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Central govt’s intellectual dishonesty
The government and the Congress party are celebrating the success of stage-managed 2G re-auction which is a sad reflection on our polity(editorial
‘Lacklustre 2G auction’, November 17). In fact, this is another example of their intellectual dishonesty and hollowness. Today they may pose to be winners and succeed in denigrating the CAG and ultimately destroy the constitutional body by changing its formation. Neither the Supreme Court is a novice to cancel 122 licences nor is the CAG so inexperienced that it would have prepared outlandish reports based on notions and fancies. Both the constitutional authorities are well versed in their functioning. The Prime Minister is no greenhorn to drop his Cabinet colleagues like Raja and Maran on the basis of gossip mongering. The CBI which is under the thumb of political dispensation will not fudge to make false cases and befool the courts. Powerful persons like Raja, Kanimozhi and corporate honchos were kept behind bars for a long time based on indications of their involvement in the scam. Moreover, nowadays technology and market parameters change so fast that each day brings new technological advances. Therefore, it would be a farce to compare the price of technology-driven services of 2008 with that of 2012. It seems politicians and corporates have entered into a dirty nexus to enact the drama of failed auction. They should remember that the awakened masses of India cannot be taken for granted and befooled by politicians every time. Dr TIRATH GARG, Ferozepur
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II V Narayanasamy, Minister of State in PMO, made a statement (later retracted) to make the CAG a multi-member body. This reflects the government’s inability to accept its scrutiny and criticism by a constitutional body. The argument put forth by many in the government to improve the efficiency of the office of CAG on the pattern of the CEC is totally untenable. There is a clear-cut provision in the Constitution under Article 324(2) regarding the appointment of Election Commissioners. But in the case of CAG there is no such provision. Therefore, an analogy cannot be drawn between these two constitutional bodies. Further, there is no discernible difference in the functioning of a single CEC or a multi-member body. In brief, government wants to make the CAG subservient to the will of the government as is in the case of CBI and CVC. This is certainly against the intention of the founding fathers of our Constitution who wanted the government’s finances to be subject to public scrutiny through CAG reports. Further, a recommendation in one of the reports of a committee headed by former CAG VK Shunglu is no valid reason to bring about a constitutional change. S K KHOSLA, Chandigarh Managing paddy waste
One of the most easy and cost effective short-term alternatives to burning of paddy straw is ploughing it back with the sowing of next crop
(Sarbjit Dhaliwal’s article ‘A burning cause: Paddy straw’, November15). Zero tillage of paddy field with sowing of wheat will reduce per hectare cost of cultivation and the straw will be decomposed over time and converted into compost. The farmers need to be educated about this technology through inter-personal communication by holding farmer camps. Secondly, the farmers grow paddy because of assured markets at reasonable rates. If the government starts providing assured market for coarse grain produce and pulses, the area under paddy sowing will come down. Thirdly, the gram panchayats should be made responsible for supervision and keeping a check on straw burning in their respective areas and the law enforcing agencies should act tough and punish the offenders. Dr PURAN SINGH, Chandigarh
II
Of the many alternatives suggested in the article “A burning cause: paddy straw”, the use of ‘happy seeders’ together with awarding ‘carbon credits’ to the farmers needs special consideration. The Agriculture Departments of both Punjab and Haryana are providing subsidy on purchase of ‘happy seeders’. Apart from saving environment from pollution and enhancing soil fertility, the success of adoption of ‘happy seeders’ in Punjab and Haryana will also help the growth of small-scale industry resulting in creation of more jobs for youths. Dr
(Prof)YP GUPTA,
Ill-used money
The news report “Temple money not for ads in souvenirs: HC” (Himachal edition, Nov 7) is encouraging. Spending “God’s money” on trivial needs like carrying advertisements constitutes an unpardonable sin which must not be allowed to go unnoticed. The High Court’s landmark verdict on the subject puts the much-needed fetters on temple care-takers, Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners who have been hitherto abusing their powers to oblige influential persons. They gain their patronage to be used for personal ends in times of need. TARA
CHAND,
Flouting court order
With the advent of private bus services, the number of PRTC buses plying on roads has decreased in Punjab. The private buses do not allow students to travel in their buses. During daytime, more number of private buses are plying on long routes as compared to government buses, despite a High Court order banning private buses on long routes. Some political leaders run their own transport companies and so the rules are openly flouted. JATINDER SINGH,
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