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Cricketers are already millionaires

The editorial “It’s raining crores” (Apr 5) was a balanced analysis. There is no doubt about the accomplishment of our cricket team. In our country where cricket is a religion, the team has done justice to the hopes and wishes of the countrymen.

However, cricketers are rich as they are paid handsome match fees by the BCCI. They also earn a lot through endorsement fees. Already these players are enjoying tax benefits and many more facilities. The government of our country has a habit of giving largesse only to those who already have enough. Instead of providing these players individual plots, the amount should be adequately spent on sports infrastructure to assist and encourage budding sportsmen. Sports academies can be named after famous sports personalities as a tribute to their accomplishment.

Cricketers like Sachin and Dhoni are already crorepatis. So why should they be given tax benefits if they import cars as they can very easily pay for them. Tax benefit should be given if they import some sporting equipment, or other accessories related to their field of sport. Also, if various state governments want to provide land to cricketers for setting up of cricket academies, the land should not be donated free of cost to individuals.

AMANVIR SINGH TIWANA, Patiala

II

I fully endorse the views expressed in the editorial. The Indian team deserves all the accolades for winning the World Cup after 28 years, but these cash awards from the government are an unnecessary indulgence. Given the money in the sport, India’s cricket players are the richest among other sports-persons and these awards and tax breaks are an unnecessary burden on the taxpayer.

Punjab is under a lot of debt but still, the state government doled out crores to Harbhajan and Yuvraj. It is my humble appeal to Bhajji and Yuvi to return this favour and ask the government to pledge this money to Punjab’s developmental efforts. Such cash awards are unjustified.

SUNISH CHABBA, Mumbai

III

The editorial has rightly objected to excessive showering of cash reward on the cricketers by various state governments. It is pertinent to note that when our team won the World Cup, the country was united in celebrating the victory. But now this race among various states to shower monetary benefits on players of their respective states has in one stroke divided the nation Better sense should have prevailed on our political leaders. Do our cricketers need money? Most of them earn millions through cricket and advertisement contracts.

The BCCI is a professional body and a rich sports organisation. It takes ample care of its cricketers and pays them handsomely to say the least. Our political leaders should rise above regionalism and think of ways to put the country on the path of unity and development.

ARUN HASTIR, Babehali, Gurdaspur

IV

There is no doubt that cricketers have brought cheers to all Indians. For this they deserve respect. But the mad race that has begun among the states to shower crores on cricketers is not justified. By doing so the states are belittling the accomplishments in other games. Moreover, they have no right, to throw away taxpayers’ money. In a country where hunger deaths, suicide by farmers, malnourishment among children are not uncommon, every single rupee matters and for that reason needs to be carefully spent.

RAJNISH KUMAR, Bilaspur

World Cup victory

The editorial, “A much-awaited euphoria” (Apr 4) has rightly pointed out the competence of the Indian Team. The cup has been won through consistent hard play, planning and team spirit. Leaving aside the league matches, the team fought against some of the best teams like Australia, Pakistan and finally Sri Lanka.

Though everyone in the team gave his best, it was the leadership quality of captain M.S.Dhoni which played a major role in crunch situations. It is also worth pointing out that this tournament was played without acrimony on the field and credit for that goes to all the teams. Well done Indian cricket team.

Brig H S SANDHU( retd), Panchkula

Locating new colleges

It is understood that the Punjab Government plans to start 17 colleges in the rural areas this year. Punjab Technical University, primarily an examining body, also plans to set up four Punjab Institutes of Technology and an Institute of Management Sciences. In all fairness, at least one rural government college and an institute of technology should be set up on the Phagwara-Nakodar road in the neglected Manjki area to partially make up for the past lapses. It is well linked with Jalandhar, Ludhiana and other towns. So the proposed institutions of higher education would serve not only the Manjki area but also parts of Nawanshaher, Kapurthala and Hoshiarpur districts.

Thanks to lack of interest by the area’s prominent leaders like Swaran Singh, Darbara Singh, H.S. Surjeet and many lesser ones, the Manjki is sans any government institute of general or professional quality higher education. Similarly. the area is crying for a good government hospital. For some unknown reason, the SGPC also has ignored the area for its educational development. The college at Jandiala really could never take off even after the government took it over. With the exception of Guru Nanak Khalsa Girls College at Sang Dhesian that has successfully introduced some modern professional courses, other colleges have remained non-descript institutions of further education.

Since higher castes largely have either moved abroad or to cities, more than 50 per cent of the population belongs to the Scheduled Castes and backward classes. This is another compelling reason for setting up these institutions at a central place along the Phagwara-Nakodar road.

AUTAR DHESI, former Professor of Economics, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar

Lokpal Bill What Anna Hazare is doing has the approval of more than 100 crores of people of India (editorial, “Clamour for Lokpal”, April 6). His deep concern that forced him to go on fast-unto-death is a beginning of people’s movement against rampant corruption in the highest echelons.. The Prime Minister said, “nobody should try to dictate the nature of the legislation regarding the Lokpal”, but is himself dictated by corrupt Cabinet Ministers because of coalition compulsions. The country has been graded the fourth most corrupt nation of Asia. People had to rise to the occasion in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya to throw out the corrupt and ineffective regimes and India really is no exception. Our party fully supports Anna Hazare and appeals to the people and other like-minded parties of India to join the movement to eradicate corruption from the country. The UPA government must understand that they must not test the tolerance and patience of people. Capt AMAR JEET KUMAR, (retd), General Secretary, Nationalist Sainik Party of India