Celebrate Opinion Poll as State function
Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai’s suggestion to celebrate Opinion Poll Day as a State function every year on January 16 deserves kudos, merits and full compliance from the authorities, as this glorious event is one of the most important and extremely significant in the history of post-Liberation of Goa.
Those who witnessed the successful outcome in the form of a victory at the Opinion Poll, which prevented the unthinkable merger of Goa in Maharashtra will be able to recall with emotional gratitude and satisfaction that Goans consisting of all sections of people unitedly fought hard and preserved not only the true identity of Goa but also its unique culture, social ethos and above all its communal harmony.
Those who are fortunate to rule Goa should never forget the significance and importance of Opinion Poll and all the leaders who courageously spearheaded the movement to maintain Goa as a separate entity.
Antonio Diniz, Fatorda
South Goa, Salcete kept Goa’s flag flying high
The front page statistics provided by a leading Goan English daily of the Opinion Poll of 1967 says it all as to the role played by the Salcete electorate with some pockets of North Goa in deciding the merger of Amchem Goem with Maharashtra.
Likewise later on same was the case with Konkani where again South Goans played a leading n crucial role in getting Konkani the Official Language status in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, sacrificing eight lives in the bargain fighting for the cause of Konkani.
If the first issue was decided in favour of the pro-mergerites Goa would have become one of the districts of Maharashtra with Dhavalikar in the likes as Zilla members and Marathi the official language.
Wiser counsels prevailed and in this regard we salute the fathers of the opinion poll Like Dr Jack Sequeira, Purshottam Kakodkar and the likes who prevailed upon Nehru, Shastri and later Indira Gandhi who gave her final nod.
JAI OPINION POLL…JAI GOA
Lucas D’Souza, Verna
Porvorim-Sangolda road a nightmare for motorists
The entire Chogm road stretch starting from O’Coqueiro junction Porvorim and heading up to the Sangolda Lightning Club area is currently giving nightmares for motorists including residents of the area. The stretch has been fully damaged by State authorities in the name of carrying some underground repairs/laying sewerage pipeline network and has been kept in a dilapidated condition for the past several months thereby compelling the people to suffer.
Motorists and residents of the area are practically facing dust pollution, constant traffic jams every few metres on this particular stretch and are finding it difficult to navigate along the fully-damaged road on a daily basis.
Why can’t the government divert the traffic proceeding to Panjim via the interior roads of Sangolda or via the Pilerne-Betim road at least during peak hours to keep the Chogm road stretch free from traffic jams to give some relief to motorists heading to Sangolda, Saligao, Mapusa, Calangute and other beach belt areas of Goa?
I think that the government of the day should get things done more professionally or else should henceforth stop collecting the various taxes from motorists for providing them with badly damaged roads. Hope better sense will prevail.
Jerry Fernandes, Saligao
Inform passengers of flight delays
A purported video which surfaced on social media shows a passenger on an IndiGo flight hitting the pilot when he was making an announcement regarding a delay in takeoff at the Delhi airport. Such unruly behaviour of a passenger is unacceptable and should be dealt with as per the law. It is learnt that the flight took off after a delay of over 10 hours. If a flight is delayed for so long then the passengers need to be given the option of de-boarding. Delay in takeoff of flights has become a common feature. The most common reason for flight delays is inclement weather which includes heavy rains and fog. Another reason is Air Traffic Control (ATC) directives. Mechanical issues can result in flight delays. Security incidents can also cause flight delays. While some delays are beyond control, other delays could be due to the airline’s shortcomings. Flight delays can result in missing a connecting flight or other modes of transport. The complimentary refreshment and meals provided to passengers at the airport in case the flight is delayed is little relief if the passenger has to attend an important meeting. In case there is a delay in take-off of a flight for whatever reason, the airline needs to inform the passengers of the reschedule
time of departure through a message on the mobile phone well in advance.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Big test for Kharge as INDIA bloc convenor
The name of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge as INDIA bloc convener came to the fore following dissent over Nitish Kumar’s name though the latter himself is said to have ‘backed out’ of the race. The octogenarian Dalit leader from Karnataka, Kharge, has seen it all. Though not exactly known as an able administrator, but as a person, Kharge is famous for his pliability as well as amiability, and this should gel with many egoistic INDIA bloc leaders. Similarly, not having a rebellious streak in him can also be his trump card in days to come.
One cannot straightaway say that the Dalit leader has never been known as a messiah of the community or a leader of the masses. He can be one in the future if he plays clever politics. Kharge’s biggest asset, unlike many South Indian politicians, is his hold over Urdu and ‘Dakhni’. By all accounts, and in true Congress tradition, Kharge will act as a facilitator to keep the rumblings within the INDIA bloc to a minimum by keeping the flock together: it goes without saying that staying one till the general elections is a big test for INDIA.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
Threat to global democratic standards
2024 could possibly see the biggest threat to global democratic standards with USA and India going into their respective national elections! One party in the USA is strongly misusing the ‘Bible Belt of States’ and the other party in India is misusing their ‘Saffron Belt of States’!
Religion is supposed to make things/people better but in these two countries it is largely being used to manipulate democracy; with voters being overrun by emotions, and losing their ability to see through the facade and elect better/proper candidates!
Such mentalities will not only be bad for the respective countries but have negative fallout for the planet on issues with the action on global warming, global justice and freedom being the top three on threat level!
Arwin Mesquita, Colva
