South Goa Congress MP has criticized the demolition of dwellings atop Moti Dongor and elsewhere. He and also demanded the punishment of the officials, instead of welcoming the step of clearing illegal shanties, taken by BJP Government. The Congress government, who supported illegal migrant shanties, provided them with roads, water, electricity and even jobs to create migrant vote bank. The main aim of the Congress is to reduce Goans to a minority, so these politicians they can sell Goa to highest bidder. It is easy to blame Government officials, but we all know how the last Congress ministers worked. Goans should praise the Parrikar Government. During his last regime Parrikae cleared Baina beach. We hope this time the moti dongor and all other such illegal shanties are turned into dust, bringing an end to anti-social elements.
James Moraes, Cuncolim
Hindu Nation?
The media in Goa has given good coverage to All India Convention of Hindu Organizations held at Ponda. It was reported that at the convention, one of the speakers stated that there was an urgent need to establish a Hindu nation. Today a small group of people talk about Hindu nation. Perhaps Goa is the only state in India, where people of all religions have lived harmoniously for centuries. Therefore, this State is more than communal forces. It has become a home for all the people of goodwill. They uphold secularism. If various people lived and can live together in harmony for years, where is the need of Hindu nation? Those who think and suggest a Hindu Rastra constitute a minority. The architect of India’s Constitution, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar did not hesitate to say “though born as a Hindu, I shall never die as one.” Many of his followers converted to Buddhism in 1956. If some people think of changing our country into a Hindu nation, they will never be able to do this without taking Dalits and other subaltern communities along.
Rui Pereira, Navelim
High Court
Besides being a very small State and for other logistical reasons, it may not be desirable for Goa to have its own High Court. Sikkim also a small state, in different circumstances has its own High Court since 1975 but all other small states Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura, and Mizoram have benches of the Guwahati High Court.
The current arrangement of the Bombay High Court at Goa is working reasonably well. However there is need for urgent steps to be taken to expedite the huge backlog of cases. If the government also takes just, and judicious decisions the High Court would be freed of a lot of unnecessary litigation. Once the current amount of pending cases is dealt with, two or three judges at the High Court would be able to cope and do justice to the work load. With good and competent judges the wheels of Justice will move efficiently.
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
Where is BBSM?
What happened to the Bharatiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch(BBSM) which earlier virulently opposed grants to English medium primary schools? The Congress Government had promised grants to these schools one year before and now the BJP government fulfilled that promise. But some members of the BBSM made the poor students to suffer for one year. These are selfish people who had their own hidden agendas when they started this movement; they fooled some people by making them believe that they were fighting for their mother tongue. Those who were at the forefront of this movement, have now been given prestigious positions that they wanted, in the government and so they are now very quiet.
Augustinho Fernandes, Sanquelim
Teachers’ dilemma
The judiciary in Goa had brought relief to hundreds of primary school teachers by bringing their salaries on par with the government primary school teachers. The flawed MoI policy of the erstwhile government allowed private English medium schools to mushroom in the State. They took advantage of this and education became a business venture to some. Unfortunately today, the historic verdict does not give any respite to private school teachers who are exploited by the managements of these schools. These teachers are paid paltry salaries, without any allowances. They need to unite under a common forum and fight for their rights so that their salaries are brought on par with the aided schools. In spite of the high fees and donations taken from parents for their trusts, the teachers are victimized as their services are not regularized with salaries below par with others. The private school lobby must realize this and act, as they have are rebellion brewing in their backyard. Anyhow, the new academic year will spell doom for the private schools. Changing MoI to Konkani/Marathi should be considered by them to avail grants and survive recession.
