letterstoeditor

IMPLEMENT VICEPRESIDENT NAIDU’S SUGGESTIONS

The winter session of Parliament has started. The government must take serious note of and implement the suggestions that vice-president Venkaiah Naidu has given to respect and increase the importance of the legislature. Some of them are increasing the number of sittings of Parliament, ranking MPs based on performance, automatic suspension for those creating ruckus, etc. This will certainly lead to more productive sessions and discussion and be good for the country.

RohanSharma, Panchkula

II

Disruption in Parliamentary proceedings is unhealthy for democracy and is a misuse of freedom. Parliament is a forum that gives an opportunity for deliberation, discussion and expression of peaceful dissent in matters of public importance. Disruptions for personal or political gain must never be tolerated. Members of Parliament carry aims and aspirations of lakhs of people of their constituency. They must live up to the hope placed on them. Political parties must allow Parliament to function and find a common ground to operate on. Vijayata Sharma, via email

CONG SHOULD HAVE GONE SOLO IN GUJARAT

Exit polls indicate a BJP victory in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh. The polls were marred by undesirable and unwarranted questions raised on the functioning of a Constitutional body like the election commission. Doubts were also expressed over the functioning of the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). From a political point of view, Rahul Gandhi appears to be overconfident of winning in Gujarat. This could turn out to be premature. It would have been better had the party fought alone. Mahesh Chander, via email

A DAY FOR PENSIONERS

On December 17, 1982, pension was defined as a deferred wage payable to the retiree. The Supreme Court declared that the grant of pension is not a bounty, but aright and a social obligation of the government. Now, the Bombay high court has held that pension is a vital aspect of social security and that the right to receive it constitutes a right to life under the Constitution. It held that pension must be paid regularly in the first week of the month. Delayed payments place a pension erin a position of uncertainty and dependence which impinges on the quality of life under Article 21 of the Constitution. SK Khosla, Chandigarh

PUNJAB GOVT MOCKS INDUSTRY

Industrial units in Punjab have received power bills with 9% hike with retrospective effect from April 1, 2017. This shocker comes even as the Congress manifesto committed to supply power at ₹5 per unit. So, the conclusion is that the state government is not serious about the industry. The tariff hike, from a back date, on an industry reeling under recession is unjustified and wrong. Is the government mocking industry? The chief minister must intervene to save the industry from collapse. Deepak Saraf,

Rampura Phul

HUMANITY ON THE DEATHBED

A tribal woman in Odisha had to deliver her child in a drain after being denied admission to a hospital in Koraput district. She and her newborn were admitted only later after the media and activists raised the issue. Yet, the question the incident raises is fundamanetal to our survival as a society. Why were the employees not concerned enough to take the right action on their own, instead of insisting on formalities like the proof of identity of the woman? Suhail Thapa, Dharamshala

BITCOIN TRADING MUST NOT TURN INTO A SCAM

The Supreme Court has sought the Centre and the RBI’s response on the need to regularise cryptocurrencies, including bitcoin. The currency has risen manifold this year, but it has serious issues with volatility. This is reflected in the fact that the government has not recognised trading of bitcoins in the country. The government must take a clear stand on the issue before gullible people become victims to another scam.

M Lal Garg, Chandigarh

CONDOM AD BAN: SIGN OF DISCONNECT

The Centre has banned condom advertisements on TV from 6am to 10pm as they were bold and racy. TV commercials and cinema should reflect and mirror societal norms. Yet, this was an example of disconnect. We are rather conventional. Hence, the manufacturers of condoms and the advertising agencies should have exercised some restraint. RajendraKAneja, via email