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

Nuclear energy is a viable option

The editorial “N-sagacity” (Apr 28) has endeavoured to infuse prudence among those opposing the nuclear reactor at Jaitapur in Maharashtra. Nuclear energy is one of the cleanest and cheapest energy solutions available today. Other options available in the country are not environment friendly and also have been known to cause displacement of population and deforestation besides occupying vast swathes of cultivable land.

Opposition to such projects has been found politically motivated and the Jaitapur project may not be an exception. But the gullible public opposing the project needs to ponder why such seemingly do-good politicians never care to mobilise people against more harmful things like gutkas and chewing tobacco products which abound in rural and urban markets alike, destroying the health of the youth of the country.

Ironically, many politicians are learnt to have lent their covert support to the gutka manufacturers. The need of the hour is to envisage an energy policy making a judicious mix of nuclear as well other energy solutions, especially the solar energy.

The government and the scientists ought to intensify research and development in the solar energy sector, for there is great scope for the same.

It is always beneficial to go in for indigenous development.

L R SHARMA, Haripur, Sundernagar

Unlawful khaps

The editorial “Govt soft on khaps: It’s tradition vs democracy in Haryana” (Apr 28) has taken to task the Haryana government which had told the Punjab and Haryana High Court that it had no intention of declaring the activities of khap panchayats as ‘unlawful’ under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Obviously the Congress-led state government has taken this decision only to be in the good books of its vote banks. Does the Congress leadership approve of its state unit’s impudence?

 To be fair to the Congress, other parties would not have acted differently on this issue, had they been in power. They all speak in one voice and rally against judicial pronouncements, which expose their undemocratic and unconstitutional practices and activities.

The Haryana Government’s contention that khap panchayats have been in existence for eons and making laws for the welfare of the community is ludicrous and amounts to questioning its own raison d’etre. If khap panchayats are to make laws what are legislatures for? Like Taliban, khap panchayats are issuing peremptory edicts.

Self-appointed moralistic organisations like khap panchayats have no place in a democracy. Our political parties can cultivate or tolerate them for their narrow political ends only at the cost of rights and freedoms guaranteed to people by the 
Constitution.

HEMA, Langeri, Hoshiarpur

II

The Supreme Court deserves to be complimented for issuing strict instructions to states to suspend collectors/ SSPs/ SPs if they fail to stamp out the atrocities of khap panchayats (news report, “Halt honour killings, rules SC” by R. Sedhuraman, Apr 20).

Khap panchayats often decree honour killings in an institutionalised way. Frequent honour killings at the behest of khap panchayats are a matter of grave concern. Their diktakts are illegal and undemocratic. Autocracy, authoritarianism and male chauvinism should have no place in our democratic set-up.

Capt S K DATTA, Abohar

Toxic pesticides

The article “How bees reject ‘toxic’ pesticides” (Apr 8) by Michael McCarthy was informative. Bees can detect pesticide residues in the pollen they bring back to the hive and try to isolate it from the rest of the colony. The research by US scientist Dr Jeffrey Pettis has disclosed the ‘pesticides sensing’ behaviours of honeybee, thus regenerating its contents from the pollen.

Dr Pettis further sees the new pesticide ‘neonicotinoids’ as one of the cause affecting the health of honeybees. The message is clear that though we are aware of the ill-effects of the consequences of excessive use of pesticides, we are not worried about the future generation. Some areas have been declared ‘cancer prone’ due to pesticides.

A.S.ANAND, Ludhiana

Essence of life The middle “A new beginning of life” (Apr 27) by Vinod Prakash Gupta was inspiring. Indeed, life goes beyond the nine-to-five mundane routine. In one’s leisure time, one can pursue one’s favourite hobbies or passions to counter the painful pressures of life and society. By following one’s passion, one can remain happy and use one’s time efficiently. It is true that idle people do not have the luxury of leisure and idleness is the root of evil. However, when we pursue our hobbies, we make our life interesting and joyful. According to Jane Austen, “A man who has nothing to do with his own time has no conscience in his intrusion on that of others.” It is also essential to follow a basic code of conduct to remain ‘happy’ in our life. Being dependent upon others or by always asking favours from others can ruin our reputation. The writer has rightly advised that one should grab life in all its challenges and mysteries. Besides, one should never make unnecessary recommendations and should not seek favours from colleagues, friends and subordinates.  We must discover ourselves and inspire ourselves in the right and meaningful direction and also show the same path to our next generation. According to Immanuel Kant, “Happiness is not an ideal of reason but of imagination.” RAMESHINDER SINGH SANDHU, Khasa, Amritsar