Fake surveillance
The Aadhaar subjugation in India and its linking to bank accounts, mobile phones, permanent account numbers ( PAN), as well as probably election photo identity card ( EPIC) have made the lives and biometrics of all the Indians subject of unlawful surveillance that has infringed on the right to privacy guaranteed by the Constitution, a fundamental right and against just verdict of the Supreme Court which gave a clear verdict that Aadhaar should not be compulsory for linking to the bank accounts, mobile numbers as well as stocks and mutual funds.
The Opposition in the winter session of the Parliament should take up the issue for discussion vociferously and force the Government to delink the Aadhaar which has sensitive biometric such as finger prints and iris scan, to cease to become an imposed tool of fake surveillance on unsuspecting citizens of India.
Not all citizens are law breakers and have to be subjugated to such treatment that is meted out only to suspected criminals. The Opposition should collectively coerce the Government to do a volte-face to restore the Constitutional right of Indian citizens.
Stephen Diás, Dona Paula
CHOGM road needs attention
Residents of Mapusa have done well in resorting to road blocks to get their roads fixed. Residents of Porvorim, Sangolda and Calangute should do the same to get the attention of the inefficient PWD regarding the CHOGM road. Having had the road dug for a water pipe before the rains, residents have had to motor through potholes and suffer injuries for months. Having patched the roads in the first week of November, it was assumed that post Diwali the roads would be hot mixed. We are in mid-December and it's still not done. When is the PWD waiting to do it? Christmas Day? Next year? Taking the Goan public for granted is becoming a habit.
Edward Fonseca, Porvorim
Poll results not a trend setter for 2019
Poll results of state-assemblies giving Congress a comeback should not be taken as trend-setter for forthcoming 2019 elections to Lok Sabha because people of India are habitual of having big expectations for instant fulfilling of promises made during poll campaigns. A short period of just five months before Lok Sabha elections may not be practically sufficient for delivery of poll promises made by Congress during campaign for assembly elections.
Poll results clearly indicate that mood of people is presently not in favour of ruling party at the centre. Results would have been even more disastrous for ruling BJP if Congress would have projected its Prime Ministerial candidate, because people and UPA allies by and large cannot digest present Congress President as next leader of the nation. Congress gain was not because of pro-Congress mood of people but it was because of anti-BJP mood of people.
Subhash Chandra Agrawal, Delhi
The rise and rise of ‘Red Machines’
Churchill Brothers FC is keeping the flag of Goan football flying high with tremendous showing in the ongoing Hero I-League. The Goan football powerhouse had an impressive 4-1 win over Aizwal FC over the weekend and maintained their unbeaten record. They are now in second spot and within sniffing distance of table toppers Chennai City FC. Churchill Brothers FC team is playing awesome attacking football and the forward combination of captain Ceesay, Anthony Wolfe and Willis Plaza has given the rival defense many anxious moments. Israel Gurung has been the mainstay of the team. It may be recalled that Churchill Brothers had been reinstated into the I-League despite finishing in the relegation places last year. Incidentally the Goan team was not the only one to be reinstated after being relegated. Aizawl FC famously went on to become champions in 2017 after having their relegation declared void. Churchill Brothers FC is one of the most successful teams in the I-League, having won the tournament twice in its 11-year history and finishing runners-up on two occasions. The ‘Red Machines’ happen to be the only Goan team featuring in this year’s I-League. Indeed the team has made every Goan proud with their tremendous display of attacking football which is a sheer joy to watch. When the I-League will combine with the Indian Super League (ISL) from next year, there is no doubt in the mind of the supporters that the ‘Red Machines’ will give the other teams a run for their money. The only question that will arise is which team Goans will support when Churchill Brothers FC play FC Goa.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Black letter day!
The resignation of the RBI Governor Urjit Patel speaks in volumes the blatant interference of the ruling BJP government in the internal affairs of constitutional bodies like the Apex Bank. By putting down his papers Urjit Patel has made it very clear to the world that the present ruling dispensation in India does not deserve the services of learned economists, scholars and professionals who have self respect. It is an open secret that the RSS protégé, S Gurumurthy was imposed on the Board of the RBI only to needle the Governor and his team and it is mainly the pin pricks he gave to the Governor at the instance of the BJP government which made the learned Urjit Patel to call it quits. It is a black letter day in the annals of the Reserve Bank of India.
Tharcius S. Fernando, Chennai
RBI independence
in danger
The resignation of Urjit Patel, Governor of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is a clear proof that government wants its own way in the affairs of RBI, an autonomous professional body, whose independence is in danger as incompetency of government to manage its financial affairs can be smelt. Like a loss-making public-sector company, this Government is no way different on this subject. The saying ‘Jitni chaddar utne pair pasaro’ is quite true but government has ignored it just for vote bank politics. The funds are much needed for 2019 elections and almost daily schemes are announced for so called poor which needs lots of money, revenue with the government. If government succeeds in getting any money from reserves of RBI, the nation’s economy in the long run would go in doldrums and financial crisis will arise like at present in Pakistan. How far Finance Minister can extract money from citizens? The recent violent protests over taxes in France must be remembered by our Finance Minister too. Politics in forefront and not the economic principles must be avoided in toto. The government should not interfere in RBI’s affairs to keep RBI’s independent autonomy, yes it can guide and have mutual meetings for its needs but should not try to control it or force it’s advises in final decisions.
Mahesh Kumar,
New Delhi
1 public sector general insurance company
Central government should merge all public-sector companies for General Insurance into one unified company to reduce unnecessary overheads. If one single public-sector Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) provides life-insurance cover under so many plans effectively, then one ‘general insurance corporation of India’ can also be formed by merging all public-sector Insurance-companies engaged in general insurance.
Such unified company will be able to compete more effectively with private-sector companies engaged in General Insurance in the manner that no private insurance company is presently able to compete with public sector LIC.
Madhu Agrawal, Delhi
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Opposition to be united
The results of the recently held Assembly elections are definitely a slap on the face of the BJP and its parent organization, the RSS and its offshoots like the VHP and Bajrang Dal. The results are also a great blow to the Modi-Shah duo which was acting with all arrogance and a kind of ‘don’t care’ attitude treating the common man a dust with their blatantly exhibited crony capitalism.
No doubt the results foretell in unequivocal terms what is going to happen in the 2019 general elections. Only thing the Opposition parties should do is, be united at any cost shelving their ego and work in tandem with only one motto, ‘the fascist BJP has to be defeated’.
Tharcius S. Fernando, Chennai
Stop playing with nature
The latest threat to mankind is Manufacturing Humans to order. The scientist behind it says that the goal is to have: an ability to resist possible future infection with HIV. Rightly this kind of gene editing is banned in most countries. This can lead to commercialization of human bodies and even serious crime of killing the human beings etc. Playing with nature; s principles always results in dangerous consequences to the mankind. Already human beings are paying a heavy price for playing with nature – for commercial and convenient life interests like polluted environment -cutting forests, killing animals, use of plastic etc. Are all these needs / inventions worth taking the risk of future mankind?
Mahesh Kumar, New Delhi
Merge public-sector General-Insurance companies for drastic cut in overheads
Central government should merge all public-sector companies for General Insurance into one unified company to reduce unnecessary overheads. If one single public-sector Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) provides life-insurance cover under so many plans effectively, then one General Insurance Corporation of India can also be formed by merging all public-sector Insurance-companies engaged in General Insurance.
Such unified company will be able to compete more effectively with private-sector companies engaged in General Insurance in the manner that no private Insurance-company is presently able to compete with public-sector Life Insurance Corporation of India.
Madhu Agrawal, Delhi
Killer potholes
The Supreme Courts concern on over 14,926 people killed in road accidents and lakhs of people getting injured due to potholes in last five years and terming it “unacceptable” shows the gravity of the matter. It even went whiplashing the states and the central stating that the large number of deaths caused due to potholes across the country was probably more than those killed on border or by the terrorists.What a shame! That so many deaths occurred due to potholes -silent killers -clearly exposes the lackadaisical, negligent and laxity on the part of the government and it's authorities. Pot holes are found to be one of the main factors causing not just traffic delay but severe accidents too. When elected representatives forget their vows and promises made to the voters it has become the duty of the judiciary to intervene and help the needs of the public and mitigate the woes of the common man . The court must check the government’s attitude towards such matters and also come out with an order to take strict action on engineers and contractors who do not comply to the rules and regulations which has to be followed while laying /repairing roads.
M Pradyu Thalikavu, Kannur
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Ruling BJP gets 95-percent of electoral bonds pie: Bonds should carry names of donors
Ruling BJP at the centre cornered major 95-percent share of total contributions made to various political parties through electoral bonds in the fiscal-year 2017-18. It is quite evident any ruling party will be getting major share of such opaque contribution because of contributors getting favours from the ruling party by themselves remaining anonymous. Contributions made to political parties should be perfectly transparent and cashless. Electoral bonds must carry names of contributors to prevent these as indirect and legalised bribing to ruling party. With central government motivating even small payments through digital banking like Bhim-app PayTM etc, ideal is to ultimately totally ban cash-contribution to any political party, with initially restricting it to rupees one hundred rather than present rupees 2000.
Sections 13A, 80GGB and 80GGC of Income Tax Act on contributions received by and made to political parties should be totally abolished to prevent whitening of black money with many registered political parties not having contested any election but getting themselves registered with Election Commission only for this purpose. After all extra revenue-earning so made will be used for national development and public-welfare which is rather more necessary than to provide undue tax-relief to our ultra-rich and affording political parties.
Madhu Agrawal, Delhi
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GDP changed -vote bank pol
The government re-estimated the GDP linked to 2011-12 prices, which lowered the growth rates during the UP. Recall that “In 2015 India changed the methodology to measure GDP -to create comparable data set for years…. The result showed that the former UPA apparently performed better on economic growth than the current NDA. …. the government withdrew the study.” It proves the proverb “Lies, damned lies and Statistics” GDP is the barometer of overall economic growth. These changes in methodology in calculating GDP is manipulation to use for the vote-bank politics for their selfish interests. The economic and non-economic welfare of people is completely ignored. Politics in forefront overshadows all what is good for the country
It is not out of context to remember that former rail minister Lalu Prasad’s turnaround of railways from a loss-making to a profit venture was more of a cosmetic exercise. Will the same fate of changed GDP see the light in future?
Mahesh Kumar, New Delhi
Safe driving on roads
Nowadays, road accidents are on an uphill trend throughout the country. Buses falling into gorges and canals, vehicles colliding against each other and dashing against trees or road medians have become the order of the day. Faulty driving takes the cake for gory accidents claiming precious lives. While the under aged are known to take the wheels in lorries carrying loads of goods , even cleaners steering the trucks are common in India. Drunk drivers cause havoc on highways and small roads. Reaction time for drivers is bound to slow down when they over speed and are drunk causing the inevitable. Now that four lane and eight lanes have brightened Indian roads, drivers feel safe and secure----but there will always be an imminent danger looming large. Mobile phones and headphones are real roadblocks for safety.
Apart from a couple of national highways, roads in the country are in shambles. Most of them are double roads with pot holes and craters occupying them making driving an excruciating affair. Unnecessary humps add to the drivers' agony. Slow driving may not avoid mishaps all the time but driving with common sense can. Then there is the age old problem of defective and jaded vehicles used by their owners. The tragic accident near Karnataka's Pandavapura where a private bus fell into a canal to kill more than thirty people, most of them children, testifies the importance of keeping the vehicles fully geared up. The driver was handicapped by a sudden lock of steering. The bus plunged into a twelve-feet canal with little chance for escape. It is the joint responsibility of all stakeholders to be fully aware of themselves, vehicles and roads. Somebody aptly said "take care of the vehicle in the garage, and the vehicle will take care of you on road".
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
Letter to the Editor
Rice plants need high water for its growth. This is the reason why they are so much vulnerable to drought. However, plant scientists at the University of California have discovered that a flood tolerant rice plant can cope with a drought. This discovery will benefit rice growers all over the world.
This is not just confined to rice plants alone. It is applicable to our real lives as well. Those who can keep their heads cool amidst a flood of success, will also be able to stay calm during a drought or failure. This is the magic of equanimity which is necessary to withstand the ebb and flow of life. Equanimity gives us the power to acclimatize ourselves to the changing situations.
A question may be asked whether we have to tolerate everything in the name of equanimity. We can get the answer from Sri Aurobindo. He said, "But in ordinary life personal feeling and sensitiveness are a constant part of human nature and may be needed there for self-defence, although, I think, even there, a strong, large and equal attitude towards men and things would be a much better line of defence."
Indeed, equanimity can give us a much - needed balance to manage a crisis situation in an objective way without being overawed or swayed by it. It also enables us to see the truth keeping aside our prejudice, mental bias and personal feeling. It helps us look at an event from a different angle with an uncluttered mind even from the perspective of a person who happens to be hostile to us.
Sujit De, Kolkata
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LPG subsidy only in bank-accounts with balance less than rupees 3000?
It refers to media-reports about LPG subsidy now to be credited only in bank-accounts having balance below rupees 3000 as a check towards subsidy not going to affording persons. But this is contradictory to government-step of encouraging people for savings made in bank-accounts. Any such decision will be like watering leaves rather than roots. Government-data reveals that even many Jan-Dhan accounts of poor people have sufficient deposits which may deprive them of LPG-subsidy in case the decision is implemented. Encouraging subsidy in itself a bad phenomenon and should be discouraged.
Those desiring and entitled for LPG subsidies, should rather been required file an affidavit towards total family-income rather than expecting ineligible persons for surrendering LPG subsidy voluntarily. Such affidavits should be filed annually rather than once because there are always possibilities of crossing income-limit fixed for getting LPG-subsidy. Those with annual family-income above rupees ten lakhs will thus lose subsidy because they will not be taking risk of filing wrong affidavits.
Net payable price including of all central and local taxes should be rounded in multiples of rupees ten or fifty, because delivery-persons never return balance-money. System will further reduce financial-burden on the exchequer because of LPG subsidy. At least LPG, if not petrol and diesel, can be brought under GST network for uniformity of prices throughout the country.
New-look translucent LPG cylinders made of fibre-glass ensuring tamperproof full-load supply of LPG gas per cylinders should replace old iron-cylinders with iron-cylinders discontinued to be manufactured in future.
Subhash Chandra Agarwal, Delhi
Faith in Judiciary
Political parties pay lip service to judicial system when it suits them The BJP Govt has created appointment of S.C Judges The reasons have been ominous to say the least. A committed judiciary is expected to deliver ruling party agenda Transfer of judges has been another exercise to intimidate them .Impeachment is like Damocles sword hanging overhead. Posting of Judges as ambassadors, Governors and engaging them to head commissions and appointing them as arbitrators at various levels is sending feelers of beneficial treatment post retirement a bait to lure. Suppressing of Judges to the exalted office of S.C is a weapon of injustice, bias and discrimination , thus sending an oblique message
Ram birth place for a temple is hanging fire for ages. The BJP when out of power makes loudest appeal to Hindus about determination and commitment Now in Majority and 4 years in saddle the issue has not moved an inch furthe except promises galore. Trying to capitalize on the issue on the eve of coming general elections is pulling wool over the eyes of Ram Bakhts. It took just minutes to raise down the Mosque and with Congress P.M, P.V..Narashima Rao, who was in prayers at that moment with a message not to be disturbed The police posted at a distance were mere spectators in waiting
The land is already acquired, so what can the impending , intended Ordinance do? Only give aerial advantage of some belated actions for consumption of devout Hindus and mollify them temporarily by antagonizing minority community, which makes no sense in election year Then again it will have to be ratified by the Parliament a tall order indeed..Besides one third of land is with Waft Board and the appeal is pending in S.C. There is no possibility of amicable or out of court settlement, a far cry as a solution. The involvement, mediation of SRI Sri has come to naught too.
Will the BJP abide by the decision of S.C as the arbiter of just cause? The BSP and SSP swear by such statement, though Congress is sitting on the fence quoting principle of subjudice
Just how much faith is reposed by parties in S.C can be gauged by Sabrimala order, even though an appeal is pending. The pending decision of S.C in Ram birthplace is not considered interference in religious matters. Once again force, intimidation , threats, mass uprising, violence will be the order of the day if decision goes against the Ram temple issue .When S,C decisions goes against expected outcomes the response is physical on the streets It is the duty, responsibility of Central Govt and not state alone to intervene and preserve order,but unfortunately BJP in Kerela is agitating against the order of S.C
Nelson Lopes Chinchinim
Women -train to be physically strong
As per recent Press reports, Women are no longer weaker sex-they are no lesser physically tough than men. The Society for Endocrinology of Glasgow research found that with training and preparation women gets as strength as men in extreme physical conditions without any adverse effects on their health. Already it is proved by many women in India as number of women in sports practically reserved in men category like wrestling, boxing, weight lifting, javelin throw etc. women are excelling by winning medals too. Even in body building -Muscles women are emerging now. Other such areas are transport business etc. -almost in all field’s women are competing with men in life. Some women are now fighting alone against roadside Romeos -against eve teasing, chain snatching etc. A good sign indeed too of their courage and physical strength. For success a woman must become less emotional. The more women should come forward to take on new challenges. Remember that unless women are recognized for their achievements like men, no country can make progress. Some nations and societies are still backward because their women are not given the due respect or the opportunities.
Mahesh Kumar, New Delhi
