution should not be held responsible. Not withstanding the rank and status, those involved must be tried and awarded exemplary punishment. It must be remembered that surrendering the “allotment” does not absolve their crime.

Col RAMESH DAVESAR (retd), Pune

Racial divide in US
The results of the mid-term elections in the US are out. Counting took place immediately after the voting ended. The results were available within hours. As was anticipated, the Republicans made big gains. They took control of the House of Representatives. But the Republicans fell short of the majority in the Upper House, the Senate.

If we analyse the trend, the anger was more pronounced in the states where racial majority is in an overwhelming percentage. In the ethnically diverse states like New York and California, the Democrats held their ground and bucked the national trend. This is basically a white man’s revolt against a man of colour. But if the economy does not gather steam over the next two years, the tables will be turned against the Republicans too. Americans wants to quickly get out of recession and the incumbents are made scapegoats. But the racial divide is also still persisting in ethnically homogeneous states.
HARJAP SINGH AUJLA,New Jersey, USA