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

Suchitra Sen, RIP

The news of the death of legendary actress Suchitra Sen is shocking. She was a rare combination of brains and beauty. Her popularity may be judged from the fact that her image was kept in mind by artists while preparing sculptures and paintings of goddess Durga. She has been immortalised in films like ‘Aandhi’. May her soul rest in peace.

Rannjit K. Chandan, Balachaur

Bluestar: Out with truth

This refers to the editorial, “Blast from the past: Centre should clarify SAS role in Operation Bluestar” (January 16). The involvement of British SAS officers in Operation Bluestar in 1984 must be probed and the truth brought out. There is no smoke without fire. There must be some truth in the disclosures made in the news reports published on January 14 and 15. Whether the then British Prime Minister Margret Thatcher had any hand in Operation Bluestar must be made known to the public.

If she had helped the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by sending Secret Air Services (SAS) officers to Amritsar for carrying out the military action to fish out Punjab militants holed up in the Golden Temple complex, then British Prime Minster David Cameron must apologise to the Sikh community for the same. The Sikhs as well as Punjabi Hindus are hurt by the new disclosures. As advised by the editorial, clarifications in this regard must be made by both the British and Indian authorities to clear the air.

R K KAPOOR, Chandigarh

Clarify please, India

This has reference to the editorial “Blast from the past” (January 16). History can be rewritten with the unfolding of new and authentic information. The documents released by the British National Archives have added a new dimension to the events leading to the assault on the Golden Temple in 1984.

The old perception that the ‘extremists’ were a law and order problem and could be evicted only by sending the Army in the Golden Temple appears to be weak ground for assault. On the one hand, India stands for “no interference” in the domestic affairs of the country and on the other hand, it invites the British government to help evict extremists from the Golden Temple.

The Indian government must be having similar ‘classified’ documents seeking help from the UK. These should be made public. That the British Prime Minister has ordered an inquiry into the incident is a welcome step. But the silence of the Indian government is reflective of political dilemma.

RS BRAR, Ludhiana

Use solar cookers

With reference to the report “Subsidised LPG cylinder cap to be raised to 12” (January 18), we can save LPG up to 50% by using dish solar cookers, particularly in rural areas. A solar cookers is available on the subsidised rate of ~2,500 from the DC’s offices. It would be economical to use even if purchased at the market price.

The state governments must send 10 solar cookers to each panchayat for awareness of the masses. Its temperature rises up to 300°C and 400°C. For a demonstration, one can visit the Panchkula DC’s office.

Babu Ram Dhiman, Pinjore

Help retrenched staff
As many as 3,914 employees, including engineers, hydrogeologists, draughtsmen and accounts and administrative personnel, were retrenched in 2002 from the Haryana State Minor Irrigation and Tubewell Corporation, a Haryana government undertaking dealing in groundwater resource exploration, development, monitoring and evaluation. The retrenchment of employees in the middle of their career was an unwise and unfortunate decision. This catastrophic action was corrected to some extent when the present government rehabilitated those below 55 years of age in various departments on the initial pay of the scale. But the loss of five-year service break and no-pension situation have not been compensated yet despite the Chief Minister’s announcement of relief in this regard.
Also, apropos the “Re-employment policy for teachers” (January 12), I think, instead of re-employing staff, the government should recruit fresh candidates. There are plenty of unemployed qualified candidates. Re-employment of retired personnel is bad governance.
Dr N K Rana, Kurukshetra