MONDAY, MAY 20, 2024
World on brink of nuclear war
Russia has threatened to hold drills simulating the use of battlefield nuclear weapons amid rising tensions following comments by Western officials about the possibility of deeper involvement in the Ukraine war. It is the first time Russia has publicly announced drills involving tactical nuclear weapons.
With Israel bombing parts of Lebanon, Iran attacking Israel, ethnic tensions flaring in Georgia and Armenia, China threatening Taiwan and Phillipines, North Korea being a clear and present global danger and strife in Africa the world is a very dangerous place to live in.
The world seems to be on the brink of a nuclear war as prophesied by the French astrologer Nostradamus, hope all nations engaged in conflict pull back from the brink and give peace a chance.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
Pilgrims not voting could effect poll results
It is shocking to note that despite Archbishop of Goa and Daman, Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrao appealing to the Catholics to forgo their pilgrimage to Vailankanni to avoid missing out on voting in the Lok Sabha polls, hundreds of pilgrim reportedly boarded the weekly train to the Marine Shrine on the eve of the polling.
In the process they have not heeded to the advice of the head of the Catholic Church in Goa. These pilgrims justified their journey by explaining that they had booked their tickets prior to the announcements of the elections. Be that as it may, it is true that no one can be forced to change their travel plans. However, given the significance of these elections, the pilgrims could have postponed the trip to sometime in the future.
Alternatively the railways should have given an option by making the tickets booked one day prior to the elections valid for anytime in the future. It must be said that voting is a sacred duty of every citizen. One can embark on a pilgrimage at any time of the year but elections come once-in-every five years.
Irrespective of whichever party one is supporting, these pilgrims have missed a golden opportunity to make their vote count. Elections in Goa have often been closely contested. When hundreds of voters have not exercised their franchise, it could have a telling effect on the final results.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Disenchantment can lead to voter inertia
The lukewarm voter response in the first two phases of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections raises several questions about the underlying reasons for their apathy.
Is the weather a deterrent, or is it disillusionment with governance, scepticism towards nominees/parties, or lack of faith in electoral procedures like Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs)? Indeed, there is a pressing need to rekindle voter enthusiasm and participation in the electoral process. An initial speculation regarding low turnout often points to adverse weather conditions.
The scorching heat can indeed discourage voters, especially in regions prone to extreme climates. This disenchantment can lead to voter inertia, where individuals feel disengaged from the political process altogether. Even freebies could not boost their morale and hot weather came as an excuse for election boycott.
C K Subramaniam, Navi Mumbai
Voters to decide fate of candidates
Ultimately it is the numbers that prevail in the final crunch count. However, in Goa as we are seeing voting taking place, it is pertinent that we analyse the numbers game.
There are 11.7 lakh voters in the North Goa and South Goa Lok Sabha constituencies and South Goa accounts for about 5.9 lakh voters with women voters marginally outnumbering men.
Similarly, the North Goa has about 5.8 lakh voters with almost half each being men and women votes. The major contenders are jostling for supremacy in a battle that is supposed to be unique. The fact is that the interweaving of the voters choice of the candidates will decide the fate of the major candidates.
South Goa with about two lakh minority community voters which account for about one-thirds of the electorate and in the north, minority voters which account for about one-sixth of the electorate may not be enough to tilt the balance in favour of the INDIA candidates and it is awaited with anxiety and bated breath as to who will reign supreme. It could be fair to expect a 60% to 40% chances of the INDIA candidate winning in the south and in the north much against expectations, it could be a 51% to 49% surprisingly for the INDIA candidate.
These projections are merely on the strength of the experience of the candidates, the south Goa INDIA candidate having been a major campaigner for the environment and rights of the small time voters to get their names as owners of the land they till and the north INDIA candidate being a former Central minister with a law degree that could make him the winner just about.
Elvidio Miranda, Panjim
Let PM give ‘Modi guarantee’ to Manipur
It’s going to be about a year that Manipur has been in turmoil with no sign of peace in sight for the people of the unfortunate State. Law and order has gone for a toss with random killings continuing along with snatching of arms from para-military personnel and attacks on police stations.
Even on election day, there were some polling booths where people were not allowed to vote and the EVMs along with their equipment and furniture was damaged.
There is news of people having lost confidence in the official police and security arrangements and organising themselves into vigilante forces to look after the security of their villages and their families. This clearly shows that there is no functional government of any kind in Manipur. While the rest of the nation involves itself in the jamboree of the Lok Sabha elections, the people of Manipur continue to live in dread and fear. If Narendra Modi wants to show himself as a statesman, let him resolve the Manipur and bring normalcy to the State. The Modi Guarantee about which he is so boastful, let him give it to Manipur for peace. But politicians like Modi and Amit Shah are fair weather friends, the first sign of a problem they clam up. The voluble Modi becomes the 'Maun' Modi as we have seen many a time. He has also not even visited Manipur ever since the problem started to try and find a solution.
Srinivas Kamat, Alto St Cruz
