Letters to the Editor

Terror raises its

ugly head again

Terrorism is getting crueller each day with serial blasts taking place all over the world. The recent one was in Sri Lanka that took place on Easter Sunday when people were in Church praying. 

Unless and until the terrorists are beheaded in full public view and shown live on television on all major channels, terrorism will continue to take place in the world.

Jubel D'Cruz, Mumbai

Attacks spread

hatred

It is a very heartbreaking news that around eight devastating blasts including suicide attacks, struck churches and luxury hotels frequented by foreigners in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday. As a result 290 innocent people were killed and hundreds of people injured. This is a second terrible incident to occur in religious place, earlier in New Zealand and now in Sri Lanka. 

It is totally condemnable that any attack is done on sacred or religious places especially on occasion of festival. Such an attack spreads hate and aversion between religious people, and society.

 I totally condemn this attack, and administration is responsible to find out criminals and punish them severely, make sure that not to happen such a case again.

Shabab Huda, Delhi

Pray for people 

killed in blasts

The deadly terror attack in Sri Lanka which saw as many eight serial bomb blasts targeting three churches and four hotels has shocked the entire world. The serial blasts has left 290 people dead and more than 500 injured and as per investigation it appears to be the handiwork of ISIS. It is the biggest terror attack on the island nation in a decade and an Easter marked with mourning for the Christian community. It is understood that three terror suspects have been arrested by the Sri Lanka police. 

Several Goans make a pilgrimage to the island country every year as it is the place where St Joseph Vaz performed several miracles during his lifetime. It was by providence that there were no Goans among the casualties. However it is sad to note that eight Indians have lost their lives in the serial blast. The Indian government needs to help the neighbouring country in the investigation so that the culprits are brought to book. 

It would be desirable for the Catholic community in the state to pray for the souls of the departed and for the families who lost their near and dear ones. 

Sri Lanka needs to improve the security at the airports and hotels in order to prevent terrorists entering the country and carry out such diabolic acts since it is a country which attracts several tourists.

Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco

Goan churches

must be alert

It is very sad to hear that Sri Lanka was shattered by 8 coordinated bomb blasts on Easter Sunday and that 3 churches and 3 hotels were targeted resulting in death of many and injuries to many more. At a time when Christians were attending Easter service and praying for peace and love to all, it was cruel and senseless to attack them with bomb blasts.

During Good Friday service and procession on April 19 in Assagao, a group of bearded men were seen video filming the event with advanced cameras and tripods. Tourists who visit places of interest take photos with their smart phones. They don’t move with such cameras and stands. This could well be a pre-plan of terrorists since such services are common in all churches.

Therefore, there is every need for temples and churches to be alert and vigilant now and take preventive measures on days when people attend in big numbers. We cannot take peace and safety for granted or always rely on Providence or St Francis Xavier to protect us.

Rodney de Souza, Assagao

Goans are hurt

Referring to your head line, Herald dated April 20, stating, “Goa fined Rs 10 crore for missing Nat Games deadline”. Though it is deserving yet my Goan feelings and patriotism are a bit hurt. I don’t know why for so many times Goa had to defer the hosting of these Games thereby putting into inconvenience not only the Indian Olympic Association but more than that the participating athletes and sportspersons who based on the scheduled date prepare themselves with vigorous practices bringing the body conditioning to the highest peak to win the medals.  

And after undergoing such a grueling training, the concerned authority declares its inability to host the games means something drastically wrong, first with the host for not doing its planning properly to prepare itself with all the facilities and secondly the IOC for being inefficient in overseeing the preparations of all the facilities by the host, Goa.

Late Parrikar was boasting that we will organise the hosting of National Games with pomp and grandeur but Parrikar was Parrikar, he was not Dayanand Bandodkar who was the genuine great sports lover under whose dynamic leadership the first ever National Football Tournament “Santosh Trophy” was so beautifully organized in Goa somewhere in 1971/72.  

Though the time was short yet Bandodkar did everything possible to prepare not only one Stadium but 3 major Stadia one each in Panjim, Margao and Vasco whereas while speaking to Ziauddin-based in Bombay and who was the big man of AIFF, Bandodkar said: “you in Bombay having such a long history and tradition of hosting national and international soccer matches, you have only one football ground while we in Goa just in our infancy in holding such events at All India level we have 3 big Stadia”.   

A.Veronica Fernandes, Candolim

We need to vote

This is with reference to the article, "Battle stations : Goa tomorrow" by Elwyn Decruz (Herald, Comment, April 22). Since we do not believe in bullet therefore we must have faith in ballot. Indeed, the people's aspiration through ballot and peaceful movements make some countries become truly welfare states. For example, the people of Nordic countries make their government take an amalgamated path of socialist equality and capitalist liberty and score high in human development and happiness indices. They have achieved it in a peaceful and democratic process. 

I have a great admiration for B. R. Ambedkar for his efforts for giving us Universal Adult Suffrage. India has a democratic set up with all citizens having equal rights. The Article 326 of the Indian Constitution says, “The elections to the House of the People and to the Legislative Assembly of every State shall be on the basis of adult suffrage..." Every person who is a citizen of India and who is not less than 18 years of age is entitled to get registered as a voter if not otherwise disqualified by law on the ground of "non-residence, unsoundness of mind, crime or corrupt or illegal practice". 

In 1928, Dr B.R. Ambedkar appeared before the Simon Commission and insisted on incorporating universal adult franchise in the Constitution of India. He said that vote was “a weapon in the hands of the most oppressed sections of society”. The Indian National Congress took a stand in favour of political equality at the 1931 Karachi session. 

India has made a great stride towards democracy and political equality by accepting the modern concept of giving equal value for every vote. We need to vote after thinking about who should be our representatives in the Parliament for the next five years. Come rain or shine, vote we must because election is the most peaceful way to change.

Sujit De, Kolkata