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

Safety on wheels

The editorial “Safety on wheels” (September 16) is an appropriate reminder to the government to implement the stringent provisions of the Road Transport and Safety Bill, 2014. The use of cell phone while driving is more dangerous than drunken driving. This traffic offence needs to be kept in the top category of danger to life and road safety.

The other major issue, specially in Punjab, is the fabrication of vehicles at the local level. Peter engine fitted trolleys can be seen on the highways in the state. A vehicle called gharhuka has been causing serious accidents in large numbers for 40 years. Similarly, the small-sized rickety trucks, locally fabricated, and naturally without fitness, registration and route permits, are seen in hundreds in the Malwa region, particularly during the season of procurement of grains.

A stringent law implemented half-heartedly or incompetently will bring jeers rather than cheers for the government and cause no relief to the people.

Ravneet Kaur Bajwa, Hoshiarpur

Enforce road rules

With the influx of modern fleet of transport, rash and reckless driving has become the order of the day. Though there has been a spectacular improvement in surface transport, this does not seem commensurate with the increase in traffic. Therefore, the government has done right to bring a Bill which provides for stringent provisions and shall help reduce the occurrence of accidents. But enforcement of law/rules is more important. Hence, those responsible for its enforcement and execution should also be made accountable and liable.

Dr K D LAKHANPAL, Bilaspur

Bypoll results a lesson

This refers to the editorial “Ouch! That hurt” (September 17). That the BJP could win just 12 out of 32 seats is not surprising, considering its not-so-good performance after the General Election. There has been no price control of essential commodities, communal violence has not decreased and the voter is fed up with hollow promises. It is a lesson for all major parties to mend their ways of dealing with the common man.

RK KAPOOR, New Jersey (USA)

Voters are wise

It is a fact that the electorate cannot be taken for a ride. The politicians must fulfil the promises made at the hustings. The BJP MP Yogi Adityanath delivered inflammatory speeches during the election campaign of these by-elections, openly targeting the Muslims. All those who wish to live in peace and earn an honest living feel alarmed by such speeches. The people did not approve of all this.

Dr RAJ BAHADUR YADAV, Fatehabad

Now, what next?

The Assembly byelections have not proved to be “achhe din” for the BJP government. It should be a lesson for the party to never take the voter for granted. Now, what next? Which strategy would work during the upcoming elections in Maharashtra and Haryana?

Vasundhra Mankotia, Kangra

Fit for Governorship

Inder Malhotra’s article “A Raj Bhavan is no place for an ex-CJI” (September 4) is full of contradictions. The removal of Governors appointed by the Congress government was not an ugly affair. Every government has been doing it.

What is debatable is not why old “guards” of the previous dispensation are shown the door but why the Governor's office has been converted into a luxury spa for politicians who have been rejected by the people. Why Sheila Dikshit “changed her mind” is simple. She had declared most obdurately that she would not quit. But then truth sank into her and before “bade be-aabroo hokar tere kuche se hum nikle” happened, she took the right step.

Why an ex-CJI cannot be made a Governor is most out of place to argue. A former SC Judge, who knows the Constitution better than a politician who could be illiterate, is surely a better bet. And then why stick to old practices? Change is the only constant. Mahatma Gandhi was once asked: “Bapu, why do you often change your statements?” Curtly replied the Mahatma: “Why not? I get wiser every day.”

Major Baldev Singh, Lalru

Why not ex-CJI a Guv?

The writer’s approach in the article “A Raj Bhavan is no place for an ex-CJI” is biased and his political vision myopic and blurred. It is a well-established fact that the Governor's post is not decided on merit or any ethical angle but purely to adjust favoured politicians and other persons who had served the ruling party. It is also a fact that the governors appointed by the previous party are removed by the party forming the next government. How the writer can say that a Raj Bhavan is no place for an ex-CJI? The precedence of appointing CJI was started by Pt Jawaharlal Nehru when ex-CJI Syed Fazal Ali was appointed Governor of Assam in 1950s.

When a defeated politician with little educational qualification can be made Union Cabinet Minister for Human Resource Development, appointing an ex- CJI as governor is justifiable.

Capt Amar Jeet Kumar, Mohali

Treat women well

It is shameful that we have failed to protect our women (editorial “A matter of shame”, August 27). Crimes against women infringe upon their right to gender equality, privacy and respect. It is the key responsibility of the government to uphold the law and create a free, safe and secure environment for women. Along with civil society and NGOs, the government should launch an awareness campaign of zero tolerance against sexual crimes. There is an urgent need to counter the patriarchal mindset and make the police and the society gender sensitive. Also, the traumatised victims of sexual violence should not passively succumb to grief and shame or commit suicide. They should fight bravely till the perpetrators are punished. Let us all resolve to treat the fair sex well.

D S Kang, Bahadurpur (Hoshiarpur)

Obesity in children

Obesity in children is a big problem, leading to many diseases. The main cause of obesity is lack of physical activity. Children are packed in the home in front of TV, computer or laptop instead of playing outside. Games should be made compulsory for children in schools and parents must spare some time to play with their children for their proper growth.

NIRMAL KANTA, Patiala

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