Don’t vote for the betrayers
When politicians win with a trust and they after winning betray their voters have no right to come and beg for votes once again. They should either take biblical Judas de Iscariot drastic act or keep away from standing for election ever again. But we have thick skin politicians for who don’t have any shame since they are unethical and unprincipled rogues. All the MLAs of last Legislative Assembly who betrayed their voters like gang of dacoits in the wee hours of midnight to form BJP Government of thieves are now standing for election once again. They don’t have any remorse since they have a tool known as development to support their decision.
But we Goans know whose development it takes by betrayal acts. People of those constituencies should not be fence riders and should not get scared of Judas de Iscariots coming to ask for votes, they should question them whether they asked every voter of constituencies before jumping like monkeys from one party to another.
All the betrayers will never have a satisfactory answer to above questions since they think that once they are elected, they are masters of themselves and of few breadcrumb eaters sitting by their sides like henchman and pimps. So the great betrayers will try all their might to justify their action, but people of Goa where they suffered due to betrayers should send them home by not voting them even if pour their part of ill-gotten wealth got from the parties to shift over. Show them we Goans are people of good ethics and vote the betrayers out of respective constituencies.
Julius Carvalho, Dubai
Don’t trust those who don’t keep promises
The Panjim MLA should not be trusted again after having miserably failed on all the promises made to the residents of Panjim Constituency which includes Ribandar. He has been controlling the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) for over 15 long years but the city has been in doldrums with the decaying state of affairs there for all to see.
In the 2016 CCP election manifesto for Ribandar, the MLA had made five solemn promises. A new market, Development of Garden and walkway parallel to the existing causeway, a Football ground, a Hindu crematorium and restoration of old structures and monuments. None of these five promises have been fulfilled.
In March last year during the CCP polls we were promised a full fledged 30 bedded Health Centre at the old Ribandar Hospital while we were fooled with a cosmetic clinic.
In May 2019 during that Panjim by-election, the MLA had promised that if elected he would move the Casinos out of the River Mandovi within 100 days. But as expected it was only another convenient U-turn.
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
It’s our fault that we are on the wrong track
Everyone wants to know who to vote for. Being honest may not get you friends but you will get the right ones. Thinking purely about Goa we are on the wrong track and it is our fault! There are few who think for themselves and vote as per their conscience, others vote as per propaganda or according to relatives or friends. What is in it for me as against what is good for Goa and the nation!
Facts are the two national parties have proved to be two sides of the same coin, except Congress is not communal. The whole System is corrupt and present politicians have and will not change it. If politicians can get freebies and unimaginable perks legislated by and for them and if some party can legitimately do the same for us by cutting down on corruption and by efficient management of resources and funds, why not?
It is high time we come first in government’s thought and deed and unity in diversity is not compromised. System that makes the honest corrupt to protect family or survive, VIP culture rendering crorepati politicians and widens the divide between rich and poor is what we are voting for.
John Eric Gomes, Porvorim
Irresponsible statements by politicians
Politicians in power need to be extremely cautious with regards to the statements they make in public. Several politicians have time and again made off-the-cuff remarks on rape cases which have drawn strong reaction from the general public.
Statements made by those in power have an impact on the citizens, especially those belonging to the younger generation. Hence a statement made by the Rajasthan Health Minister has stirred up a controversy. The Health Minister reportedly said that tobacco is not the only reason behind people suffering from cancer because there are people who consume tobacco but do not get cancer. His statement that tobacco, bidi and cancer have no link and those who do not consume tobacco become cancer patients has been condemned by organisations working against tobacco.
Ironically these remarks were made by the minister at Jaipur on World Cancer Day. These comments totally reject facts established by scientific evidence all over the world.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Gleanings about poll prospects
People power in Goa is set to unleash its verdict on the outcome for the Valentine Day polls to the legislative assembly. For eight days prior to the elections, the fate of the 301 candidates in the fry lies in the hands of the 11.6 lakh electorate in Goa. A major factor is that since on an average 7 to 8 candidates are contesting in the polls per constituency, splitting of votes is set to dictate the verdict. The migrant vote bank is the largest chunk of voters and they play a major role in the outcome of the elections.
Another major share of the votes up to the extent of 2.5 lakh votes is going to be polled in the mining belt which is clearly against the incumbent dispensation. Also the about 70,000 taxi owners association voters are also set to play a major role in the outcome. The traditional ramponnkars are another major block that could set the tone for the final verdict. In each constituency, in the last 2 months anti-incumbency was been welling up to such an extent that there were minor revolutions in several constituencies.
Interesting also would be to predict on the fate of the 73% of old faces who will confront the electorate. In the fairness of things it may be prudent to expect that the Congress and the BJP would win in 1/3rd of the total seats (that is 13 to 14 seats) and the remainder 1/3rd would be distributed amongst the TMC-MGP combine, the AAP and to a lesser extent the NCP-RSS alliance, Revolutionary Goans and the Independents.
Elvidio Miranda, Panjim
Voters confused over variety of choices
The Political party’s candidates are eyeing their luck for the February 14, 2022 elections. Many have spoken against each other about corruption, goodanism, and failure to perform. The report card is before the citizens but most are confused because there is a variety of choices to pick from the list but where is the wave blowing?
Can Goa do the clean sweep that was done in Delhi. Goenkar is mostly individual concerned, he thinks about himself, there is a poor collective goal to achieve. We choose and pick one issue and forget that these elected politicians stay for 5 years to loot and do a little for Goa’s development and if any at the cost of destruction of the environment and trying to make Goa a Singapore or Las Vegas or Macau.
The political parties have been calling the Aam Aadmi Party the B team of BJP/Chota Modi/ TMC didigiri and many more. None of these parties have said the anti defection law has to be changed.
Gregory E. D’Souza, Siolim
