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

Obey traffic rules to prevent road mishaps

This refers to the article, “Making our roads safe” (November 8). The article is thought-provoking and timely. There is no doubt in the fact that road accidents claim more lives in the country than all other causes. What is interesting to note is that most of the road accidents are caused by human error. In other words, most of the road mishaps are preventable if we are more careful. These accidents occur due to poor road maintenance and drunken driving. Traffic rules are also broken with impunity.

In fact, schools should start teaching traffic rules. Children should know about these rules and also why they are important. But the real challenge is how to manage the traffic in cities.

Like other cities Chandigarh also finds itself in a difficult situation when it comes to traffic management. All of us are responsible for traffic jams and accidents. If I can park my car, I am happy. I don’t need to consider the parking woes of others. What I forget is that on another day I could be the ‘victim’. In other words, road mishaps are preventable if we learn to obey the traffic rules.

PRAKASH VERMA, Chandigarh

HARPAL SINGH, Mohali

II

I read with deep interest Mr Kuldip Nayar’s analytical article, “What after Manmohan Singh?” (November 7). Indeed, at the moment, a viable/credible alternative to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is not visible in the Congress, as the article points out. What about Mr Rahul Gandhi, one may pertinently ask? Well, to my mind, the young Gandhi—with all the advantages he enjoys--- has perforce to pass through the crucible of administrative experience before he can legitimately be considered for the august prime-ministerial office. Under the circumstances, a dark horse for the lofty office seems a distinct possibility. To my mind, Mr Manmohan Singh, too, cannot be ruled out, the age factor notwithstanding. Mr Singh’s experience, humility and, above all, unimpeachable integrity are his outstanding plus points.

TARA CHAND, General Secretary, HP Lok Seva Mandal, Ambota (Una)

CM’s priorities

The editorial, “Mamata’s muscle power” (November 10), rightly questions professionalism on the part of the police and irresponsible behaviour on the part of the mercurial drama queen of Indian politics. One wonders what the priorities of a Chief Minister are. While Mamata Banerjee was so concerned about the release of two of her party members that she stormed into a police station to secure their freedom, may one ask why did she exhibit a completely supercilious attitude towards the death of scores of hapless children in various government hospitals? Had she stormed into the B.C Ray hospital in a similar fashion when the news of dying infants first surfaced, many lives might have been saved.

It is only in a country like ours that such grotesque behaviour on the part of a leader can be tolerated.

For parents of dead children, it is a lifelong nightmare. Of the double trauma that the little ones suffered, we can only understand through these lines of Francis Bacon, “It is as natural to die as it is to be born; and to a little infant, perhaps, the one is as painful as the other”.

VINOD KUMAR KHANNA, S.A.S Nagar

Team Anna’s immaturity

In Raman Mohan’s report, “Anna effect may prove double-edged sword” (October 13), it is stated that direct participation by Kejriwal & Co. in the Hisar bypoll is thoroughly unjustified and has damaged the prestige of Anna Hazare and his movement. Anna is now seen as the conscience keeper of the nation. Some of the reasons why Team Anna’s direct participation in the Hisar bypoll cannot be justified are as follows: Kejriwal & Co. jumped into the fray without a formal decision/resolution of the entire civil society team. That is why Justice Santosh Hegde decried this move. Seeking written agreement from the Congress candidate to support the Lokpal Bill, if he did not want Team Anna to campaign against the Congress, amounted to clear blackmail, which the Election Commissioner should have prevented.

Seeking written support from the Congress candidate was meaningless as the two Houses of Parliament unanimously passed the resolution to enact a strong Lokpal Bill. The only bone of contention is its passage in the winter session itself. This can be ensured if Anna Hazare sends a request to the PM and the leaders of various political parties in the Opposition.

This way Team Anna has shown complete immaturity by campaigning against the Congress candidate and has lowered its own prestige in the process.

RAM NIWAS MALIK, Engineer-in-Chief (retd), Gurgaon