Congress manifesto: Letters to The EDITOR

Congress manifesto

It refers to the Congress manifesto for forthcoming Lok Sabha elections which has incorporated some anti-national aspects like commitment to scrap sedition law and amending the AFSPA. Such dangerous steps, if implemented, will freshly induce insurgency and militancy. Like friction is necessary evil, every Act is likely to be misused by some ones. But that does not mean altogether scrapping of such provisions. Even RTI Act, Anti-dowry Act and post-Nirbhaya Act are misused. This does not mean that all these Acts should be repealed. The need is to induce mechanism to check misuse of various Acts, including the Sedition Law and the AFPSA. Indian political parties should follow example of Israel where all political parties are firmly united with government on issues on national security and foreign relations. Such provisions incorporated in the Congress manifesto will definitely reduce votes of Congress where already people in general are anguish over dream economic policy of the party based on heavy dose of freebies which can only be fulfilled through heavy dose of additional taxes.

However ideas like single-rate GST, Kisan-budget, 33-per cent women reservation, abolition of electoralbonds are welcome features. But it is surprising that the party not having implemented women reservation in legislature in last so many decades of its regime, is now promising for the same in its manifesto. The manifesto also misses issue of massive and consolidated poll-reforms where existing poll-laws are best suited for professional politicians and dynastic politics.

Subhash Chandra Agrawal,

1775 Kucha Lattushah,

Dariba, Chandni Chowk.

Article 370, 35A

The children who are pampered cannot shine in life and their future becomes bleak. Parents should love their children but within limit. In the long run, the parents have every reason to repent after their children become spoilt for pampering. Exactly in the same manner, some youths or even elders of a particular state of India are becoming spoilt as a result of pampering of the government of India. Of late, it is seen that some of the leaders of J&K like Farroq and Omar Abdulla, Mehbooba Mufti- all are heard making anti-Indian statement. Now Mehbooba opines that once Article 370 is scrapped the only bridge between J&K and India will fall down leading to the people of J&K whether or not they would remain with New Delhi. Needless to add that these anti-Indian perverted youths or elders harbour Pakistan-sponsored terrorists acting as their accomplices pelting stones at the Indian Army. If we analyse the cause behind the pampering by Indian government, we find the Article 370 and 35A make the people of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) more privileged than those of the rest of India. The people of J&K can purchase essential commodities like rice, wheat, sugar etc at a much lower price than the people rest of India. On Article 35A, Finance Minister Arun Jaitly said it is discriminatory and constitutionally vulnerable, 'Article 35A discriminatory, constitutionally vulnerable' (The Sentinel, March 29) Interestingly enough a good chunk of Indian citizens staying in J&K can exercise their franchise in Lok Sabha election but all of them cannot vote in Assembly, municipal and panchayat polls. Those who are not eligible for voting in Assembly, municipal and panchayat polls cannot own/inherit property nor their children can be admitted into government schools/colleges, nor can they get government jobs. As a result of this provision, no outsider can possess land there, no avenue as such to open any Industry/Business Enterprise. Number of government jobs being few and far between, myriad of unemployed youths having been financially assisted by Pakistan to go all out, to pelt stones at our army, giving shelter to the Pakistan-sponsored terrorists. Through your esteemed daily, we appeal to the Government of India to scrap these controversial Articles putting J&K on a par with the rest of India. Further, the stone palters should be handed out exemplary punishment.

Ashok Bordoloi,

Dibrugarh.