Amendment of anti-defection law
Goans will fully agree with the views of Adv Cleofato Almeida Coutinho and Adv Radharao Gracias regarding the amendment of anti-defection law to the existing several loopholes due to which we Goans are forced to witness a political circus at the time of every General Assembly elections of Goa. And this time it was too much. Politicians crossed every limit. Amendment of anti-defection law is the need of the hour. Otherwise do not be surprised if one witnesses one more circus after the declaration of Assembly elections results. But the big question is who will bell the cat?
Which national party from Goa will come forward to suggest the Central Government to act in this regard?
The four-point formula suggested by Gracias is appreciable. As far as defections are concerned, Goa is master General of defections in the whole of India. In Goa it started in 1969 after the second assembly election of Goa and then after a long break re-emerged in 1989 during the Congress rule which continues till date .It is not impossible to get this amendment done but one needs a will to get it done. Where there’s a will there’s a way.
Natividade Fernandes, Cavelossim
Stop political insanity for coming elections
Albert Einstein’s had a famous line: “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”
In past elections for those wanting a change, most opted for winnability candidates (vs highly respected/educated/credible persons) in party’s despite knowing the notorious/regular track record of the said candidates in terms of corruption, defections, incompetence, etc, then after election results are declared, people get their respective party to win in quite a few cases, only to know later that their winning candidate continues with the same his/her notorious behaviour.
I am sure there are at least a few candidates (irrespective of party affiliations) who, based on their earlier selfless contributions, have chance of better delivery/service from the Goa Assembly.
This election my plea to Goans is to look at voting in a different way i.e. to take some courageous steps at least to stop the voting insanity based on past experiences. Let’s at least focus on some more credible/educated/respected faces (irrespective of party) …. One never knows but chances are that at least some of them could get elected and worse case if they don’t, then Goans hand on heart can say that they at least made a strong attempt to end this political/voting insanity. Needless to say I think that having the right people in the wrong/corrupt party is much better than having the wrong people in the said party. Definitely there will be an improvement in governance.
Arwin Mesquita, Colva
Ask candidates about corruption
Candidates who are contesting the elections are visiting the voters these days with colourful brochures, calendars, etc. The only thing they assure us is development in the constituency. Not one of them talks about corruption. Corruption is rampant in the State in education; employment; in posting of police at check points; in procurement of equipment and materials; in awarding contracts of works; in licensing and approval of business units, housing projects, etc. The litany is long.
It is time that we asked the candidates about their stand on corruption since big corruption starts from the top. It is time that we had a government with zero tolerance to corruption.
Rodney de Souza, Assagao
The Ukraine crisis
The great geopolitical game for annexation of Ukraine is well and truly on, Russian troop build-up at the borders and the counter measures by the NATO alliance has all the makings of another war. The US and France have deployed troops and heavy artillery in Eastern Europe to blunt the impending Russian assault on Ukraine, no de-escalation via diplomatic channels seems to be in sight.
Russia has established significant air and sea assets across the region in addition to 100,000 boots in the ground in one of the most politically volatile regions of the world. Ukraine since breaking away from the erstwhile USSR in 1991 has been coveted territory owing to its huge gas and oil reserves in addition to its well established armaments industries; it has riled Russia no end that the Ukranian economy is way ahead of theirs.
The military industrial complex in USA would like nothing better than the creation of a new conflict zone to enable it to sell arms and other defence equipment worth trillions of dollars to NATO allies, maybe they are wishing for a global conflagration.
The drums of war are sounding louder than ever and soldiers paying heed to the clarion call from their respective countries are fervently polishing their guns. But history has taught us that in a war there are no winners, only losers, however, powerful the adversaries. Hopefully NATO and Russia would pull back from the brink of what could possibly be World War 3, there is enough misery and strife as it is.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
Tennis powerhouse
One of tennis’ all-time greats Rafael Nadal, has attained sublimity. The left-handed Spanish added only his second Australian Open title but that was enough for him to overtake his two great rivals Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic to lift his 21st Grand Slam. In 2020, by winning his 13th French Open title to his kitty of 19 Grand Slams, Nadal had equalled the record of 20 grand slams held by the peerless Swiss Roger Federer.
Later, of course, Djokovic had equalled the record of Federer and Djokovic. At the Melbourne Park on Sunday, Nadal came back strongly to overcome Russia’s Daniil Medvedev, the world’s second ranked player who had crushed Djokovic’s dream of bagging the 21st Grand Slam in the US open. The lanky Medvedev was on the verge of foiling Nadal’s dream too after he had gone two sets up on Sunday evening in front of a boisterous crowd that firmly stood behind Nadal. But egged on by the crowd, Nadal’s artistic onslaught was too much for the 25-year-old Russian.
Though he managed to salvage a match, point in the final set, that was not enough for Medvedev. The way the Spaniard consistently came back with a vengeance, after short setbacks, was a treat to his legion of fans. In fact, Nadal’s comeback, after struggling with a serious injury, and a surgery, to lift a Grand Slam was unbelievable. And, only Nadal could have done so because modern tennis has not seen a more resilient player than him. Foot, knee and wrist — Nadal has been plagued by niggling injuries of all only to rise like a phoenix.
At 35, Nadal is not at his vintage best, but his hunger for a win is as strong as ever.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
Nadal’s record of 21 Grand Slams
Rafael Nadal produced a miracle to bag a record 21st Grand Slam men’s title at the Australian Open final in Melbourne. Written-off after losing the first two sets and trailing 2-3 and 0-40 in the third, the Spaniard clawed his way back in spectacular fashion to put his Russian adversary, Medvedev, to the sword.
The match lasted a marathon of five hours and 24 minutes. The triumph was even more remarkable as Nadal returned to tennis after being sidelined with a chronic foot injury in the second half of 2021 and overcame a bout of COVID-19. He now stands alone at the summit!
N J Ravi Chander, Bengaluru
