letters to the editor

In the name of development our heritage is being fast destroyed. This is happening in many parts of Goa and because of this there will be no trace of existing heritage in many places of Goa.

In Old Goa, a section of the historical ruins of St Dominic’s Church and Convent behind the World Heritage Church of St Cajetan, is being destroyed because of road widening when the same could have been shifted on the other side without destroying the heritage.

In 1963, an Archeological Committee of Goa, Daman and Diu was appointed by the Government comprising eight eminent persons in archeology to prepare a report about the conservation of archeological sites throughout Goa, Daman and Diu.

Regarding Old Goa City among other sites, this particular site of the ruins of St. Dominic’s Church and Convent has been expressly mentioned in their report for conservation, The Committee among other things has said the following: The Order of Dominican Friars was established in Goa in 1548 at the foot of the hill of Nossa Senhora de Monte, near a small spring. The building of the convent with its church was completed in 1564. Both the church and the convent were splendid buildings. Amidst the ruins of this magnificent building the Great Cross aisle which adorned its church still stands, attending the past glory of Dominican Friars of Old Goa City of Goa.

Indian as well as foreign researchers and tourists come all the way to Goa to find out about these historical places/ruins and that’s why the Committee had recommended that these ruins of St Dominic’s convent and church be marked and conserved for posterity.

Tomas Rodrigues, Divar

This refers to news report ‘BJP MLA questions Taj Mahal’s place in heritage’ (Herald, October 17) BJP MLA Sangeet Som’s critical remarks on the iconic Taj Mahal, considered as India’s pride and joy for centuries, betrays his ignorance of history. He claims the Taj Mahal was built by Moghul tyrants and therefore should be removed from history. He claims the builder imprisoned his father when in fact it was Emperor Shah Jahan who built the Taj Mahal in memory of his wife and was imprisoned till the end of his days by his son Aurangzeb.

Earlier it was UP CM Yogi Adityanath who courted controversy by leaving out the Taj monument from the tourism booklet. The UNESCO recognised world heritage site draws millions of tourists from world over earning huge revenue for the government. Incidentally, after BJP coming to power at the centre, attempts are being made to rewrite history in saffron colors and also ignore India’s independence architects like Gandhi and Nehru and glorify heroes who had not much roles in India’s freedom struggles.

Striking off or criticising the iconic monument for political gain is a self-defeating act. Globally, it will only portray India as the land of anti-diversity culture.

Gregory Fernandes, Marcel

Various countries and other top tourist attractive states of all around the world find every opportunity to promote their respective place for tourism in this part of the world. London in UK lacks nothing to be labeled as the capital of the world.

Our prawn curry rice finds a place on the cuisine but regrettably represented by no Government authority of Goa anywhere to promote tourism of Goa. Goa deserves an outlet here to focus on our touristic attractions. Will our honorable chief minister take note and promote Goa here in London.  

Simon Fernandes, London UK

A Hindu is a person who follows the tenets of Dharma and a Konkno is a geographical term to describe the inhabitant of the Konkan region and therefore all Goans are technically Konknes.

The word Konkno (not unlike the word mestisso ) was used rather offensively to describe certain sections of the Goan society during the colonial regime. 

A C Menezes, Chinchinim

The murder of three journalists namely Gouri Lankesh, Shantanu Bhowmik and K.J. Singh (along with his mother) in different cities of our country one after another within a span of just 20 days, tells a very sad tale of the present status of press freedom.

Already, India has slipped three places from 133rd in 2016 to 136th this year in World Press Freedom Ranking Index. It will be a bad day for democracy if the press has to work in a reign of terror. We must remember that democracy cannot survive without free press.

Sujit De, Kolkata

Faulty provisions of GST increases cheating, corruption and black money.

 Goods and Service tax (GST) indeed was a very good theme for a convenient corruption-free regime. But instead of being good and simple as publicised by central government, faulty provisions and wrong implementation has made an adverse reaction resulting in cheating, corruption and black money.

Provision of taking back credit of GST under exorbitant GST-rates has resulted in sale of GST-bills (without goods) for purpose of taking back credit making everyone involved in the corrupt practice feel real happy days. Genuine customers actually buying goods are happy because they do not have to pay GST on purchases made without invoice. Shopkeepers are happy because they find opportunity to sell GST-invoices saved by them without giving invoice to actual buyers. Those purchasing GST-invoices without making actual purchase are happy because they claim back GST levied in GST-invoices purchased by them without actually making purchases.

 Best is to make GST-rates rational and minimal at say 0, 10, 20, 50 and multiples of 100 (without cess) on net paid sale-price rather than levying extra on sale-price. Presently many retailers cheat consumers by charging GST extra on Maximum-Retail-Price (MRP). Provision of claiming GST already paid in purchase-invoices then can be withdrawn by providing only net payable price on invoices rather than printing GST separately on invoices. Suggested increase in minimum tax-slab from 5 to 10 percent on limited commodities will pave way for heavy decrease in tax-slabs of 12, 18 and 28 percent to 10 and 20 percent on majority commodities. 

Subhash Chandra Agrawal, Delhi