Fight fire with fire
Terrorist groups recruited 700 J&K youths into their fold during the last four years as per statistics released by the Union Home Ministry, a total of 141 terrorists were operating in the state of which 82 are foreigners. The presence of so many malcontents indicates unabated infiltration from launch pads across the border, most belong to outfits like Lashkar-e- Taiba, Jaish and Hizbul Mujahiddeen. In 2022 alone 125 terrorists were killed by security forces in 55 encounters of which 91 were locals and 34 outsiders. Many mercenaries or ‘soldiers of fortune’ from foreign nations are being ‘hired’ by our western neighbour to bleed India dry through a thousand cuts. This adds another chilling dimension to the war against terror since these ‘guns for hire’ do not show up on the intelligence radar , they move from country to country to wage war for whoever pays them top dollar. Humint and Elint need to be beefed up by Indian defence and home affairs mandarins substantially if we ever are going to get a grip on the terror Frankenstein. Also the real time input dissemination network and collaboration matrix with international intelligence agencies needs to be strengthened on a war footing to tackle the menace. We can no longer point fingers at disgruntled ‘misguided youth’ and jihadis for the rise in terrorist cases , fire has to be fought with fire , there is just no other way out.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
MLA bazaar shifts to Goa
Close on the heels of Shiv Sena MLAs being co-opted by Lotus Inc. to form the government in Maharashtra, the Goa Congress is witnessing a pro-BJP rebellion ; seven opposition MLAs skipped a crucial party meet before the monsoon assembly session amidst speculation that some of the leaders are in touch with the saffron dispensation. A disgruntled former CM is widely perceived as leading the rebellion after being sidelined for the post of ‘ leader of the opposition ‘ by the Congress high command. Pre elections he had made the party MLAs swear before various Gods that they shall not switch sides if elected to office, irony must have died a thousand deaths. The BJP juggernaut seems to be on a roll, determined to rid India of any semblance of opposition either by hook or by crook . Power through pelf, enticement or intimidation has been the dominant motto of the Sanghis for the past 8 years now, I doubt whether we shall be having any general elections at all after 2024. Long live democracy.
Rekha Sarin, Benaulim
Focus in Assembly should be on monsoon issues
Political storm seems to be brewing in the state with five MLAs belonging to the Congress Party reportedly raising a banner of revolt. The political development happened on the eve of the Monsoon session of the Goa Legislative Assembly which started on Monday. It is a sorry state of affairs that the principal opposition party was busy keeping its flock together instead finalizing on a strategy to question the government on a number of issues. The strength of a democratic set-up depends on the constructive role the opposition parties play in the assembly. But unfortunately in Goan politics the main opposition party seems to have lost its steam due to internal bickering. Be that as it may, as the assembly session has now commenced all major issues affecting the citizens of the state need to be taken up keeping all political matters on the back-burner. Due to the heavy rains there are several problems facing the common man. The flooding of several towns, villages, especially Panaji city is one of the major issues which calls for a debate during this session. Then there is the issue of landslides which have been taking place at a disturbing frequency. Another major issue is the pathetic state of the roads which are full of pot-holes due to incessant rains. Heavy downpour is nothing new for Goa. The government needs to come with a lasting solution to all the problems associated with the rains.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Is T20 heralding a death trap to test cricket?
The IPL has opened the playing field to aspiring cricketers from all over the country and it is going to pay dividends in the long run but what about test cricket will this five-day cricket die? The BCCI should ponder over it as most young cricketers are making fast money through IPL so they are not interested in longer version of the game.
I was impressed by the India cricketers who have featured in the IPL. They have endured all kinds of struggles to make it to a grand stage. If not for IPL, they would not have come to the forefront. But I will not shy from saying that cricketers in our country is minting money from the IPL, there should be a feasible balance between T20 league and test cricket.
Performance in T20 is not the sole yard stick to measure a cricketers talent. The BCCI wants the IPL to be among the top three leagues in the world. I am little bit concerned on how IPL is sidelining test cricket which was considered the real test of a cricketer, where a players temperament, class and technique were tested to optimum level . After the advent of T20 unfortunately test cricket is dying a slow death and public go in large numbers for T20 matches but for test cricket the stadiums are with empty stands so public lifestyle has changed to fast foods the same public are glued to TV sets and go to stadiums only for matches which gets over with lighting speed that is T20 cricket.
Diomedes Pereira, Corlim
India loses a friend in Shinzo Abe
India shared a deep relationship with Japan, much of which must be credited to the personal bonding between Mr. Shinzo Abe and Mr. Narendra Modi. The picture-perfect frame of ‘Modi-Abe Ganga-aarti’ in Varanasi in December 2015 bore testimony to the ties between the two nations. Under Abe Japan became a vital investor in India and a major strategic ally. His knowledge and experience in international politics and strategic thinking were unparalleled in the Liberal Democratic Party. Abe will be remembered for boosting defence spending and pushing through the most dramatic shift in Japanese military policy in 70 years. Abe, who had a deep passion and love for his country and its people, once said: “Like the flowers of the plum tree blooming proudly in spring after the cold winter, I wish the people of Japan to bloom like individual flowers in the future.”
Ranganathan Sivakumar, Chennai
Shinzo Abe was an outstanding leader
With the assassination of the Japanese PM Shinzo Abe on July 8, the world has lost the finest leader wedded to democracy and the welfare of humanity. Shinzo Abe was considered to be a towering personality who immensely contributed a lot to Japan’s economy during his long term as the prime minister.
He was a towering global statesman, an outstanding leader, and a remarkable administrator. He dedicated his life to make Japan and the world a better place.
India shared a deep relationship with Japan, much of which must be credited to the personal bonding between Shinzo Abe and Narendra Modi. Like Indira Gandhi and Benazir Bhutto, he too was shot because some people did not like him. He was Japan’s longest serving Prime Minister. May his soul rest in peace.
Jubel D’Cruz, Mumbai
