CWG: India off to a flying start
As the 75th anniversary of Independence beckons, Indian competitors have added depth to the tri-colour at Birmingham with so far weightlifting having been the star attraction. Mirabai Chanu in the 49 kg category for women and 19-year-old Jeremy Lalrinnunga in the 67 kg category for men gave India two gold medals in weightlifting with Chanu having mastered the field with an aggregate of 201 kgs and Jeremy having lifted altogether 300 kgs, both Commonwealth games records.
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Sangli’s Sanket Sargar opened the account for India with a silver in the 55 kg division having lifted an aggregate of 248 kgs. P. Gururaja in the 61 kg category chipped in with a bronze, also in weightlifting. Just like in weightlifting, India’s main other medal hopes are in boxing, badminton and table tennis largely and other disciplines as well.
In fact in boxing, world champion woman boxer, Nikhat Zareen began her campaign in right earnest with a fabulous display of elegance and style as she stopped her opponent from Mozambique, Helena Ismael Bagao in the pre-quarter finals with an RSC (referee stopped contest) decision in the 50 kg category. Lovlina Borgohain, the Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist too made it to the last eight in the 70 kg women’s boxing. An unprecedented rich haul of medals is expected from the Indian contingent to crown it all as the 75th Independence gift.
Elvidio Miranda, Panjim
Falling into Chinese debt trap
China’s BRI and CPEC sapped Sri Lanka and Pakistan resources with a series of white elephant projects, falling in to Chinese debt trap; though experts have been warning low and middle-income countries against China’s debt-trap diplomacy.
The result of years of unsustainable loans has now come back to haunt these struggling economies which are on the verge of collapse. Sri Lanka and Pakistan are sailing in the same boat and China’s lack of active support in the hour of crisis.
Lust is the only reason for the present condition of these countries.
Pakistan calls China its ‘Iron Brother’. But we can only see the iron is the handcuffs that China put getting Pakistan to be its payee in chains.
K G Vilop, Chorao
Remarks in rank
bad taste
Maharashtra governor’s Koshiyari’s remarks on Rajasthanis and Gujaratis contribution to Mumbai’s financial might to the exclusion of Marathi manoos are in rank bad taste and not in keeping with the stature and ethos of the high office he occupies. He had earlier been castigated for making statements bordering on the vulgar about Savitribai Phule, a Maharashtrian reformist, educationist, poet and a torch bearer of women’s rights in pre independence India.
The dignitary’s belated clarification that his words were not meant to disparage any community holds no water, toxic damage has already been done. These kind of insensitive statements are bound to stir the pot in a country where both migration as an economic multiplier and ethnic tensions are ever present.
How a city evolves is a matter of complex history understood by very few. Mumbai emerged as an important trading post during British rule as part of Bombay Presidency which also included the Bengal and Madras Presidencies but both Kolkata and Chennai have evolved differently vis a vis Mumbai despite notionally having the same starting point. Though Indian States were created along linguistic lines after Independence, no one community can lay claim to a state’s success or be blamed for its failures.
Maharashtra was created after protests by the Samyukta Maharashtra Movement for a Marathi speaking state in 1955; in fact 105 people attained martyrdom for the cause. Unnecessarily even if unwittingly pitting Maharashtrians against other communities must be totally avoided.
Mumbai faces immense challenges that have little or nothing to do with measuring ethnic contributions and most political leaders across parties irrespective of posts they hold seem criminally unmindful of this.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
Let’s end this road carnage
The galloping number of road accidents being witnessed in Goa is a matter of grave concern. There has to be a concerted effort to ensure that precious lives are not lost.
Drunken driving and reckless over speeding are a cause of most accidents. However, the poor condition of our roads and lack of proper road engineering are very often a major contributory factor to many accidents. There is no excuse for potholes due to corruption and poor workmanship. Humps in the road disguised as sleeping policemen with little or no paint or roads with little or no road markings is unacceptable and adds to the fatalities on our roads.
There should be zero tolerance to drunken driving, reckless driving and over speeding. The chief minister, ministers and officials should lead by example by strictly following the speed limits.
Proper traffic management is lacking in Goa and if properly and regularly carried out, a lot of accidents could be avoided. Much better and visually clear road signs must be displayed at all strategic points, roads, and bridges in the State. Adequate measures like traffic cameras and CCTV that work must be in place to deter and punish reckless and irresponsible drivers. There should also be no excuse for allowing vehicles on our roads that are not roadworthy. Just like there is no reason for domesticated or stray animals to use our roads as an oasis of rest.
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
Injustice to postmen in Goa’s post offices
I was very happy to read that MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco has spoken up for the postmen (Herald, July 31). It is really shocking that so many postmen are working in the post offices in Goa on contract/daily basis for more than 16 years! They are thus denied of all benefits, increments, pension, etc.
This is sheer exploitation of the meek. Why have they not been absorbed as permanent employees? It is high time Goa has a separate Postal Circle. We shouldn’t be with the Maharashtra Circle any more.
We are now a State and should have our own Postal Circle. The Post Offices in Goa are understaffed and overburdened. They have many good schemes for the public, offering good rate of interest but not enough staff to attend to the customers. These are the issues our MPs should take up and fight for. Then there will be employment for the locals and justice for the weaker section.
Jennifer Viegas, Navelim
Use wisdom to elect right persons
In another 10 days time we in Goa will be electing our representatives for our panchayats but will we use our wisdom to elect the right candidates wisely or will we use this opportunity not to elect our adversaries even then they are good having all the attributes required to be members of panchayats?
To make fast illicit money for one’s personal gains, according to many people involved in this politics, panchayat is the right venue much better than MLA’s or MP’s jobs. Hence, there is much rush even by paying lakhs of rupees as bribe for the opponents of some to withdraw from this race. The contestant is going house to house begging for votes but once elected will he be seen around?
Almost every elected representative of Panchayat is acting revengeful and finally falls into the trap of his opponents. The most coveted job in the Panchayat is that of the Sarpanch which we must all insist with our contenders “whom they will choose as the Sarpanch?”
And then and there we must indicate our choice and if he does not agree we must take our own decision whether to vote for him or not.
A Veronica Fernandes, Candolim
