Get facts right

The views of the writer in the fifth volume of the series “A Centenary History of the Indian National Congress” are based on surmises only ( news report, “Book blames Zail Singh, Sanjay for Punjab turmoil in 80s”, June 1). The genesis of turbulence in Punjab lay in the incident of Baisakhi day in April 1978 in Amritsar when an armed clash took place between Baba Gurbachan Singh and his followers of Nirankari Mission and some anti-Nirankari Sikhs. At that time Prakash Singh Badal was the Chief Minister of Punjab and Morarji Desai was the Prime Minister of India. Neither of them was behind this incident. The Congress was not in power— either in Punjab or at the Centre. Sanjay Gandhi died in early 1980 (in June, 1980) and did not play any part in the “dirty politics” in Punjab.

In 1980 Darbara Singh became the Chief Minister of Punjab and Giani Zail Singh was the Home Minister of India at that time. Both of them did not see eye to eye on many things relating to politics in Punjab. Darbara Singh and Giani Zail Singh did not play any communal card in Punjab politics.

It is a misconception which has been there in the air for so long that Giani Zail Singh had propped up Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. Giani Zail Singh, though, did take some measures to soothe sentiments of Sikhs as a whole such as bringing back arms of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and naming roads and cities after the historical Sikh personalities so as to weaken the religious agenda of the Akalis. But these measures cannot be said to have contributed to the origin and rise of terrorism in Punjab.

Terrorism in Punjab showed itself when in 1982 some Hindus were pulled out from a bus and killed and Lala Jagat Narain of the ‘Punjab Kesari’ newspaper was killed.

Any writer should check facts before putting them in black and white  as history.

SHER SINGH GAHLOT, Ugala

Red Cross funds

The editorial, “Open loot: Unending misuse of Red Cross funds” (June 3) presented a shocking account of how the officials of the state governments of Punjab and Haryana have been looting the funds of the District Red Cross Societies meant for the “relief of the sick or suffering and distress caused by the operations of war in India or any other country!”

It is really shameful that the Red Cross funds are being blatantly misused for satisfying the personal needs of the officers and juniors in the Deputy Commissioners’ office since 2005 without any fear of the law and despite audit objections. More shameful is that Rs 2.86 crores have since been “filtered” on celebrating “important day”, buying computers and air conditioners and on refreshments for the family of a judge, maintenance of office buildings, purchase of gifts, furniture, mobile phones, telephones bills, purchase and repair of vehicles for the DCs and SDOs.

All such expenditure can be made from the DCs own funds. Most of the Red Cross money has been spent on items for personal use.

This shows that the poor and needy have been deprived of the money and help meant for them. A thorough enquiry should be held and the exact amount misused by the culprit officials should be recovered from them with interest and they be also punished appropriately. Adverse entries should also be made in their Annual Confidential Records (ACRs). In fact, such officers and juniors must be removed from services on charges of embezzlement of government funds. These culprits should have no place in government services anywhere in the country. The government should take immediate action to punish them.