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

Congress needs a strong revitalising plan

The Congress is facing many challenges and on several fronts at that (news report, “Cong’s fightback plan ready” by Anita Katyal, Dec 19). The public perception is that unless the Congress goes in for some magical surgery, it is likely to suffer reverses in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and eventually at the Centre too.

The Congress has two areas of strength; its foreign policy and youth power. It is heartening to note that the Congress President has positively responded to the suggestions of Mani Shankar Aiyar regarding inclusion of “our solidarity with the Palestine people.” This shows that our foreign policy is being adequately formulated by the Congress leadership.

On the domestic front, mere political resolutions will not be sufficient. The party has to take hard decisions such as the removal of corrupt ministers.

MANOHAR LAL YADAV, Chairman, Social Justice Centre, Rajasthan

HARDEEP SIDHU, Amritsar

Judiciary’s integrity

Corruption is rapidly eating into the vitals of our polity and the evil has spread its tentacles almost in every walk of life (“Corruption in judiciary: Time for action” by V. Eshwar Anand, Dec 3).

That even the judiciary has not been spared is the saddest part of the story.

Positive steps must be taken forthwith to stem the rot. To begin with, the selection of judges must be made transparent. Vacancies in the Supreme Court and high courts must be advertised in newspapers. The black sheep in the judicial flock must be weeded out. It must be ensured that persons of impeccable integrity grace the high offices of the judiciary, the vital pillar of democracy.

TARA CHAND, Ambota

Inspiring success

The editorial “Special success” (Dec 8) was inspiring and enjoyable. Indeed, people have a lot to learn from persons like Charu Dutta who has carved a niche for himself by virtue of his indomitable will to succeed against all odds.

He can’t hear or speak yet he can express himself and that has worked wonders. Patronage or no patronage, he is content with what he is and loves to do his work quietly away from the glare of the inquisitive eyes.

Parents, families, teachers, NGOs, private players, corporate houses and the government ought to create a conducive environment in which the differently-abled can realise their potential.

TARSEM S. BUMRAH, Batala

II

I, being a differently-abled person, welcome the concern of the President of India. I also appreciate The Tribune which is, perhaps, the only newspaper in Punjab highlighting the problems of the disabled. Besides Charu Dutta there are other eminent men and women who have achieved success through sheer dint of courage.

To ameliorate the condition of the disabled, the Centre made a scheme to provide nine lakh jobs per year in the private sector and proposed an outlay of Rs 1,800 crore in the 11th plan period. The scheme was made effective from April 1, 2008.

However, information obtained through the RTI Act amazingly reveals that up to August 31, 2010 none of the private sector companies in Punjab and Chandigarh employed any differently- abled. What a colossal apathy? The problems of the differently-abled should be redressed with urgency and sensitivity.

B.K. SETHI, Khanna

Number one paper

I am happy to know that The Tribune is number one newspaper in the region. I have been a reader of The Tribune since 1952 while I was posted in a far-flung area of Sirmour district in Himachal Pradesh. Now I am settled in Paonta Sahib and continue to read The Tribune with great interest and enthusiasm.

R P KAUSHAL, Paonta Sahib

Strengthen Navy It gives me pride and pleasure to read the excellent editorial “Towards a strong Navy” (Dec 4). It aptly reflected the needs of the Indian Navy at a time when the country is being encircled by unfriendly neighbours, trying to undermine our unity and integrity. Having served in the Indian Navy for almost 40 years and seen practically how the Indian Navy was ignored by the powers that be, I would like to quote the famous saying, “One who commands the sea rules the world.” The Indo-Pak war of 1971 and later the Gulf wars have proved this point clearly. Navy Day commemorating the Indian Navy’s daring missile attack on Karachi harbour on the morning of December 4, 1971, not only surprised the world but also shocked the enemy as it was so strategically planned. In recognition of this rare victory, the Navy Day is celebrated every year on December 4. The government must make this arm of the defence so strong as to sink anyone who tries to cast an evil eye on our shore. MULTAN SINGH PARIHAR, Jalari, Hamirpur