No age limit to
contest elections
Indian constitution is one of the most recognised and adaptable constitution the preamble is beautifully drafted but in practical it is not implemented. The constitution also provides the age limit for various posts held in government of India. However, there is need for restrictions on candidate age for filing nominations for elections whether it is panchayat or assembly elections. There is age limit for State government employees, central government employees and other public sector employees. However, there is no age limit for contesting elections.
It is high time that our constitution provides age limit for contesting both panchayat and State assembly elections. Today even after 70 yrs one can contest elections irrespective of health status or capacity to deliver to the people. If there can be restrictions on workers in State government offices, central government and other public sector employees, teachers, etc, why should there be no cut off age to elections.
The Constitution should be amended. If one joins a party he should serve minimum for 5 yrs and after that one should be allowed to change party and contest election after resigning from previous party. This will give a discipline to party and elections. No elected MLA should be allowed to switch from one party to another during the tenure of 5 yrs. only if we restrict such actions with amendments in the law and constitution people and voters will trust the party and their leaders otherwise it’s just a mockery of democracy . It’s high time that age limit is fixed up to 55 yrs and no nominations after the age of 55 yrs. Only constitution can bring the stability in party or else the defection theory will continue like any other theory of practise.
Raju Ramamurthy,
Vasco da Gama.
Shameless act won’t be forgotten
Goa leaders switching to parties saying ‘Congress Chodo, BJP ko Jodo’ is unfortunate. The defecting MLAs said they were unhappy with the Congress leadership. The party is reduced to 3 MLAs in a house of 40. Political defections are not just a betrayal of the people’s mandate, but denigration and mockery of God.
These legislators who have decided, against all political propriety, basic decency and honesty, to pursue their greed for wealth and hunger for power. This shameless act of undisguised disloyalty and treachery towards the very people who elected them will never be forgotten by the people of Goa.
And the greed for power is putting democracy at risk. The original slogan was for a ‘Congress mukt Bharat’. But since 2019, there is an obsessive drive for an ‘Opposition mukt Bharat’. Migration to parties should be prevented in order to stop such developments.
K G Vilop, Chorao
Commendable job by Goa Police
The Goa Police reportedly cracked the kidnapping and robbing case of a bank at Keri within 24 hours and arrested three of the five accused involved in the crime. The police have managed to recover most of the robbed cash and gold from the accused. Eight teams of police from both the districts gathered technical and local intelligence and managed to make the arrests. However, two of the accused are still at large.
In another case two Bangladeshi nationals involved in the theft of ATMs of two banks at Ponda were arrested by the police from their hideout in Andhra Pradesh. Police are reportedly on a hot pursuit of four more accused involved in the theft case. The Goa police need to be commended for the task that was accomplished in both the cases after putting in tremendous efforts. It must be said that the police force can do wonders in cracking a case if given a free hand and without any political interference. While solving complicated cases in quick time and arresting the culprits it is also important to prevent crime. Preventing a crime could be considered difficult as the police cannot be at all places all the time.
Hence preventive-arrests of anti-social elements, after gathering intelligence reports, assume significance. Extensive interrogation of those detained can lead to arrest of more criminals. As they say goes ‘prevention is better than cure’.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Thanks Roger, we’ll miss you
Roger Federer’s decision to call time on his glittering career after next week’s Laver Cup marks the end of an era. The ‘god of tennis’ enchanted tennis lovers with his sublime grace, skill and charm. His career, adorned with 20 Grand Slam titles, also featured an incredible run as World Number one for a record 237 consecutive weeks.
Federer enjoyed a storied rivalry with Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, and their high adrenaline clashes brought the best out of them.
Thank you, Roger, for those unforgettable moments. We will miss you!
N J Ravi Chander, Bengaluru
Federer was all class on and off the court
Die-hard tennis fans are disillusioned: the indefatigable and unbelievable Roger Federer has hung his boots. Though this decision of the Swiss tennis ace was in the pipeline for some time, the timing of the decision has saddened his supporters. One of the most graceful players ever to have graced the game, Federer was all class on and off the court.
Stylish and calm, it was sheer poetry in motion when the great man stepped on the court. Twenty grand slam titles is only a number; Federer was much more than mere statistics. These titles came to him through dint of hard work, unmatched determination and oodles of talent. Never known to throw tantrums on the court, his skillful one handed backhand and beautiful down the court volleys were sight for the sore eyes.
The great Rod Laver famously said that Federer “floated” on the court unlike others who “ran”. The champion’s artistry on tennis court is impossible to emulate let alone beat. At 41, with multiple knee surgeries, it was but natural that Federer thought he could not go on because tennis demands extreme levels of athleticism from its players. Also, one thought Federer should have quit some time ago; the pain of seeing the master lose to unheralded players whom he would have thrashed in his heydays was excruciating.
However, the love for the game superceded everything else for the man. He was not the type of player who would sit at home and count the fortunes when he still had something in him. But the longevity of Federer points to his unbridled stamina and, of course, will power. The towering giant will be badly missed by legion of his fans and tennis connoisseurs.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
Are India’s forex reserves depleting?
Bloomberg has reported an alarming fact which is a cause for concern. The forex reserves of India as of September 2, 2022 is pegged at 553 billion dollar and that monthly, India is spending 17 billion dollars for the past five months. Considering that a large part of the dollar reserves are being spent for the purpose of crude oil imports and also as the rupee has recently depreciated 7% vis-a-vis the dollar, calculation reveals that in 32-33 months at the current rate of depletion reserves will become nil.
The major points of concern are that crude oil is hovering at around 90-100 dollar per barrel as well as the Indian rupee is also showing weakness with respect to the greenback. Unless dollars are being earned by increase in the export of Indian manufactured goods and services, in less than three years, India could be in trouble.
M Pradyu, Kannur
