The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Letters to the Editor

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

Mud-slinging campaign helping voters

The editorial “MLAs’ wealth multiplies” (October 27) has rightly raised the issue of assets amassed by the public representatives in Himachal Pradesh. Instead of resenting their policies and development agenda before the voters, politicians are indulging in character assassination. They hurl charges and face counter charges of corruption and then try to show themselves as comparatively clean. Luckily for the voters, this malicious campaign has brought out serious corruption cases against politicians in the public domain.

All the wealth has been accumulated by MLAs and ministers through corrupt practices in collusion with builders, mining and real estate mafia who are looting the state with impunity. Kickbacks are often siphoned off by the unscrupulous mafia from government funds, meant for welfare schemes for aam admi. These pilfered funds in turn make their way into the coffers of our elected representatives multiplying their wealth by 172 per cent or even more.

RM RAMAUL, Paonta Sahib (HP)

There must be a legal or constitutional rule, the ‘power of confiscation’, if assets of an MLA or MP grow more than 10 times the property accumulated by them in first tenure. More stringent laws of the Election Commission can help in debarring them from contesting further elections. Sending them behind bars for a short period without confiscating their property is meaningless. When accused by the media, disgraced in the eyes of the public and convicted by judiciary, they lament accusing their promoters, helpers and accomplices .

The editorial “MLAs’ wealth multiplies” (October 27) rightly expresses the suspicion of the people with respect to the multiplication of their assets within a short period. Increase in value of property varies from place to place and politicians are wise enough to invest at a place which is more profitable to them. They have the power and influence to mould the bureaucrats and tamper with records, if needed.

SHYAM SUNDER AIRI, Kapurthala

III

Indian democracy is becoming synonymous with political corruption, bad governance and misrule. Though there has been a decline in GDP and economic growth, our politicians, have become multi-millionaires in a matter of years. Our political environment has been badly polluted by charges of corruption. Politicians have become real estate dealers by registering fake and fictitious companies in which builders and land mafia invest the bribe amount and in return, the concerned politicians take care of their business interests. This is akin to kite flying, an unethical misuse of position for self- gratification.

As citizens, as stake-holders of the democratic process, we bow our head in shame to see their temptation for greed. People and the media must rise to the occasion to expose their misdeeds and make the public discard and reject the corrupt and tainted politicians who have taken the people’s support for granted due to their redundant and out-dated approach.

Capt AMAR JEET KUMAR, Mohali

Diverting justice

The Supreme Court has given a landmark judgment in case of newly-wed women involved in matrimonial disputes levelling allegations against her in-laws. Women tend to involve the entire family and in some cases distant relatives to take advantage of the law. Our police machinery immediately acts and the first thing they do is arrest the boy’s family.

It has been rightly observed by the apex court that a newly-married woman sometimes tries to settle scores arising out of the teething problem or skirmish of domestic bickering while settling down in her new matrimonial surrounding by such acts.

In most of the cases, the allegations are malicious aimed at destroying the reputation of the entire family. We hope that the newly passed judgment proves a benchmark for cases involving newly–wed women and the law implementing authorities might act judiciously punishing the actual culprits.

MUKESH GUPTA, via e-mail

Food inspection a must
The situation has become grim as the Indian Council of Medical Research strongly points towards the quality of diet as one of the factors for growing cases of cancer in the country. A regular mechanism of inspection of the health of the milch cattle as well as the quality of milk they produce should be made compulsory. In fact, regulations should be put in place that can prevent direct sale of milk to the consumers unless it is routed through the inspection machinery of the government. It is not a great task as it may be cost-effective in terms of health of the people.

The opening of the country’s largest dairy at Dharuhera in Haryana by Amul may solve this problem only up to an extent for the huge urban population in Delhi and NCR but cannot meet the challenge of supplying fresh milk to everyone.
RANBIR S PHAUGAT, Rohtak