Letters to the editor (28 August 2021)

Will the Congress change?
Congress is witnessing a lot of “ticket tourism.” So many want to join Congress, all for the wrong reasons. Some say they and their supporters are side-lined in the new scheme of things whatever that means. Some say they want to strengthen the Congress. Such people should work for the party for five years and only then be eligible for a ticket. That’s wishful thinking given Congress’s track record. Truth be told they are fed up being best men or bridesmaids. Congress should put up fresh faces. It must realise that these ticket tourists need them more than the party needs them.
People vote for the party not the candidate if not they would have stood as independents. Winnability should not be the sole criteria for selecting a candidate. Fourteen Congress candidates were given tickets on account of their winnability. Point is they were winnable for the Congress for 2 years and winnable for the BJP for the next 3 years. They jumped ship to develop their constituencies, if that be the case all should stand as Independents and then after the results join whichever group to develop their constituencies.
If elected representatives are allowed to change their parties after being elected we demand to be allowed to change our votes after results. Sounds silly but that’s what the right to recall is all about!
DC Dias, Taleigao
St Jacinto Island development
No man is an island. No island is in isolation. It is part of the subcontinent to which it belongs.
Contrary to popular belief the St Jacinto Island tunnel likely opened out in a cave on the nearby mainland. This cave was bulldozed down two years ago by a property developer. The distance to Siridao is too far to be made underground and undersea.
It is interesting to note that there is a well on the island. It is probably fed by a water channel from the mainland or is bored into the common groundwater table reservoir.
There is also a cave in the chapel on the Island mount. It is similar to the Chicalim cave with a well chiselled circular opening. It needs to be examined by the locals with proper safety measures. Any artefacts found can be listed, photographed and reported to the media and the ASI.
The lighthouse atop the mount can be fitted with strobe lights. To prevent miscreants from inhabiting the bridge area a toll booth could be installed at the entry to the bridge. Free entry for locals and their visitors.
Vinay Rodrigues,
Margao
Pandemic protocol at political gatherings
Even though the active cases of COVID-19 have stayed under the 1,000 mark for the 19th consecutive day, there has, however, been a continuous rise in the number of cases since last weekend with more daily positive cases compared to recoveries. A house at Borim has reportedly been declared as a micro containment zone after nine members of the family were found to be Covid-19 positive.
It is learnt that one member of the family had travel history from Mumbai while another family member is a dentist at a government hospital. It would seem necessary to test for Covid-19 all patients who visited the dentist in the past few days. It must be said that the second wave of Covid-19 is not yet over and the third wave could hit at the commencement of the festive season.
It is also pertinent to note since the State assembly elections are not far away, election-related activities are at full swing as politicians change their political affiliations amidst large numbers of supporters. In the coming days there will be public meetings and corner meetings by prospective party candidates. All this means gatherings of large crowds where social distancing and other pandemic-related protocols may not be followed.
Just like SOPs are to be strictly followed during the festive season, the pandemic protocol also needs to be followed at political meetings. Politicians and their supporters are not immune to the novel Coronavirus and such political meetings could act as super spreaders during the third wave.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Suicide blasts in Kabul
The suspected suicide blasts in Kabul that left 70 dead and injured scores of others have cast a pall of gloom. Several US Marines, women and children are among those killed in the carnage, and the toll could mount as many are fighting for life. The explosions come close on the heels of an imminent terror threat warning by Western nations.
With the August 31 deadline for the withdrawal of US troops just days away, and the Taliban stalling the evacuation process, the chances of taking a flight out of Kabul has receded for many evacuees. No outfit has claimed responsibility for the serial blasts, but the US believes the Islamic State (IS) carried it out.
N J Ravi Chander, Bengaluru

Will Taliban fail to govern efficiently?
Even as thousands of people prepare to leave conflict-ridden Afghanistan, Thursday was a dark day when two bombs exploded outside Hamid Karzai Airport. At least 72 people were feared to be killed, including children.
These blasts have thrown evacuation plans of not only the US, but also of other countries in jeopardy.
Moreover, the attacks underscore the fact that the Taliban is facing a tough time as it seeks to form a government there in Afghanistan. The Taliban must confront violence efficiently and keep the people of the country safe. Or else, Afghanistan will become a fertile ground for terrorism.
Anish Esteves, Chembur