We have since received a letter from
Shri GN Sridharan followed by a letter
from Shri SK Mazumder. Shri Sridharan
has explained his difficulties. We appreciate
Shri Sridharan's inconvenience which
is for genuine reasons. More than this
letter, he had also telephoned the Editor
and explained the situation. We too
knew that it would be rather difficult
for the participants to attend the
meeting arranged at such short notice.
But what disturbs us is not the simple fact that a meeting of the pensioners federations could not be held at Bangalore but the fact that we are required to invite and to some extent canvass the presence of the representatives of the petitioners to attend such a meeting. They do not have this realisation that this meeting should be held and that there should be parleys. When an ordinary pensioner has genuine fears and apprehensions, our leaders go ahead jolly well with their preparation without any such fears. This seems to be a disturbing situation.
Shri MP Subrahmanian of Madurai, a staunch supporter Shri KML Asthana, has rightly pointed out in his letter published in the columns of Chronicle that "Every organisation should voluntarily come forward to sit, discuss and find the solution. Inspite of your (Editor's) repeated calls for unified approach, it hesitates to respond, while others do welcome. Each organisation should spell out their firm decisions and then only a common ground could be established." Shri Subrahmanian no doubt is pointing to a very important fact or reality which we should take note of.
We also note here the fact that while Shri Sridharan has come out with his agreement to meet the other representatives of pensioners conducting the supreme court case, the conditions put forward by him for attending the meeting are rather tough and as long as he holds such views and conditions, a meeting cannot be held.
