Readers' Forum

Hollow slogans

Dear Editor,
After holding the reins of state government, the Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad coined many new slogans pertaining to work culture, corruption-free state and even, Khushhal Jammu and Kashmir, but all these promises, so far, proved hollow.
Keeping in view the prevailing state of affairs in government departments, it seems that his fight against corruption has failed miserably. In the beginning, with which vigour he personally raided different government departments and punished the erring officials had raised a hope. But now as the newspapers reports suggest about the incidences of corruption within the portfolios being headed by none other than the Chief Minister himself, the faith of common masses, especially those belonging to educated middle class, is getting shattered.
The question lurks as whether his proclamations were utterly a part of politics of hollow sloganeering?
-Ankush Gupta,
Sunderbani.

Stem the rot in forest deptt

Dear Editor,
"Better late than never" befits the challenge Chief Minister has taken for clearing the stinking mess prevalent in forest department and sister agencies. It is premature to predict whether or not he succeeds in this herculean task which demands firm will and capacity. Chief Minister has rendered himself a laughing stock when he issued a clean chit to Qazi Afzal who in other words has proved unequal to assigned job, otherwise there would have been no valid reason to divest him of forest portfolio. Gimmickery politics has become a routine phenomenon in the state. There should have been no compromise on ecology. Everything will not be OK after transfer of some officers form one key position to another. Pious policies suffer as the people in general are being taken for a ride over here. Lofty promises are forgotten soon after occupying the chairs of power in the state.
Ghulam Mustafa Azad the brother of Chief Minister has levelled serious allegations of bunglings in State Forest Corporation supported by official documentary evidences which have appeared in your daily (KT: August 3, 2007) and write up of Prof Dr RD Gupta (ex chief scientist and associate dean SKUAST) captioned "Deforestation depleting environment of J&K" having appeared in your paper (KT: September 13, 2007) and a letter captioned "Messy forest affairs" that has appeared in the your paper (KT: September 15, 2007) are an eye opener.
Politicising of pious forest policies has rendered forest a den of dons perpetrating great damage to national wealth. There are no takers of rosy pictures that are presented.
-Mohammed Ashraf
Srinagar.

Dirty politics

Dear Editor,
The Ram Setu controversory, which has rocked the country for past few weeks is a shame for our political leaders, who are just using it for their political benefit.
Our country already has witnessed Gujarat riots and few bomb blasts, including public fury in the last seven years. And now these politicians are going to create one more conflict between two communities, which will result in the death of innocent lives. Where has feeling to protect the unity and integrity of the motherland gone? Why our politicians are forcing the country towards internal war? Why are they playing this dirty game of politics? Is nation's welfare is nothing to them?
These are the few questions, people must ask them and then discuss Ram Setu or any other issue.
-Shailesh Kumar,
House No. 215/2, Shubhashnagar,
Virgonagar Post, Bangalore - 560049.

Celebrate cricket victory through postage stamps

Dear Editor,
Indian Posts Department should issue a series of colourful and perfumed postage stamps to commemorate Indian Cricket team winning 20-20 World Cup. Such series if properly publicised and printed in adequately large numbers, will be revenue-earning for the Posts Department firstly through philately and secondly by attracting users back to postal services in view of popularity of privately run courier-service. Denominations of stamps may be in most commonly used postal-tariffs including one each in local and inter-city Speed-Post service to popularise Speed Post service.
-Subhash C. Agrawal,
1775, Kucha Lattushah,
Dariba, Delhi 110006.