FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2024
Goans dealt a double whammy
With the change in policies regarding cow slaughter in neighbouring Karnataka and Maharashtra, Goans are facing an acute shortage of beef and the bird flu couldn't have come at a more inopportune time. Goa produces less than 10% of it's own chicken and the ban on transportation of poultry from neighbouring states has has dealt a body blow to stakeholders in the business. Sales have already declined to half of the previous levels and with no stock coming into Goa since Wednesday things are appearing pretty grim for the traders, the transporters and consumers.
The retailers have appealed to the government to revisit this blanket ban, they should also understand that every legislation has a trickle down effect. The poultry ban has also impacted the restaurant business, consequently affecting tourism which has just about managed to pick up after the long night of Covid.
It has been scientifically proven that cooking meat above 70°C kills all known pathogens, viruses and bacteria , so there should really be no cause for alarm. This knee jerk reaction of the government shall do more harm than good to the state. Remember, man cannot live on bread alone, the government should allow import of chicken from licensed and reputed suppliers subject to stringent avian health parameters being met.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
Track Turkish mission in India
The commotions of Turkish organizations in J&K are not only leading to instability in the region, but also posing a lot of threat to India’s national security. It is also believed that these organizations are indulged in money laundering, breaching the FRCA.
These organisations are also believed to be indulged in terror financing in Kashmir through charity, zakat, and unaccounted foreign money. Besides, they have also been successful in promoting radical Islam throughout the nation, especially, along the stretches with Muslim majority. Some of the Turkish organizations are controlled by Turkey President
Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s party and his son Bilal Erdogan. It even says that Turkish Embassy in India ensures maintaining a perennial contact with such NGO's. These groups are believed to operate under Turkish influence. The role of Turkish missions in India also needs to be highlighted. Hence, it becomes necessary for the Indian law enforcement agencies to track down the links of these Islamist charity organisations and launch a crackdown to ensure stability in J&K and national security of India.
K.G.Vilop, Chodan
Use bird-feeder not bird cage
Many people do have caged birds in their homes. The Wildlife Protection Act 1972 prohibits keeping Indian birds like parakeets, mainas, among others as pets. These birds are listed in Schedule IV of the Act and keeping them as pets can invite a jail term and a fine. Life in captivity is often a death sentence for birds, who may suffer from malnutrition, an improper environment, loneliness, and the stress of confinement. Birds are meant to fly and be with others of their own kind in a natural environment. Confinement causes birds to have temper tantrums and mood swings.
Driven mad by boredom and loneliness, caged birds often become aggressive, neurotic, and self-destructive. They pull out their own feathers, mutilate their skin, incessantly bob their heads, pace back and forth, peck over and over again at cage bars, and shake or even collapse from anxiety. Hence keeping birds in a cage may not be a good idea even as it is prohibited by law.
An alternative method to enjoy the presence of birds is to use bird-feeders and to keep water in vessels kept in open spaces, on the terrace or the garden. The birds will come to feed and quench their thirst. In due course the area will be crowded with birds. This will be a win-win situation. The house inmates can enjoy the sight of birds while the birds enjoy their freedom.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Revolution, not academy
The recent announcement by Kejriwal to set up a Konkani academy in Delhi is a welcome step, but more than that if Konkani has to survive, than what Goa requires is a revolution.
English is being increasingly & recklessly used by Goan Catholic parents while communicating with their children. This is a big threat to our culture. Our Tiatr industry in future will collapse & our jobs will be snatched by migrants if Konkani is not part of criteria in Goa.
So it would be wise on the part of AAP leadership to look into it's own backyard for the solution & not in Delhi. What we need is a door to door campaign to make people understand the importance of using Konkani language.
Johan Dmello, Vanxim
Melauli conundrum
Not a day passes by without protests and agitations across the country ever since the BJP came to power in 2014. Notwithstanding the ongoing farmers agitation in the national capital for repeal of the contentious farm laws which has led to the Supreme Court's intervention and the farmers unions rejecting the SC empowered committee, back home there have been protests galore against the proposed Shel-Melalui IIT project by the villagers who claim that the government is trying to usurp their land and deprive them of their livelihood.
Their campaign was bolstered by the surrounding villages who trooped in large numbers by extending their unstinted support to the contentious project. Gory scenes of police atrocities were witnessed on the peaceful protesters which went viral on social media and TV channels exposing the inefficiency of the ruling saffron party in controlling the volatile situation. The Police Inspector Sagar Ekoskar jaywalking on the chests of women was nauseating to say the least which was reminiscent of the dark days of fascist Germany.
The irony of the protest was filing FIRs against activists and protesters and letting go scot-free the law-breaker-cops. The adamancy of the CM was at its height by affirming that the IIT campus will not be shifted until the Home Minister and local MLA of Valpoi softened his stance in deference to the wishes of the residents by promising to scrap the controversial project but this assurance did not go down well with the protesters who insisted that the land be allocated to the rightful owners, FIRs withdrawn and stringent action against the errant Police Inspector for committing excesses on the womenfolk.
Everette Assis Telles, Margao
Women safety is a great concern
It was heartbreaking that after the heinous incident of 50-year-old woman, who was gang-raped and murdered in a temple of UP, a minor girl of age 15-16 years has been allegedly gang-raped and murdered in Aligarh.
In another shocking incident, a daughter of a farmer, the
11-year-old girl was allegedly raped in the same state by a 20-year-old boy in a field on January 7. She was found by family members soaked in blood and with severe injury marks on her neck. Earlier this week, a similar case was reported from Bareilly where a minor girl was allegedly blackmailed and gang-raped by five boys. The culprits even recorded the crime and posted a video of the same on social media.
I completely condemned these all incidents. Women safety has been a matter of grave concern in India specially in UP. It shows government's failure in protection of women's dignity. This issue has been neglected by the administration for many years. Now, the situation is going from bad to worse day by day. Government must take the matter widely before it is too late.
M N Qasmi, Calcutta
