letterstoeditor

SUKHBIR BASKING IN FATHER’S GLORY

Apropos ‘Will move bill for a separate Sikh identity, says Sukhbir’ (HT, Jan 4), the SAD president is trying to retrieve his position lost in Punjab assembly elections last year. Badal has no base of his own but is basking in his father’s glory, reputation and position. If left on his own, he may not be even able to win panchayat elections. Manjeet Kaur, Amritsar

II

With reference to Senior Resident Editor’s interview with Sukhbir Badal (HT, Jan 4), mixing religion with politics is a habit of the SAD. They use this as a weapon when they are up against the wall. While the SC has already said seeking votes in the name of religion, caste or community amounts to corrupt practice, it seems the Akali Dal does not care about it. What is a separate Sikh identity? Sikhs are a proud community and responsible citizens of the country. Their contribution in every walk of life has been commendable. Then why raise negative call of a separate identity? We are a secular state and need to respect all religions. We should stop playing caste and community card, particularly during polls. Also, we need to stop visiting ‘babas and deras’ to seek votes of their followers. Thinking on caste lines is rooted in our minds, which needs to change. We will be a happier and progressive nation if we can breathe secularism. Colonel RD Singh (retd),

Ambala Cantt

III

With reference to ‘Will move bill for a separate Sikh identity, says Sukhbir’ (HT, Jan 4), the interview has revealed opportunist attitude of the SAD leadership and its real face. It seems the leadership can’t do without power and to survive, it needs an issue. The old issue of Article 25 of the Constitution, which was raised by Parkash Singh Badal when he publicly tore its cop, has now been taken up by his sonata time when they have been ousted from power. It will be tragic for people of Punjab if this move disrupts peace and harmony in the state. Pawan Kumar Kaushal,

Doraha

DANGEROUS AADHAAR

The country has not forgotten about Jharkhand’s Santosh Kumari, who died of starvation after her family was struck off the government welfare rolls for not linking their ration card with Aadhaar or a hospital allegedly refusing to treat the wife of a deceased soldier for failing to produce Aadhaar, resulting in her death. After such incidents, the government orders inquiry for the sake of it and waits for repetition of similar tragedies. While the Supreme Court earlier said Aadhaar is not compulsory, even then the authorities are insisting upon it. The Union government, meanwhile, remains a mute spectator and is playing with lives of innocent people in the name of Aadhaar. Satish Khosla

PUT PRESSURE ON PAK

Apropos the editorial ‘Only cutting aid will not help’ (HT, Jan 3), the promise by America to sever last US military assistance pipeline to Pakistan is not enough to make an impact on the latter. The only way Islamabad can be forced to mend its ways is to strip Pakistan of its‘ major non-NATO ally’ status. Pressure is mounting on Pakistan to deliver on its promises and act against terror. For all furore that followed Donald Trump’s tweet, it remains unclear as to what he intends to do if Pakistan ignores him. The tweet tells us that Trump is angry with Pakistan, which he has announced repeat- edly, but there is no clarity on how such sentiments will turn into policy. The fear that too much pressure on Pakistan might push it into China’s arms has emboldened it to continue sponsoring terrorist groups in India and Afghanistan with impunity. For now, the situation seems like an uncharted terrain with unforeseeable consequences. LJS Panesar, Amritsar

RECOVER LOANS FROM BIG DEFAULTERS

Apropos ‘Farm economist Johl slams move to paste beneficiaries’ names in public’ (HT, Jan 3), policy makers don’t know anything about rural culture and a farmer is humiliated for ₹2 lakh despite the government making huge promises to come into power. At the same time, big defaulters manage to flee abroad. The question remains as to why the government fails to take action against such defaulters. Kanwardeep, Patiala

II

With reference to ‘Farm economist Johl slams move to paste beneficiaries’ names in public’ (HT, Jan 3), thestate government should not have pasted the lists of names of beneficiaries of loan waiver in their villages. Politicians lack sensitivity towards citizens who have been reduced just to a vote. Like kings would announce ‘favours’ to public, the government has published lists in a similar manner. It is the right of farmers since they have fed generations and the government also came to power with waiver being its main promise. Sarita Bhardwaj,

Ludhiana

POVERTY AMIDST PLENTY

Apropos the editorial ‘India needs administrative reforms’ (HT, Jan 3), Yamini Aiyar has rightly highlighted the paradox as to why our cities are far from clean even when crores have been sanctioned by the Centre for their development and upkeep. There is no doubt that this problem of unspent funds is an indicator of our shattered governance structure and this calls for a relook at our administrative system which suffers from total lack of discretion and political hyperbole on plans. Strict dotted-line procedures discourage initiatives and innovations at office level which results in wasted capabilities. The problem will continue till the issue is resolved by experts. Mohan Singh, Amritsar