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Treat all states equally The Article 370 that guarantees special status to Jammu and Kashmir State in the Indian Constitution is the root cause of complex situation being faced by India, as was given in the article, “Meaningful report by interlocutors” (June 12). Special status to the state created special problems for the Indian Union. We claim that the state is an integral part of India where there is a need for special powers, laws and distinctive status. Security forces and tourists from other parts of India are treated as foreigners. Muslim community identify themselves more with Pakistan than India despite the fact that frequent special packages are granted to the state at the cost of other poorer states of India. Jammu and Ladakh provinces have no problem with India it is only the Kashmir valley which dances to the tunes of Pakistan. Separatists exploit the situation in the valley on communal grounds. Pak-supported terrorists have hounded thousands of Kashmiri Pandits out of the valley since the special state was made. Shyama Parsad Mukherjee of the erstwhile Jan Sangh opposed article 370 but Pt Nehru was adamant and results are here for everybody to see. Boiling and bleeding Kashmir seems to be drifting away from the Indian Union. All states have to be treated equally under Indian constitution if they are an integral part of India. Why youths are readily available for recruitments in the terror-outfits sponsored by Pakistan? Why the report is mum about this sordid situation? Also the retention of names of chief minister and governor of the state as in 1953 is full of self deception. In Urdu, it is Wazir-e-Azam for chief minister and sardar-e-ryasat for governor. Wazire-e-Azam stands for Prime Minister in Urdu which is only one PM in India, not two. Sadar is President. These distinctions lead to further alienation definitely injurious for the health of Indian Union. KARNAIL SINGH, Kharar |
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Sad poll saga Mixing religion with politics is very good, if political decisions of the government are inspired by religious preaching. But it is really bad if religion is used merely to gain political mileage. Unfortunately, both SAD and BJP indulge in this kind of practices on the eve of elections and thus making a mockery of democracy. Similarly, building memorials and observing anniversaries of religious events and movements in a dignified way serve a noble cause. However, Shiromani akali Dal has attracted a lot of criticism from various quarters including its alliance partner, Bhartiya Janta Party, for endorsing, wittingly or unwittingly, the SGPC move to honour Balwant Singh Rajoana,.The convict was the assassin of the former Punjab Chief Minister, at Akal Takht on the 28th anniversary of operation Bluestar (Editorial, ‘courting controversy’, June 8). No doubt, the SAD represents the interests of the Sikhs but being at the helm of affairs, it should respect the sentiments of all the sections of society. Therefore, it is their bounden duty to ensure that no such events inflame the religious sentiments of the people and disturb peace and harmony in the state. Punjab has already paid a heavy price in terms of human lives, economic development and communal harmony. The Badal government must win the confidence of all Punjabis, irrespective of caste and religion, and involve them in the all-round progress and prosperity of the state. DS KANG, Hoshiarpur Quota question Quota politics has come full circle. First it was to Dalit and deprived communities now, it’s for the upper caste and minorities to create assured vote-banks as mentioned in the article, “ Quota for Jat Sikhs?” (June 14). Jat Sikhs are the ruling class in Punjab and Haryana. Despite a meniscus minority in India some of the high positions have been held by the Jats. Instead of demanding quota for this community, we should resolve to end quota politics which has done more harm than good to the country. After crushing defeat in the polls, the Congress party leadership has been left with no issue to identify with the people of Punjab. “Rols Paul to give Tom” is what the quota system preaches. I’m a Jat Sikh but I would never like to be called as “Quota class”. Poor people belonging to the SC and BC communities have been reaping the benefits of quota system for more than six decades now but why there are more poor in India now than before the quota system applied? KARNAL SINGH, Kharar Tackling corruption Congress working committee members failed to arrive at a consensus on what needs to be done to overcome the problems of the petrol price hike, price rise and corruption (Editorial, “Going round in circles”, June 6). The need of the hour is that the UPA must push Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in multibrand retail to strengthen supply chains so that the waste is controlled and food price rise is checked. Team Anna is targeting Congress on the issue of corruption. In the end of the editorial you have very rightly said, “Mrs Sonia Gandhi had told Team Anna in November last year that speeches can’t curb corruption. She should have told this to her party men also”. SATISH SHARMA,
Haryana
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