Legality vs morality

This is with reference to the news analysis, ‘The Twist in the tale’ (January 25), in which there is a mention of Attorney-General giving legal advice to the MoD. An anecdote from the life of Mahatma Gandhi and his style of dealing with complaints is pertinent to mention here. Gandhiji received a complaint on a postcard which read, “Mr X of your party has refused to return my amount which he took from me as a loan”. Based on the post-card complaint, Gandhi asked Mr X to explain his position. Mr X said, “I am not legally bound to repay the debt which I took from him as the promisory note/ MoU has expired”.

Gandhi immediately retorted, “Toh aap qanoon ki aar mein ikhlaq ka gala ghontna chahte hain” (You want to cut the throat of morality under the garb of legality). He asked him to return the amount or face expulsion from the party.

The authentic documents (MH records, school register, board certificate and IMA ID) based on truth have been rejected and statements recorded by others have been relied upon. The truth seems to have been buried under the heavy weight of law.

SHYAM SUNDER AIRI, Kapurthala

Honest leaders

It is an old saying that people get the government they deserve and when we are bearing governments on which we do not have faith, it means we ourselves are at fault. We are not electing honest and competent people. Therefore, institutions like the Lokpal would be of no help till we ourselves start electing honest and competent people.

Let us be wise now and think before we cast our vote in any candidate’s favour. If we do not find a suitable candidate, we can avoid casting our vote. This process shall compel the political parties to field capable leaders who can give us clean administration and good governance. The days of ‘yatha raja, thatha praja’ are not over.

DALIP SINGH WASAN, Patiala

Katju’s remarks

The Chairman of the Press Council of India and a former Supreme Court judge, Markandey Katju, has stated that Salman Rushdie is a ‘poor and sub-standard’ writer.

Katju’s views are based on utter ignorance of the English language and literature. He has no expertise in making such sweeping and baseless statements on one of the finest writers of our times. Salman Rushdie’s knowledge and mastery of the English language is amongst the best in our times. He knows how to tell a story and keep the readers’ interest intact through hundreds of pages. He also knows how to tell a story with unexpected turns, in brilliant prose. He is quite clearly the best writer we have read in the last few decades.

Rushdie is one of the most prolific and talented writers of our times and unwarranted criticism based on prejudice exposes the hollowness  of the critics.

RAJENDRA K. ANEJA, Dubai

Holy towns

The news report ‘Declare Shakti Peeth towns as holy towns’ (January 22 HP Tribune), has gone down well with the religious minded people. Jwalamukhi, being the centre of the Peeths, is one such place where one finds quite a good number of meat and  wine shops.

The holy shrine is thronged by hundreds of pilgrims every day throughout the year. If all the ‘peeths’ are declared as ‘holy places’, the unshaking faith and ardent earnestness of the pilgrims would be rewarded.

Moreover, the filthy bus stand at Jwalamukhi is in a very bad condition. The Bohan Bazaar is hopelessly narrow through which the state highway meanders its way. A pedestrian’s life is at stake while passing through the bazaar. The administration should not ignore these problems.