Goa’s political tragic-comedy
Since the last few months, we are witnessing a flurry of activities by political candidates some of whom are scurrying from one party to another. There are four of types of candidates.
The first are the loyal ones who stay with the party come what may, even if they are not offered a constituency to stand for the election. These candidates need to be appreciated.
The 2nd are the confused ones who leave their party go to another and then return or else join a third other. Due to frequent crossing, crisscrossing and double-crossing, the candidates need to see their face on the polished party floors and reflect on their action. Are some candidates sent has a Trojan horse into the other parties?
The 3rd category ones hold their cards close to the chest and when the time comes will throw their trump card or act like Brutus.
The 4th variety wins from one party and if their party loses then they join the winners’ bandwagon under the pretext of ‘developing their constituency!’ They are wolves in sheep’s clothing.
The cloak and dagger games are confounding voters and supporters. These deplorable actions by vested and selfish candidates are to be squarely condemned. Voters had placed their trust on them and now the candidates are running amok trying to find a safe seat. Enjoy this Goa political tiatr for some more days. Now that the election date (Feb 14) is announced we will soon know the nominated candidates from all the parties. On the day of reckoning (March 10 counting day) will the candidates come out smelling as Valentines’ roses or will it be an early Ides of March for many? Voters keep your aces up the sleeves with poker-like faces and safeguard your votes like your dear Valentines!
Sridhar D’Iyer, Caranzalem
Mining resumption stillborn
With the election code of conduct kicking in, the State government’s attempts to restart mining have ground to a halt. Initially the sarkar tried to bring in a legislative cure with the formation of various empowered committees in consultation with the Centre but nothing came of it. After the Supreme Court dismissed review petitions filed by the State and mining companies, the government formed the Goa Mining Corporation but it remained on paper as the bureaucrats failed to frame the rules for its functioning and the memorandum of articles of association. A proposal for auction of mining leases was also moved but the final report from the Mining Exploration Corporation on the conduct and procedure is awaited. 30,000 people are directly or indirectly employed by the mining sector, their hopes are in a limbo with no solution on the horizon at least till April. Sad, very sad.
Rekha Sarin, Benaulim
Inaugurating unfinished projects
Dutifully following in the footsteps of his masters at Delhi our Hon’ble CM has gone on a wasteful foundation laying/inauguration spree to garner votes. Some sterling instances stand out, supreme among which is the recent inauguration of the ‘interim’ Mapusa bus station which was nothing more than a tin shed. Two days after the grand inauguration, the pavers and the tin sheets of the structure were removed; three crores of public money flushed down the drain simply to hoodwink the janta into voting for the saffron party. Another example is laying the foundation stone for ‘Goa Bazar Mahila Mall’ with the avowed objective of making 20,000 Goan women swayampurn even as the finance department has not provided any expenditure sanction for the same.
Riding roughshod over your own ministry to grab votes is a cheap trick resorted to by the CM time and again. He has in the past inaugurated even mundane things like traffic signals, the function for which must have cost more than the expenditure on the lights themselves. We are not even talking of the maskless people gathered in large numbers during Covid times at such meaningless photo ops endangering their own lives and the lives of others. Glorified culverts, renovated helipads and toilets etc, have also had the honour of having their red satin ribbons cut by the hands of the CM.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
Controversy is brewing up at Sancoale
The ruins of old Church at Sancoale was dormant over the years. After St Joseph was canonised the Ecclesiastical authorities decided to revive the religious sentiments associated with the Saint. The site legally is in the possession of the Archdiocese. The first attempt was made to claim rights by holding a pooja in the premises by hard core fanatics of Hindus. They have since lodged fictitious complaints of illegalities and violations of Archaeological laws.
It is different matter that any action can be mandated by mere hypothetical assumptions and the authorities are within their rights to ignore. A video is widely circulated of remotely few meeting the authorities of Archaeological Dept and openly in a defiant and arrogant attitude demand to demolish the facilities and to stop the novenas and the feast.
The delegation has given notice of intentions to take law in their own hands, disrupt the ceremonies and thus disturb peace and tranquility, fuelling communal tensions.
Why preventive arrests cannot be made under such blatant, open threats is a point of order.
Nelson Lopes, Chinchinim
Govt puts Goans at risk in pandemic
From a bad position in the second wave of Covid-19, Goa had improved and come to a very satisfactory position thanks to the many sacrifices of Goans, viz staying indoors, observing SOPs, closing of the schools, churches and restaurants, etc. The laying of red carpet for the tourists at the borders and airport of Goa in Dec last with the message “Ao, khavo, piyo aur maja karo” has put Goans back in a very bad situation. All the sacrifices made have gone down the drain. The latest report shows over 1900 new cases in one single day and over 9000 active cases on hand.
We understand that tourism is necessary for Goa’s economy especially when mining is stopped. Singapore also depends on tourism but they have clean and responsible tourism. They have also excellent discipline. Our tourism minister and officials had gone there on a study tour. Can’t we have similar tourism in Goa?
Must we have super spreaders who drink like fish and lie on the beaches and streets with heaps of garbage thrown all over. The government should give a serious thought to it and not expect Goans to bear the brunt of their bad decisions, management and inaction always.
Rodney de Souza, Assagao
Security risk of the PM
The country was shocked to see the PM of India who was a sitting duck in a car on a flyover in Punjab for 20 minutes with no way to move forward because of the farmers protest. Perhaps this was an opportunity for the PM to meet the farmers and assure them of his best interests in rescinding the farm laws which were enacted by his own party.
Now coming to the security risk faced by the PM, why is the PM out on the roads attending election campaigns for 500 people when the whole country is in a grip of the Omicron virus? If the PM feels that he is not safe with Zplus security, what about the aam aadmi?
Matias Lobo, Tivim
