SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 2024
Disqualification verdict
The verdict was a foregone conclusion. It is victory of the evil forces. Goans do not feel disappointed. We can teach them a lesson at the next hustings. If these defectors should stand for the next elections, please do entertain them and their cronies at your doorsteps or at any public function.
It is important to create an awareness programme of their wrong doings to be conveyed to the uneducated and make sure these defectors are defeated and a lesson learnt by those who plan to thaw their line.
Joaquim Pinto, Mapusa
Disqualification saga
The verdict pronounced by the Goa Assembly Speaker Rajesh Patnekar was a foregone conclusion. Any other person in his position, too, would have done the same, except for a small percentage of Goans who perhaps might have expected otherwise. Speakers in Indian States and UTs Assemblies are first selected from the elected members by the ruling parties and then they are elected. Invariably the person selected is a member of the ruling party or its coalition partner who enjoys the full confidence of the party.
So it goes without saying that when the 12 MLAs, 10 from the Congress and 2 from the MGP, defected to BJPs ruling dispensation, they must have already received clear assurances that they would be safe and sound in their new avatar.
This is how things work in India and well planned defections are irreversible. At this rate in the years to come they will become regular feature without the fear of any repercussions unless something drastic is done.
So what's the alternative for the political parties and particularly the voters who elect such MLAs, who under some excuse or other desert the party and defect to the ruling party, in spite the existence of tough anti-defection laws? Moving to courts could be one solution but experience has shown us that it is a long drawn process with no guarantee that the outcome will come before the next election.
There is one more alternative, which is to select candidates who are the voters’ choice and not that of high command. A good majority of voters must be able to receive assurances from candidates that they will remain in the party for the full tenure of current Assembly.
Antonio Diniz, Fatorda
Covid new strain infecting youngsters
It was earlier believed that Covid-19 afflicts mostly elderly people having comorbidities. However, now the mutant strain seems to be infecting younger people with no comorbidities. A few of those below the age of 45 have even succumbed to the Coronavirus infection. It is understood that over a period of three days 54 people have died due to Covid-19 with several of them in the age bracket of 40-50 and mostly without comorbidities.
This is a very disturbing fact of the second wave. Till date four strains namely the UK, US, double-mutant Maharashtra strain and the regular Coronavirus strain have been detected in the state. It is much easier to control the movement of elderly people outside their homes than those belonging to the younger generation. The elderly spend much of the time at home which is very essential to break the chain of the infection. However, younger people prefer to move outside their homes on their routine work. Youngsters mingle with friends, hang out at various places.
It becomes very difficult to keep the young back home. When the need is to stay indoors as much as possible, the movement of the youngsters can cause a problem as they can also be asymptomatic and transmit the virus to the elders at home. Youngsters and middle-aged people also need to take precaution by following all the pandemic-related protocol when they step out of their homes.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
The elephant in the room
On a day when Covid cases in Goa have touched @ 1200, our Hon'ble CM rushed to meet the Home Mantri in Delhi to take instructions to enable announcement of 'a further plan of action' in tackling the pandemic. According to the CM, the HM was briefed about the Covid situation in Goa and the availability of vaccines and medical oxygen. Also a 'high level meeting' is planned with State level functionaries to discuss ways to battle the contagion. Amidst all this, the North Goa collector by some stretch of absurd logic stated that the restriction on gatherings of more than 50 persons does not apply to restaurants, bars and nightclubs which are licensed to organise events regularly, apparently the (super-spreader) shows must go on, never mind the four digit caseload and double digit fatality figures. The authorities are criminally ignoring the elephant in the room i.e. the unchecked influx of tourists, without even a mandatory Covid -ve certificate. Of what use are these farcical 'high level meetings' if the government can't even get the basics right. Rushing to the Centre to receive instructions (more of damage control measures for the ruling party's image) is not going to save Goa Sir, common sense and empathy will. Wake up and smell the coffee.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
Crematoriums overburdened
Non-stop cremations cast doubt on India's counting of Covid dead. Several States are reporting far larger numbers of cremations and burials under Coronavirus protocols than official death tolls. In many cases, patients come to hospital in an extremely critical condition and die before they are tested and there are instances where patients are brought dead to hospital, and do not know if they are positive or not.
The officials say that mismatch in death tallies may be caused by several factors, including over-caution. The deluge of infections and deaths highlight just how unprepared central government has been to deal with the latest wave of the epidemic. In the past weeks large crowds have gathered for elections rallies in five States, festivals, and religious pilgrimages -- indicating things could get even worse for the country and its crematoriums.
Covid-19 presents a good opportunity for the government to solve the emerging crisis of shrinking burial space especially in major cities. The business of death has become highly lucrative as the cost of dying rises in cities across the country. Even with the rise in deaths, experts say India is still underreporting fatalities.
An acute shortage of beds in hospitals and a long wait for ambulances followed. Essential medicines have disappeared from pharmacies even as their prices on the black market skyrocket. Central government has mishandled the pandemic really bad.
K G Vilop, Chorao
Passing the buck?
The Prime Minister's televised address on April 20, 2021, was devoid of any contents. He seemed to pass the buck to the States, as far as containing Covid was concerned. Since early last year when COVID-19 was first detected in India, the Union Home Ministry has been issuing a slew of directions including the lockdown and gradual opening up. This whole process was directed, controlled and executed as per the MHA guidelines. Even the Vaccination Programme was managed centrally, with even the PM's photograph on the vaccination certificate.
Despite the pandemic raging, the PM and other politicians barring party lines, addressed political rallies in poll bound States like West Bengal, where people crowded in mammoth numbers.
The second wave seems to have brought us back to square one. The PM has now rested the onus of the State Governments.
Sadanand M Raikar, Colva
