India’s ‘biggest’ drug haul
The Narcotic Control Bureau (NCB) along with Indian Navy and Coast Guard has done a commendable job by seizing around 2500 kg of high-purity methamphetamine. The seizure is part of ‘Operation Samudragupt’, which targets drug trafficking on the marine routes into the country. Large-scale drug trafficking around the world has become a threat to many countries. It is often associated with other forms of crime, such as terrorism, money laundering or corruption. Narcotic drugs endanger the health of people and pose serious challenges to the economy.
Cases of rising use of drugs by many, including celebrities, seizures and smuggling of consignment are often reported in India including Goa. Pakistan and Afghanistan, who are at the forefront of drug production and global trafficking, supply it on a regular basis to many countries by sea. The distribution networks should be smashed, and the mafia and syndicates neutralised. Most importantly, there should be increased public awareness campaigns against drug consumption and enhanced efforts and systems to help addicts to get back to their normal life.
Gregory Fernandes, Marcel
Karnataka yet to decide on CM post?
After the Congress swept the Karnataka assembly election with 136 seats, the party is yet to decide on the CM. The elections results were declared on 13th May 2023 and even as four days have passed the decision is yet to be made. The high command which always decides, has put ball in Mallikarjun Kharge’s court. He is the oldest party leader who is given the tough task and is expected to be neutral. The two leaders DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah are both strong in their position. DK Shivakumar, 61 yrs, has brought back the party since 2019 and Siddaramaiah, 71 yrs, who was CM earlier, has the support of most MLAs. The said situation is also seen in Rajasthan when Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot were vying for the CM’s post. Congress should have declared their CM face before elections, so that there is no confusion later. They had enough time to decide when they crossed 100 seats and BJP was trailing by numbers of seats. The same situation we saw in Goa too, when inspite of getting the required seats to form government Congress failed to come to power due to tussle over the CM’s choice. Senior leaders are more interested in the top post, irrespective of their age and ability to physically work on the field. It’s has been a tough time for Karnataka to decide the issue, even as the three observers from Congress Sushilkumar Shinde, K C Venugopal and Randeep Surjewala are in the state to discuss on the issue. Ultimately the high command has given the charge to Mallikarjun Kharge, the party president, to decide on the same. It is going to be tougher than any other party issues to handle. Let us wait and watch the same and hope the party stays united.
Raju Ramamurthy, Vasco
Cong not magnanimous in victory?
Before votes were counted, the boasts by all overconfident leaders were astounding! The PM of India appeared to be the PM of the BJP and ministers of all BJP states, including Goa rushed to Karnataka with their so far successful ‘communal development agenda’. The Congress leaders held similar road shows, whilst the JD(S) leader said he would become the kingmaker and choose the party that would make him the CM! After the votes were cast and exit polls discussed, all still remained super confident. However it was reported that the BJP had plan B and the Congress many helicopters standby for Resort politics. After the results were declared the BJP President said they accept the mandate with humility which was thoroughly lacking in statements by their leaders, spokespersons and what is known as the Godi media. Likewise Rahul Gandhi said the market of hate is closed and shops of love opened! But the Congress leaders and spokespersons were not magnanimous in victory. Opposition parties and factions having come together, each wants their person as CM or wants lucrative portfolios! Unless hypocrisy dies and humanity prevails, our nation will never improve on the world happiness index.
John Eric Gomes, Porvorim
Let’s salute the people of Karnataka
The Kannadigas should be congratulated for wisely voting for just one main opposition party, namely the Congress and successfully overthrowing the ruling BJP government out, in great style without getting distracted with the antics of leaders of some smaller political parties in their state.
This huge win was possible only due to the united hard efforts of some real strong popular leaders of the Congress like Siddaramaiah, D K Shivakumar and its own party workers in Karnataka.
Today, many people are asking whether a similar thing can ever happen in Goa in future, but the question is how? When the main opposition party, namely the Congress party has no mass-base popular leaders in its rank in our state today, and is currently led by just three first-time MLAs in Goa, one cannot imagine how it will happen?
I therefore feel that if the top leaders of the Congress party want to really put a Karnataka type of performance in our state in future, then they need to promote the right type of modern-headed honest young leaders and do a lot of hard work at the grassroot level in Goa…. But for now, let’s salute the people of Karnataka.
Jerry Fernandes, Saligao
Relationships in sports
Sport has the intrinsic ability to create relationships. Think of some of the most familiar sporting relationships – ‘Roger Federer and Wimbledon’, ‘Rafael Nadal and the French Open’, and ‘The Undertaker (Mark William Calaway) and Wrestle Mania.’ And one such relationship that has defined the IPL ever-since its introduction is ‘Dhoni and Chennai Super Kings.’ For well over a decade now, the two have become inseparable, and it is impossible to imagine one without the other. Cricket lovers of Chennai have poured out their unconditional love for Dhoni, who has become the sporting Thala of the city. The four-time IPL winning captain lights up when he talks about his association with the Yellow Army. No cricketer in the history of IPL has mattered so much to a particular franchise as much as Dhoni has to CSK. There can never be any question about Dhoni’s legacy with CSK, regardless of when he chooses to retire from IPL.
Ranganathan Sivakumar, Chennai
