Kharge the winner but Cong is the loser
At last the much published, pre-planned and well choreographed so-called democratic election after a pause of 24 years for the post of the President of Indian National Congress has ended with the expected outcome. Their unofficial “Official” candidate Maliikaurjun Kharge winning hands down with a thumping majority. Of course it’s a major victory to 8,000 delegates who voted for Kharge but a huge loss and disappointment to those lakhs of Congress supporters who wanted a real change in the organisation and functioning of the party.
Shashi Tharoor was their last hope and had he won, the Congress would have been rejuvenated and seen better days ahead with better organisation, planning and execution, leading to the party’s revival and perhaps regaining its past glory.
Now the Congress is back to square one and most probably adopting the same old modus operandi, where the High Command will decide the future course of action on all major issues, using the same age old methodology, which is unlikely to give any positive assurances to their numerous supporters, with the exception of those who voted for Kharge and kept the Gandhi’s influence intact.
Unfortunately Congress being on a weaker wicket, it will be left to parties like Aam Aadmi Party and other regional parties to face the mighty BJP juggernaut and dent their ever increasing influence across India.
Antonio Diniz, Fatorda
Govt favouring
the top class
While taxes and prices are going up unabated, interest rates on bank deposits are going down progressively. The common man is facing the most difficult phase in life with no end in sight. What is surprising is that the government which boasts of being committed to improve the lot of the common man is actually favouring the top class.
Take the latest decision of the nation’s largest government bank State Bank of India. SBI has lowered the interest rate on savings account from 2.75 per cent to 2.70 per cent on balances below Rs 10 crore whereas it has increased the interest rate from 2.75 per cent to 3.00 per cent on balances above Rs 10 crore. Need we say anything more on whose interest the government has really at heart?
Rodney de Souza, Assagao
Only solution is to
start begging
Today the unemployment situation in Goa has reached alarming levels and the government is not doing enough to solve it. When Goa is dependent on tourism, the related issuing of permissions should be done well in advance and without take bribes so that unemployment problem is reduced.
The issue of visa on arrival for tourist should be solved at the earliest. Just because people are silent doesn’t mean the unemployment problem isn’t hurting the people. The only solution left to awake the government that there is severe unemployment problem is the youth must take up begging on the streets in large numbers along with their parents.
Edwin Coutinho, Canacona
Goa government’s
job hoax
Senior Goan ministers are promising about 5,000 crores of investment in the State to create about 1,400 jobs. Question is who will get these jobs. Majority of qualified Goans? Can the government clarify on the same with a clear policy/assurance? If not, then this jobs’ promise is just a hoax as the other major promises the Goa government makes from time to time. I would think that the immediate priority is to create jobs for Goans in Goa which is one of the worst in India on unemployment statistics.
Needless to mention, this same ruling party has been promising jobs for more than a decade now but the unemployment percentage has only gotten much worse, leading to many Goan youth migrating out of Goa (many via Portuguese passports) or getting into crime including the drugs trade (is the Goa government not to be held accountable here for destroying lives?)
The only “jobs/progress” I see increasing are for those Goan corrupt politicians who are regularly jumping to the ruling party.
Arwin Mesquita, Colva
Need good shows and comedy serials
After an era of melodramatic “family” shows, comedy pieces and hysterical reality shows have exasperated television hookers. Comedy serials have degenerated into a show of jokers. Most comedy programmes continue to test the audience’s patience by mundane jokes and liberal doses of double entendre. Comedy serials have to tell the truth, they cannot survive on the edifice of falsehood.
It is easy to make people cry than making them laugh. But the hard work one has to put to do so is equally daunting. At the same time, it is harder for a comedy serial to sustain people’s interest for long. Top comedians have gone on record about “comedy” being totally different from “funny”. Comedy is the art of saying words no one would say and pleasing everybody like no one else can.
Ironically, a few family serials made a comeback of sorts providing a mix of elegance and richness to their stories. Admittedly, people lapped up some “new-look” prime time serials; but they didn’t last long. What family serials of today lack are simple narration devoid of double meaning, subtle but endearing humour, able acting by prominent characters, and stories close to the heart. Straight stories, unlike the complex ones, are not afraid to lose although they can afford to be loose at times. The entire family should be able to view the show with little or no embarrassment. An entertainer with a message is what viewers need.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
Avoid firecrackers during Diwali
The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board’s (KSPCB) circular restricting the bursting of firecrackers during Diwali to two hours is a welcome step. The order prohibits crackers that produce noise and allows only green crackers.
KSPCB has installed devices to measure pollution in Bengaluru and mandated that vendors stick to the rule and sell only green crackers failing which they have to face legal action. The measures must cheer the elderly, the sick and other citizens who despise air and noise pollution.
N J Ravi Chander, Bengaluru
Helplines are
mostly in Hindi
Helplines are of immense service to save our time and energy. Since the last few years we are able to contact toll-free or helpline numbers of service providers and vendors to sort out a variety of issues related to banking, purchases, insurances, travel, hospitalities, need for technicians and much more. When we dial a toll-free number (mostly 1-800-xxx), an automated voice would tell us that to speak with the customer-care executive we can opt for Hindi or English by pressing number 1 or 2.
Funnily, in many helpline numbers even if we choose to talk in ‘English’ the executives tend to speak in Hindi. If we ask them to speak in English, they want us to speak in Hindi.
Firstly, if the executive is hell bent on conversing in Hindi then what is the point in us selecting the language options? Secondly, if the callers do not know Hindi, then how will their problems be resolved?
The helplines of companies that have this issue need to check and rectify these problems.
Sridhar D’Iyer, Caranzalem
