Mail by Wg Cdr SC Kapoor to the Tribune

EMAIL BY Wing Commander SC Kapoor
TO TRIBUNE
To:

The Editor-in-Chief (Shri HK Dua)
THE TRIBUNE
Chandigarh

Sir:

We would hold ourselves unpardonably guilty of the very basic norms of etiquette if we do not observe even the minimal formality of thanking you for Brigadier Harwant Singh's letter that was published in your newspaper today (November 23).

Having said that, let's also hasten to add that the text of the letter as appearing in The Tribune is a big disappointment. We feel shortchanged.

We see no reason why on earth the letter should not have been published in full without excising/omitting any portion. (This certainly is no "editing" supposedly for reasons of "space", "clarity", "refinement" or whatever.) The letter carried a valid viewpoint, was politely worded, cogent and concise. What more is needed for a communication from your readers? (Copies of the letter sent and published are appended below for comparison.)

It seems someone down the line in his over zealousness has chosen to use the "delete" button with gay abandon.

In the bargain, the gravamen of arguments and the main thrust of the letter has been lost. This offends against the standards of journalistic ethics thus rendering it unacceptable to the veterans' groups to which Brigadier Harwant Singh and we all belong.

A survey was conducted and a whopping 94 percent of the respondents felt that it was not fair on your part not to publish the original text of the letter as submitted to you.

We request you, Sir, to consider the matter afresh and publish the letter as received by you, failing which an apology would be in order.

The defence personnel, by all accounts constituting your main catchment area, have always held THE TRIBUNE in high esteem. We hope we do not have to revise this opinion in a hurry because of just one incident.

Incidentally, reputed newspapers the world over devote half a page and more to readers' views. There are instances galore of letters that though highly acerbic and critical of the material published and opinions expressed in the newspapers, are carried with alacrity in the readers' columns. Why our mediapersons here have to feel unduly uncomfortable and chary of publishing what the readers write to them even if the communications from the latter conform to acceptable norms?

We will await your response, Sir.

Warm regards.

Sincerely,

Wing Commander SC Kapoor (retd)
{Member, IESM Veterans Groups}
E-145, Sector 21, Jal Vayu Vihar
Noida-201 301