The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Letters to the Editor

NEWS AND VIEWS

PUNJAB

HARYANA

JAMMU & KASHMIR

HIMACHAL

REGIONAL BRIEFS

NATION

OPINIONS

LETTERS

BUSINESS

SPORTS

WORLD

SPECIAL COVERAGE

CHANDIGARH

LUDHIANA

DELHI

THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS

50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

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

Veil of secrecy over Kasab hanging

The swiftness and secrecy in which the execution of Ajmal Kasab took place has come as a surprise to many. Not that Kasab deserved any leniency, but the way the operation to execute him on Wednesday was shrouded in secrecy riled everyone.

The Union Home Minister admits that the entire operation had to be conducted under secrecy due to the sensitivities involved. What sensitivities are we talking about? Are we still so much in awe of our hostile neigbours that we have to take precautions when fingers point at them in accusation?

Could we expect Sarabjit Singh being accorded the same punishment? It is very easy to talk about diplomatic rigmaroles in the context of high-profile prisoners and especially so when they are foreigners. But when Pakistan is very vehemently refuting all allegations vis-à-vis the Mumbai carnage and has literally washed its hands off Kasab, why is India proceeding so cautiously? Does it fear retaliation or is the keenness for reviving cordial ties with Pakistan forcing the Indian government to go soft on terror?

PACHU MENON, Goa

The masterminds of the Mumbai terrorist attack, Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and other terrorist networks are very much active in Pakistan and, in fact, would be plotting more such attacks on India. They have declared Kasab as a martyr which is a foregone conclusion. Pakistan has not taken any action to rein in its terrorists groups even after India produced evidence against them but continues to support cross-border terrorism against India. Peace initiatives and diplomatic talks between the two countries have not made much headway and tensions persist over Kashmir.

ZULFIKHAR AKRAM, Bangalore

III

Law has taken its course by hanging Mohammad Ajmal Kasab, the lone survivor of the militant squad that killed over 166 people in the 26/11attacks carried out in the financial capital Mumbai (editorial “A surprise hanging”, November 22). Kasab’s hanging will act as a balm on the wounds of the kin of the terror victims. They will get relief only when Kasab’s handlers across the border are brought to justice.

It is hoped the government would now pursue the case against the masterminds shelled in safe havens in Pakistan. The government should now expedite the decision on Parliament attack death row convict Afzal Guru.

HARISH K.MONGA, Ferozepur

Clearing files

The process of clearing outdated files was launched in the state with much fanfare but lost steam over the passage of time (news item “Karsog SDM office cuts down on delays”, November 22). The experiment could not be successful due to its non-implementation in letter and spirit. This could be due to inbuilt mechanism of inertia in the corridors of governance. The sorry state of affairs in a majority of government offices is mainly on account of collapse of the administrative system. Accountability has taken a beating. Due to increased political interference and bureaucratic control, the government machinery has lost its sheen.

ARVIND PANDE, Solan

More trains

There has been a long pending demand of the people of Dasuya and surrounding areas for starting atleast two passenger trains from Dasuya to Jalandhar and beyond because no train is available from here all through the day between 9.30 am to 7pm. Now, when the bus fares are continuously galloping, the poor people in particular will get some respite. Moreover, Dasuya railway station serves a large part of semi-hilly areas apart from catering to a military station falling in between Pathankot and Jalandhar.

BS NAGRA, Dasuya (Hoshiarpur)

2G auction fallout

In the wake of 2G Spectrum auction, the government and the Congress have unleashed a frontal and vitriolic diatribe against the Comptroller and Auditor General of India while holding the estimated loss of Rs 1.76 lakh crores as pure myth and sensationalism.

The view held in certain quarters that the reports of scandals have led to policy paralysis for which the civil society, CAG and other political forces are responsible is baseless.

The argument that policy formulation should be left to the government can not be accepted at face value when crony capitalism has taken over the polity for natural resources allocation. Political greed and graft, nexus between corporate and political powers and administrative machinery are solely responsible for plunder of the national wealth and policy paralysis.

But the ‘aam admi’ can not be hoodwinked any more.

Dr PREM SINGH DAHIYA, Rohtak

Victim of poverty
A mere pawn in a blood-soaked conspiracy might have been hanged to death, but when will the rabid terrorist think-tanks, who religiously exploit poverty in society and brainwash many ‘Kasabs’ to create mayhem, be vanquished from the face of Earth (editorial “A surprise hanging”, November 22)? It is indeed unfortunate that those who are used as mere instruments get punished, but the real sponsors of terrorism go scot-free.
Countries affected by terrorism should certainly enforce strict laws and defence mechanism to protect their borders, but the greater challenge lies in uprooting poverty and hunger from society. Else, no power in the world can prevent the birth of more poverty-stricken, hungry, uneducated, unemployed youth to be lapped up by terrorist organisations to further their vested interests.
KAJAL CHATTERJEE, Kolkata