Inter-faith harmony

The news “Valley students demand migration from Punjab college” (September 2) reminded me of the time I studied and worked in Punjab. Those days, Pakistanis stayed at the homes of people in Punjab and Chandigarh during India-Pakistan cricket matches. With the exception of the violence during the Partition days, Punjab has been an enduring symbol of inter-faith harmony. Muslim-dominated placed like Malerkotla remained peaceful even during Pak-sponsored terrorism days. Kashmiri students have also been studying here for years. Now, what is wrong with these students? First they were chased out of Uttar Pradesh and now Punjab, for the same reason. Can they not control themselves and stop indulging in provocative acts leading to communal situations? Is it not the responsibility of these handful people to behave in a responsible manner and respect the sentiments of local communities and stop blaming the people of each state they go to?

V Nair, New Delhi

Resettle convicts

We have converted our jails into reformation houses and, therefore, people coming out from prisons must be resettled in life. Those who were in service should be taken back in service and those who have crossed the superannuation age given pension. Their families should not be made to suffer and must be given subsistence allowance. We should reduce the number of people in jails because their maintenance has become a burden on the taxpayers and keeping people in jails during trials is not serving the community. Rather, the undertrials suffer a lot and they have to pay huge amounts to get bail.

People who complete jail terms must be accepted as reformed people and taken back in homes, in society and even in service.

Dalip Singh Wasan, Patiala

Death sentence

When Surinder Koli, a serial killer, has been sentenced to death in four cases of Nithari killings and his sentence confirmed by the Supreme Court, why did an SC Bench stay his execution until a fresh review petition challenging his death penalty is heard in an open courtroom? The delay in the proceedings not only creates mental agony to the killer Koli but also protects hardcore criminals and encourages such heinous acts. People owe from the judiciary some clarity in the way appeals are entertained and firmness with which the sentences are dispensed. Otherwise, why not abolish the death sentence?

Bidyut Kumar Chatterjee, Faridabad

Laxity in penalty

Recently, in China, 84,000 government officials were given various punishments, including administrative and disciplinary action, in a graft case. Comparatively in India, even for big scandals and scams, punishment is minor and not deterrent.

Akash Jindal, via email

Hats off to HC

The news report “HC bans animal sacrifice” (September 2) comes as a whiff of fresh air. That the barbaric custom/practice should have continued for that long in the sacred land of Gautama Buddha and Mahatma Gandhi is the most painful part of the story. Can we call ourselves a civilised nation under the circumstances?

The judiciary has once again scored over the other pillars of our cherished democratic edifice. Hats off to this vital pillar!

Tara Chand, Ambota (Una)

Laptops for students

After the issue was raised in The Tribune, the authorities concerned have sanctioned laptops to thousands of meritorious students who did not take admission after their 10+2 examination in regular colleges, but joined some private coaching institutions in Himachal. The students are feeling duly rewarded for their hard work.