Harassment of minorities
I was disturbed on reading in the newspaper of October 16, 2021 that Karnataka Government orders survey of Churches “to check forced conversions”. It looks like the BJP government is out to target the minorities. India is a secular democratic country. Article 25, 26, 29 and 30 of the Indian constitution gives freedom to every citizen to profess, practice and propagate his/her religion without fear of force.
How is that Christians are still only 2% of the population in India, if as alleged, conversions are being forced? Why does the Government want to survey churches? Instead they should take a count of the educational institutions and health centres run by the Christian community. It will give an idea of the service rendered by the Christian Community in nation building.
Does the government not have more urgent matters to attend to? This selective targeting of minorities is unwarranted. Prices of daily essentials are spiralling out of control. The numbers of the unemployed are increasing every day, India has fallen below its neighbours in the hunger index, but the government is trying to distract the people by focusing on unnecessary matters.
Jennifer Viegas, Navelim
Misbehaviour by tourists
It was shocking to read about the assault of a parking lot attendant by some tourists at Anjuna beach and his unfortunate death. Although the tourists are arrested let us hope that the family of the deceased gets due justice and in time. Tourists think that the moment they enter Goa they can do anything and get away scot-free. Most have an ‘anything goes in Goa’ and ‘you know who my father is?’ attitude. If they don’t know who their father is, how are we supposed to know!
The tourists come and spend thousands and may be a few lakhs of rupees on food, drinks, gambling, transport, etc. but when it comes to pay some miserly rupees as parking fees, they get enraged and arguments and fisticuffs become the norm. Would these people behave in such a manner in their own or other States? This is not the first time, and may not be the last, when incidents of fights between tourists and locals have taken place. Now that tourism is opening up such skirmishes are bound to increase in the coming days. The government needs to install more CCTV (and in working conditions) at sensitive and trouble-prone spots. The Goa police have to come down with a heavy hand on such irresponsible tourists.
Sridhar D’Iyer, Caranzalem
Pet dogs can also prove dangerous
Whenever a citizen is attacked and bitten by a dog it is usually the stray dog that is blamed. However, a pet dog can be equally dangerous. Letting a pet dog loose could lend one in trouble and even a police case. It is learnt that Calangute police have registered an offence against the owner of a pet dog after the dog bit a woman.
The victim had stepped out of her residence to dump waste in the compound when a pet dog, a Rottweiler, being taken for a walk by the owner, attacked the woman. The pet dog reportedly attacked her violently, snapping at her hand and leaving a deep gash. She was immediately shifted to the Candolim primary health centre from where she was referred to the North Goa District Hospital as the wound was of a serious nature. A case of negligence has been registered against the owner of the pet dog.
Some pet dogs are very ferocious and could attack an unwary passerby. Pet dogs remain within the four walls of the house for most of the time and when they are taken out for a walk they could become excited. Pet owners need to take extra precaution while taking the dog out.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Bitter vegetables
While spikes in vegetable prices is a recurring annual feature, this year’s extended rainfall has adversely impacted the retail rates of vegetables with tomatoes at Rs 80/kg, onions at Rs 75/ kg and coriander selling at Rs 55/bunch, the same were being sold for Rs 30, Rs 25 and Rs 15 respectively barely a fortnight ago in the State.
Wholesalers opine that it might take another month or so before the next crop is harvested and prices return to normal. The common man has been hit the hardest and is resorting to buying smaller quantities for his needs, commercial establishments like hotels and restaurants have jacked up the prices on their menu by up to 20% to offset the escalation. Heavy rain in neighbouring Karnataka has led to spoilage of crops, also the continuing damp weather and consequent humidity has resulted in the ingress of moisture and fungus pestilence in fresh vegetables during transit.
One solution would be for the government to incentivise unemployed youth to take up farming on uncultivated land across the State with an assured buyback of produce by the Goa State Horticultural Corporation.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
Finally, Dravid?
Both amiable and amicable, Indian cricket coach Ravi Shastri gelled well with Captain Virat Kohli and his team. More than a tough task master, the coach of a senior cricket team should be a man-manager, and Shastri efficiently fulfilled this role.
Although, at times, he appeared more relaxed than necessary, there was no doubt about his adaptability. Success, at the highest level, is measured by numbers; Shastri departs with a good record to show. Initially, it was thought that the race for the coach was wide open because there were reports that Rahul Dravid had declined the offer.
But now with fresh reports indicating the batting legend had agreed to steer the Indian team, speculations have been put to rest. Undoubtedly, the diminishing stature of Virat Kohli as the Indian captain vis-a-vis his easing out from the T20 captaincy must have weighed heavily with Dravid, a no–nonsense man.
There is little doubt about his ability to mix well with the players. Dravid has all the qualities of a great cricket coach: sharp instincts, fighting qualities and communication skills.
The new coach will have to deftly juggle with two captains with contrasting personalities. Since Kohli and Rohit Sharma are nearly in their mid thirties, Dravid has the enormous responsibility of mentoring the future Indian captain. Egos are likely to be bruised, and the coach needs to be thick skinned.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
Novenas for St Francis Xavier
After a gap of two years the masses for St Francis Xavier Novena and Feast in Old Goa will be held in physical mode by erecting a huge pandal for outdoor seating.
When Old Goa is gifted with a dozen churches is it necessary to make outdoor seating by spending crores of rupees. St Francis Xavier and his followers had built these churches to attract tourist or this churches where built one by one to accommodate the increase in Christian devotees?
The practice of celebrating with a dozen priests a single mass in the pandal could be done by celebrating a dozen masses at the same time in different churches of Old Goa by putting proper sound system and by making necessary seating arrangement in different churches. As done in Pilar Church the churches should be closed once the capacity of the church is full.
Taking into consideration the disturbance of having mass in the temporary pandal, this year the church should give a start to have orderly masses in different churches of Old Goa and stop the tourists from visiting the church especially during the Novena Feast of St Francis Xavier.
Gerardo Fernandes, Cansaulim
