Voting for a criminal, a bigger crime
Referring to the subject, why should those who vote for corrupt candidates with criminal records not be any different to promoting serious crime and called a criminal? According to “Poll reforms advocacy group Association for Democratic Reforms” 54 sitting candidates, which is 30% in 12 constituencies have criminal records against them apart from those who have grafted an increase in their financial accounts in just last 5 years from Rs 350 lakhs to Rs 1800 lakhs or more. How can the highly educated PhD, Engineer or specialist doctor digest such facts with their sincere hardship, further with 29 of these rubbish candidates have not even passed Class V to Class X, while some of us being graduate/post graduate and yet unemployed will blindly walk in and vote for them for the love of party affiliation.
How selfish are we that we don’t care but look dumb or suffer at the cost of such white coloured corrupt criminals. Yes, the clock is ticking, just few days for us to enter the polling booth, keeping in mind that we deserve to respect our vision and bring happiness to our wounded mother Goa.
Our pledge: My conscience does not allow me to vote for you criminal, who has sold my Goa and has brought me and my family on my knees for your own selfish motives for me to watch my Goa bleed. I am definitely going to vote but will not vote for you defector, turncoat to other party or sponsored standing independent or independent being dishonest to your loyal party but will vote for a fresh, educated and honest candidate. My life has developed a fear of the most deadly virus in Goa from 2012 until date, not again!
Gaston Dias, Sarzora
Avoid voting for lawbreakers
All political parties have ignored the Supreme Court’s instructions while selecting candidates for the assembly elections opting for winnability over candidates with no criminal background. Parties have given unfounded and baseless reasons like popularity and likeability which indicates their indifference to electoral reforms. This complete lack of will and reprehensible predilection in nominating candidates should invite the wrath of the Apex Court which has been reduced to being a hand wringing, mute spectator of the proceedings.
In some parties almost half the candidates have cognisable offences against their names. This clearly shows that our democracy will continue to suffer at the hands of lawbreakers who become lawmakers.
Ordinances should be promulgated by which candidates convicted for heinous crimes would be permanently disqualified from the electoral process and the ones with civil cases should be barred from contesting elections for a certain period. Status quo would push the country deeper into the dirt.
Rekha Sarin, Benaulim
Halt hijab row from turning violent
The Karnataka government has done well to declare a three-day holiday for high schools and colleges following the hijab row turning violent. Violence erupted across the State with stone-throwing incidents, bullying a girl wearing hijab, hoisting a saffron flag on college premises, and protesters taking to the streets.
The hijab row that started at a college in the Udupi district has spread its tentacles to other parts of the state, hitting the education system even as it was returning to normal. With both pro-hijab and antis firing barbs at each other, it is important to exercise restraint to bring the situation under control.
N J Ravi Chander, Bengaluru
Clean candidates? Hunting for a needle in haystack
This has reference to the Edit ‘When can we get good, clean candidates? (Herald, February 9). That is a million dollar question. Looking for clean, honest candidates? It’s like searching for a needle in a haystack!
The editorial paints a very sombre picture of the political situation in Goa today. The large number of defections not just in Goa but in several other States as well, is disgusting. The betrayal of the people’s trust and the increased number of candidates with criminal records compared to the earlier elections, is indeed cause for worry.
Where can we find clean, honest candidates? Finding such candidates seems to be a very difficult task for our political parties. But, is it really that difficult, one wonders. The question is are they willing to put up clean, honest candidates? In a situation like this, what choice does the voter have? Your Editorial however rightly states, ultimately in an election, somebody has to win and so the person with the most number of votes gets elected.
The least one can expect is that candidates do not make a mockery of the democratic process by defecting to the other side after getting elected. That would be asking for small mercies of course.
Melville X D’Souza, Mumbai
Hijab my right, my choice
India is a diverse country with many religions. Our constitution is strong enough to hold the country together both in peace and wartime. Freedom of religion in India is a fundamental right, guaranteed to each and every citizen.
Today the basic rights of Muslim girls in Karnataka are being harmed by denying them education just to remove their hijab. Unfortunately, this is affecting the studies of the students. Hijab is not at all a hindrance in the way of education, in empowerment or development. The Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) said “Modesty results in good alone and nothing else”. Hijab is considered a badge of honour. It brings an aura of safety and protection to those who adorn.
To a Muslim, hijab represents devotion to God, and important article of faith. Unfortunately, hijab has been stereotyped as symbol of suppression and oppression. A country which ensures freedom of choice to every religion now witnesses few universities and colleges going against the constitution by denying education on the basis of hijab. This matter is against the soul of this nation.
To pull the covering from a women’s head is sign of ignorance as very well defined by a lady, Tawakkal Karman. “Man in early times of ignorance was almost naked, and as his intellect evolved, he started wearing clothes. What I am today and what I am wearing represents the highest level of thoughts and civilisation that a man has achieved.”
Sheefa Parveen, Margao
Stop the pandemic of violence in Goa
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc across the world, reports of domestic violence keep growing. The world was already facing a crisis of domestic violence with women and children being the major victims. And now the pandemic is only exacerbating the problem.
The rampant spread of the virus has forced the victims to stay indoors with the abusers, leaving them with little opportunities to seek refuge. With work places closed and visits of friends and relatives to houses are politely dissuaded, abusers easily take control over the victims’ milieu.
The United Nations Population Fund has released a report, which says that pandemics increase the risk of gender-based violence. The report adds that during the Ebola outbreak, women and children had experienced higher rates of sexual violence.
International development organisations must speed up their efforts to prevent and address this issue seriously in order to stop the pandemic of violence.
Ranganathan Sivakumar, Chennai
