The protests that are spreading across the nation on the Citizen's Amendment Bill (CAB), re-christened the CAA after being passed in Parliament as an Act, are an index of the stupidity of the present BJP government which sustains itself on jingoism in the face of more pressing and urgent problems that the nation is facing. Narendra Modi should ask himself whether he is the Prime Minister of India or the prime minister of the refugees that seek Indian citizenship through the CAA.

Who is more important for him, the refugees who seek Indian citizenship on account of religious persecution in neighbouring countries or the citizens of India facing rampant inflation particularly with the runaway prices of onions and the state of the stuttering economy which is moving towards a shuddering halt?

There was no need to bring the CAB at this moment when the country is facing problems on multifarious issues and the attention of the government should have been on resolving these and to put the country back on the rails. Where the country was peaceful, the CAB (A) has generated a law and order issue, which was completely avoidable. Bullheadedness and strong arm methods like bullying do not work in democracies is what Modi and his crony henchman, Amit Shah should realise. 

The BJP by operating in this manner is squandering the mandate that it has received twice over since 2014 and it is time for it to buckle down and act on serious matters of governance that are affecting the nation, particularly the economy.

Srinivas Kamat, Alto St Cruz

It has been seen that local politicians have been invited as chief guests and guests of honour for X'mas dances this year too. 

It is common knowledge that politicians tend to take advantage of such events, where they will sponsor with an intention of being made the chief guest, which will also help him/her in getting good votes during the next elections. 

Instead, the dance organisers should invite prominent citizens of Goa or from that particular village, with no political affiliations, to be the chief guest and guest of honour.

Willie M. Severes, Majorda

The spectacular astronomical event of the year, the annular solar eclipse will occur today December 26 morning from 8.03 am to 10.59 am. The phenomenon will be visible all over the state and at several places in the country. 

It is understood that an annular eclipse occurs when the new moon is a little further in it’s orbit than normal and is not able to cover the entire solar disc as is required to cause a solar eclipse. This gives rise to the visible flaming ring or annular eclipse which is also known as ‘The Ring of Fire’. 

It must be said that the celestial spectacle is occurring at a time when the entire country is in turmoil over NRC and CAA. The astronomical event should come as a reminder that we belong to one big family called humanity. Everyone is capable of witnessing the spectacle irrespective of religion, caste, creed or the region they belong to. 

This heavenly event should be a uniting force for us Indians so that the violence the country is witnessing at several places comes to an end. Taking place as it is at the end of the year and the decade,let us hope that the celestial spectacle ushers in a New Year and a new decade of peace and prosperity in the country.

Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco

Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat has rightly said that natural farming has the power to live up to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s slogan to double the farmers’ income by 2022, with minimum input and maximum output, freeing them from debt and contributing to the villages’ prosperity.

The real challenge with us is to encourage farmers towards organic farming. It is observed that the traditional farmers do not look up to the organic farmers as they believe that only financially secure farmers can go organic. Further they are also of the opinion that the time period to gain actual profit margins from organic farming takes at least three years of time and a small farmer cannot sustain till then with his limited income.

We need to spread awareness among the consumers to buy organic produce and put it for comparison. Once the farmers know that they will get a guaranteed income, they are also ready to experiment and we can make them farming environment friendly. Organic farming provides lot of benefits to the farmers, which not only helps them in growing healthier crops but also raise the income of the farmer comparatively.

Vinod Dixit, Ahmedabad

At a time when the public and the authority are running helter skelter to find a solution for heavy air pollution the Central railway has come out with an interesting and affordable solution to one of the most severe day to day problem giving a nightmare to common man and all living beings. 

The railways have decided to open up 'Oxygen parlours' at Nashik station to help commuters breathe clean air. In collaboration with a private firm the station is all set to  grow plants that have the natural power to absorb harmful pollutants from the air. 

The concept of the ‘Oxygen Parlour’ is based on the recommendation of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) .Some years ago NASA had conducted a study in which they identified some  plants  that have the power to better absorb harmful pollutants from the air.

These plants, around 1500, will be planted  in the premises and the authority concerned is sure that ,based on the study of NASA, these parlours  will help effectively  to bring down the pollution in the air at the railway station  and the area's surrounding it. The people  thereby will be able to breathe cleaner air. The railways and the company which is taking this initiative has said that theirs is a long term objective and if found successful shall expand this to all the railway stations.

Local bodies can take a cue from this initiative and should be ready to study to find out the positive results of the same and implement such parlours in towns and cities which are nowadays suffering from heavy  air pollution. The citizens should be made aware of such an excellent initiative and they too must be made a part of such public welfare endeavours. 

M Pradyu, Kannur

Democracy 2020

The UP Government has declared imposition of Section 144 CrPC in the whole State till January 31, 2020. Come January we will not only enter a new year but will also enter a new decade. Several eminent personalities, especially our venerated former President APJ Abdul Kalam in his book "Vision 2020", had contemplated the upcoming decade with profound hopes and in high spirits. The imposition of Section 144 as a tool to suppress protests and dissent is not just inimical to their vision but also a poor sign for our democracy. 

The government ought to withdraw this decision to let the citizens feel the fresh breeze of a new year and a new decade, and allow them to register their protest in a peaceful manner. Otherwise, the Republic Day that we will celebrate to honour our democratic Constitution on January 26 will be in name only.

Shivanshu K Srivastava, Lucknow