SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2024
Vote for honest candidates
The voting day for choosing the two candidates for the two Lok Sabha seats in the State and who will represent the voice of Goans in Parliament has finally arrived.
So, let us not casually sit back or abstain from voting by giving our own silly excuses, but come out in large numbers in polling booths to make our important vote count and to successfully send our two best candidates of our choice in Parliament.
And most importantly, let us also not get simply excited/distracted after hearing the so-called ‘guarantees’ of some top leaders of certain political parties, but let us first look at the destruction of our State that they have caused since the last ten years in the name of doing development and then decide whom to really vote during these crucial elections in Goa.
Yes, let us vote for gutsy honest candidates who will dare to raise some real issues in Parliament concerning Goans and not those who will sit dumb like useless cabbages or showpieces to enjoy their own ‘achhe-din’ despite of seeing the open destruction of this State at the hands of their own top Central/State leaders.
Let us turn this election into a big ‘Voting-Utsav’ by daringly coming out in huge numbers to finally protect our own unique Goan identity for our future generations and defend what is still left of Goa. Let us participate in this election like responsible citizens of India to shape the future of our beautiful state. Viva Goa. Viva Goenkar.
Jerry Fernandes, Saligao
Utilise ‘NOTA’ in rare cases
Today Goans will be voting to choose the two candidates who will represent the State in Parliament. Voters have to choose the candidates from the two National parties, a regional party and some Independent candidates.
We need to choose wisely. Incidentally voters also have the ‘None of The Above’ (NOTA) option. This option allows voters to formally express their rejection of all running candidates. I
t is pertinent to note that the Supreme Court of India in a judgment directed the Election Commission to provide necessary provision in the ballot papers/EVMs and another button called ‘None of the Above’ (NOTA) may be provided in EVMs so that the voters, who come to the polling booth and decide not to vote for any of the candidates in the fray, are able to exercise their right not to vote while maintaining their right of secrecy.
If NOTA votes get the most number of votes in a constituency, the next candidate with the second-most number of votes is declared the winner. Interestingly, a NOTA vote is a neutral vote that is eventually discounted towards the final total, which distinguishes it from a negative vote and has no arithmetic value.
It could lead to an undeserving candidate being elected. We need to make our vote count. Hence NOTA option should be utilised in the rarest of rare cases.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
AstraZeneca issue will affect public trust
AstraZeneca has admitted in court that Covishield vaccine could in very rare cases cause thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS), a rare side effect associated with blood clotting, sparking global concern.
During Covid-19 pandemic, several vaccines were available. Among them Covaxin is India’s first indigenous Covid vaccine that was developed by the corona vaccine manufacturer Bharat Biotech.
But AstraZeneca had made the admission in a legal document submitting to the High Court in London in this year for a group action being brought by 51 claimants. The WHO had described the vaccine as safe and effective for all individuals aged 18 and above.
This development might affect public trust in vaccines. The experts say, “The adverse effects related to vaccine usually occur within a few weeks (1-6 weeks) after the administration. Hence, people in India who took the vaccine two years ago need not worry.”
K G Vilop, Chorao
Vote to elect people’s govt for upright living
We, Goans are noted to create history. It was so in 1967 when Goa was just about to be merged with Maharashtra, the Opinion Poll victory came from South Goa protecting our identity and upholding our Goenkarponn. Today, we have the State Assembly from where the Goa government functions. Thanks to late Dr Jack de Sequeira who made Goenkars aware of the dangers of merger.
In 1987, again we created history fighting for Konkani to give status to Goa with its State language, Konkani was made the official Maim bhas. It is now flourishing the world over with tiatrists giving their best to promote it globally with the support of the Goan community.
The 2024 Lok Sabha election is considered to be another Opinion Poll, we are back again in the battle to keep Goa in particular, and India in general, secular and free from going into oblivion should we not retain our freedom to live in peace, harmony and brotherhood respecting one another and upholding humanity.
INDIA Bloc has given us good candidates in North and South, here in Goa. We are happy and must vote for them, Capt Viriato Fernandes and Adv Ramakant Khalap, to ensure that our Constitution is protected, our rights are given to us and our democratic freedom is restored in keeping with the preambles of the Constitution of India.
Interestingly, Goans are labelled susegad; yes, because we like to take life easy, enjoying but when we wake up from our slumber, we can be very lethal. Having seen what we have gone through for the past 10 years, let us not make a mistake to remain complacent, but go and vote to make India a country of great citizens who will make the right choice to elect people’s government to take over to give us a joyful and upright living.
Ayres Sequeira, Salvador do Mundo
