Proper justice is expected
A big hue and cry has been made regarding the arrest of Churchill Alemao by Crime Branch. I want to congratulate Crime Branch for the excellent work in this case. Many tactics are used by the corrupt in gathering people and blackmailing governments that if arrests are made markets will be closed etc. These are common tactics to weaken the legal process. An innocent person can defend himself in any situation.
It will now be very difficult for Alemao to face the people of his constituency as well as Goa. This case will create a negative image. Nobody likes corrupt people. It seems many people are involved in this scam and many more names will come up as the inquiry progresses. So far Crime Branch has been doing a good job.
The people of Goa hope that justice will prevail this time. Everyone knows who are corrupt and who are the habitual corrupt. I hope a proper inquiry is conducted without any political interference and blackmail tactics and all the influential and corrupt will inaugurate Colvale prison as early as possible.
Satyajit Prabhudessai,
Benaulim
Shame on tainted government servants
This has reference to the JICA project scam. I can understand why some opposition MLAs want a CBI inquiry; when the present inquiry by CB is going on smoothly. The inquiry spans many nations and the CB has done its homework in a systematic manner. By having a CBI inquiry the culprits will be able to slip thru the net as CBI is connected to the central government and is a puppet of the Centre and will be able to save the tainted MLAs. The MLAs demanding it are afraid that they themselves may be exposed by CB in view of the powers given to CB by the present government for an impartial inquiry and nailing down the criminals/goons among government servants. Shame on government servants for robbing public money through JICA.
Victor de Melo Fernandes, Collem
Possible ISL and I-League merger will strengthen football
There’s some good news for football lovers. The merger of ISL and I-League can happen sooner than later. I-League chief executive Sunando Dhar said the merger of the two leagues can result in a more competitive league. “A single league with 15-16 teams could be established in three years’ time,” Dhar said. AIFF president Praful Patel too spoke about the need to have a single league lasting nine months.
Merging the two leagues may not be easy but the following formula may be considered. Presently the ISL consists of 8 teams with 56 league matches, each team playing 14 (7+7) home and away matches. Assuming that one match is played every day for 56 days, each team is required to play every four days on an average. I suggest that next season (2016) the ISL may be increased to 12 teams divided into two pools of 6 teams each, playing a total of 60 matches (30+30 in each pool). Each team will be required to play only 10 matches, (5 home and 5 away) at an average of one match every 6 days, which is just about perfect. The league may be followed by cross semi-finals and finals.
Two years later the league may be extended to a fullfledged 16 teams league to be played over nine months on home and away basis with each team playing 30 matches and with the top teams participating in the cash rich AFC Champions League. By then India will have arrived on the international football scene.
Prof Robert Castellino, Calangute
Well done Goa Police
Kudos to Crime Branch of our Goa police for the thorough professionalism shown in pursuing the JICA bribery case. We assume that the police have rock-solid evidence against those arrested (and those yet to be arrested), and do not surrender limply in the court. It appears that after a really long time, the police have not dragged their feet when it comes to pursuing cases against the powerful. This reinforces the belief that our cops are smart and intelligent, can conduct thorough and swift investigations and work with sincerity. A job well done has to be commended.
The last case where our police had moved at a cheetah’s pace was in the infamous Tarun Tejpal case. And we all know the relations between Tejpal and the ruling dispensation. This brings us to the million dollar question. Do our police choose and pick cases depending on the political masters? Why are so many cases against politicians of all hues and colours, bureaucrats, corporate honchos and police officials relegated to the back burner, shelved in the cold storage, not pursued or given clean chits? Why are the police reluctant to even file reports against bigwigs? We the people would have been such a happier lot if our police showed the same speed and sincerity in tackling all cases instead of choosing and picking, thereby fuel speculation on its motive.
James Monteiro, Loutolim
Start growing onions in Goa
The price of onions has risen and onions are being sold at Rs 50 per kg. Incidentally, onion happens to be a staple food the price of which has risen several times in the recent past. This has affected not only the common man but also the small-time hoteliers and the owners of fast-food joints. Goa is dependent on onions produced in other States. Hence any rise in price due to fall in production affects the price of onions sold in Goan markets. To prevent such a rise in the price of onions which has been occurring much too often, the Goa government should encourage farmers to grow onions in a big way so that the State becomes self-sufficient in it’s need of this staple diet and is not dependent on the neighboring states. Farmers in Goa should be given the technical know-how of how to produce a good harvest of onions. They should also be provided monetary aid to start cultivation of onions in the State.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Cautious driving please
Driving on our roads is becoming dangerous, thanks to our riders who lack good driving skills and common sense. Overtaking from the left is very risky, yet people do so not realizing the consequences. Looks like there is a race to reach the destination as everyone rides in a reckless manner. Even a zebra crossing is not obeyed and pedestrians have to wait patiently for someone to stop, so they can cross the road. And if at all one tries to cross, he/she is hurled with abuses. Abroad vehicles stop to give way for others while crossing or while turning in/out, whether there is a signal or not. People don’t even care for the elderly, women or children.
A driving license should be issued after a thorough test. Online exams should be conducted first followed by oral and written tests and only then the final test with the vehicle should be taken. A little bit of sense and some presence of mind is needed for all who drive on our roads. Let’s help each other in reaching our destinations safely and pledge to adhere to the traffic rules and be patient and sensitive on our busy roads.
Osbert Rodrigues, Navelim
