letterstoeditor

KEEPING HENDERSON REPORT UNDER WRAPS

At the Military Literature Festival in Chandigarh, Punjab chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh said the Henderson Brooks Report was not being declassified ‘only to save political skin’. Since 1962, there have been two BJP governments at the Centre, including the present Narendra Modi government. Who is stopping the Modi government from declassifying the report? Much more than misreading of the situation by the political leadership, it was wrong planning and bad decisions by many top commanders that led to the disaster. The terms of reference of the report were restricted to the role of the army headquarters and the top formations involved in the war. Capt Praveen Davar

TOUGH TASK CUT OUT FOR RAHUL

Zoya Hasan’s article on December 6 offered an insightful analysis on the working of the Congress. The centralised management of the party has again shown negative results. Rahul

has to work hard taking along veterans with the young to rev ive the party. The Congress stands nowhere near its rival B JP when it comes to booth-level management. Discipline is another thing the Congress has to inculcate among its cad res. Some Congress stalwarts are not comfortable with the dynastic elevation of Rahul Gandhi. He has to hit the ground running and can’t afford to disappear from the scene as he did in the past. Also, innovative ideas have to be infused in the party to outsmart the BJP. Dr Devinder Garg,

Chandigarh

DEPOSITORS ARE WORRIED

The Union finance minister’s clarifications on the Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance (FRDI) Bill don’t reassure bank depositors. How does it provide ‘additional protection’ to depositors? Will it restrain banks from reckless lending? On the contrary, will not easy resolution with depositors’ money act as an incentive? The specific question to be addressed is whether bank deposits will be used along with other liabilities to save ailing banks. Senior citizens who have deposited their life savings in banks and are dependent on interests are a worried lot. The Bill, if passed in the present form, is bound to result in flight of deposits from banks. SC Dhall, Zirakpur

COW VIGILANTISM UNACCEPTABLE

This is with reference to “Cops gun down cow smuggler” (HT, December 8). Vigilantism and gory killings in the name of cow protection are deplorable and reflects poorly on the governments of the states where such incidents occur. There is a strong need to consider cow protection on the basis of the role the bovine plays in our daily life. It shouldn’t be on religious grounds. Raising animals for food causes more than 50% of global green house emissions. Colossal wastage of water in beef production is stressful. Virtues of cow milk and urine in the treatment of various ailments have been globally accepted. Lakhs of abandoned bovines roaming on the streets and roads fall prey to cow smugglers. Cows saved from slaughter have to live in the squalor of gaushalas.

Soshil Rattan, Amritsar

HC BAN ON BURSTING OF CRACKERS

The Punjab and Haryana high court banned bursting of crackers on New Year’s eve in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh. The court also put a ban on bursting of crackers during marriages and other functions. The prohibitory orders will remain in force till January 11, the next date of hearing. The high court also asked the authorities of the two states and the union territory to strictly enforce the ban order. The order was passed during the resumed hearing of a petition initiated ahead of Diwali on ris- ing levels of pollution. The high court had then fixed the time slot of 6.30pm to 9.30pm for bursting crackers on Diwali in the neighbouring states and their joint capital. The government and NGOs should create awareness among the masses to educate them about the consequences of pollution. Varsha Verma, Patiala

HORRIFYING NOIDA MURDERS

The recent murders committed by a Noida teenager of his mother and sister are horrifying. It was found that his mother used to beat him as he was not performing well in studies. But the extreme step taken by him is highly condemnable. Nowadays, youngsters, especially in the age group of 16-19, are under stress due to career choices, peer pressure etc. Parents are not supposed to add to this stress by scolding or beating up their kids and making comparisons. Instead they should act wisely by being their friends, counsel them and not to force their dreams on them. RohanSharma, Panchkula