Flooding fears in Panjim
Panjimites are fearing the worst during this year’s monsoons due to the mess created by the government appointed contractors of the Smart City Project in the name of turning Panjim into a Smart City.
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Today, one can surely see how Panjim is already getting turned into a chaotic city with just a few showers. And when continuous heavy showers start very soon, no one really knows how interior Panjim will really look like during this year’s monsoons.
Water pipelines are already bursting on a daily basis in some parts of Panjim city (especially near areas where the Smart City works are carried out) and due to which the residents are rightly heard expressing their fears about the possibility of sewage water getting mixed with their drinking water pipelines during this year’s monsoons.
The only prayer I can say before the start of the actual monsoon this time is ‘God alone save the people of Panjim’ from their own elected father and son duo’s self-created mess/’disaster in the waiting’ to happen in Panjim city. Yes, that’s because ‘Yeh toh sirf trailer hai, pura picture abhi bhi baaki hai mere dost’……….
Jerry Fernandes, Saligao
The sheer brazenness of Brij Bhushan Singh
At a rally in Gonda district, Brij Bhushan Singh, who is accused of sexually harassing female wrestlers, and who has been charged under the POCSO Act, which entails immediate arrest without provision for bail, literally roared that he shall contest elections from the Kaisarganj Lok Sabha seat. The sheer brazenness of this man is mindboggling. He is secure in the knowledge that as a ruling party MP and with the 2024 elections on the horizon, no one in the government would dare to touch him, as for the judiciary the less said the better. The Central government is as guilty and complicit in the crime by maintaining a loud silence in the matter. Infact efforts are being made to browbeat the wrestlers into submission by resorting to heinous tactics like taking
one the them to the MP’s residence to ‘reconstruct the scene of the crime’.
How much more trauma can a victim take before she breaks down? The girl’s father was also pressurized into taking back his statement incriminating the accused. Additionally, the Home Minister and Sports Minister are working behind the scenes, having late night meetings with the protesting grapplers to hush up the matter against their ‘prize’ MP. Not one word of condemnation from the PM who wastes no time in getting photos clicked with our sportsmen when they pour out their blood, toil, sweat and tears to win medals for the country on the international stage. A criminal who should be behind bars is roaming the country proudly proclaiming his electoral intentions, this government is beyond shame!
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
Unemployment remains stubbornly high
Hon’ble PM Narendra Modi had vowed to create millions of jobs in his campaign speeches in 2014. But now the unemployment has remained stubbornly high. Promises such as this are hard to resist for millions of young men and women dreaming of a better life in India’s dismal employment landscape. This issue is likely to be hotly debated in the run up to national elections of 2024. In education, thousands of young people are finding themselves graduating with limited or no skills, undercutting
the economy at a pivotal moment of growth.
Half of all graduates in India are unemployable due to problems in the education system. While some institutions publicize campus placement to students, many aren’t able to fulfil the promise. It seems that today’s degree are being worthless. And these worthless degrees are creating an unemployable generation in India. Many young people are rendered unemployable every year. Some are getting drawn into crime and violence. But finding work for this generation remains a challenge.
K G Vilop, Chorao
The Indian Sphinx
Many a time the country asks why is ‘he’ silent. The reason for that is that Narendra Modi is a ‘fair weather prime minister’. When the going is good you can see him all around, but mostly at election rallies, inaugurations, flagging off Vande Bharat trains etc. But the moment adverse and difficult circumstances arrive, ‘the cat gets his tongue!’ On the women wrestlers sexual harassment issue with the WFI President, Modi & the BJP shouts from the rooftops about protecting women, their rights, Beti Padhao-Beti Bachao etc. But when it comes to translating these words to action, they woefully fall short.
When the same women wrestlers come back home after winning medals, Modi is the first to pose with them for photo-ops, but when they have problems, these women are dumped aside. The same is the case with Manipur, where people have been dying and churches have been attacked and set on fire, Modi does not have anything to say but he goes to Australia and makes an issue of attacks on temples there. Religious structures are the same anywhere and need to be protected but Modi & the BJP should also first look at what’s happening at home.
Srinivas Kamat, Alto St. Cruz
Leaders are not elected to dig the past
Our present ministers have to focus on the present and work for the future of our Goa. But talking about the past and diverting people’s attention won’t help. Our honourable ministers should focus on the current issues, which our Goan brothers and sisters from North and South are facing. The main issues which people are facing are that they are not receiving proper water supply, bad and damage roads, increasing the rates of accidents, increasing rates of robberies, murders, rapes and land grabbing cases and now the sewerage problems. First only the cities were stinking, but now our small villages are facing the same trauma. It’s a wakeup call for those who are in power. Stop digging the past and please work for the welfare of the people.
Anita Fernandes, Verna
Let’s pray to St Anthony for peace of mind
The feast of St Anthony, renowned theologian, Doctor of the Church, great preacher, most popular among saints and patron of lost…..(you name it) is celebrated all over Goa, India and the World by his devotees on June 13 (date of death June 13, 1231)
He was baptised ‘Fernando’ a name meaning ‘bold fighter for peace’. We are painfully aware of what is happening in Goa, India and World over. All are thirsty and hungry for peace.
On June 8, Pope Francis appealed to all, to pray for world peace. All efforts for world peace, are so far fruitless. But, we the chosen people/readers can pray, hope and believe, we all may be powerless but not hopeless and almighty God is powerful and can bless us with much desired peace.
On this auspicious day, June 13, the Feast of St Anthony, let us all offer special prayers to almighty God, through the intercession of St Anthony, for peace in Goa, India and all over the world and also bless us all with the gift of ‘peace of mind’.
We will also continue to offer our prayers to God, through St Anthony, patron saint of our chapel, at Deussua, Chinchinim, South Goa. Presently, trezena is going on and the feast will be celebrated on June 18, Sunday, under the direction of Fr Ancy D’Cunha, Chaplain.
Rosario Domingos Rebello, Chinchinim
