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PM’s I-Day speech lacks punch
I-Day speeches do not protect the poor from hunger and humiliation due to poverty. Yet, they instill confidence among the masses and bring hope of better days ahead. They feel protected. The Prime minister’s address infuses a sense of belongingness in fellow citizens. I had the privilege of listening to and watching the Independence Day speeches of the first Prime Minister Pt Jawahar Lal Nehru and all others who followed him to the top post. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has no magnetic qualities to pull the masses. His speech is weak and becomes more lackluster with each passing I-Day. The Prime Minister has done the job of the Opposition party and weakened the position of the head of the government himself. He did not mention a word against black money or corruption in his speech. Nor, could he speak with grit and determination against terrorism so often our country is a victim of. The Congress party that has ruled the country for over 50 years died with the death of Lal Bahadur Shastri. Since then politicians have only used the name of Gandhi, Sardar Patel, Nehru and Subhash Chander Bose to keep the party going. Today no political party can boast of being clean on corruption. People are fed up with frequent false promises made by Prime Ministers and other political leaders. Almost every probe into the corruption charges has found political leaders involved in some form or the other. Yet the political class most of the times manages to manoeuvre circumstances or reduce the force of justice. A couplet would sum up my views: Unke chehrey ki sham dhalti dekhi, mohafiz-e-Hind sotey rahey Dilli looti dekhi. MULTAN SINGH
PARIHAR, Hamirpur
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Eye on power The Opposition’s outcry in and outside Parliament over allocation of coal blocks is inept and misleading. The CAG report on coal block allocation is being interpreted by the Opposition and the government from their respective viewpoints. Both sides fail to admit their own flaws and are flogging each other slyly. The BJP is behaving in a manner as if it is the sole repository of political, economic and national morality. There is a conscious and continuous effort on the part of the Opposition to confuse citizens, stall policy matters and thereby destablise the government with the sole and selfish aim of capturing power at the Centre. Lt Col BACHITTAR SINGH (retd), Mohali II Legislators are also public servants as they enjoy lucrative pay and perks, besides the privilege of being law-makers (Din over coal row, August 23). If this rule is applied to striking employees, why should legislators be pampered with pay for no work? Parliament is a forum for debate and discussion, not for creating din and disruption. If Opposition, especially the BJP, is dodging the debate over coal block allotments and crying for the moon in seeking PM’s resignation, it is only because it is eyeing the general elections. A pot should not call a kettle black. My question to BJP is,“Gar koyi khot nahin hai tujh mein, To ayeena dekh ke darta kiyon hai?” (If your face is sans slur, why do you fear the mirror?) JASWANT SINGH GANDAM, Phagwara Indian hockey coach The humiliating performance of 8-time hockey Olympic Gold medalists at the London Olympics has brought to light the role of the Indian hockey coach Michael Nobbs. The Indian hockey team was going on well under the captainship of Rajpal Singh. The team won the Asia Cup recently. But after this good performance, when Michael Nobbs took over as the coach everything changed. He axed the best players and Captain Rajpal Singh. Nobbs has done maximum damage to Indian hockey. There are so many former hockey captains and reputed hockey players who can be picked up for the top job. Former Indian Captain Sardar Balbir Singh should be given a chance to train the Indian hockey team. PRITPAL SINGH, Patiala Game of opportunism Politics has become a game of opportunism in Punjab. Desertion of Bir Devinder Singh from PPP was on expected lines. The integrity of intellectuals like Sardara Singh Johal is not questionable; people like him should render expert advice and moral support to party leadership at this hour. Manpreet Badal should go all out to the wrest Bathinda seat from the Akali Dal in 2014, even if he has to tie up with the Congress. L S KAHLON, Hampton, UK Recruitment rallies The army conducts recruitment rallies occasionally to give chance to all young boys who fulfill eligibility conditions. Huge crowds turn up, sometimes it is difficult to control them causing unnecessary pressure and inconvenience to participants and also causing chaos. Good intentions result in bad results, sullying the reputation of the army. Army must call candidates in limited numbers in small batches instead of holding one big rally. Now, it is possible to register candidates online in villages as well. Brig HARWANT SINGH (retd), Mohali
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