FRIDAY, MAY 03, 2024
Bhumiputra Bill to lure voters
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and the BJP owe a public apology to every Goan on account of that ill-conceived ‘Bhumiputra’ legislation that was with ulterior motives hurriedly bulldozed through the just concluded session of the Legislative Assembly.
It is imperative that all those responsible for this entire episode be held accountable. Equally answerable are those officials in the law department who cleared such a bill without examining its legal implications as the government is duty bound by the mandate of the Supreme Court to clear all illegal and unauthorised structures.
Though we all knew that this move by the government would not withstand the test of law, it did create an unnecessary heartburn and needless panic for a lot of people more particularly Senior Citizens who were so very perturbed over this draconian move by the Government.
It was no secret that this illegal move by the BJP was to try and lure voters as the Assembly elections are fast approaching. But the government had to retreat in view of the spontaneous massive backlash it faced from concerned Goans from all sections of the society.
But there was also hope that Governor Pillai would have never given his assent to such a legislation having far reaching effect on the foundations of our State and its unique identity.
The CM has once again displayed his political immaturity and if he has any sense of the people’s pulse he requires to outright consign it to the bin that ‘Bhumiputra Adhikarini’ bill and not even dare to rename and reintroduce it. Pramod Sawant has just a few months remaining, so he would be well advised to enjoy that chair and not rock it while it lasts.
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
Illegal is illegal
If we start legalising the illegal then what is law and order to be maintained for? More and more illegalities? How can one think of allotting house numbers to illegal structures? Outsiders will take over Goa and then we Goans have to fight for our own land as India has been doing for Kashmir over the decades?
So now any non Goan can come and construct a house illegally and be allocated a house number legally.
Wake up Goenkars. Save our Goa for us Goans and our children. Let our Goan legacy be legal to Person of Goan Origin only.
Rosebud Leitao, Chinchinim
Make suggestions sent over the bill public
The government will reportedly reintroduce the Goa Bhumiputra Adhikarini Bill, 2021 by omitting the word ‘Bhumiputra’ and after receiving suggestions from the people. However, there are some unanswered questions. What was the need to pass such a Bill? Why was it passed in such a tearing haste? Why was there no discussion on the Bill in the recently held assembly session? Was there a demand from Goans for such a Bill? In what way will the Bill favour Goans? Will only a change in the name of the Bill be meaningful?
There are more pressing problems that the State is facing for the government to be preoccupied with such a Bill which seems unwarranted. There needs to be a public debate over the contentious issue. People need to be taken into confidence. It is understood that the general public can send suggestions on a website link and that the Bill will be reintroduced by incorporating good/valid suggestions in the winter session of the assembly. It would be in the fitness of things for all the suggestions to be made public as well as those which have been incorporated. The government needs to allay all fears that the general public has over the Bill favouring the migrants which will reportedly be rechristened as Bhumi Adhikarini Bill, 2021.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Bid to unite the Opposition
In a sign that the Opposition means business, 15 Parties' MPs attended Rahul's unity breakfast at Constitution Club, close to Parliament. Rahul, however, parried questions on who would be the face of the "United Opposition", calling it "irrelevant" at this point. Notable absentees included the Bahujan Samaj Party, Aam Aadmi Party and JDS.
Meanwhile, protests by Opposition members continued in both Houses over Pegasus, price rise and farmers' agitation. One may recall that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and NCP boss Sharad Pawar had set the ball rolling in uniting the Opposition.
N J Ravi Chander, Bengaluru
Bhumiputra a test?
It is a shame that the ruling party of Goa under estimated power of Goans by passing the Bhumiputra bill. It is equally shameful that the ruling party MLAs did not see even a single objectionable clause in the bill and allowed it to go through Assembly. The entire opposition knowing that such a bill was being introduced in the Assembly stayed out to fool the people of Goa to portray that they were not a part of this bill.
It is humiliation for our elected representatives that Goans across the length and breadth of Goa understood the bill better than our law makers and forced the government to reconsider it. They have miserably failed to pass this test. Time for these law-makers to hang their heads in shame, if they know what shame is.
GR Crasto, Navelim
The digital divide
At a time when Internet and mobile connectivity have become crucial links to civilisation, more so during the pandemic, some residents of the State are living a life on the wrong side of the digital abyss, totally cut off from the mainstream. What to talk of remote villages, even urban areas are not in the mobile loop. People have to wander out of their homes to catch that stray signal to talk to their loved ones or attend to routine online business.
Many gram sabhas hold meetings about putting up mobile towers but then give up the idea midway over concerns about health and environment, it's a catch 22 situation but they must realise that you can't have your cake and eat it too.
Online education and Internet based companies have taken a big hit with only those students/firms who can afford a Wi-fi connection being able to make some progress. This pandemic has created a new class of digital have-nots deprived of the benefits of the Internet, high time that the sarkar made good its two-year-old promise of erecting 200 mobile towers across the State. The digital divide may prove to be too costly in the long run.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
Class XII results, boon or bane?
The various exam boards, including the CBSE, have declared their results and what surprised every one is the amazing percentage of pass results. Majority of the students have got a whopping ninety percentage in the various subjects, a never before seen trend. The CBSE, ICSE and various boards had to go for a special evaluation criteria to award marks as exams were cancelled due to the pandemic.
Though getting high marks can come as a relief to students of Class 12 and their parents who really were tensed due to the grim condition caused by the pandemic they may now be worried on their wards' admission process to colleges. The abnormally high marks this year in the CBSE and other boards 12th result is sure to result in heavy competition during the admission process in the top colleges and institutions of higher studies across India. It can result in parents forced to pay heavy donations too.
M Pradyu, Kannur
