Lokayukta is
sitting idle in Goa
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The employment-related scams have made headlines in Goa adding to the growing list of such cases amounting to crores of rupees. The government should be held accountable for the rot within its own recruitment system.
It is no secret in Goa that securing a government job often hinges on either financial transactions or connections with MLAs and other elected representatives. Goa’s political leadership has failed their citizens in all the platforms. The anti-corruption institution – Lokayukta has been sitting idle, thinking that nothing has happened.
The Goa Lokayukta institution should have immediately acted on such types of corruption cases. The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act was passed in 2013, but over the years, many states have weakened the office of the ombudsman and today it carries the burden of ‘toothless’ tag.
Many states have curbed the powers of the Lokayukta saying that the powers of the ombudsman can’t be allowed to override those of the State government.
Institutions of this kind have to earn their reputation but that hasn’t happened. In most places, governments have come to understand how to play a game over this. The political parties treat Lokayukta differently while in and out of power,
K G Vilop, Chorao
Trump cabinet looks like media circus
The Donald Trump cabinet is increasingly looking like a media circus with most TV media stars nominated into the Cabinet. One hopes that Trump & his cronies realise that running a government is serious business and not the shoot & scoot variety as seen in the TV prime time talk and reality shows. Against some of the nominees you have the same kind of allegations of sexual misconduct and dalliances as against Donald Trump.
S Kamat, Mysore
Clear mandate to the Mahayuti alliance
Maharashtra electorates have given a clear mandate to the Mahayuti alliance led by the BJP and rejecting the MVA alliance led by Congress.
The clear take always as per the strike rate (SR) of the victorious combination 88.6%,71.3% and 69.5% clearly proves that Congress with a SR of 16 is decimated completely while its allies Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP) with SRs of 21.3% and 11.6% are rejected by the people in the state outright and their political journey has come to an end and one may in the due course witness defections to the victorious group from the respective parent parties. This apart, what has helped the Mahayuti is announcement of the ‘Ladki Bahin scheme’ whereby Rs 1,500 per month is given to more than one crore women across the State.
Women folk could have geared that the dole would stop if the government changed. The scheme proved an effective scheme from the election point of view. Congress campaign and harped on Constitution amendment, caste census and quota.
The lack of credible leadership in the lead partner of the MVA alliance was evident in the elections. In short, the MVA alliance had surrendered to the Mahayuti.
Gopalaswamy J, Chennai
Gautam Adani faces severe challenge
Gautam Adani faces a severe challenge as American prosecutors have levelled bribery charges against him in an alleged $250 million solar energy contract scheme. The allegations have cast shadow over Adani Group’s reputation, which had already been under intense scrutiny following the Hindenburg report earlier in 2023.
The US Department of Justice (DOJ) criminal indictment adds another layer to the controversies surrounding the billionaire, which potentially can undermine the future of his global business ventures.
Meanwhile, the indictment will intensify political attacks by the Opposition on Narendra Modi for his close association with the Indian business tycoon, and the Prime Minister will find it increasingly difficult to distance himself from the latest controversy erupted around his friend.
For the Opposition, the indictment might have come a little too late to sway the votes in the just concluded Maharashtra elections. But the arraignment is sure to cast a heavy shadow, both in Indian politics and future relations with the US
Ranganathan Sivakumar, Chennai
Only God can save India
India has become a banana republic after the BJP with Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister took over in 2014. Was this that Narendra Modi had promised to the people of the nation 10 and half years back?
Today, there is no safety for women and even children in India — rapes and murders are happening every day — violence and terrorism are occurring in every part of the country — no justice at all. Our poor soldiers are killed, but the so-called “senas” are safe and protected by the government.
Our PM is tight-lipped when he sees all these happenings taking place. He speaks only during elections. On the other days he is tight-lipped and never utters a word. God save India.
Jubel D’Cruz, Mumbai
Maha victory for BJP
The Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra has won the Assembly elections 2024 is a double booster for BJP after its surprise win in Haryana. It’s a celebration time for the CM and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde.
The magic wand of Sharad Pawar had lost its power while his breakaway factions of Sena and NCP led by Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar had seen the downslide quite significantly.
The UBT Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray termed the victory as note-jihad by attacking the BJP leader Vinod Tawde and alleged as cash for votes marred the end results. While all parties facilitate cash for votes, what matters is how much of welfare the party extends to the people. The BJP has used RSS to campaign to target women, farmers and OBCs in the last six months , which contributed to this landmark victory.
A P Thiruvadi, Chennai
