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

Don’t sacrifice vital interests of rural people

I would like to congratulate Mallika Kaur for having focused on women’s participation in the anti-land acquisition struggle launched by the farmers of Gobindpura village in Mansa district in her article ‘Women’s right to protest’ (December 31). If the farmers of Gobindpura lose their 1,237 acres of land to Poena Power, a subsidiary of Indiabulls, their womenfolk are sure to feel disturbed as this move directly affects their home.

In a blind move for rapid industrialisation, we must not sacrifice vital interests of the rural people. It is atrocious to thrash women because they want to back the struggle of their uprooted families. Such a shameful incident should not be allowed to take place in a democratic country like ours. I appreciate The Tribune’s boldness in carrying out this thoughtful article reverberating with a deep sympathy for the farmers of Mansa.

DR RAJ BAHADUR YADAV, Fatehabad

Paid news

This is with reference to news item ‘No outside control should be imposed over media’ (January 3). I appreciate the Prime Minister’s views that representatives of the media should themselves find a way by which objectivity and impartiality gets encouragement and sensationalism is reduced. However, corruption in media is as old as the media itself. The paid news is becoming a real threat to journalism as it misleads the public. The public deserves to know the truth and that too in the right perspective. 

HARISH K. MONGA, Ferozepur

Right move

Only time will tell whether the government’s move to allow qualified foreign investors (QFIs) to invest directly in Indian stock markets will be a success or not. It comes at a time when FIIs are withdrawing from Indian markets due to problems in their domestic markets.

It is indeed a good step to bring in foreign exchange, which helps Rupee to get stabilised at acceptable levels. Market regulator SEBI must clear whether NRIs can buy and sell stocks through brokers of major stock exchanges or banks and repatriate the proceeds without any hassle? Also, such investments and capital gains/dividends should be free from tax as is the practice in most other countries.

BIDYUT KUMAR CHATTERJEE, Faridabad

Age row

In my opinion, Army Chief Gen VK Singh should accept the ruling of the Defence Ministry, which has stated that it would not disturb the status quo at this stage in his date of birth. The Army Chief had filed a 500-page statutory complaint with the Defence Minister, seeking re-examination of his date of birth.

Since the matter has been settled by the Defence Ministry, it would be much better if the Army Chief gives up and retires gracefully in May 2012 while setting a remarkable example for the armed forces.

SUBHASH C. TANEJA, Rohtak

LPG crematorium

This is with reference to item ‘Admn’s green move runs into Chawla wall’ in Amritsar Tribune (December 31). It is unfortunate that without knowing the benefits of LPG crematorium, minister Luxmi Kanta Chawla is intimidating the civil administration in setting up an eco-friendly crematorium. She had been a constant hurdle in the installation of newer technology, which we have been perusing since 2007. Our crematorium committee met her several times and she promised us funds for the same but denied at the eleventh hour.

We request her not to make it a political issue. Two existing crematoriums are insufficient to the needs of the city’s growing population. We want to get a piece of land outside the city for a third crematorium. 

DR RANBIR SINGH PANNU, Amritsar

Traffic rules

On the intervening night of December 31 and January 1, at least 28 accidents took place in Bhopal alone. If India as a whole is taken into consideration, one can imagine the number of accidents and consequent loss of lives. This is too tragic to be expressed in words. Sadly, it has been happening year after year. It is a pity that neither the administration nor the people themselves are seized of the need for enforcing/observing the traffic rules.

Reckless and rash driving in complete disregard of the rules has taken an epidemic form. As ‘Traffic Safety Week’ is observed this week, hopefully it will see substantial change on three requirements of safe driving — creating awareness about traffic rules, enforcement of traffic rules by an alert police and enhancement of traffic infrastructure.

RJ KHURANA, Bhopal

Highway horror This is with reference to news item ‘Highway horror in Ambala’ (January 3). While a “Road Safety Week” is being observed from January 1 to 7, poor children have been mauled on the roads due to the administration going blind in the fog of corruption. The school authorities would continue with their admissions to enroll more students to fill their coffers. If some students die on the road due to their callousness, nobody bothers. Traffic cops challan the common man for minor offences whereas they allow overloaded buses/trucks/school vans to ply with impunity thus risking the lives of innocent citizens. This only for a few bucks of extra income in the form of bribe. Should the policemen not be prosecuted in the present case? Should the school authorities not be prosecuted for being oblivious to the overloaded vans ferrying children to school? What will the authorities do by arresting a probably uneducated truck driver? I request your newspaper to start a series on road safety and the rights of citizens against overloading/overspeeding on the roads in order to make the erring administration more responsible. BHUSHAN CHANDER JINDAL, Jalandhar

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