A covert avatar, interesting reading
The article ‘A covert avatar’ by Adv Radharao Gracias (Herald, August 24) made interesting reading. I have always found his political as well historical insights very interesting and informative. I have been pondering lately for a while now about the meteoritic rise of the AAP and the sudden loss of fizz in our State.
The initial members of the party in our State were renowned doctors, writers, artists, and respected members of our society. Now I see power-hungry, greedy and persons of penchants for dramas on social media joining the party. It has become a mediocrely pretending of so-called ‘leaders of the people’s’ party in our State.
Gracias’ article was not only refreshing but opened few eyes and cleared lots of cobwebs from our clustered minds. I will be eagerly looking forward to his next article on the paper. Till then, cheers.
Valent Mascarenhas, California/Calangute
Govt schemes
Government Social Welfare schemes are meant to benefit the truly poor and needy while not being misconstrued as largesse of the political party in power.
In 2001, when the Dayanand Social Security Scheme (DSSS) was launched, very highhandedly the application forms were available only with Ministers and ruling MLAs who started distributing them on their birthdays. As this was a public scheme, I was constrained to immediately move the High Court which directed that the application forms be made available to the public at the offices of all the Mamlatdars.
It is imperative that the certifying of eligibility for social welfare schemes should be by revenue authorities and not the MLA or MP. It is on account of this that hundreds of fraudulent and ineligible persons managed to get themselves enrolled as beneficiaries of schemes they were not entitled to.
It is also imperative that all payments to the needy are unfailingly made monthly and the applicants do not have to wait for months to receive their much needed benefits. It would be prudent that the government should not launch new schemes unless it has the finances to be able to pay beneficiaries of existing schemes regularly.
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
Political parties tall promises, a jumla
With the Assembly poll nearing, the political parties in State have started giving a tall promises to the voters. The citizens should not fall prey for all these assurances given by political parties. In a democracy setup, people are supposed to vote on the basis of overall policies. Intermittent power cut, irregular water supply, worst roads, unsafety for woman, garbages issues are common plights seen even today. Under such instance political parties would like to win by hook or crook. They want to simultaneously slice and dice electorates.
As there is a rampant increase in ‘promising the moon’ by the political parties in their election manifestos, only to deceive the gullible voters after forming government. But if the citizens cast their vote under the undue influence of the promise of freebies, they have to suffer till they get another chance to vote, probably after five years.
The recent assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, an Independent candidate promised trip to moon, helicopters, snow mountain, etc. He lost the election. But he had become an instant celebrity in the constituency- not because he could win and deliver the promises – but more so due to the fanciful assurances. People should come out of the freebie culture and introspect on what the political parties have done to improve their living conditions.
K.G Vilop, Chorao
Old enemies
With reference to your editorial ‘Maharashtra politics takes a new turn ‘ (Herald, August 26), the friction and acrimony between Narayan Rane and Uddhav Thackeray are years old enemies. Both in responsible public positions now, Rane who has changed parties is a Union Minister and Uddhav, sober and capable Maharashtra’s CM.
First and foremost BJP has never been able to reconcile separation of Shiv Sena from it’s alliance and formation of MVA government in Maharashtra, with many twists and turns, the Uddhav-led government has managed well beset with the pandemic and other serious problems. After 20 months of MVA government war of words centering on this year’s independence occasion Narayan Rane was enraged with the CM’s utterances ,provoked him to say words against an elected constitutional person, Rane was arrested and bailed later, cases still pending against him. In hindsight arrest could have been avoided and the matter set to rest.
During this period Maharashtra and Mumbai saw many scuffles and fights between Shiv Sena cadres and BJP cadres , arson and violence. The municipal elections in Mumbai and other parts are around the corner, both these two parties trying to outwit the other. Furthermore reactions of top leaders of BJP on Narayan Rane’s arrest appear to be on the weaker side, BJP too resorts to create fear, intimidate, arrest opposition voices, they believe only such voice of their own as correct.
Parthasarathy Sen, by email
Assembly polls 2022
As the Goa Assembly elections are round the corner all the political parties are gearing up and pulling their socks up to prepare themselves for the elections. But it’s surprising to see Congress the oldest party of India is still struggling to rebuild the party when hardly any time is left to do so.
In 2012, when BJP got absolute majority by defeating Congress ,the oldest party started to rebuild itself. They have started the work in 2014.
It took them three years to rebuild the party and win 17 seats. Can anybody guess what will happen this time? Will have to wait and see. Goa assembly elections are staring at us and our oldest party is still in the process of rebuilding the party and that too by inducting old defeated faces from other parties. Will this step help them? Only time will tell.
This time too many parties are in the fray. BJP, Congress, AAP, MGP, Goa Forward, Goencho Avaz, Shiv Sena, RG who is yet to get the party registered as political party, Independents including rebels from different parties who won’t get party tickets etc. This time it will be a tricky situation at the assembly elections. A hung assembly is not ruled out.
It is understood that at the time of elections lots of jobs, freebies, gifts, Biryanis, liquor, cash etc will be available but we Goans should be very careful and shrewd this time. We cannot afford to sell our votes for the above mentioned gifts. It’s time to give a new party and new faces a chance to govern the state of Goa for the upliftment and protection of Goa and Goans.
Hope better sense will prevail among Goans to enable them to choose and vote confidently a new party and a new faces for a change in Goa
Natividade Fernandes, Cavelossim
Perils of mining
The Nandi Hills landslide on Bengaluru’s outskirts has again underlined the perils of mining in an eco-sensitive zone. The landslip triggered by heavy rain occurred 100 metres from the check-post, bringing down one enormous boulder, soil and plants and resulting in damage to 20 feet of the road. One must thank the heavens for not sustaining any loss of life or limb. However, tourists came down from the hill along a pathway, and the authorities carved out a temporary road to bring back their vehicles one by one. Extensive quarrying, uncurbed tourism and deforestation have caused irreparable damage to the hills, and it is time we stop tinkering with the environment.
N J Ravi Chander, Bengaluru
