Two wrongs don’t make a right!
Actor and BJP-elect Kangana Ranaut reportedly said that she was hit in the face and abused by a woman Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) constable during the security check at the Chandigarh airport on Thursday.
The ugly incident occurred two days after she won from the Mandi Lok Sabha seat in Himachal Pradesh. It is learnt that the CISF constable appeared to be upset with Kangana Ranaut over her stance on the farmers’ protests. The constable has reportedly been suspended and an FIR lodged against her.
Kangana mentioned about the shocking rise in terror and violence in Punjab. Be that as it may, it is appalling to note that those responsible for security at the airport are themselves breaching security. Whatever may be the provocation, such action by the security personnel is unacceptable. It is pertinent to note that several important dignitaries, politicians, VIPs, VVIPs, sports personnel, businessmen, etc travel by air along with the common man and an attack by constable on duty sets a very bad precedent. In the future, some important personalities could be the target.
Besides the FIR being lodged against the CISF constable a departmental inquiry needs to be conducted to find her mental state. In future those security personnel posted at the airports and important functions need to undergo thorough evaluation of their past history.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
New TCP rules are disastrous
New rules notified by the TCP department give sweeping powers to the Chief Town Planner including the power to change or modify the Regional Plan and the Outline Development Plan. The new rules mean that the department can change the classification of a plot of land based on directions of the government or applications from individuals. The TCP department has replaced section 16B of the Act with section 39A to boost the ‘ease of land conversions’.
A processing fee ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 50,000 which is a pittance really has to be paid by entities seeking alterations in land use. As a fig leaf, the new statute also mentions that stakeholders will be given 30 days time to file objections to proposed changes. This amendment has been done under pressure (or maybe as a reward) from the rapacious real estate lobby who shall ravage whatever is left of Goa. Expect more hill cutting, filling of khazan lands, blocking of natural water sources / water bodies, cutting of mangroves, deliberately lit forest fires and what have you. It is a cosy ‘quid pro quo’ arrangement with the builders who have been the biggest source of funding for the ruling dispensation. So much for loud proclamations by Sawant and Rane on ‘aving Goa’, ‘mother Mhadei’, ‘protecting our forests’ etc, etc.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
BJP eats humble pie in Uttar Pradesh
The 2024 general election results have decidedly proved that Narendra Modi’s magic will no longer work and he is not invincible any more, as the BJP’s “400-paar” dream has been shattered much to his brazenness and impudence, and the party, for the first time, has fallen short of majority. It is all the more damaging that for the BJP-led NDA, the results in UP have seriously jolted the alliance, as the INDIA bloc has inflicted a stunning blow to it and completely altered the political landscape of the State. Adding salt to the wound, the BJP has been defeated in Faizabad, which has stumped many, given the recent pran pratishtha and opening of the grand Ram temple in Ayodhya.
The hasty construction of the temple to be timed to coincide with the election campaign, led to significant mismanagement of the same. Added to it, local resentment against some administrative decisions of the temple also seems to have played its part. A third term in governance has often proved to be rocky for many leaders, with unforeseen events blowing governments and their plans off course. One has to wait and see how long Modi and his government will survive the third term. The big headline of the election results is: “NDA has won, and not the BJP.”
Ranganathan Sivakumar, Chennai
Poll results are a slap on the face of BJP
Kangana BJP MP elect was slapped by a woman CISF constable at the Chandigarh airport. Whilst not condoning this action, the election results show that a big section of Bharat is angry.
The constable was reportedly angry by the brutal action of the government on the Farmer’s agitation where her mother was participating and Kangana’s condoning comments thereafter hurt.
As to Kangana’s statement at the airport about the incident, if there was any terrorism, it was by the BJP! I may state that the election results also can be considered a slap on the face of the ruling party boasting about 400 par.
The BJP is used to bulldozing and slapping down the Opposition, which they must learn to respect as they can no longer easily do! BJP MLA Sanklap Amonkar says internal forces are behind the South Goa electoral defeat. All Internal forces are not urban naxals or anti- Indian. Parliament will now have to function democratically and constitutionally for the smallest citizen of Bharat!
John Eric Gomes, Porvorim
Swiatek, Paolini to cross
swords for French open
Aspiring to become the fourth woman to lift the French Open crown four times, Poland’s Iga Swiatek seeks to emulate Justine Henin, Steffi Graf and Chris Evert in her bid against Italian first time Grand Slam finalist, Jasmine Paolini at Roland Garros.
Swiatek played an almost blemishless game against American Coco Gauf winning, 6-2, 6-4 while Paolini defeated Russian 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva 6-3, 6-1 in the semifinals. Swiatek is also seeking to make it a hat-trick of wins of the French Open and is assured of keeping the number one ranking immaterial of the result.
Paolini is bidding to annex her first Grand Slam title against the formidable Iga Swiatek who has a very impressive track record on clay. On June 8, which is coincidentally Jelena Ostapenko’s birthday, also a French Open winner once, a feast of women’s tennis is on the cards on the slow Roland Garros court. Happy viewing.
Elvidio Miranda, Panjim
