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NRIs helping villages

The write-up on the condition of villages of the former CMs was interesting. Only one village -- Jandiala -- of Darbara Singh is in a better shape than Badal village. The reason is the help provided by its NRIs. This village has hundreds of NRIs in the UK, USA and Canada. It does not need government assistance nor does it solicit such help. Whenever the villagers need money, the NRIs chip in. There is no matching grant from the Punjab government.

Even in my village, this year, three rooms were needed to be repaired due to damage caused by monsoon. My cousin called me and we five NRIs and my brother contributed the amount and the rooms were rebuilt. We knew the government grant would never materialise. So we did not try.

Harjap S. Aujla, New Jersey, (USA)

Develop all, Mr Badal

Apropos the front page news story (January 20) regarding many villages in Punjab crying for basic amenities while Badal village, the ancestral village of the ruling Badal clan, brags about all basic amenities.

There is no denying that the Badals have put in place all amenities in their village like post office, government schools, professional and educational colleges, civil hospitals, high-end sports stadium, banks with ATM facility and BSNL telephone exchange.

They have summarily denied similar amenities to other villages. Villagers facing the heat of the political bias have reasons to remonstrate in disdain. The Badals need to dispense justice that is free from prejudice and ensure basic amenities to all.

RAMESH K.DHIMAN, Chandigarh

Give Kejriwal a chance

While much ado is being made over the inconvenience caused to the people of New Delhi owing to the dharna by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, I feel that people are ignoring the fact that the CM has taken this step only for their safety. Whenever any law and order situation arises in any state, fingers are pointed at the CM. Isn’'t it a matter to ponder over that the CM of a state does not have the right to even demand the transfer of an SHO? Here is a CM who has chosen to come out on the streets in bone-chilling weather and like a common man voice his opinion. Whether he would be successful or not is a separate issue, but should we not at least give him a chance?

Archna B. Walia, Kapurthala

Minorities’ dilemma

Rahul Gandhi is indeed blessed with fortune. That’s why, with practically zero experience, he is being sponsored for the PM’s post. Congressmen want Rahul to be declared the PM candidate, country may go to shambles. On the other side, we have Narendra Modi, who believes in bashing opponents and verbal duels from the stage.

The minorities, specially Sikhs and Muslims, are in a fix. On the one side is the hesitant and inexperienced Rahul Gandhi and on the other is the dominant and radical Modi. We have another alternative, AAP, a party in political infancy. Gujarat may be vibrant, but Gujarati minorities aren’t. Muslims chopped in public and Sikhs from Kutch being told to vacate the place: what kind of PM will he be? We want a leadership that can stablise country and not hammer and crush minorities on the political anvil.

Deepjot S. Thukral, Ambala Cantt

FDI in pharma units

This refers to the news item “Govt retains 100% FDI in existing pharma units” (January 9). It is surprising that the Union Cabinet has decided in favour of MNCs instead of protecting the interest of consumers, particularly the poor people. It is well known that government hospitals are in shambles and the availability of medicines at reasonable rates is of great significance to the masses. Allowing 100% FDI in this critical sector will surely lead to a monopoly of the MNCs. The parliamentary panel on this matter headed by Shanta kumar, BJP MP Rajya Sabha as well the DIPP have all along resisted such a step, but the government has gone ahead with handing over the control of this sector to the MNCs. The brown field pharma sector as against the green field sector, is highly attractive for these MNCs since they can earn huge profits without investing much in R&D.

V M Tandon, Panchkula

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