Letters to the Editor

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Operation Bluestar
Sir: Refer the article, ‘Hurt beyond heal’ by Dr Pritam Singh, on the anniversary of Operation Bluestar. As the writer has rightly pointed out, such a turn of events was shocking to many, including the vast majority of the non-Sikh population in this country. At the same time, the kind of militancy and violence that Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale sought to pepetuate in Punjab with clear instigation from the Pakistani establishment, could not have been tolerated by any patriotic Indian, including from among the patriotic Sikhs. The Union Government tried to restore peace in the state through several measures, none of which helped. Finally, when it was found that the militants were calling the shots from within the highly secured Golden Temple premises, the government had no way other than asking the security forces to storm the temple and drag out the militants. This resulted in bloodshed. Too sad that an incident of the kind took place in a religious shrine of great importance not just to the Sikhs but others as well. Religious sentiments have their place in our lives, but only a weak government can stand as a mute witness to activities and mayhem being perpetrated by separatist elements, be it in Kashmir or Punjab or the North-East. India has to survive, sustain and progress as a nation, which is our collective cause. Those who try to test an elected government’s patience should be prepared to face the consequences as well. It is worth the while to also ascertain whether any government worth its name elsewhere in the world is accommodative of separatist elements. In most countries, they would be gunned down at first sight. Those who live in this country, irrespective of their religion, should learn to respect the Constitution and promote peace and security of the motherland. What happened in Golden Temple is a lesson to all separatist elements. Indira Gandhi had her faults, but she had the great courage to face up to situations. She was made to pay a price for the action she ordered in Golden Temple, but history will record her greatness as well.
Sunil Vaidya, by EMAIL
Quota, Brahmins
Sir: There is no end in sight to backwardness in this country in spite of the six and a half decades of caste-based reservations; and more castes are getting included in the list of BCs, in order for them to get out-of-turn benefits. The Jats and the Gujjars, which are well-off communities, want to be part of the BCs and are organising agitations. The Brahmins as a caste and a class have been rich in their simple living and high thinking, but it would be wrong to see them as economically rich. However, their talent, merit and initiatives are getting crushed under a discriminatory system in the post-Independence period. The whole system needs a review.
Dr (Major) Umacharan Panigrahi, Station Road, RAYAGADA