AAP demeaning Catholics in Goa?
The recent announcement of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Dy Chief Minister of Delhi Government Manish Sisodia on his political visit to Goa that if they come to power a Catholic will be installed as the Dy CM amounts to demeaning the Catholic community to be considered as second class citizens.
In the first place AAP does not have an elected MLA till date in Goa, although they have been in political participation since the last five years.
Thus their election promises of having a Catholic face in Goa seems to be inclined to the unannounced Manohar Parrikar Government format of installing the Catholic MLA Francis D’Souza as the Dy CM even after the latter’s margin victory from Mapusa constituency on a BJP symbol was much higher than the former.
India Against Corruption movement to expose corruption of the then Congress Central Government which was initiated by the saffron brigade which included the Delhi Chief Minister and AAP Supremo Arvind Kejriwal and the clandestine participation of RSS has evaporated after AAP and BJP came to power. So the corruption issue is left on the back burner when corruption is an endemic and a burning topic in Goa wherein there have been the Corruption Ombudsman findings of massive corruption.
AAP seems to be deviating to use of religion once again after their experiment of having the bureaucrat turned politician Elvis Gomes as its Convenor had failed, in order to placate the Catholic electorate of about 25% approx by denying the community leadership in Goa, which is a similar pattern of BJP politics towards minorities of demeaning Catholics to undermine this class of citizens as subordinates to the majority community.
Rui Ferreira, Panjim
Politicians and their pensions
When a panch or a sarpanch becomes a MLA and then becomes minister or even a chief minister, he draws a handsome salary plus all other benefits and facilities and after that he gets pensions of a panch, sarpanch, MLA, minister and chief ministers too. In other words he earns pension for each and every post he held throughout his political career. Unbelievable. Can Goa, forget India, afford this? And whose money it is? It’s our tax payers money. And we tax payers are always at the receiving end. Is politics a job? If no, then why pension? And how many? We taxpayers get one pension after retirement and that too not on time. Seafarers get no pension at all. And these politicians get pension for each and every post of his political career. How come? Someone has to apply his or her mind and get something done to rectify this system. Isn’t it?
Natividade Fernandes, Cavelossim
Naturally induced immunity & vaccines
The Covid-19 pandemic has brought to the fore the need for naturally-induced or exercise-induced or exertion-induced immunity in the fight against diseases. It cannot be denied that sports persons or athletes enjoy a very healthy life because of their regimen of rigorous exercising which in turn makes them immune to diseases of all types.
It is known and a time-tested fact that exercising leads to the heart pumping blood to all the extremities of the body and especially the brain which is against gravity and also that sweating expels toxins from the body and cleanses the blood, so also the lungs breathe a greater degree of oxygen increasing the capacity of the lungs.
The focus has shifted to immunity and it is now an established fact that athletes and sports persons have a very robust immunity. So, could it be that the natural immunity is now vying with protection afforded by vaccination, even the very best vaccines available?
Exercise stimulates all the organs of the body and makes it immune to diseases. Certainly it should be agreed that athletes and sports persons through exercise strengthen their immunity to such an extent that they rarely suffer from diseases. So, is the line blurring as far as natural immunity and vaccine administration is concerned such that natural immunity is definitely a force to contend with viz-a-viz vaccines?
Elvidio Miranda, Panjim
Norovirus case surfaces in Kerala
A rare infection has been reported in Kerala that causes gastrointestinal illness. It can spread from one infected person to another by coming in contact with contaminated surfaces or food. Says that it is an animal-borne virus that can infect people.
The most common mode of transmission of the virus is food or water. Already dealing with a relatively higher number of Covid-19 cases, another infectious virus has added new worries for the people. Doctors say that norovirus is highly contagious and anyone can become infected more than once. Following proper hygiene is the key ways to prevent the disease. The people need to be vigilant about the very contagious virus that causes vomiting and diarrhoea.
K G Vilop, Chorao
Pray that Ven Agnelo be sanctified
This is with ref to the article ‘Santo Subito- Sainthood Soon’ written by Fr Tony Fernandes (Herald, Nov 14). Indeed the devotees of Venerable Father Agnelo are awaiting anxiously for him to be declared a Saint. It’s been a long wait of 95 years. In 1956, late Fr Protasio Soares DD was appointed Vice Postulator for his cause right up to the third process of his beatification and ever since we Goans are hoping that one day our Ven Padr Agnel will be declared a saint.
Recently the PM visited the Vatican and invited our Pope Francis to India. The Holy Father has accepted the invitation. On behalf of all Goans I request the Pope to canonise our Ven Fr Agnelo on our Goan soil and to also canonise late Fr Stan Swamy who was a Jesuit just like our Pope and is an example of self sacrifice who dedicated his life fighting legitimately for the rights of the oppressed in our country till the very end of his life in jail.
Allwyn N D’Sousa, Saligao
Air pollution of Delhi
Delhi is suffering from very bad situation –air pollution which is continuously increasing everyday. The condition of Delhi is getting worse after Diwali. People never thought that because of air pollution they have to sit at home and have to wear mask even at home.
Schools and colleges will remain closed till Nov 20 because of this issue. People have suffered a lot; first Covid, then dengue, and now air pollution.
If the situation is not under control then government has to impose lockdown not for Covid but for Air Pollution in Delhi and it’s neighbouring states. Due to this, Delhi government issues notification for effective implementation of emergency measures to fight pollution.
This hazardous condition adversely affects the people suffering from lung’s problems. The Air Quality Index of Delhi is very poor. To overcome this situation government has taken some actions like to stop burning for a week, to promote more and more public transport, by the use of solar power and many more.
Somya Agrawal, Ujjain
Parliament losing its importance?
The Centre’s recent ordinances extending the tenures of the directors of the CBI and ED is a huge jolt to Parliamentary democracy. Coming weeks before the Winter session is to begin, the move amounts to disrespecting the traditions of parliamentary democracy.
With the government having the exclusive power of extending the tenure of the heads of the agencies, the independence of these agencies is under question.
Parliament is truly losing its significance and importance in our country.
Anish Esteves, Mumbai
