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

Neighbour’s envy: China’s strength

Gurmeet Kanwal in his article “Military threat from China” (July 28) has rightly cautioned the nation to be more vigilant about the communist giant China which cannot be trusted. Indeed China will be a primary challenge to India, certainly our country neither has the capability nor the resolve to match China’s strength. China being an expansionist country ceased Indian territory during the 1962 war. What India needs to do is to upgrade its military strategies from dissuasion to deterrence. Genuine deterrence comes only from the ability to launch and sustain major offensive operations. So, India has to match up Chinese preparedness through its own modernisation programme and strategic alliances.

Capt SK DATTA (retd), Abohar

II

We are lagging behind China in construction of roads in the border areas which raises a finger at the working of the BRO. As the border is also being manned by ITBP, the govt must make ITBP a part of Army as these organisations practically don’t pass on the information till problems reach the doorstep. Our prior experience of relying on CAPFs like ITBP and Naval Coast Guard has cost us dearly. With China coming closer everyday, the government is not bothered to add armament and arsenal to its kitty. It does not patronise in-house production and its reliance on foreign made arsenal is creating holes in our economy.

DEEPJOT SINGH THUKRAL, Ambala Cantt

III

The discovery of a secret tunnel at Indo-Pak border is a serious matter. India must prepare and train its forces for tunnel warfare with shorter soldiers equipped with pistol, knife, flash light and other equipment similar to ‘tunnel rats’ of 1960s. The tunnels were used by Viet Cong guerrillas as hiding spots during combat, which also served as communication and supply routes, hospitals, food and weapon caches and living quarters for numerous guerrilla fighters. The tunnel systems were of great importance to the Viet Cong in their resistance to American forces, and helped achieve ultimate military success.

SUKHMINDER S. CHAHAL, Bathinda

Where are the laws?

Despite gargantuan institutional structure being at the beck and call of the government under various Acts and laws, the evil of child marriage, female foeticide, and dowry are still threatening the social fabric. In this respect, laying the blame on khap panchayats for multifarious social evils is not only unfair but it amounts to travesty of facts.

The patriarchal mindset is not the sole raison d’tre for female foeticide. The womenfolk are equally blameworthy for this deeply entrenched social evil. Female foeticide and gender bias have to be fought socially, legally and politically.

‘Firmans’ in marital matters by the khaps are an offshoot of petty village politics. Same gotra marriages are justly opposed by  Khaps and others  because the consanguineous marriages can result in any one of the 250 genetic disorders.

Same village marriages do take place in Chautala village since this village lacks the traditional and generational ‘bhaichara’. It is inhabited by families displaced from several Rajasthan villages belonging to different gotras.

Moreover, Chautala village is not the role model for other areas since culture is area specific and clan specific. Choice marriages are the order of the day and acceptable by khaps provided these conform to set traditions.

Dr PREM SINGH DAHIYA, Rohtak

II

Kuldip Nayar has echoed his strong voice against injustice being done to the freedom of Indian women at the hands of Taliban-type dictates of the Khaps (article “Implications of Taliban-type diktats”, July 26). The political leaders may have reasons to be silent about the dictates of Khaps, but he rightly pleads that the Indian civil society should not sit silent and call a spade a spade. Nayar’s article will go a long way in awakening the India civil society and right thinking people would speak up wherever there is any injustice.

JAGDISH MITTER GANDHI, Gurgaon