Insensitive remarks by politicians on rape
There have been several instances of Indian politicians belonging to various political parties making insensitive and outrageous remarks on rape. The latest remark was made by former Speaker of the Karnataka State Legislative Assembly and senior Congress MLA KR Ramesh Kumar who on Thursday reportedly said in the assembly “enjoy rape when it is inevitable”.
His comment caused a furore with the National Commission for Women (NCW) and some women Congress MLAs taking umbrage to the statement made on the floor of the Assembly even as the politician apologized for the comment. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also condemned the party’s Karnataka MLA’s controversial remark. The unfortunate remark by peoples’ representatives only goes to prove that they are misogynists and have a horrible mindset towards women. The Chairperson of NCW said that if politicians sit in the assembly and speak like this, how do they behave with women in their lives?
The MLA in question said that it was an ‘off the cuff’ remark. Such a statement on a sensitive issue like rape by an elected representative cannot be taken lightly and needs to be condemned in no uncertain terms. It must be said that such outrageous remarks add to the country’s rape shame. Rape is a heinous crime and politicians should be careful with regards to the comments they pass on the floor of the Assembly.
It can send a wrong signal to would-be rapists that they can get away after committing the crime. This trend by the politicians needs to stop.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Political freebies
BJP, Aam Aadmi Party, TMC etc offering freebies/money to get votes.
Are these freebies policy sustainable? Are these politicians paying from their party fund or will it not burden the already overburdened Goan taxpayers? Will it not encourage more from outside to come and settle in Goa with all these offers; even encourage more illegal settlements?
Can this money not be better use to develop Goans who so that they are equipped to earn Good Income for themselves “ or say to improve standard of living say cleaner places, garbage control, fast track sustainable energy like solar power and so on? Are Goans so low in maturity to fall for these freebies?
Arwin Mesquita, Colva
Classic stalling tactics
Our CM has ordered a probe into the PWD job scam in which allegedly 350 posts of engineers were sold to the highest bidders for Rs 70 crores by an honourable minister of the cabinet; interestingly this was brought to light by a turncoat, honourable-er mantri who has faced charges of rape in the past. A three-member committee has been constituted and till it’s report is submitted the recruitment process would be kept on hold.
Committees are classic stalling tactics and the timing of the inquiry raises suspicions too as it comes just before the model code of conduct for the assembly polls kicks in; this infact would derail the whole investigation process, if the CM had been really serious about getting to the bottom of the matter he would pushed for an independent CBI inquiry.
The ruling dispensation is also banking on the fact that public memory is short and the citizenry would soon forget this bribegate thus minimizing the damage to it’s electoral prospects. Machiavellian in the extreme. To avoid such frequent scams, a staff selection commission should be set up to act as a nodal agency for all state government recruitments but I am sure the mantri brigade would oppose it tooth and nail for they would not like to forego a superlucrative revenue stream.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
On Kohli’s white ball captaincy gripe
Kohli should cut the crap and get on with it. He should not gripe about losing the white ball captaincy after he decided to relinquish his T20 captain’s hat. He is not a child to have people come back to him and ask him to do a re-think on the issue. That he should have done before deciding to give up the mantle.
It is like after the toss, whatever decision you take to bat or field, cannot be changed later. Kohli still has the Test captaincy, though given his muddled record there lately, he should consider giving up that too. So Kohli, concentrate now on your batting and bring laurels to yourself and to India.
Srinivas Kamat,
Alto St. Cruz
Salute Herald
I salute Herald for the bold step taken to oppose anyone supporting the defectors it is a step in the right direction but the press media should blackout their press conferences and election meetings wherever their presence is there as this will bring about a public awareness to nail the defectors and see that they are no erected once again or else the same scenario of jumping will one party to other party like monkeys will once again prevail in the assembly elections 2021.
It is bounden duty of the press to project good sincere and educated candidates before the people of Goa who will work sincerely and honestly for the welfare of Goans ànd Goa and also the voter should consciously and judiciously vote accordingly and not fall prey to distributed freebies as all the Goan voters should remember that freebies or cash given last for only one or two days and then the next five years they loot and never come back to the voter after getting elected but definitely come to your house to seek your vote only after five so Goans beware of this tactics as all are aware so Goans please elect candidates of your choice not of others to save our beautiful Goa.
Diomedes Pereira, Corlim
Elephant deaths
The gigantic, but lovable elephant is placed in Schedule 1 of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Many projects are in place in India to save the magnificent creatures from extinction. But the stark reality is that between 2014 and 2019 as many as 23,000 elephants were killed in India. In November and early this month there were five elephant deaths due to trains colliding with them in Tamil Nadu and Assam. This perennial “train-elephant collision” has been studied for a very long time. Half-hearted measures have not helped. As is known, proper track signals, locopilot sensitization, periodic review and maintenance of elephant corridors and a unique elephant detection system are proposed for safeguarding the lives of elephants. But these have to see the light of day to help the jumbos. Overpasses and underpasses have proven advantages. Solar powered fences and elephant proof trenches are vital to minimize deaths due to man–animal conflict. Such projects are in great swing Kerala, a state known to love and admire the elephants.
Recently, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has announced it would undertake a sophisticated elephant corridor verification and mapping land use and land cover of elephant reserves through GIS technology. Elephant corridors are continuously evolving; there are more corridors now. Fragmentation of existing corridors due to human activities have led to the old ones giving way to the newer corridors. While using modern technologies, it is imperative for the officials to correctly identify the elephant corridors in regions of the country where elephants abound. Land notification of corridors, giving them legal status, is a great step ahead.
Interestingly, poaching of the jumbos appears to have comparatively taken a backseat when causes of elephant deaths are analyzed.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
