Suicide a blunder

It is shocking that 24-year-old IAS aspirant Manjunath committed suicide. The UPSC made it clear that Manjunath had not passed even his pre-liminary exam. Why do youngsters fail to realise that life is more precious than becoming an IAS, IPS, pilots and so on. Money, high ranks, name and fame, etc are made for us. But we try to prove that we are made for them. Education teaches us how to face problems with courage and not to lose heart. Students must be properly counselled to never take the extreme step even if circumstances warrant so. Teachers should instill the value of life into students’ minds.

SOHAN LAL GUPTA, Patiala

House disruptions

Apropos the news item ‘Frequent House disruptions upset Pranab’ (May 25), President Pranab Mukherjee’s concern over the frequent disruptions of Parliament and state legislatures is quite right. Parliament is meant for discussions. It is a talking forum. But most parliamentarians fail to maintain decorum, discipline and dignity. And full-throated shoutings and howlings have become the order of the day. Last month, most sessions of Parliament couldn’t be held as opposition parties, especially the BJP, disrupted the proceedings endlessly. Shockingly, they were paid salaries. Why wasn’t the “no pay, no work” principle applied to them?

JASWANT SINGH GANDAM, Phagwara

One rank, one pension

Apropos Raj Kadyan’s middle ‘Out of pocket’ (May 24), the writer deserves all praise for trying to spearhead a movement for making the “one rank one pension” scheme a reality for the retired defence personnel. This pension scheme as well as quality medical care will help the retired soldiers to lead a decent life.

JS CHEEMA, Chandigarh

Remembering friends

Apropos the middle ‘Keeping up with friends’ (May 24) by Harish Dhillon, we are so busy in our self-seeking pursuits that we overlook the necessity of making new or preserving old friends in our youth. Most part of our lives revolves around son, daughter, wife and future, never remembering our old friends. We feel the need of friends only when our children set about making careers and raising their families. Sharing joys and sorrows and spending time with friends actually reduces each other’s stress in old age.

RAJEEV SINGH SALARA, Pathankot

Enact sports laws

There was a time when cricket was considered a gentleman’s game. The involvement of some players, bookies, corporate houses, companies, team owners and others in match/spot-fixing and betting have brought the sport into disrepute. These shameful acts of certain cricketers have cheated millions of cricket fans and jolted their faith. It appears that BCCI officials have not learnt lessons from the 2000 match-fixing scandal that led to a ban on leading players, including Mohammad Azharuddin. Strict laws are needed to check corruption in sports.

DR H KUMAR KAUL, Barnala

Show political will

This refers to the article ‘China adamant on border’ (May 25) by Kuldip Nayar. The writer has mentioned the defeat of India in 1962 at the hands of China, but does not tell the reasons of the defeat. Can an aggressive China become a friend of India? Moreover, our self-seeking politicians’ passive attitude has only emboldened the Chinese to needle India from time to time. Over the years, China has become aware of India’s political and other weaknesses. On its part, India, particularly the Congress party, has always been fearful of talking to China about its wrongful activities on the border. One recent example of the lack of political will is that Salman Khurshid visited China but failed to discuss the Ladakh incursion.

POOJA BHATNAGAR, Chandigarh