Deal Crashed, Debris, Remain (Organiser, 12.1.2014) This is with reference to the edit “Deal Crashed, Debris Remain” in Organiser. What a shoddy and manipulated contract with Augusta Westland by UPA II for purchase of VVIP choppers? It is amazing that how the demand of 12 choppers was mooted for the use of VVIPs, to be purchased by Airforce from Defence budget. The fact as we know is that after Kargil War, NDA Government felt the necessity of six choppers for Airforce operations, which can fly at the altitude of above 16,000 feet to carry the men and material at places like Tiger Hills, Siachin and North-East mountains. When UPA came to power, they simply fudged the matter to work against the main objective and rationale to cater the need of vested interests. The order was placed on a selective company of a chosen country in 2010 after ten years. This is only possible at ministry’s level, who accepted the technology and utility tests but of no use for Airforce operations. Choppers could hardly fly up to 14,000 feet, much short of desired height and did not carry the required load. Should we believe that PM Manmohan Singh and Defence Minister AK Antony were unaware of this sordid and immoral deal? Even 10, Janpath who feel solely running the country have never expressed any concern over it. How does it sound that a fleet of chopper purchased and maintained by Airforce for the luxury of VVIPS of Bharat Sarkar, undermining the country’s defence needs. It is most irresponsible and shameless. But Manmohan Sigh is still audacious to say that Modi will be disastrous.
HS Mehatani, 89/7, East Punjabi Bagh, New Delhi
Himalayan stature, Atal Legacy (Organiser, 29.12.2013); Organiser of December 29, 2013 is indeed a fine issue with glowing tribute to Atalji as a leader with poetic statesmanship and inclusive politics for efficient and effective national governance. He has been the one source of course correction of our national politics and the translation of his poem Oochai is indeed the height of national fervour and patriotism promoting Dharma and Satya. It is a tribute to his high statesmanship and secular values that he headed a Government of coalitions. We are sure the Bharatiya Janata Party will form the next national Government on their noble principles and policies. I humbly request you to publish every week Atalji”s poem to educate and enlighten millions of our people.
Bhattu Ganesh Sharma, Babusapalya.
Bengaluru: 560 043
No country can treat a diplomate the way the US has treated Devyani (Organiser, 29.12.2013); USA establishment has taunted India and called into question the Indian sovereignty itself by peremptorily arresting and incinerating Devyani Khobragade, a member of the Indian Diplomatic/Consular corps. Their taunt is intended to remind the incumbent Congress Government that they are not able to retain popular support. USA tends to forget that India is an Independent nation and is not supposed to be their colony. The charge sheet against Khobragade also reveals American duplicity in economic management of their own countries and their surrogates, like India. They made a big hue and cry about Khobragade not paying her Indian maid recruited in India the ‘Statutory Minimum Wages for Unskilled Labour (SMWUL)’ as per US norms (i.e. $ 9 per hour), whereas the maid was paid much in excess of Indian SMWUL, which is Rs 15/- per hour. America has been pressurising India not to have Parity Exchange Rate (PER) on the basis of parity of the SMWUL of the respective countries. The intriguing part of this sordid episode is that Congress Government will still not insist on PER the basis of parity of SMWUL for fear of American military might, however phony that might be.
Air Marshal A K Mukhopadhyaya (Retd.)
G-1307, Chittaranjan Park, New Delhi: 110 019
Beyond Diplomacy (Organiser, 29.12.2012); Recently our countrymen have witnessed the issue of Devyani Khobragade as what happened to her in USA. In retaliation we see UPA Government has reacted in a childish manner by expelling the US diplomat, closing down shopping centres in US Embassy, curtailing their facilities, etc.. This is nothing but a political gimmick played by UPA Government.God knows how long does it wish to fool our countrymen with its dirty old tricks. If at all UPA Government thinks it can give befitting reply to US, then it should ban FDI in Retail, curtail their stake in Indian companies and promote indigenous Indian made products, stop importing petroleum products and rely of indigenous produced oil and gas, gobar gas, and renewable energy resources such as hydroelectric, solar, wind, etc and prove to be a true national political party and not the other way round.
Seturam Aspari, email: [email protected]
Section 377 of the Indian Constitution The timeliness of the Supreme Court decision of Section 377 is real. Homosexuality is a type of morbidity of mind, arising because of the insubordination of the mind to the normal function of the body and as such it characterises a sick mind. This sickness is caused generally by illness and lack of work. The Supreme Court has rightly prescribed rigorous imprisonment but I say the period of exertion should be extended to 16 hours per day from 8 hours per day. The period of rigorous imprisonment should range from 5 years to 7 years. Because hard work has the propensity to cure various types of human depravity. In his famous essay on work, Thomas Carlyle asserted that work is the most sublime thing in life. Work is worship of God and drives away the evil spirits attacking an idle mind. I am Sanatanist, which was a founded on the ancient wisdom of Vedas and Upanishads according to which homosexuality does not exist as such. It is a non-issue.
SHYAM SUNDAR
Dangerous concept of jihad There are about 710 crore people in the world and Muslims constitute just above 100 crore. The remaining 600 crore global population have effectively condemned the concept of jihad. That is why radical Muslims who constitute less than 10 per cent of the Muslims behave as though they are licenced to kill non Muslims wherever and whenever possible by bomb blasts, etc. Will the UN and the security council ban the concept of jihad and save the world from radical Muslim terrorism. There must be crores of doctors, engineers, lawyers and highly educated people among the 100 crore Muslims who do not approve jihad at the present times. They should also publicly condemn jihad.
Prof Dr CKANNAN, 73/1, Rajaji Road, Salem: 636 007
Truth can’t hide An ingenious example of speech and politics occurred recently in the United Nations Assembly that made the world community smile. A representative from India began: “Before beginning my talk I want to tell you something about a rishi named Kashyapa of Kashmir (Kashyapa, son of Marichi, son of Brahma), after whom Kashmir is named. When he struck a rock and it brought forth water, he thought, what a good opportunity to have a bath. He removed his clothes, put them aside on the rock and entered the water. When he got out and wanted to dress, his clothes had vanished. A Pakistani had stolen them.” The Pakistani representative jumped up furiously and shouted, “What are you talking about? The Pakistanis weren’t there at that time.” The Indian representative smiled and said, “And now that I have made that clear, I will begin my speech.” And they say Kashmir belongs to them.
vipin kumar, [email protected]
Comments