No political armed forces!
Institutions, which have to be above partisan politics, have been politicised under Modi’s juggernaut. The latest victims are the Armed Forces.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
‘Agnipath’ is a political decision, and it needs to be defended and explained by the Government and the BJP. It is disgusting and ominous that the serving three Chiefs of Armed Forces are being fielded and accept to perform the task.
Mousinho de Ataíde, Saligao
It’s not religion;
Just politics!
Let’s get this straight – Religion is not the cause of war, but rather religion is used as a tool to start wars by political leaders. This has been happening from times immemorial. If you actually look deeply, Jesus was crucified not because he was preaching the word of God but because he posed as a threat to the people in power (mainly the Jews). It was politics then and it is politics now.
So, if politicians shout out that whatever they are doing is for the good of a particular religion, it is never so. They all have a hidden agenda and unfortunately we are made sacrificial lambs to it. Take for example, the thrust for anti-conversion bill and digging up for temples built during the erstwhile period. It is nothing but a stunt on the part of political leaders to get attention and seek power. It does not matter which religion the politician or politicians are in, they are all in it for money and power.
God lies in each and every human being and if you cannot help your fellow-brethren, you are nowhere close to God. If, as a leader, you choose to curb the liberty of your citizens and don’t care if they have food on their plate and if you hurt a fellow human being in anyway, you are directly hurting God. No matter how many places of worship you build or visit.
Unfortunately, our political leaders are very adept at brainwashing our minds and we tend to accept what they say as the truth and the whole truth, resulting in unnecessary divisions among us. If only we could read between the lines and recognise the true agenda of politicians and leaders alike. We need to stay alert and realise that God is one and no politician can make us believe otherwise.
Marie Fernandes, Panjim
Give village students
the right transport
This has reference to the report ‘Government urged to act against illegal school transport’ (Herald, June 17). What about city buses which run up and down jam-packed and flouting Covid-19 rules; where are precautionary measures?
As a parent my daughter attends her school in Margao. Some people like me stay in the villages especially in the interiors and with no transport available. There are no city buses running in the interiors and therefore there is no option for sending children in this type of transport.
As a parent I speak on the behalf of all those parents who are facing transportation problems please it’s a humble request for the state commission for protection of child Rights that as parents we do not like our children travelling in hazardous manner. Please monitor the situation and see first if in village interiors our city buses are running smoothly and how our village people are literally suffering.
As a parent, for our children we need complete solution, so that in future our children may never ever travel in hazardous manner.
Anita Fernandes, Verna
Are we becoming insensitive?
Large protests were witnessed last week by a community against a fringe element who apparently was a spokesperson for the ruling party; the protestors demanded that this fringe element be arrested. The State government decided to punish the protestors as they belonged to a community towards whom the ruling party has special affection. The State administration got the bull dozers to punish them and a popular social worker’s house was demolished only to be found later that the house was in his wife’s name and it was her ancestral property.
The sad part is that the media gave live coverage of the demolition, the anchors were smiling and gleefully enjoying the demolitions as if it was a wedding reception of some film star, such is the situation of the electronic media today.
Did we enjoy the demolitions too? If we have not felt sad watching it, then we have become insensitive towards the sufferings of the people. Wonder if the bulldozers will come out again now for the Agnipath protestors? Did we hear a popular slogan “sabka saath, saabka vikas aur saabka vishwas”?
Altaf Shah, Vasco
Deal land grabbers
with an iron hand
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) set up to probe the rampant fraudulent land grabbing will be fruitful only if it is allowed to function free of political interference. But the road ahead for this SIT is bleak with so many BJP leaders, including at least two current Ministers having close links with the cartel of land grabbers.
Some years ago the BJP government appointed a panel of Chartered Accountants to examine the grabbing of Serula Comunidade land. But the inquiry made no headway once it surfaced that many BJP leaders were also beneficiaries of the loot. Over the last decade many BJP leaders from the Centre and other States have acquired a lot of property in Goa and even set up businesses here. The legality, funding and propriety of all these deals must be looked into.
The SIT now set up has an enormous task at hand but we can only hope that it will move on the right path fairly but fearlessly in nailing the culprits after identifying and prosecuting them mercilessly. Every inch of land that has been grabbed must be restored to its rightful owner. Those in power must lead by example and be above board. Let’s hope that if the probe by SIT is fair and far reaching and without fear or favour that they are not forced to sit on their hands, or their report is not allowed to gather dust on account of undue political interference and coercion.
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
Seafarers pension to reach their account
Goan Seafarers and their families are overwhelmed with joy to learn that the Goa Government finally issued orders to sanction Seafarers Pension which was pending for quite some time and to continue the scheme which was stopped earlier.
Thanks to Aam Aadmi Party, Seafarers Cell In charge Benaulim MLA Capt, Venzy Viegas and Goan Seaman Association of India President Frank Viegas for achieving this feat after a very long wait and constant follow up. Goa Government has finally issued the sanction order of Rs.1.25 crore for the disbursement of pension of the Seafarers.
With this order seafarers will receive their pension for the last six months from December 2021 to May 2022 if everything goes well. Goan Seafarers are happy to know that they will receive this pension of theirs before 25th of this month because that day is celebrated as Seafarers Day.
Seafarers are also thankful to our Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and NRI Commissioner Narendra Sawaikar. Simultaneously they request both of them to make this scheme permanent and to enroll all those Seafarers who have retired from sea service recently from the year 2019 till date, who are yet to receive their first pension amount after applying for the same. The NRI office has already forwarded the copy of the order to the Director of Accounts to credit the amount in the State Bank of India for disbursal of the pensionary amount to the retired Seafarers and widows.
Natividade Fernandes, Cavelossim
