Well said, keep up the good work
Congratulations! The front page news with the photo caption. “She is Democracy. Respect her,” (Herald, February 16) is superb. You have shamed the politicians with the hard hitting article. Although similar photos have appeared during the past elections but perhaps this for the first time that a newspaper has brought it to the fore and made it a lead piece. Hats off to you and your team and please take a bow.
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Yesterday after seeing the photo I started to type a letter to the editor on this subject but I mailed the other one about deployment of physically challenged persons for poll duties.
Your article has done more justice to the subject than what could have been possible in my letter. Please keep up the good work.
Sridhar D’Iyer, Caranzalem
Poll results might throw up surprises
The results of the assembly elections may throw up surprises for political parties hoping to form the next government. Many sitting MLAs, including some ministers may face defeat owing to various factors such as arrogance of candidates, defection to another party, mismanagement by their key personnel, neglect of constituencies, anti incumbency or rank bad performance during their last term.
In many areas people are angry over the fact that the only ones who benefited by a candidate’s victory in the last elections are his relatives and party workers. (did someone mention nepotism?) Paradoxically many voters are miffed over the outlandish promises and guaranteed freebies by some out of state hopefuls, knowing well that the outrageous assurances would not see the light of day once candidates sniff the heady scent of victory.
For now the fate of 301 would be public representatives lies sealed in the EVMs, hopefully the well educated citizenry of Goa have made informed choices and we shall get a government we deserve, not the incompetents we have witnessed during the last two occasions.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
Achhe din keeps getting postponed
The promises made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi before his election in 2014, seems to be getting pushed further and further into the future, only after Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman spoke about the ‘blueprint’ for the next 25 years in her Budget speech. The central government’s Budget for promising ‘Amrit Kaal‘ over the next 25 years, sounds hollow considering the current economic plight of the common Indian. The ‘Amrit Kaal’ promise, suggesting it will only come after the current Kali kaal (Kalyug or dark age) passes.
The central government outlining a plan for the next 25 years when the country require urgent measures. The government seems to believe that the public can be asked to wait patiently until ‘Amrit Kaal’ dawns. This Union Budget had been brought to woo the public with new promises and several old announcements had been forgotten. After six years of rhetoric, the slogan of doubling farmers’ incomes has expectedly and conveniently been forgotten. It has not seriously considered the economic contribution of tourism, industry. This Budget has no vision for employment generation. People had high expectations from the budget especially during the COVID pandemic. The budget disappointed the people. Poor got subsidy, rich got rebate, Middle class see TV and Debate.
K G Vilop, Chora
Hospitalised voters
Like most Goans I cast my vote on Feb 14, and I was pleased to learn that during these elections, provision had been made to visit disabled and senior citizens due to Covid restrictions so they could cast their vote, from their homes, by ballot paper. However, this again seems to be another badly implemented process, with a vast amount of hospitalised patients, in private and government hospitals, all over Goa, being overlooked.
I would respectfully urge the Election Commission of India, and the Goa State Election commission to look into this, so in future elections are fully inclusive.
Shrikrishna Govekar, Candolim
Three cheers for the polling staff
Kudos to the polling staff for their hard work during the Assembly Elections. They had been working for 24 hours on the trot away from their families to ensure free, fair and peaceful polling in Goa. Though there were some initial hiccups regarding their booth postings, working hours, safety and transport, many were excited at having played a responsible role in the elections. Also staff were either too rigorously trained or too rudimentarily trained for handling the proceedings.
Some had to deal with senior citizens who did not know how to operate EVMs while others had to deal with the wrath of irate voters who didn’t find their name on the voting list.
Despite all the incumbent hardships, the electoral staff pulled off what can only be described as the best managed polls till date.
Rekha Sarin, Benaulim
Tribute to Lata Mangueshkar
To honour our late Goan singer we can have granite plaques of her installed at Kala Academy and the Ravindra Bhavans. They can carry a picture of her with a brief on her and an image of a gramophone and a disc embossed on it in gold. It can also carry a caption, ‘Goa’s Foremost Playback Singer.’
Having a statue built of her may not be a good idea. Such statues need to be maintained and are exposed to the elements. Also, future generations may be disconnected from her music and wonder who the old bird was. Various such statues have been torn down all over the world.
There is a musical fountain lying in the Ana Fonte Garden in Margao City in disrepair. It could be repaired and loaded with hit songs of the late Lata Mangueshkar. Further,it can be relocated to the Colva Beach Traffic Circle. It will serve as a star attraction at the beach.
Vinay Rodrigues, Margao
High expectations in IPL
When cricket’s Indian Premier League (IPL) took off in 2008, cynics scoffed at the format. Everything associated with the game was ridiculed, and the players were berated. Some scandals indeed rocked the league. Tainted “big bosses” of the IPL raised suspicion in the people’s eyes about the fairness of the game.
Now, it’s no secret that the IPL is a roaring hit. The league has grown from strength to strength to navigate through all hurdles to emerge trumps. Relatively unknown players have been cushioned by financial comfort.
Puritans of the game, who thought the league was finished, after some scandals, are at a loss to come to terms with its popularity. That one of the losing semi-finalists gets another chance to enter the finals is a fine strategy. This way no team stands to feel disheartened about “one bad day”.
The brand value of the IPL is consistently on the rise. The 15th edition, scheduled to kick off from April 2, has already whetted fans’ appetite going by the auctions. Two new teams —- Ahmedabad Lions and Lucknow Nawabs — have evinced interest. Ten teams will vie for the coveted cup. Young, and uncapped players, have gone for an astronomical amount.
Seasoned Indian and foreign cricketers will rub shoulders with the youngsters. That the auction at Bengaluru generated a lot of interest underlines the fact that the IPL is next to none in terms of popularity. A tournament that was mocked at for its “nonsensical approach” and “nuisance value” not long ago is transforming itself into a testing ground for team selection for an overseas tour & can be a lesson or two to big-time sport organisers.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
