Raw deal for Labour!
Orlando S A Da Silva, Carmona
Union Law Minister Veerappa Moily’s statement that no judicial case should be pending for more than three years is welcome. But I hope his suggestion that Goa with a little effort can erase its list of 28,000 pending cases, is not a sugar-coated pill to be taken with a pinch of Epsom Salt.
The central government should place this as a benchmark for the Digamber Kamat government, to show its performance to the aam admi before the next election, and a condition for granting the state fresh central funds.
What about the 1,000 labour cases pending before the Industrial Tribunal? After the suspension of Judge Anuja Prabhudessai, the adjudication of labour disputes has come to a grinding halt. Prior to this, following the exit of the previous chairperson Mr Agni, it took the Kamat government nearly two years to give additional charge to Ms Prabhudessai.
The labour class of this tiny state has throughout got a raw deal. Funds for judicial reforms should not be spent in constructing buildings for politicians to collect commissions, but to make Goa the first state with an arrears-free Labour Tribunal.
The Goa government should also pass a legislation like the MRTU-PULP Act (for prevention of unfair labour practices) like in neighbouring Maharashtra, to enable labour disputes to be heard by the High Court through writ.
Church of Jesus
Bernard Simoes, Dona Paula
The letter ‘Catholics & Christianity’ by Glestone Fernandes (Herald, 27 July) is wrong. Even though Jesus never used the term ‘Roman Catholic Church’, in Matthew 16:18, He said: “And I tell you, you are Peter, the rock. And on this rock I will build my Church…”
That Church is the Roman Catholic Church, headed by the Pope, by virtue of apostolic succession, that Jesus built on the rock. Every other Church in existence is a deviation from the Church of Jesus. I would request the author to get a real Bible and read it carefully.
Work of the Spirit
Jeffrey John Pinto, Parra
The letter ‘Constantine’s legacy’ by Paul Rodricks (Herald, 29 July) in response to Ibonio D’Souza’s article ‘A whole human being’ (Herald, 28 July) claims that Emperor Constatines’ patronage made Christianity the state religion and was the driving force behind the spread of Christianity. He further states: “it was never the teachings or actions of Jesus Christ”.
It was not the patronage of any Emperor, Monarch or Conqueror, but the teachings of the Messiah through the working of the Holy Spirit that spread Christianity. India’s first Christians were not those converted by the Portuguese, British or other conquerors, but those who heard the Word through St Thomas the apostle, 1,950 years ago. when he first set foot in South India, where he was finally hacked to death by those who refused to accept the Word of God. In fact, it is the blood of martyrs that will continue to sow the seeds of Christianity.
A party for change
Kaleem Rikarty, Davorlim
Politics has become a business for most politicians. The likes of Lal Bahadur Shastri, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Sardar Vallabhai Patel and Dr B R Ambedkar are very hard to find anymore. Just a few dedicated politicians like Defence Minister A K Antony and Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar remain.
A new political party – the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) – is working to bring a positive change; to empower the more than 80 per cents of Indians who are poor and downtrodden, and deprived of basic necessities and human rights.
Its policies are simple: selection of a people’s candidate, and campaigning for him without allowing him to spend a single rupee from his pocket. If elected, he becomes a people’s candidate, as he has not invested any money for the election. SDPI has already fielded such candidates, in Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, and some have won.
In Goa too, we need such a party to change the corrupt and fascist politics. We must welcome politicians like Dr Hubert Gomes, who can be one such candidate of positive change.
Outsiders all
Praxy Fernandes, St Cruz
Hats off to Floriano Lobo (‘Talking to the HJS’, Herald, 30 June) and Damodar Mauzo (‘Why not close Khajuraho?’ Herald, 31 June) for taking up cudgels on behalf of renowned Sanskrit scholar Dr Jose Pereira, and asking the Hindu JanJagriti Samiti and Sanatan Sanstha to desist from violence and threats.
These self-styled religious watchdogs are all non-Goans. Some of them are there even in my religion. All such fundamentalist and communal elements should be driven away and banned from Goa, as they are just intent on fomenting trouble in Goa.
Let them play their mischief in their own states. Why are they trying to drive a wedge between Goan Christians and Hindus? None of my Goenkar Hindu friends have taken offence to the paintings of Dr Jose and Dr Subodh.
Ignorant fanatics
Abhijeet Naik, Fatorda
I strongly second Floriano Lobo’s thoughts (‘Talking to the HJS’, Herald, 30 July). HJS members are non-Goans. Their literature is all in Marathi. Those supporting Marathi like the Shiv Sena of Mapusa, the Sanatan Sanstha and the HJS should pack their bags and leave for Maharashtra.
We Goans – Hindus, Christians and Muslims – have always lived in peace. We do not need any HJS or SS to teach us Hinduism. When the HJS representative herself admitted that she did not know the Hindu scriptures, how can she or her group interpret Dr Jose Pereira’s paintings? He has also painted Christian deities in a similar manner.
A real Hindu
Kajal Chatterjee, Kolkata
Apropos the editorial ‘Who is the real Hindu?’(Herald, 29 July), a true Hindu is one who never hurts the sentiments of another community. Mahatma Gandhi, an ardent follower of Lord Ram, never misused the name of the epic hero to inflict pain and tension among the minorities.
A true Hindu is also one who protests against torture or ethnic cleansing of the community. (S)he should vehemently protest against discrimination towards Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley. (S)he should equally condemn the Gujarat pogrom and the barbaric demolition of the Babri Masjid and desist from equating the Ayodhya movement with ‘cultural nationalism’.
Catch smokers
Stuart Cabral, Nagoa
The heartless approach of today’s smokers is annoying. Every passing day, I see smokers lighting up cigarettes and smoking fashionably near schools, colleges and public institutions. This is a bad influence on young students. We see notices being served on film stars, but what about common smokers? Should they go scot-free?
No Portuguese comebacks
Joseph Pereira, Diwar
Mandrem MLA Laxmikant Parsekar’s remark in the Legislative Assembly on 30 July that there are people ‘still awaiting the arrival of the Portuguese’ was in bad taste. It was objected to even by the Speaker. Our unique culture, architecture and even many words in Konkani and Marathi have evolved during 450 years of Portuguese rule. Even now, Goans have the option of obtaining Portuguese nationality, settling down in EU countries, and sending precious foreign exchange to our little state.
We are all Goans first and then Indians. We have our own precious identity. The Portuguese left 49 years ago, and they are not coming back. Mr Parsekar is the BJP’s Goa President. He should show more dignity and avoid making derogatory remarks that will make him unpopular with Goans.
Transparent judiciary
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
Recent revelations about the conduct of judges embroiled in the Provident Fund scam reinforces the need to expedite the proposed Judges Accountability Bill. We need more accountability and transparency in the selection and promotion of judges. Of the six Ghaziabad district court judges accused in this scam, three rose to be Judges of the Allahabad High Court.
We need stringent selection procedures for judges – open, transparent and allowing only those having an impeccable character to make an entry into the judicial service. In fact, there should never have been room for Judges to be judged. But nobody should be above the law.
Of inland waterways
Babluis Pereira, Pomburpa
The news item ‘Nationalisation of inland waterways may hurt fishing’ (Herald, 16 July) says the Central Inland Waterways Authority proposal to nationalise Goa’s inland waterways is pending with the Goa government. Nationalisation of inland waterways in Goa will prove a boon to the mining industry.
Heavy tonnage barges find traditional fishing stakes in the channels as their main navigational obstructions. In the mining season, traditional fishing stake operators complain that barges damage the fishing stakes and nets, causing them thousands of rupees in losses.
Nationalisation of Goa’s inland waterways for infrastructural development will mean that all traditional fishing stakes (Harri) have to be removed. The government says it is considering the pros and cons. Hopefully, the issue of traditional fishermen will not become like the National Highway realignment controversy.