This is real
human service
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Asthma, tuberculosis, as well as disorders related to the respiratory system are aggravated by the harmful smoke of firecrackers. For such patients, crackers can be said to be a poisonous smoke. Those who set off firecrackers enjoy the sound and smoke of firecrackers. On the other hand, those suffering from its serious side effects, will the fireworks stop for them? They wait for it.
Should Diwali be celebrated only by bursting firecrackers? The festival of light is overshadowed by noxious smoke, deafening noise, and garbage from firecrackers. Nothing has been learned from this festival. This is understood from this.
Many have smart phones, laptops. Rather than wasting time on social media, even if you study the ‘side effects of firecrackers’ on the net and stop bursting firecrackers, many patients with respiratory disorders will save their lives from dying due to impure air.
Along with this, the addition of new patients related to this disorder will be stopped. This would serve ‘humanity’ on a broad scale, and what exactly is humanity? It will help to realise this.
Jayesh Rane, Mumbai
5G India with a medieval mindset
When a mob lynching takes place with the active support of police/authorities, when public flogging takes place to the cheers of the crowd, when we celebrate the release of ‘medal winners’ of gang rape and murder you know your society is doomed.
That the victims in all cases belong to the minority community is no coincidence. That the full support of the Opposition is not behind the minorities is a result of a well laid out plan. BJP has brainwashed the entire Opposition. They have equated being secular as appeasing the Muslims and being Anti- Hindu.
They have affected the psyche of the opposition parties. So now when they go after the Muslim community they have ensured that the Opposition does not lend support fearing they will lose the Hindu vote. The Opposition does not realise that the BJP at most represents just 32% of the majority had all Hindus voted/agreed with the BJP they would have got at least 70% votes.
When you stop being afraid of losing a few majority votes by speaking against the injustice done to minorities only then can you be a National party till then you are a Hindutva B Team. Just a reminder: Hitler enjoyed the total support of Germans yet he ruined Germany.
DC Dias, Taleigao
Drive against renting
private vehicles
Observing that private vehicles are illegally rented out to tourists, who many a time violate rules, the State government has warned that action will be taken against such people who hire their vehicles even leading to its confiscation. However, certain pertinent questions do rise. It would be next to impossible to tell whether the owner is driving the vehicle or it has been hired from a private owner by a tourist.
It may not be visibly possible to differentiate between a tourist and a Goan vehicle owner especially if the vehicle is a four-wheeler. In order to keep a check on the illegality it may be necessary for the cops to stop private vehicles and check the documents to see that it has not been rented out.
What if the driver is related to the vehicle owner and has come from abroad and possesses an international driving licence? Will the driver have to prove to the cops that he/she is related to the owner of the vehicle? How can this be done on the road? Will it be necessary for the owner of the driver to also accompany the relative every time he/she is driving the car?
What if a friend from another State drives the vehicle owned by a Goan without hiring it? A tourist driving a hired private vehicle can easily lie to the cops that he/she is related to the vehicular owner.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Et tu Election
Commissioner?
When the Election Commission (EC) was expected to announce the dates for elections in Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat together, one was really shocked with its announcement of elections only in Himachal Pradesh.
With many electoral campaigns continuously being addressed by Prime Minister Modi and lots more are said to be in the offing in the poll -bound Gujarat and that in such a great hurry, Modi is going on dedicating and laying the foundation stones of several mega projects worth an estimated Rs 15, 670 crore, it is alleged that the real reason for the magnanimous gesture of the EC to postpone the announcement of poll dates in Gujarat, is only to accommodate Modi to complete his campaigns and pronouncement of new projects. Mod is now found to be in full swing with his project announcements on a war footing in Gujarat, to appease the voters and is expected to complete his mission shortly.
As such, we can expect EC to announce the dates for poll in this State after Modi’s agenda is completed. If the allegations against the EC are proved to be true, one dreads to think of the fairness of the EC and its conduct, not only in the ensuing Assembly elections but also in the most important and crucial Parliamentary elections in 2024.
Tharcius S Fernando, Chennai
The degradation of
our Goa is livid
It comes as no surprise that our State has been adjudged the last in Political Justice. Over the years Goa has become a laboratory for every possible political experiment showing the nation the ways and means to circumvent the Anti-Defection law, with political prostitution and party turncoats seen at its very hilt.
The law needs to be further reinforced to plug the prevailing loopholes in order to deter the evil of MPs and MLAs from merrily hopping across parties motivated by the lure of office and monetary gains. This law has not been successful in preventing corruption by way of horse-trading as the grey areas in the Act continue to be exploited by unscrupulous politicians.
Ethics should always be an integral part of politics and citizens should expect ethical behaviour from the political leadership. Authentic leadership can only be practised through ethical governance.
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
Indians in Ukraine should leave
Indian citizens living in Ukraine would do well to heed the advisory issued by the Indian Embassy in Kyiv and leave the war-torn country. This is the second advisory in the past nine days. The Ukrainian government has also stressed the importance of following safety and security guidelines and avoiding all non-essential travel.
Russia has stepped up its offensive following a string of battlefield defeats, and Russian President Vladimir Putin declared martial law in four regions of Ukraine. The sudden escalation in war and deteriorating security across Ukraine is a matter of concern.
N J Ravi Chander, Bengaluru
Will Kharge bring in new ideas?
As expected Mallikararjun Kharge came out victorious with an overwhelming margin. But this result, of course, but a sad day indeed for the INC and the nation. Kharge can be expected to be nothing more than a poorly disguised proxy for the Congress’ first family. No new content, no new ideas. Only the face is “new”. Hearty Congratulations to Mallikarjun Kharge on getting elected President of the grand old party of India.
Shashi Tharoor needs to be congratulated for conducting himself as a worthy opponent in the election and being able to garner more than thousand votes. That is not a mean feat. Now that elections are over, they should join hands to build a strong party to oppose the ruling dispensation to protect democracy.
CK Subramaniam, Navi Mumbai
