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Need to show confidence in DRDO

Mega deals have been inked during the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to perpetuate our continued dependence on foreign arms for all times.

If import of defence equipment and arsenal has to continue despite DRDO taking potshots at the newly imported missiles or its MBT Arjun outgunning T-90 and LCA performing so well during trials or even private sector showing its prowess by manufacturing 155x52 on its own, expectations from indigenous developments need to be redefined.

With 50 odd DRDO laboratories, 42 ordnance factories, eight DPSUs and defence production enabled private sector we should have been exporting arms rather than being in the list of arms importing nations.

The government needs to show some interest and develop confidence in our own systems instead of amplifying trivial and innocuous non-issues as the vested interests have been doing so successfully so far, only to scuttle their ingenuity.

Secondly, there is an urgent need to have an impartial expert committee which can call a spade a spade with regard to defence imports and joint ventures while declaring any indigenous production as unacceptable on minor deviations like delay in grenades, dispersion in rockets, etc.

Air Cmde RAGHUBIR SINGH (retd), Pune

Dr PURAN SINGH, Nilokheri

II

The turn of events in the aftermath of the gruesome crime has raised hope for a safe and secure society. It has thrown serious pointers at the working of various wings of the government.

Another thing which has pained the common man is the complete absence of the political establishment during the protests. The kind of dynamism which Indira Gandhi would have shown on matters touching the modesty of women was nowhere to be seen and the nation received almost a typical bureaucratic response from the UPA chairperson. Also the Opposition too lacked in its sharp attack. There must be positive channelisation of anger and violence should not come in the way of social justice.

NISHA CHABBA, Panchkula

III

It is sad but true that 95 percent of rape cases take place inside houses (mostly not reported) and by persons known to the victims. When the 23- year-old rape victim was lying unconscious and stripped on the road after being flung out of the bus, none of the passers-by even bothered to cover her, leave alone take her to a hospital. It is not in sync with the national outrage that we are seeing today. Lets be sensitive in our actions towards the victims on the streets and next door. It is collective action by the government, the authorities, the police, and the people who will help us wade through difficult situations.

Col R D SINGH (retd), Ambala Cantt

IV

The Prime Minister is right in his view that “anger is justified but not violence.” We have fulfilled our goal to awaken the administration and the police to their constitutional and humane duty? Now let us give them time to dispense justice. The process takes time. If our government has been guilty of laxity and indifference in difficult times, it must also be appreciated that our legal system gave criminals like Kasab every possible chance of being heard.

VED GULIANI, Hisar

Difficult to match With  the passing away of veteran hockey player Leslie Walte Claudius,  Indian hockey has lost a hero whose place in history is assured as one of two players who won four Olympic medals — three golds and a silver. When Indian hockey was at its peak at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics it was he who along with K D Singh Babu, Keshav Dutt, Udham Singh, Balbir Singh Senior had taken the legacy of Dhyan Chand forward. On the field he was one of the most accomplished ‘halves’ the game has known, breaking up the opponents’ attacking forays and plotting and executing incisive moves for his side. Skills that saw him shine in four Olympic Games from 1948 to 1960 proved his unparallelled prowess yet little of that glory rubbed off on to his personal conduct. He was proud of his achievements but never arrogant, and grateful to those who honoured him. Material riches never came his way; he lived a simple, middle-class life contented with what he had. Yet he had more than what money can bring: an abundance of love, respect and admiration. He remained worried about the decline of hockey losing its past glory and put in his best efforts to revive it.  Claudius is no more with us but his laurels won at the Olympic Games are something that will inspire generations but will be hard to match.  DILBAG RAI, Chandigarh