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

Double taxation

Property tax on residential accommodation is understandable. But the tax on rental income accruing from it expressed as a percentage is illegal as firstly, rental income is not a property and secondly, since it has been already subjected to income tax, the additional tax would amount to double taxation. The government should not bulldoze the urban middle class in this manner just because their votes do not matter. It is wrong for the politicians to weigh everything against the scale of votes.

Manjit Singh Juneja, Mohali

Truth of history

This refers to Raghuvendra Tanwar’s article “Jawaharlal Nehru and Punjab” (November 15). The writer has quoted from The Tribune of February 26, 1948, that Nehru in his address at Jalandhar on February 24, 1948, had rejected the Akalis' claim that any assurance had been given with regard to any kind of reservation. But he has not delved into history to prove Nehru’s statement wrong.

Speaking at the Congress Committee meeting in Calcutta in July 1946, Nehru had declared: “The brave Sikhs of Punjab are entitled to a special consideration. I see nothing wrong in an area and a set-up in the North wherein the Sikhs can also experience the glow of freedom.”

PRITAM BHULLAR, Chandigarh

Hold PSTET on a Sunday

The State Council of Education Research and Training (SCERT), Punjab, is holding the Punjab State Teacher Eligibility Test (PSTET) on December 28, Saturday. It is a problem for the teachers of private schools to be on mass leave to appear in this test. Even the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) conducts its CTET exam on a Sunday. The SCERT should look into this problem of the applicants and hold this examination on a Sunday.

Vikas Dogra, Ludhiana

Missing supplements

I am a reader of The Tribune for the past 54 years and have watched this daily grow gracefully, qualitatively and quantitatively. The latest changes in typography, design and format of the pages are welcome. The change is good, but by no yardstick, pleasant or soothing. It will take some time to compromise with the new design. The impression of the old layout can’t be easily forgotten. It will be a torture for The Tribune readers not to find the supplements on education on Tuesdays, health on Wednesdays and science and technology on Fridays. Please rethink on the issue.

Dr V K Anand, Patiala

New look smart

The Tribune now looks more smart and tidy. It’s been a privilege to be a reader of the Tribune since I stepped out for college in 1975-76. It has contributed immensely to my personal growth and for that I owe The Tribune, the affable and lovable newspaper, my sincere debt of gratitude.

RAVI SHARMA, Jammu

Kudos for new columns

It is refreshing to read The Tribune in the new format. It appears to have been designed keeping in view the priorities of information and news combined with the taste of the readers. Punjab news has been given prominent space from the second page onwards and Opinion and Oped pages appear later. The new column “100 Years Ago” connects the readers with history and adds to the knowledge of the new generation. I wish to compliment on the new item, “The Tribune Visa Window” added to safeguard the interest of students and visa seekers.

I have one suggestion: The Tribune should update the list of contributors of articles on economy, political affairs, education, governance and information technology. The young generation needs to be encouraged for such contributions as the the country needs out-of-box solutions to the problems.

RS BRAR, Ludhiana

Resume ‘sports letters’

In the late seventies, The Tribune used to carry a weekly column, “Sports Letters” every Friday. This column was quite popular among the old and young readers. I request you to resume it on the sports pages, which otherwise carryexcellent sports stories.

Ravinder Kumar Jain, Ludhiana

Letters to the Editor, typed in double space, should not exceed the 200-word limit. These should be cogently written and can be sent by e-mail to: Letters@tribuneindia.com