(Organiser, 15.12.2013); I thank and congratulate Organiser for bringing out special issue onplight of displaced persons now called refugees in J &K. It is shocking to learn that about 17 lack people are living as displaced persons in Jammu, mostly from PoK, without rights for higher education and voting rights in local bodies and Legistative Assembly for the last 66 years. No citizen can be a refugee in his own country. It is responsibility of J&K Government and Central Government to rehabilitate and make all displaced persons as full fledged citizens of India. It is time to show political will and military strength to recapture PoK. Is Indian Government scared of super powers, the US and China? If the word genocide is to be applied to any community it should be applied on Hindus in Kashmir. It is unfortunate that J& K and Central Government look at J&K as a Muslim issue. The problem of displaced persons can be solved only if the Constitution of India is extended to J&K and its constitution is abrogated.
K Damoder Reddy, 9-6-365, Maruthi Nagar, Champapet, PO Vaishali Nagar, Hyderabad: 500 079
Sardar Patel and Jawaharlal Nehru: Two contrasting figures (Organiser 29.12.2013); This refers to “Sardar Patel and Jawaharlal Nehru: Two contrasting figures” by MV Kamath in Organiser. Sardar Patel was certainly different from Nehru, but not so much. One is known by the company he keeps. This applies to Patel also. Patel remained in the company of Gandhi and Nehru throughout his life, who were both committed to favour Muslims, with complete disregard to the legitimate concerns of the Hindus. In fact, anti-Hinduness was the strongest bond between Gandhi and Nehru. Therefore Sardar Patel cannot be exempted from this blame. Now let us see what Patel did during his life time. He was directly responsible for forcing the members of Constituent Assembly to agree to clearance of Article 370 of the Constitution giving separate status to Jammu and Kashmir. He also refused to help dying Hindus and Sikhs left in Pakistan, Again, he befooled Buddhist Chakma leaders, who wanted his help for inclusion of Chittagong Hill Tract (CHT) in India. Shri Kamath has concluded at the end, that “were Sardar the Prime Minister, today there would have been a different India.” It is a big joke. However one can certainly say, that were Dr Ambedkar made the Prime Minister in place of Nehru, there would have been a very different India. He would have ensured complete exchange of population with Pakistan.
Anand Prakash, 72/Sector-8, Panchkula:134 109
Honouring of our poets Recently, Karnataka Government and Kannada Sahitya Parishad commemorated the 109th birth anniversary of the noted Kannada poet Kuvempu. This was indeed a marvellous accomplishment. But we wish to ask why is it that an equal prominence is not being given to other great poets such as DR Bendre, Shivaram Karanth, Masti Venkatesh Iyengar, Shishunal Sharif upto Chandrashekar Kambar of Kannada literature by the State Government and other organistations. We have never seen them being honoured by the State Government. We wish that politics of caste and religion not invade this humble world of ‘Kannada Literature’ which has acquired maximum numbers of Jnanpith Awards as compared to any other language. However, we suggest the Karnataka State Government to fix a day in a year and celebrate it as “Kavi divas” commemorating and honouring all the poets and writers. Also every State should follow the same feat and honour all the poets and noted writers of our country.
Seturam Aspari, email: [email protected]
The benefits of population growth (Organiser, 15.12.2013); This is with reference to the article published in Organiser titled ‘The benefits of population growth’ by Dr Bharat Jhunjhunwala. The National People’s Congress, the Parliamentary body in China, changed the population policy of one child norm and allowed second child. The Chinese Government is worried about shrinking labour force on account of low birth rate. Dr Bharat Jhunjhunwala says that “That population has a positive impact on economic growth. The matter is really simple. Economic growth comes from increased production which requires a bigger work force and higher population…. Population is an asset if it engages in production and liability if unemployed.” The socio-economic and political culture of India is different from China. Here in India we could not make family planning compulsory. Choice of small family norm of two children is left to the couples. It is feared that the present population of 121 crore may reach to 144 crore by 2025 at the present growth rate. In India family planning is made a communal issue. Hindu couples are adopting family planning as a national duty. But the Muslim couples are not coming forward to limit their families under the influence of Muslim politicians and mullahs as a result the population growth rate between communities is widening in favour of Muslims.
D Damodar Reddy, Maruthinagar, Hyderabad
Deal Crashed, Debris Remain This is with reference to the lead story ‘Deal Crashed, Debris Remain’ Organiser. It has been rightly pointed out in the debris of scams after scams starting all the way from Adarsh, 2 G, Coal, Common Wealth Games and AgustaWestland, Dr Manmohan Singh as Prime Minister has proved himself a disastrous person for the country. It will be relevant to recall here how Disraeli explained the difference between a disaster and a catastrophe when once asked about it. Disraeli said, “If Gladstone falls into the River Thames, that would be a disaster. But, if somebody were to rescue him, that would be a catastrophe.” Manmohan Singh, we don’t know how far was a disaster as Finance Minister, but he is certainly a catastrophe as Prime Minister. Dr Manmohan Singh before saying if Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister, it would be disastrous for the country should have first gone into self- introspection. He should have asked himself why he was sidelined by 10 Janpath during the poll campaign of the four states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi and Chattisgarh. He has become a disaster for his Congress Party also.
Jyoti Lal Chowdhury, Ukilpatty, Silchar:788 001, Assam
