Karnataka mandate against corruption
The results of the Karnataka Assembly elections can be construed as a mandate against corruption. The BJP government in Karnataka was alleged as corrupt and the people by their decisive mandate have displayed their anger against corruption.
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Through the BJP invoked religious icons like Bajrangbali and even the PM campaigned led the campaign in Karnataka, the INC has won. Now it remains to be seen whether the INC will indeed bring any positive result in the lives of the millions in Karnataka.
Sadanand Raikar, Colva
Congress sweeps Karnataka polls
The Assembly election for 224 seats saw the Congress party winning almost 132 seats thus keeping the BJP in the second position with 65 seats.
Rahul’s Bharat jodo yatra and Mallikarjun Kharge’s efforts have yielded good results. Now the Congress has to chose a chief minister between two strong leaders – the senior most being Siddaramaiah and hard core Congress loyalist DK Shivkumar.
The choice of who will be the Chief Minister is now with the High Command.
The BJP on other hand trailed the number of seats and JDS with HD Kumarswamy concedes defeat with party reaching 21 mark and independents with 6 seats. The Lingayat communities have shown their strength in voting.
The verdict has shown the revolt by public against the rise in price, polarisation, corruption etc. Axis my India gave exit poll in favour of Congress where rest were of opinion of hung assembly
Now it’s time for Bsawaraj Bommai to seat with party and prepare a road map for 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Raju Ramamurthy, Vasco
Detain beggars at traffic signals
It is observed that at several traffic signals and busy junctions beggars are seen begging for alms when the vehicles have stopped for the red signals. Many women are seen begging with infants in their arms. Even children are seen approaching dangerously close to the cars which have stopped on the roads due to the signal. Others are seen selling toys and other trinkets, including pens. They bang on the car windows in order to draw the attention of the occupants.
The vehicles will obviously move when the green signal is on. These beggars and those selling trinkets can meet with an accident due to the sudden movement of the cars as their feet can come under the wheels. For this, the driver involved in the accident will obviously be taken to task for no fault of his. The police should show zero tolerance towards beggars and vendors at traffic signals and busy junctions where the vehicles have to stop temporarily or have to move at snail’s pace due to traffic congestion.
They have to do away with this nuisance. These beggars and vendors should be detained and sent back to their home state. Incidentally the Goa Daman and Diu Prevention of Begging Act, 1972 provides for arrest, detention and rehabilitation of beggars.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Musical chair politics in Candolim
Referring to your news item ‘Restaurateur elected unopposed as Sarpanch of Candolim panchayat’ (Herald, 13 May), one gets the surprise early in the morning that our village Sarpanch is uprooted from his seat and in his place another fresh man Blaize Fernandes is inducted.
However, what is important is not to know who is replaced by whom but what is important to know is why this sudden change? And did our Ward members consult their voters before taking their stand?
BTW, what goof the last Sarpanch committed deserving him to be replaced? My Ward Member owes me an explanation.
A Veronica Fernandes, Candolim
Maternal health care is important
Globally, in 2020, there was one maternal death every two minutes. Most of the deaths were in low and lower middle income countries. In 2020, there were 223 maternal deaths per 100000 live births, and one of United Nations’ (UN) lofted Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)—- achieving less than seventy maternal deaths per one lakh live births by 2030—–looks tough though not impossible. A latest report of the UN has said that India leads the countries that have the highest number of maternal deaths, stillbirths, and neonatal (new born) casualties. Notwithstanding the fast pace of development of health care and infrastructure in India, maternal mortality rate remains a cause for concern.
Death of a woman during and after pregnancy, and within six weeks of delivery, constitutes maternal mortality.
Severe bleeding immediately after delivery, uncontrolled blood pressure and infections during pregnancy, unsafe abortions during earlier pregnancies may lead to disastrous consequences following child birth.
There are other causes, too, but the important thing is to ensure secure environment for a pregnant woman. It is incumbent upon the Centre to upgrade India’s primary health centers with investment by way of personnel and funds. The WHO mandate of 8 antenatal checks of a pregnant woman has to be scrupulously adhered to. Care of a mother and child does not end in staff and medicines.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
‘The Kerala Story’ fact or fiction?
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant was seen watching the latest movie ‘The Kerala Story’ in Inox theatre, Panjim along with some of his close colleagues the other day and later advising Goans to watch this particular film in large numbers by claiming that it was made based on true facts from Kerala.
Well, if what if the CM has claimed is 100% true, then how come the director of the movie has himself put a disclaimer in the film clearly saying that his film is a work of pure fiction?
So, let people alone decide whether the above mentioned movie is worth watching or not in Goa. Long live individual freedom.
Jerry Fernandes, Saligao
Imran Khan saga gets a new twist
In a fresh twist to the Imran Khan arrest saga, the Pakistan Supreme Court (SC) declared his detainment illegal and ordered his immediate release. The reprieve for the former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief comes on the back of the military’s media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), criticising the May 9 violence and calling it a ‘dark chapter.’
The ISPR claimed that Khan’s arrest led to an organised attack on Army properties and installations. Khan’s arrest set off violent protests leading to the death of forty-seven people, prompting the government to deploy the army.
N J Ravi Chander, Bengaluru
