30 Jul 2020  |   04:33am IST

Letters to the editor ( 30 July 2020 )

Letters to the editor ( 30 July 2020 )

Is Congress in the right hands?

Is Congress in the right hands and is it correct to vote for it in the next  election when one feels Congress has no future and neither it can give future to the current generation? It is hurting to express this view on this grand old party that gave so many great leaders to India.  

In the last election in Goa the seats Congress won were not because of best campaigning by its star campaigners and charismatic leaders who are very much lacking in Congress but still voters gave Congress more seats because the voters are still having goodwill, love and affection to this party. Besides, the secularism it implemented was of much higher degree. 

Though Congress image was poor with their oldies being a liability on the party because they are fit only for fighting for their seniority rights to occupy the top chair, at least one of the 7 oldies could have contested from the North for the last Lok Sabha seat but instead they pushed the newly elected dedicated Congress President who I am sure was aware of his defeat yet he contested to prove his love for the party. 

It is terrible to know Congress is become a readymade MLAs supplying organisation to BJP as it did in Goa and now in Rajasthan and yet there is no regret on their part. The supporters of Congress work so hard and its High and Low Commands are surrendering its MLA’s to BJP without much resistance for which Congress Party alone is to be blamed.  

If Congress is demoralised for being out of power, it has no right to contest the election and put its voters out of track. 

A.Veronica Fernandes, Candolim

CCP fails to tackle cattle menace

It is very appalling that the Corporation of City of Panaji (CCP) has miserably failed to tackle the growing menace of stray cattle moving around all over the City. The situation is no better at Ribandar which is part of the CCP. The law does not permit cowsheds within city limits but this is not being complied with. Being the capital city, it should have been the endeavor of the CCP to ensure upmost cleanliness and hygiene all over. But with the stray cattle merrily moving all around and messing up even the footpaths it is a matter of health concern for the citizens. The Panjim market and the bus stand lie in a despicable state. Even some of the city’s recently renovated gardens and parks are in a pathetic condition. The St Inez and Rua de Ourem creeks continue to be a horrible eyesore with our nostrils bearing the brunt of that unbearable stench. The stagnation and neglect of vital infrastructure, the environment and sustainable development is all too evident.

Unless there is transparency and accountability in the working of the CCP with zero-tolerance to any scams, Goa’s capital city will languish as it is. With the CCP elections scheduled for March next year let us hope the citizens elect young and bright Corporators who are knowledgeable persons with integrity and a vision to uplift the city.  

Does the Panjim MLA Atanasio Monseratte have to be reminded of his glossy 22-page Panaji Vision Document that he had released in the run to the May 19 Panaji by-election last year? Not an iota of that mountain of promises has been fulfilled. All that has happened is that he betrayed his voters and joined the BJP for his own vested interests.

Aires Rodrigues, 

Ribandar   

 

Congratulations to Anwesha Singbal

Anwesha Singbal, a Konkani writer from Ponda has bagged the credit of being the youngest and first woman president of the ‘Konkani Bhasha Mandal’. 

Indeed, she was a part of KBM’s Shenoi Goembab Kathamal (Story telling competition) since 2008. She actively participated in the Goa Yuva Mahotsav since 2008. During 2012 she was elected to the post of secretary of this Konkani institution. Later she was also a part of ex-committee for two consecutive terms. 

Of course, Anwesha has a deep love towards Konkani language and this made her participate enthusiastically in the day to day affairs of KBM. She has contributed various articles in Konkani language till date and has penned two Konkani books too. On behalf of Goan Konkani lovers I take this opportunity to congratulate Anwesha Singbal on being appointed as the President of this renowned institution and wish her as also other elected members all the best in their future endeavours in enriching and uplifting the Konkani language to greater heights in days to come. 

Hope they all together would strive to strengthen this reputed institution dedicated to Konkani language and deliver it a distinct identity in the near future. May god bless each of the elected member for adding to the cause of this particular language.

Pravin U Sardessai, 

Adpai


Outcastes not criminals

Our wonderful society is today still governed by rules and regulations which were framed by the so-called rishis of the pre-scientific, pre-enlightenment and pre-democratic age. They naturally based their framework of laws on the principle of supposition, speculation, suspicion and superstition. Take the word outcaste. An outcaste or an untouchable according to Manusmriti is a child of marriage between partners belonging to two different castes. The outcastes were socially boycotted by their neighbours and were denied elementary necessity like well water  and forced to live beyond village boundary so that generations after generations of such existence converted them to a sort of a class of domestic animals. 

The question that arises today is why they were harassed and punished so cruelly for no fault of theirs. They never did anything wrong or were of malevolent nature in the society. Hence it would appear that social rules and regulations that were applied to the unfortunate and innocent people would amount to be of criminal nature. 

In this case the criminal is not the victim but the purveyor of such rules. However, no justice can be expected from any Indian court of law and the best option would be to file a criminal case at the UN International Criminal Court of Justice at The Hague in Netherlands but who would be  respondents is not difficult to guess. Does it?

A.C. Menezes, 

Chinchinim


Angling activity can earn daily bread

Several people have lost their means of livelihood due to the pandemic. While many have lost their jobs, others have seen a massive dip in their business. The taxi operators are at their wits end to make both ends meet. Many are seen selling vegetables, fruits, and other goods which are displayed in the dickey of their vehicles. Those who own land have gone back to farming. It must be said that angling by individuals using the rod, line and hook can also help those, who find it difficult to make both ends meet, earn their daily bread. 

These people who have an enthusiasm for angling can spend time at the various water bodies to get a reasonable catch for the day. Besides being a recreational activity, angling can also help in earning some money on a daily basis in this moment of crisis. It must be said that the monsoon season is the right time for angling. The fresh fish that is caught from the water bodies is in great demand and can be sold in the market for a profit. Some fish can even be served at the dining table. Angling can be considered an important activity in these difficult times.

Adelmo Fernandes, 

Vasco


IDhar UDHAR

Idhar Udhar