Mailbag

Handling hijacking crisis-I

Sir,

Cowardice is a recurring theme in over five centuries of India's record of dealing with Islamic militancy.

The BJP (sorry, the NDA) government led by Atal Behari Vajpayee is showing up to be equally disoriented in it's response to the hijacking crisis.

The following questions beg an answer from the current and all previous governments.

What steps had the Indian government taken to bring to justice or eliminate the Pakistani terrorist (it is a shame, that our secular press chooses to call that murderer a ''religious leader'') since 1994?

Why did'nt the Indian government have NSG commandos (who are specially trained to deal with hostage situations) waiting to storm the plane at Amritsar? Was it waiting for an invitation from the terrorists to board the plane?

When the Indian government believes that the entire Jammu and Kashmir region is an integral part of India, why did the government insist on not crossing the Line of Control at the height of the Kargil conflict ?

Will Mr Vajpayee admit that his obstinacy cost India the live of several Indian soldiers and that he has let slip an opportunity to avenge the savagery of Pakistani soldiers on Saurabh Kalia and others?

While we implore the United States of America to declare Pakistan a terrorist state, what has stopped us from doing so? Why do we continue to maintain diplomatic relations with Pakistan when we are so certain of it being a ''rogue'' nation as Mr Advani openly stated?

History proves that only those who stood up and fought against tyrants survived, while the rest lives like slaves and continue to do so. Indians have become used to the idea of being slaves of Moghuls, or the slaves of the white colonialists. The ignonimy and misery that Islamic terrorists are now heaping upon us is richly deserved.

Yours etc...
Sandeep Shouche
R-3/1 Saudamini, 101/1 Bhusari Colony,
Paud Road, Pune 411038 India
shouche@chequemail.com

Handling hijacking crisis-II

Sir,

Hijacked Indian aircraft was forced to land in Pakistan, and then in Afghanistan, and the Taliban asks the UN to intervene, and the hijackers demand the release of Maulana Masood Azhar after nearly 30 hours of hijacking and the brutal murder of Rupin Katyal (25) who was recently married (3rd December 1999), and was returning with his young bride from their honeymoon at Kathmandu. With the body of the Rupin Katyal being dumped at Dubai, while his young wife made widow is held hostage in the aircraft!!! What more can be a dastardly act?

Will the murderers of Rupin Katyal go scot free, as have the murders of Sq Ldr Ajay Ahuja (IAF)? For how long will the Islamic militants hold India and its 1 billion strong people to ransom, as they have done with Israel?

Yours etc...
Vishal Sharma
Mumbai, India
bconium@hotmail.com

Postpone M.Ed exam

Sir,

This is in reference to news item published in Daily Excelsior on 17th December 99 regarding dharna by M.Ed. correspondence students.

Once it came to our notice that the date sheet has been finalised for M.Ed. final Exam wef 24th of January positively, all the M.Ed. students walked out of class and immediately formed M.Ed. Action Committee which later on submitted a memorandum to the Vice Chancellor Jammu University, and Director Distance Education. It contained following few facts :

i) That the said examination should immediately be postponed for atleast 2 months.

ii) That there should be a gap of 3 days between the papers.

iii) Since no written information was given to any of the students with the result, many of them deposited Rs 855/- instead of just Rs 225/- . The same extra amount charged may immediately be refunded to the concerned students.

iv) That the result for M.Ed. Ist semester may be declared at an early date.

v) That the material which is still under print may immediately be despatched on individual student's address otherwise our syllabus should be reduced to 50 percent or there should be open choice.

vi) That the DDE should immediately publish date sheet through the leading news papers for the convenience of the teachers/students.

That if the genuine grievances are not redressed within two-three days, we have left no option but to take agitational path and for that the whole responsibility will be on DDE.

Yours etc..
R S Raju
Spokesman
M.Ed. Action Committee
New University Campus,
Jammu.

Reservation and women

Sir,

The underlying philosophy of the concept of reservation was to ensure the representation of hitherto neglected weaker, down trodden or backward segments of the society in various fields of National life. The issue of Reservation shot into prominence with the country becoming free from the yoke of colonial rule and adoption of our own constitution with socialistic pattern of society being the grinding force.

It was never the intention of our mentors or God-fathers to make Reservation a permanent political thorny pillar in the constitutional fabric of the Nation but they intended to use it as a launching vehicle for attaining reasonable parity amongst various sections of the society. But instead of serving a useful and meaningful purpose of strengthening and unifying the National edifice it has become an effective tool of vote politics in the country. At the moment policy of reservation is grossly mis-directed and mismanaged. It is strengthening devisive forces and fissiparous tendencies in the country. The Indian society today instead of getting united, stands unreasonably divided into strongly opposing lobbies working at cross purposes, thank to the policy of reservation.

Well, none is opposed to the view that educated women possessing political outlook and aptitude should be provided due representation by various political parties for election as MLAs and MPs but why reservation and what purpose they want to serve. If the politicians are really sincere and honest at their place who can prevent them from selecting any number of competent women candidates for election in the assemblies and parliament. But this kind of sincerity is no where discernible even in the recently held elections as well. But there is much hue and cry over the introduction of Women's Reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha.

Average politician is more interested for the fixed norms and Reserved seats to ensure the presence of women candidats of their liking and belonging to their own kith and kins.

The standard of Indian Parliament has also grossly degraded. Undeserving and incompetent women candidates selected on the basis of reservation would be apt to exploitation of all kinds and would further lower the quality of debate in the parliament. All the political parties must first ensure appreciable and substantial representation in their own parties to give the women political exposure and to give cogent proof of their sincerity for upliftment of women. Till then it is advisable to put the issue of Reservation on backburner and not to spoil the precious time and money of the Nation. By Reservation we make the beneficiary sections of the society handicapped, self centred, parasites on national wealth and absolutely eccentric. It hinders the national growth and progress of the society to its full potential.

Yours etc...
P C Sharma
Trikutanagar,
Jammu.