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

People eager to fight corruption

Arvind Kejriwal’s IAC appears to have taken upon itself the task of exposing corruption in the country. People, by and large, are enthusiastic to supply first hand information on corrupt practices being practiced in day to day affairs. The participation of the general public against corruption in this way may prove to be very effective in curbing this menace.

It shall be desirable to have a unit of Kejriwal’s organisation against corruption in every district of the country to receive information about instances of corruption from the public, which shall act as a deterrent against wrong-doers.

Anna Hazare and his team wanted some effective check over the rampant corruption in the country through the Jan Lokpal Bill with a mechanism to create effective deterrent and dread. However, it failed because no one in authority wanted to cut his foot with his own axe.

Indiscipline and corruption in all spheres, including political parties, has reached an alarming stage which does not augur well to sustain the democratic setup of the country. All the functionaries in a democracy are supposed to serve the interests of the public in general who vote them to power and also bureaucrats who are paid out of public funds. They, of course, project themselves as serving public interest, but in fact, they fight for their personal and vested interests by every stratagem, not withstanding the loss it may cause to the country as a whole.

It is the unemployed youth with lofty dreams who bear the brunt. It is true that if corruption is weeded out and black money is brought back to the country, India will be one of the richest countries, teamed up with its immense natural resources and its talented citizens.

JIWAN DASS CHECKERVARTI, Una (HP)

Welfare state?

The recent Cabinet rejig saw allocation of portfolios after a careful afterthought. The Opposition has belittled the UPA-II’s move to refurbish its image. How far they deliver will depend upon the quality of governance that this government will exhibit. The desired success will also depend upon the overall decisions, policies, programmes and their implementation. The government has to win over the confidence of the people by honest, efficient, progressive, pro-people and inclusive means. It must do something substantial to help the people to get rid of poverty, unemployment, corruption and crime. A “welfare state” must stand by the people and not leave them at the mercy of “free market economy” which thinks of “money and profits” only. The Congress president and the PM must keep a tab on the performance of the government at all levels.

SUDESH KUMAR SHARMA, Kapurthala

II

One of the largest democracies in the world has been made a biggest farce by our unethical, greedy and self-centered politicians (editorial “Too much, too late”, October 30). Controversial Congress leaders, like Salman Khurshid and Shashi Tharoor, have been elevated to head important cabinet ministries. Progeny of late Congress leaders who have been born with a silver spoon are being bequeathed positions of power. Donning designer wear, Cartier watches, pens and goggles, they look more like models and less like people’s representatives.

Despite serious corruption charges and a strong public opinion, Congress leaders are elevated to cabinet ministers because the charges are only levelled and not proved in the court of law. As per well-established political wisdom, the reshuffle of Cabinet is generally done to improve governance to serve the people better.

Our politicians do not have the vision and political wisdom, they have turned political governance as a trade and a business and are acting like the agents of unethical corporate and real estate promoters.

They must remember one thing. People of this country are poor, illiterate and uneducated but they have become politically aware and cannot be taken for granted forever, the politicians must not test their patience. Governance which justifies corruption and protects and elevates corrupt politicians has to fall.

Capt AMAR JEET KUMAR, Mohali

Senior citizens’ woes

Resentment is brewing up among former central government employees as pensioners of pre-Jan 2006 are getting much less pension than post-Jan 2006 retirees. To fight the injustice, many retired civil and defence officers have filed court cases in Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) and Armed Forces Tribunals (AFT).

At the time of setting up a panel for defence personnel to solve their one rank one pension demand, similar one is not detailed for the civil pensioners. Though it was expected that joint notification will be issued to provide relief to civil, central government old pensioners, senior citizens and especially those belonging to the poorer sections of the society (pensioner below officer ranks).

AFT and CAT have already recommended and requested with direction to the concerned authorities that retirement date is no criterion for fixing pension.

VAKIL SINGH, Kathua (Jammu)