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

Ban on political rallies necessary

The editorial ‘Politics in Punjab’ (November 16) rightly envisages the role and intervention of the Election Commission in cleansing politics. Let the deeds of the party in power do all the talking. Let the Opposition do the constructive role to reach out to the masses. If during five years of power one cannot reach hearts of the people through their deeds, how can they expect winning hearts instantly through public rallies and rhetorical speeches? Why not have a complete ban on public rallies on which a lot of human and monetary resources are wastefully spent.

SANJEEV TRIKHA Fatehabad

II

Abusive language can make rallies successful but can never help win elections. Allegations and counter-allegations have impinged on the space that is otherwise meant for raising issues that concern the common man. This meaningless campaign will not cut much ice with the masses and if a political party feels that it will romp home through this mindless campaign, it is committing political suicide.

Prof RAJAN KAPOOR, Nakodar

III

This refers to the Tribune editorial on Punjab Politics (November 16). The real electioneering test lies in calling upon the political parties to define their parameters of good governance, policy matters and publicly debate the important issues regarding state’s economy, education, health care, law and order, safety, corruption, agriculture, industrialisation, sports, women empowerment and child care. How and where one party has failed or is lacking and in what way the other party will affect improvements and to what extent, these are the issues to be discussed threadbare. Alongwith this, draw out a five year action plan to achieve the same.

TEJINDER SINGH KALRA, Mohali

‘She is my He’ There is an error in ‘Wanted: Stay-at-home dads!’ (Nov 17) in the otherwise captivating middle. The writer says that three women teams are taking part in the World Cup Kabaddi. Actually, it is four women teams, which are those of India, the UK, the US and Turkmenistan. The writer has beautifully penned down the sea-change in role reversal of women in the 21st century with women increasingly overtaking men in education and at workplace. Lord Tennyson’s phrase, “Man for the field and woman for the hearth”, holds no water these days. Husbands must give space to their wives. Actually, all women are working women. The working hours of a woman in the household chores are double than those of their husband’s office hours .Women in rural areas work in fields too. A woman working in the office does so at her own cost, literally. That is why I always introduce my wife to others as  “She is my He”. JASWANT SINGH GANDAM, Phagwara

Crowd management

Apropos the editorial ‘Stampede in Haridwar’ (November 10), it would seem that the concept of crowd management is alien not only to the organisers but to the government too, and it is the innocent people who pay for this callous dereliction of duty. In this context, they can learn lessons on crowd management from the management of Harmandir Sahib, Amritsar.

As in our country religion remains an important part of life, it is but natural that religious functions draw a large number of people. However, most of the popular tourist and religious places don’t have the infrastructure to deal with the numbers of visitors. It is the responsibility of the organisers to put in place suitable measures and deploy volunteers to ensure smooth movement of people.

DILBAG RAI, Chandigarh

Don’t divide UP

Politicians can do anything to stay in power. Mayawati’s advice of dividing UP into four states is not a good decision. It is only guided by political motives, It is going to affect the state badly. This proposal must not be accepted by the state Assembly.

PRERNA PRIYAKSHI, Bangalore

Correction

The second editorial, “An inveterate yatri”, on The Tribune’s Opinion page on November 18 had it that “The recent public meetings in Jammu, Shimla and Chandigarh did not quite live up to expectations.” It should have been Mandi instead of Shimla, which has gone into print inadvertently. The error is regretted.

— Editor-in-Chief