Disturbing number of road fatalities
Two aged women reportedly died in two separate road accidents on a tragic Friday. One at the KTC bus stand where a woman came under the wheels of a bus and in another accident reported along the national highway in Porvorim, a woman riding pillion died after she was knocked down from the two wheeler by a truck.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
It is learnt that Goa is averaging a road fatality every 48 hours. The state faces an array of road safety challenges. These include bad road engineering, black spots, speeding, and irresponsible driving by tourists. Enforcement of the law and improved infrastructure are of utmost importance to reduce the number of road accidents. The influx of tourists who indulge in drink-and-drive adds to the problem. Several young lives have been lost in road accidents. Use of mobiles while driving slows one’s response.
Strict law enforcement is the need of the hour. Public awareness on road safety has to be conducted at regular intervals. Stringent tests need to be in place while issuing the driving license. Everyone seems to be in a tearing hurry. Defensive driving should be the order of the day.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
PM has miserably missed the bus!
After accusing the UPA government led by Dr Manmohan Singh, considered to be one of the very few economic wizards of the world, as the one that brought economic chaos to India and self- boasting that, the NDA government led by him only got the country out of such a financial mess created by his predecessor, Prime Minister Modi went on to praise Dr Singh sky high when Rajya Sabha bade farewell to him and 67 more retiring members!
He appreciated him for his commitment as a Parliamentarian who attended the sessions despite his age and failing health demonstrating how alive he was towards his duties as an MP to empower democracy. He also hoped that Dr Singh would keep guiding and inspiring them.
Contrary to the traits of Dr Singh, we have seen his successor absenting himself frequently from the Parliamentary sessions.
Our Prime Minister could have learnt a lot of lessons from Dr Singh and got enlightened on various subjects relating to the chair he occupies. Alas! It was not to be. Modi has missed the bus miserably.
Tharcius S Fernando, Chennai
Modi’s praise for Manmohan
On the occasion of his retirement from the Rajya Sabha, former prime minister Manmohan Singh was praised effusively by his successor Narendra Modi who recalled how Singh had come to vote during the no trust motion against the government disregarding his age. It may also be recalled that the meeting between the two in 2015, soon after Modi completed one year in office, had grabbed eyeballs and turned heads. People had then speculated what a financial expert and an astute politician could have discussed. The 91-year-old, soft spoken, Singh, measures each word before he speaks, but every word of his is worth its weight in gold.
The renowned economist’s silence was construed as weakness by his detractors who needlessly panned him as “moun mohan” Singh forgetting that though Singh speaks little, when he speaks the authority behind the words are unmissable.
Prime Minister Modi’s respect towards Singh stems from the latter’s high learning, absolute integrity and cent per cent incorruptibility. Even during the plethora of scams that haunted the UPA government, no opposition member dared to point fingers at Singh.
The seasoned Singh by no means proved to be a political novice, and the India-US nuclear deal was an example of how Singh finely blended his scholarship with far sightedness.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
India mother of world democracy
When India was fighting for Independence against British, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was leading from the front with his efficient leadership and we achieved Independence due to his brave leadership of and sacrifices of our freedom fighters. After Independence, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was declared Father of the Nation. And he is father of the Nation and always will be.
After independence, Dr Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar came forward to frame the Constitution of New free India and finally constitution was declared. Even that time, these sevaks were against the word secular in the Constitution. But Gandhiji became father of the nation and Ambedkar became a hero of the Constitution.
Gandhiji got freedom for us and Dr Ambedkar gave us Constitution and declared too. And now after 76 years, the same people are trying to delete the word secular from the Constitution. No one should dare to delete the word secular because India is a secular country and a mother of democracy to the world.
India consists of Hindus, Christians, Muslims, Sikhs, Buddhists, Parsis etc. So India is a secular country and always will be. That cannot be changed.
Natividade Fernandes, Cavelossim
This year’s Olympic medals- simple precious
It’s really astounding and delightful to know that the medals made for the upcoming Paris Summer Olympics is simply remarkable and fantastic.
In addition to the customary gold, silver and bronze, each winner’s medal will feature a small piece of iron straight from the Eiffel Tower!
Small chunks of the iconic tower — the symbol of Paris and France and one of the wonders of the world — have been included in the medals to mark the 100 years since last hosted the Olympic Games.
Each and every medal has at its centre a hexagon of iron from the tower. They all come from pieces removed from the structure during different renovations over the last so many decades.
The pieces of metal were carefully preserved, and the organisation in charge of the Eiffel Tower’s preservation donated them to the Paris Olympic committee to create the unique medal designs.
Definitely it would be joy unlimited as medallists will get an unforgettable souvenir of Paris made from this unique metal. The “puddle iron” which has been used to make the tower is a special pure material, which is extremely strong.
These special Olympic and Paralympic medals were designed by craftworkers at the famous Chaumet House of Jewellery and it is for the first time in the history of the Games that a jeweller has designed the medals.
An out of the box idea by the organisers, these medals are definitely symbol of excellence, a source of motivation, symbol of ultimate achievement and historically precious.
M Pradyu, Kannur
