Cricket confusion continues

Sir,

With Perth test to be scheduled on Wednesday the fret and fuming is not stopping. It is clear that after many Australian former players and commentators have criticised the behaviour of Australian team on the field.

It is admitted that Australians are champion players but that does not mean that they would walkaway with any thing they like or do on the ground. It is also a fact that if Australians have been given a tough fight only Indians have done it. Australians know that it is only Indians who can stop them in their tracks. Another factor is that there are players in the Indian team who have better records and more centuries than Australians. The Aussies despite their high quality of play are always reported to the passing abusive remarks against the opponent teams.

The recent statement of Andrew Symonds that he would never tolerate any racist remark hurled against especially if it comes from a person whom the does not like. This makes it plain clear that Symonds does not like the Indian Team. Indrectly he admits that he is a racist. To add further Masala to the fire Sehwag after his return to form has said that he believes in tit for tat approach. Things are hotting up on the cricket scene. The row has become more infamous since body line attack in thirties of last century. For the survival of cricket as a gentleman's game Aussies will have to develop a better spirit otherwise they will be isolated in the world of cricket.

Yours etc...
Kamal Sharma
Subash Nagar
Jammu

Sino-India relations

Sir,

The present China visit of the Prime Minister is an important visit because of many things which are not only of Mutual concern to the two countries but which are of global consequences.

Being two largest countries in Asia and the fastest growing economies of the world the two countries are facing similar challenges in tackling various developmental issues. It is also a fact that in many fields China has out performed us. In development it has reached a stage where it is in a position to take upon the highly developed countries of the west. Ask any person who has travelled to China. He is dazzled by the progress that China has attained. Any traveller to Shanghai will say that it looks equal in glamour to Tokyo or New York. Some say it is even better.

China has many lessons for us. It has progressed by leaps and bounds. Its agriculture production is must higher than ours. Its GDP is almost twice our size. Its child mortality rate is a fraction of ours. Ofcourse its military is many times stronger. While we, here are ripped apart by regional, caste and religious issues China has only the issue to confront and that is development. If we want to engage China on equal terms we shall have to make ourselves more disciplined and focussed. The recent reports of Chinese intrusion in Arunachal Pradesh is a matter of concern for us. We should solve the boundary issue with China as soon as possible. Meanwhile the trade between the two countries is rapidly increasing. The inter commercial interests will be a safe bet for peace between India and China. But China has lessons for us which we should try to learn.

Yours etc...
Om Prakash Gupta
Nanak Nagar
Jammu

Pak blasts

Sir,

The recent Pak bomb blasts in Lahore have once again proved that the situation in Pakistan is not settled. Atleast twenty five persons were reported to have died and many more were injured. It has been the latest incident of violence since Benazir Bhutoo was killed by assassins.

Being our close neighbour and in not very distant past being the past and parcel of this Nation Pakistan is now at war with itself. Its founders must be turning in their graves because in one way have not their dreams of Pakistan been fulfilled. The reasons are not difficult to find. A country which has been founded on hate and on religion and named the land of the pure is now not at peace with itself. Partition is now a part of history but we should not forget that partition was unnatural and so that is the reason why Pakistan is at war with itself. Ask the people who migrated to Pakistan from India on the eve of the partition. Some had gone there for they had cherished some dreams. Now those dreams leave aside getting realised are turning sour. They have been dubbed as Mauhajirs. Then in Pakistan came the lethal dose of mixing religion with military. What Gen. Zia did to Pakistan no other enemy could. First he was hailed as Mard-i-Moomeen. But now the country is facing the legacy of Gen. Zia in full steam. Pakistan has become a hub of terrorism. It is the largest exporter of terror. Any terrorist who is captured in any part of the world has its roots in Pakistan. We, in India are naturally alarmed. We are unhappy over the loss of innocent lives in Pakistan. We have to remain wary and never allow to lower the guard. Unity is the best means to fight the terror.

Yours etc...
Rampal
Domana
Jammu