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

Real estate nursery of many ills

Land grabbing and obtaining licences for mining have become the most lucrative business for politicians and their kin (editorial ‘Land of grabbers’, October 18). By doning the role of land mafias, they have become a potential threat to the economy and are polluting our democratic governing system. The ‘land virus’ shall eat into the vitals of our system and our socio-economic fabric. It is a novel and the easiest method of climbing up the social ladder these days. The Robert Vadra- DLF land transfer is a classic case.

Promoters like DLF give interest-free unsecured loans to sell it to the desired persons and pass on the bribe with a confirmed assurance to clear their other land deals. The builders are hand in glove with politicians and they influence corrupt bureaucrats to facilitate land transfer by using their discretion to profit the corporate houses and big promoters. During sale-purchase of property, they allow undervalued properties to evade stamp duty to cause heavy loss to the state exchequer. Earlier, the Britishers and now our own politicians are looting the country with impunity.

Besides, politicians are misappropriating crores of government aid and funds in the name of NGOs. The great economist Chanakaya had rightly said it is the “zar, zorro and zamin” which become the cause of downfall of a regime. There is an urgent need to computerise land records and stop the exchange of land. Exploitation of agriculture for a fake and boggy ‘public’ good must stop. The Supreme Court must take suo moto action to check the growing nexus between VVIPs and builders and the state government must be stopped from acting like real estate promoters.

Capt AMAR JEET KUMAR, Mohali

R K KAPOOR, Chandigarh

On the vigil

A joke goes that Chinese troops play football across the Indian border every now and then, kicking the ball as hard as possible and stretching the India-China LOAC as far as the ball reaches. The series of article on the 1962 Indo-China war very accurately describes the sense of foreboding problem we have with China. China is all set to become the most formidable nation economically and militarily, leaving nothing more to stop it from dancing to its own tune. Though we know it is not possible to take serious overt action against an opponent of China’s size, we still expect our leaders to be cautious and take necessary measures in time to avoid another 1962-like situation.

SHANKU KAK, Kapurthala

What more evidence?

The 425-kg contraband found on the Amritsar-Lahore train is a serious reminder of our foolishness to dwell on the policy of normalisation of relations with Pakistan. The drug mafia overtly and covertly assisted by terrorist groups, ISI and military junta is freely operating in India. ‘K-factor’ is a major issue for which political leaders or terrorists active in Pakistan, consider India as their common foe. To destroy India with drug menace, fake currency and bloodshed is their common objective.

Why blame opium cultivators in Afghanistan? We must seal our borders, make them leak-proof. Our security forces are keeping round-the-clock vigil, then where is the flaw? We must try to locate and plug loopholes. Drug addiction is being used as a potent weapon by Pakistan.

KARNAIL SINGH, Kharar

Effective health care

Primary health centres were opened in rural areas for strengthening medical care and public health under one roof with a minimum staff of medical officer, pharmacist, health visitor, ANM, sanitary inspector and two Class IV employees. Later on, other paramedical staff such as BCG technician, vaccinator (multipurpose worker) was attached to PHCs, yet they always remain short of staff. The doctors don’t want to work in rural areas.

To cope with the problem, Union Ministry of Health has given green signal to appoint B Sc (community health) graduates as ‘doctors’. Not only BSc graduates, sanitary inspectors, lady health visitors should also be sent for B Sc community health course. China adopted the scheme of ‘bare foot doctors’ with good results, why can’t we?

LN SHARMA, Panchkula

Distress call

The increasing incident of rapes in Haryana, Delhi and other parts of our country are a matter of grave concern. It is distressing to see women, young girls and children being subjected to this dastardly act almost every day. Hardly a day passes when you don’t read about incidents of rape in newspapers.

Rape is a sadistic and barbaric act. Should a young girl be subjected to rape because she does not belong to your caste? We must transcend caste barriers, not to forget that all rapes taking place in our country are not based on caste difference. Whatever is the provocation or cause of rape — caste, hatred or lust — the escalating number of rape cases must be checked without losing time.

YOGESHWAR DAVAR, Hisar 

Dirty politics Taking a serious note of the present picture of ‘dirty politics’, there is no other way than what Kejriwal has mooted to get the nation out of this ‘chakravyuh’ (editorial ‘Protests to Politics’, October 4). All right thinking people must take it as their duty to support Kejriwal and his team to the extent they can. This is not the time to raise fingers at him. Team Anna blew the bugle of the anti-corruption movement, Kejriwal took it further, the media and the common man need to follow it up to the right climax. If we miss this opportunity to weed out corruption from society, our coming generations will never forgive us for the lapse. SUBHASH CHAND, Sangrur