Mailbag

Allotment of accommodation

Sir,

The NC leader in a statement published in Daily Excelsior dated 17.10.04 had demanded clear cut policy of providing Government accommodation to Govt. employees as well as political activists. They also demanded stoppage of irrational allotment of Govt. accommodation following eviction of former Minister Jagjivan Lal from the Estates quarters. In response to this statement the PDP spokesman in a statement dated October 24, published in the your paper has said that 273 rooms have been provided in various hotels to NC workers. Besides 38 special Estate quarters have been allotted to NC leaders in Srinagar and 19 in Jammu. Besides there is a long list of kith and kins of NC leaders who have been provided Govt. accommodation on security grounds is Estate colonies at Srinagar and Jammu. In addition various private houses have been hired for NC leaders. But the statement is silent about allotment made for leaders of other politics parties, which need clarification.

In this controversy of discrimination the allotment of Estate and Govt. accommodation, it is expendient for the Govt. to clear the policy of making Govt. accommodation to either politicians or Govt. officers and officials and after making the policy clear and transparent, the Govt. should review the list of such allottees in respect of their genuineness and justification in getting the Govt. accommodation allotted in their favour. The political workers and their families and Govt. officers who do not fall under the purview of the declared policy of providing Govt. accommodation should be evicted and in place of them only the genuine and deserving politicians and Govt. officers who do not have their private accommodation in cities or those who have gnuinenly been living under militants's threats deserve Govt. accommodation. As a matter of fact, the Estate quarters have been constructed for Govt. officials having no accommodation of their own, besides Ministers and legislators and other holding positions in public life. In the name of militants' threat perception, a number of ungenuine and non deserving persons are occupying the Govt. accommodation cannot be rules out. A high level committee should probe into the allegations of discrimination and irrational allotment made by NC leaders for the sake of transparency and accountability. The Finance Minister had promised to lay foundations of accountability and transparent after the formation of the present Govt. but no such measures seen to have been initiated to translate these ideals into practice.

One hopes that transparency and accountability will be ensured in every sphere of public life and developmental matters.

Yours etc...
Ved Kesar
Jammu

Spirituality in daily life

Sir,

I have gone through the article 'Spirituality in daily life' published in Daily Excelsior on 7.11.2004, and was much impressed about seven principles which if incorporated in our daily life can prove highly useful for living a life of spiritual blessing. Undoubtedly, the style of expression is of a very high standard.

Yours etc...
Kartar Singh Rishi
Kathua

Tribute to Savarkar

Sir,

Refer to the article 'Stop mud-slinging on Savarkar' by Omkar Dattatray. To me his article is a tribute to the true freedom fighter who is being ignored by the present day leaders. The Congress leaders like Manishankar Aiyar do not know the notifications of ignoring freedom fighter belonging to other ideologies. Moreover, there action will depmpen the patriotic spirit of young generation.

Yours etc...
Satish Rana
Science College,
Jammu.

An unacceptable act

Sir,

Apropos the news item "Bedlam in Orisa Assembly; Patnaik hurt one is impelled to say that the abominable act of hurling chapple by the mamber of the house in the ensued fracas between the ruling party members and the opposition is a slur on the face of the biggest democracy of the world and thus not acceptable. This has certainly brought dishonour to the august house and going to have an adverse impact on the people of the country. The august house is meant for debating the policies and programmes to be adopted for the well-being of the state concerned in particular and the country in general and under no circumstances, the temperament be allowed to be raised to such an extent so as to create bedlam and unruling scene in the house. Any degeneration of the values among the representatives of the public undoubtedly percolate down to the masses who could be often seen debating these issues expressing concern about the degeneration that has set-in our polity in terms of lowering the standards of discussions/debate in the assemblies once known for their high standards.

In fact, violence has no place in the system more so in the august platform for discussion. It may not be out of point to mention here that if Mahatma Gandhi the father of the nation could attain independence for the nation with his potent weapon of Non-Violence" why can't our rulers at least maintain a semblance of decency in the house while debating the issues concerning the state/country under all circumstances is a question uppermost in the minds of the general public. The said despicable action has difinitely lowered the dignity of the house besides adversely impacting the minds of the public.

Yours etc...
Ravi Sharma
Shakti Nagar,
Jammu