Clear facts, Mr Badal

The resentment expressed by the Deputy CM of Punjab over the publication of the investigative series regarding the amassing of huge amount of wealth by Badals, Majitihias and Kairons and their control over sand, hotel, media and real estate businesses in the state is unwarranted. Rather, he should counter the facts and figures if these have not been rightly reported by The Tribune.

The politicians are answerable to the public. How long can their open loot remain hidden under the carpet? The attack on the reporter needs to be criticised and the police must bring the culprits to book.

Prof N K Gosain, Bathinda

Badals let economy slide

It is a well-known fact that the Badals, like the regional satraps in Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra, have concentrated on creating family wealth while in power. However, the difference is the way they have let the Punjab economy slide while its social fibre gets ripped by emigration and drug menace.

The state has lagged particularly in new age businesses, with the IT, biotech and pharma sectors being virtually absent and traditional industries of autos and textiles suffering due to indifferent policies.

I hope the momentum for change that has been built by the paper will sustain till the Assembly elections.

Harmanpreet Singh, via email

Punjab plundered

I congratulate The Tribune for its audacious and unbiased reporting. There is widespread conflict of interest for the Badals who are brazenly flouting laws and amassing huge wealth at the expense of poor people, some of whom are resorting to suicides in the debt-ridden state.

These traitors are sucking all precious resources. These criminal politicians should not be allowed to hold any office because they are out to plunder all.

Meharban Gill, Canada

Help state flourish, too

The bold stand taken by The Tribune to tear open the hidden treasure amassed by the Punjab CM, the Deputy CM, and their relatives is praiseworthy. The state is under a debt of ~95,000 crore and there is no money to pay the salaries of government staffers in time. The dearness allowance of the staff and pensioners is also pending.

If they are so adept and such good management gurus, why don’t they use their intelligence to pull the state out of debt? Only their personal wealth is increasing. The freedom of Press must prevail.

Wg Cdr Jasbir Singh Minhas (retd.), Mohali

Free Press must

The report on the Badals’ill-gotten wealth by The Tribune is a warning for all such politicians. Freedom of the Press must be ensured. Otherwise, power hungry and self-centred politicians will rule like dictators.

I remember the investigative stories done by The Tribune over the years. Abuse of power must be exposed.

Raj Goel, Des Moines (USA)

Story travels

I was born at Ferozepur Kunda village in Gurdaspur district and moved to San Jose, California, in 1985. The Tribune reports on the Badal-Kairon-Majithia family businesses is freedom of the press at its best.

I heard people talking about the reports at a function in Yuba City, California,

Atul Saini, San Jose, (California)

Don’t spew venom

People are fed up with politicians spewing venom against their opponents as it has vitiated the political atmosphere. This is being done to divert the attention of the people from the burning issues such as inflation, corruption, scams, terrorism and poor economy. The common man is not interested in hearing filthy statements.

RK ARORA, Amritsar

DNA testing

Apropos the news item “DNA testing of Ajnala martyrs to begin” (May 3), I am pained to note that the investigation is being conducted by a professor. This is making fool of the public and the government.

The work should have been entrusted to forensic experts from Punjab or under the supervision of the Vice-Chancellor of Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS). This university has a facility for the detection of DNA-profiling of neonates.