The Hindu : New Delhi News : Life and law

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Aug 11, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

New Delhi

New Delhi

Life and law - Reader's Mail

Some people may see the Bombay High Court verdict refusing to allow abortion of a 25-week-old foetus as unfortunate. Those who do, obviously believe in the survival of the fittest, a rule of the animal world. A cultured human society will always consider human life precious. The differently-abled provide us with an opportunity to share love and compassion. Killing them in the womb is equally culpable as killing such grown-up people.

Medical science has proved that there is life in a foetus from the time of conception. As per the original Geneva Declaration, doctors take an oath: “I will maintain the utmost respect for human life, from the time of its conception, even under threat.” Is not the present law then, which permits termination of pregnancy within 20 weeks, inhuman?

Many differently-abled persons have proven themselves. Helen Keller, Beethoven, Baba Amte are just a few names in the long list. Let us change our attitude and learn to value life as something very precious and beautiful.

Shiney Alexy,

Santvana, A-9 Hans Apartments, Santnagar West, Burari P.O., Delhi - 110 084.

“Halla bol!....”

The impact of terrorist attacks is felt across the barriers of caste, religion, creed and gender leading to so much bloodshed. The dastardly attacks by terrorists on innocent people should be condemned in all possible ways. They justify the violence in the name of religion, but which religion advocates killing innocent people?

The recent confidence vote saw Parliament galvanising the whole nation as people discussed the merits and de-merits of the debate and the conduct of MPs. Why can’t we have a special session of Parliament now to discuss threadbare the issue of terrorism? The law-makers should realise that the life of innocents is as important as the nuclear issue. It is high time politicians across the spectrum joined hands to root out this menace. Just blaming the Intelligence Bureaus and state governments will not do. The Central Government needs to be more pro-active. We need some concrete measures, not diplomatic lectures.

Some of the blame for this state of affairs must also be shared by us, the citizens of this country. How long will we remain mere spectators? The time has come to say “Halla bol!” It is high time we became more vigilant and active. Let us join hands to fight this war against terrorism.

Prem Kant Mishra,

Teacher, G.D. Goenka Public School, Rohini, 335 a/d Munirka, New Delhi.

Hello, Airtel….

“We at Airtel always think in…. innovative ways about the needs of our customers…. We deliver what we promise and go out of our way to delight the customer with a little bit more….” This is Airtel’s vision and promise as mentioned on their website. However, these words, as I found out, are rather hollow.I had purchased a sealed Airtel recharge coupon for Rs.345 from an authorised retailer at PVR Saket on July 28 for my mobile (9818065657). To my utter disbelief, when I scratched the coupon the silver panel came off without revealing any 16-digit recharge PIN number. I have safely kept the coupon — or whatever is left of it — so that I can take it to an Airtel official.

The serial number on the recharge coupon is 11060703301323. I am sure it is spurious.

This should serve as a warning for all customers who are about to buy recharge coupons. Better to scratch the coupon in front of the retailer so that you do not get duped.

Anand Mathew,

Flat No.581, Sanskriti Apartments, DDA Multi-Storey Flats, Sector 19B, Dwarka, New Delhi - 110 075.

Give Hindi its due

Basking in the glory of our economic growth and India’s new-found status among the powerful nations of the world, we have relegated Hindi, our national language, to second-class status. Any country is bound to collapse in the absence of a common language. It is sad that while on the one hand we are learning new languages, we are wiping our national language out of our mind on the other. The youth tend to treat Hindi as a backward language. Isn’t this attitude a sheer failure of our education system? It is the duty of every Indian to preserve the national language. The Government should make Hindi compulsory at all levels of education.

Abhishank Shrivastava,

B. Tech Part III, Room No. 57, Limbdi Hostel, IT-BHU, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi – 221 005.

Endless wait

This is with reference to the report in your columns (The Hindu, July 5) titled “MCD receives online property tax payment from 97 countries”. I agree that the online payment option for property tax is a boon not only for people living outside Delhi but also for senior citizens like me who can use it from the comfort of one’s home without any hassle. Paying property tax physically at any of the scheduled MCD offices is a nightmare. The whole process is very time-consuming and painful.

However, MCD’s claim that receipts are generated instantly after online payment is not true at all. My brother and I paid our property tax online on June 23, but to this day we haven’t got our receipts. Maybe MCD would do something now? Dilip Bose,

C2B/12-A, Janakpuri, New Delhi - 110 058.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

New Delhi