Checks necessary on
fake cashewnuts
It is learnt that Goa’s cashew nuts are likely to get a Geographical Indication (GI) tag by the end of May, which would be the 11th state unique agriculture products to get the status. This is good news for cashew farmers. The GI tag will officially recognise the distinctive flavor, quality and regional identity of Goan cashew nuts.
It will offer them enhanced protection in domestic and international markets. The certification is also expected to provide support to the local farmers who rely on cashew cultivation as a main source of income. Be that as it may, it must be said that sale of cashew nuts coming from outside the state and being sold as Goan cashew nuts must be stopped completely. This is absolutely necessary because several videos have gone viral on Social Media showing how fake cashew nuts are manufactured artificially in other states. There needs to be a check on whether fake cashew nuts are entering Goa.
Fake cashew nuts can be identified by its colour, size, shape and taste. Real cashews exhibit a pure white colour, while fake ones tend to appear light yellow. Real cashew nuts have a little sweetness, while fake cashew nuts have a bland taste. Apart from genuine cashew nuts break easily but fake ones can feel sticky when chewed. When dropped in water original cashew nuts will sink while fake ones will float. The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) needs to keep a check on the cashew nuts coming from other states as they could be artificially prepared ones.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Religious partisanship
It was shocking to note that permission for the annual Palm Sunday procession, a major event the Christian calendar was denied by the Delhi Police on vague grounds of 'law and order' and 'traffic issues.' Such action prima facie violates the Constitution which guarantees the right to practice and profess one's religion freely. Denial of permission is a concerted attack by the Sanghis on religious freedom and reflects discrimination aimed at silencing minority voices. This peaceful procession has been conducted by he Sacred Heart Cathedral for the past fifteen years bringing all communities together.
Modi during election campaigns meets assorted bishops and cardinals, professes equality of religions and discovers some 'purana nata' with the Christian community simply to garner votes. Recently he got the Catholic Bishop's Conference to endorse his controversial Waqf Amendment Bill. These double standards are par for the course for BJP, minorities should see through his jumlas and not entertain Modi and others of his ilk.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
Palm Sunday procession
disallowed in Delhi
With reference to the subject headline in our Herald newspaper dated April 14, I wish to ask PM Modi and the Catholic Bishops of Kerala if this is the religious freedom which we are having under the 'sab ka sath, sab ka vikas' sarkaar of the BJP in India?
Matias Lobo, Tivim
Flimsy ground to
cancel procession
A prominent Catholic organisation has condemned the Delhi Police's recent decision to deny permission for the annual Way of the Cross procession (a key religious event observed every Palm Sunday by the Christian community) for the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Delhi on flimsy reasons and which has been holding this peaceful religious procession every year for the last 15 years.
Of course, Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs George Kurrien, after coming under fire has now reportedly defended the above decision, stating that the denial was based on security concerns and which sounds really kiddish. Why?
Well, I personally feel that the above decision was deliberately taken at the behest of leaders of the newly hoisted BJP government in Delhi (which includes the centre) to humiliate the Christian community to show its actual place and to take their most divisive agenda ahead in our country in the name of promoting Sanatan Dharma.
Jerry Fernandes, Saligao