Kamala, proponent of human rights
While we feel elated and happy that the US Vice President elect Kamala Harris has her roots in Tamil Nadu, we also feel extremely happy that she who has been nurtured and trained by her mother Shyamal Gopalan, an active participant in the civil rights movement, is also a vociferous fighter of human rights in line with the practice and teachings of her mother (“Kamala will speak out on rights says uncle”- Nov 09) G Balachandran, Kamala’s uncle who knows well about the inner makes of Kamala Harris has also indicated that she will not hesitate to rise in clamour and voice it loud if she feels some injustice has been done to anyone anywhere in the world. One only hopes that she becomes a real saviour of the marginalised and all those who suffer in silence due to the wounds inflicted on them by the violators of human rights.
As such, it is imperative that we should not confine Kamala Harris in a smaller circle as one of Indian origin but celebrate her as a global leader, par excellence.
Tharcius S. Fernando, Chennai
ISL should benefit Goans
It is for the first time that, due to the pandemic, all the matches of the Indian Super League (ISL) will be held in one single State which happens to be Goa. Though Goan football fans welcome this move, it would however, put a strain on the infrastructure available in the State for holding the league which will spread over several months. It would be in the fitness of things for the ISL to benefit local traders and vendors, especially since many Goans have either lost their jobs or seen a fall in their business.
The ISL should have come as a God-sent gift for the locals to tide over the bad times. However, it is observed that taxi and bus operators from Goa have been opposing the use of public transport vehicles registered outside the State for transporting players and officials during practice sessions. It is understood that the entire logistic contract related to ISL tournament is handed over to a Bangalore-based agency, while no business is given to local vendors and suppliers. It appears that it is only the hospitality industry that stands to gain from holding the ISL in the State as the hotels are assured of occupancy.
However, the benefits need to percolate even to the small time traders and taxi and bus operators. The Goa government should do justice to the locals by providing them logistic contracts.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Crossing the fine line between reel & real
Two episodes that became the talk of the town recently showcase the ill-effects of the entertainment industry on impressionable minds.
Ex-supermodel and actor Milind Soman celebrated his 55th birthday by running nude on a beach and another episode of a super model posing nude, both episodes here in amche Goem, the pictures on social media created a furore among the general public. While some argued about ‘right to expression’, others considered it as an obscene act on a public place that was done to attract eyeballs. But what about the impact that it might have on those youth who are dreaming of making it big in the modelling world and following in the top model’s bold footsteps? Will they resort to such gimmicks to garner attention is the question?
The other incident was of this man who shot a bride at a wedding ceremony recently. He later confessed that he was ‘inspired’ by the much talked about shootout scene from the 1st season of the popular web series Mirzapur.
While it is true that ‘art imitates life’ but replicating it adversely is simply not the answer. It’s time we all educate our youth about the difference between the virtual world and the real world. Of course, the entertainment industry could also do with some ‘restrain’ considering they are weaving dreams of several impressionable minds who believe in emulating their acts be it personal or virtual. The difference between the reel life heroes and real life heroes must be discussed and debated among the youth, so that the youth are not influenced by these publicity seeking gimmicks.
Altaf Shah, Vasco
Trump flummoxed by Biden doosra?
November 10, 2020 is the final of the IPL T20 to be played at Dubai, UAE between Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals. It is to be seen if a cleverly disguised doosra will become the turning point in the final. In America though in cricket parlance, it may be stated the Joe Biden bamboozled Donald Trump with a clever doosra, though in a tantalisingly poised outcome.
This doosra can, however, have another connotation. The year 2020 has been really lucky for Biden. His date of birth is 20-11-1942 and that of his running mate Kamala Harris is 20-10-1964. Both the President-elect as well as the Kamala have birth date similarities.
Also coincidentally though in the year 2021, the Democratic president and vice-president elect will assume office on January 20, 2021. Could the Supreme Court, the ultimate arbitrator reverse the outcome?
Elvidio Miranda, Panjim
All things (non) bright and (non) beautiful
Goa seems to be going the way of all other States in India these days with spiraling crime, increasing environmental damage, political apathy or subjugation of citizen’s rights.
The Mollem affair is an imminent disaster, petty crimes are rising, impending mining activities threaten to tear as under the simple life in pristine villages, tonnes of garbage go untreated literally creating a stink and what not.
Recently thieves broke into the Holy Se Cathedral and made off with cash and electronic items something which was unheard off till now, a popular shack at Calangute was vandalised by goons of a Delhi-based entrepreneur who was carrying out illegal construction alongside in violation of CRZ norms. Another out of State person puts up an unauthorised structure at Vagator resorting to illegal hill cutting, tree felling and slope destruction.
A Goa based non Goan real estate shark who is being probed by even UK’s crime branch and who has duped hundreds of investors sits tight and refuses to present himself before the much feared Enforcement Directorate. The police are clueless, the politicians are hand in glove with the perpetrators and the criminal masterminds are enjoying an extended susegad in our beautiful State. Fear of the law is absent and things are in a total mess. Now it is up to us Goans to raise our voices, take pre-emptive action, force public authorities out of their slumber and rid the State of all things nefarious.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
Create separate cadre for poll panel
The Central government should create a separate and permanent cadre of officers for election commission to help, conduct free and fair polls for parliamentary, State and others in the constituencies. The present practice of employing state government officials create bias in favour of ruling parties which prefer to appoint supple staff to key posts.
The permanent appointment of officers to the Election commission would smooth the election procedure, make convenient the preparation without any difficult of electoral rolls in a transparent manner and do away with chance of any unfair inclusion of names of fictitious persons in the electoral rolls and preparation of bogus election ID cards.
In accordance to the Representation of the people act 1951, the returning officers or district electoral officers are on deputation to the election commission and not under its full control.
They are therefore prone to be pressured to favour the election of political parties ruling state governments. It is against public interest and the principle of free and fair polls as mandated under the constitution.
K G Vilop, Chorao
