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Metadors miseries

Sir,

Almost everyday, we find a complaint about the unsatisfactory service conditions of the metadors running in the Jammu city. Every passenger has his own complaint about it. The drivers run metadors at breakneck speed caring two hoots for the safety of passengers. They stop the metadors just in the middle of the road for dragging in or throwing out of passengers. The passing of undesirable remarks by the conductors and the so-called co-drivers to the women passengers, teasing of young girls by making unwanted movements by the boys standing side by side in these metadors are the other miseries. I am sure all these complaints are very much heard by the authorities who are responsible for rectifying the unsatisfied service conditions of these mini buses. What has gone wrong with the existing law enforcing agencies that such type of nuisance is increasing day by day and culprits are repeating their fun and fair so freely. None seems to be coming forward to snub them or to punish them. So what, if the authorities claim that in such and such month that much amount has been realised as fine on spot from the bus drivers. I think the defaulters of the above mentioned crimes need thorough thrashing and not the fine because these defaulters are quite rich and few rupees paid by them as fine do not make any difference at all to their pockets.

I appeal to transport permitting authorities and to the traffic controlling authorities to have a deep study in running of the F-307 Metadors and to realise how much harmful these mini buses (allowed to run in the city) or to the human beings. We have almost accepted the fact that overloading in these buses cannot be stopped as the drivers/conductors encourage it for their own benefits. Law enforcing agencies blame the passengers only saying ''why passengers catch a bus in which they don't get a seat and are forced to stand and make over-loading''. All those passengers who don't get seat to sit have to stand in these F-307 Metadors to face great inconvenience. Lady passengers position under such circumstances become worst specially when they are carrying bags in their hands. Are these passengers not human beings?

Yours etc...
J. M. Behl,
Old Janipur, Jammu.

Shun violence

Sir,

Bringing peace to one's land of birth is no obligation on any body. It must be the bounden duty especially of those who in the first place, spilled blood in the land of saints. The traditional restraint of the average Kashmiri is still alive somewhere, perhaps a legacy from our great ancestors.

Assuming (refer to Ahmad Ali Fayaz's write up on Syed Salahuddin) elections were rigged by the then power apparatus of Delhi and here and the vision had been myopic what explains the misplaced target of ethnic cleansing by the wronged? How was the system remedied by killing of unconnected intellectuals, and the innocent?

How could a neighbour which rules its coreligionists with a jack boot caring a fig for democratic values, inspire these Kashmiris to look for sympathies, guidance and help? At what point of time in the decade long insurgency in Punjab were the strings in the hand of Khalistanis? An ex-Director of Punjab Health Services had already revealed shockingly his tale of betrayal at the hands of Pakistan's ISI.

The launching pad of the struggle of such people against the alleged rigging could have been J&K itself or any other part of India. We have a free country where a wide spectrum of political ideology exists. The press is free and so is the judiciary. In what way was an armed rebellion from a foreign land a superior approach? They could muster public support here and launch an agitation. Dr Farooq is trying hard to sell his autonomy across all political hues in the country. He does not campaign for his rather controversial pre-1953 political dispensation from Muzaffarabad or Lahore. He wins point over the Hurriyat leaders who live here and swear by Pakistan.

Should these Kashmiris have thought of a political sanctuary in Pakistan? It lost the eastern part because its arrogant rules never respected the sentimetns and democratic verdict of inhabitants of the later day Bangladesh.

We, Kashmiris are a proud lot. The kind of dishonour the militants have brought upon the ladies and gentlemen of their land of birth is unprecedented. They have will-nilly been hostage to the whims of the untrusting Pakistani leadership. This ruling elite and their cohorts have no brother, sister, relation, friend, neighbour or acquaintance in the valley. In fact, Pakistan has no stakes except a fanatical pre occupation with snatching Kashmir and treat its people no better than it treats the Sindhis, the Mohajirs, the Ahmedies etc. The Kashmiri insurgents after all if he lives has to face another Kashmiri and answer.

The Kashmiri, howsoever, unhappy, must find solution here. They need to correct their blunders blinded as they were by the hoodwinking ISI, fanning their religious sentiments. Presumably, belatedly sadly, the process of a saner approach and even repentence by them is unmistakably in sight. Perhaps the trauma of trials and tribulations of all of us will have to be borne, sadly again, before peace dawns. Yet the chance of peace is an historic turn. A sacrifice here and there that brings peace and prosperity to one's land of birth and its denizens is a true Jehad. Let our Kashmiri misguided youth help to write this history.

Yours etc...
Dr K K Kaul
Lane opp. Vijaynagar
Gole Gujral Road,
Jammu.