Anti-defection law needs to be amended
This has reference to the report ‘MLAs and parties will interpret HC court judgement’ (Herald, February 26, 2022). The verdict is out on the disqualification case of the 10 MLAs who quit the Congress and joined hands with another party to form the government, five years ago. Yes, your report rightly states, the verdict should be accepted and respected by all as the court has only interpreted the law laid down by Parliament. It is our politicians who have found the loopholes in the law and used it to their advantage.
Incidentally, the Term of the House is completed and we are now awaiting the Election results for a new Term. At the end of the day however, this is bad for a Democracy. We are making a mockery of the democratic process. We are backstabbing the voters who have voted these candidates in good faith. Sad to say, elections have become a sham.
And if we are to prevent our Democracy from getting degraded, the Anti-defection law needs to be amended. In fact, the present Anti-defection law has no teeth and needs to be scrapped and a new law should come in place so that, no elected candidates would be permitted to defect for the entire Term of the House, after the results have been declared. It’s time we let the voters have their say. After all, Democracy is “a government of the people, by the people and for the people.”
Melville X D’Souza, Mumbai
New Raj Bhavan, a waste of public money
The Raj Bhavan’s new Rs 7 crore, 1000 seat capacity durbar hall which shall be used for official functions and swearing in ceremonies is ready for inauguration by the vice president. The 1665 sq mtr facility has a 395 sq. mtr dining hall and other ancillary service areas.
This begs the question, why there is a need for a new building when the existing governor’s house had these facilities already. The previous governor had rightly rejected the proposal of a new residence calling it illogical and imprudent but it seems the present incumbent of the gubernatorial post goes along with whatever the Centre dictates. The proposed new Raj Bhavan will be built at a cost in excess of Rs 150 crore using taxpayer’s money.
The saffron dispensation is the new British Raj, busy building glorious palaces for themselves and lording it over us; as for the aam janta… “let them eat cake.”
Rekha Sarin, Benaulim
More water woes for Goa
The Maharashtra government’s unilateral decision to construct an irrigation dam on the interstate Fukeri nullah in Dodamarg sans any environmental impact assessment or obtaining the consent of the riparian State poses a threat to Kulane river in Pernem taluka and consequently the water security of Goa.
In order to provide water to villages in Pernem and also to Mopa International Airport the state PWD is augmenting the capacity of the Chandel water treatment plant, the under construction dam will create a grave water shortage for the project and leave many areas downstream parched.
Goa is already reeling under the impact of Karnataka diverting the Mhadei waters in gross violation of the disputes resolution tribunal award and Supreme Court directives.
More than half of Goa’s rivers have origins outside the State and if every State starts damming water channels, Goa would soon be left with little or no water for its people and industries. Our CM should show some spine and take the fight to the enemy camp, simply “instructing the authorities concerned to immediately write to the Union Environment Ministry” won’t solve our problems; other States must not be allowed to walk all over us the way they please.
Vinay Dwivedi,
Benaulim
Centenary of St Francis Xavier’s canonisation
March 12, 2022 marks an important day for the Society of Jesus and the Jesuit family. It was on this day that St Francis Xavier was canonised by Pope Gregory XV in 1622 which was on the same day as Ignatius Loyola. St Francis Xavier ranks among the greatest missionaries in Christian history. St Xavier was beatified by Pope Paul V in 1619. He travelled and preached in Italy and then came to Goa as a missionary in 1541. He died on December 3, 1552. On December 11, 1553, Xavier’s body was shipped to Goa. The body now lies at the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Goa, where it was placed in a glass container encased in a silver casket on December 2, 1637.
It is indeed a moment of great joy for the Catholics in the state and across the country that the Archbishop of Goa and Daman Most Rev Filipe Neri Ferrao has issued a circular regarding the celebration of the IV Centenary of the Canonisation of St Francis Xavier. It will indeed be holy and solemn occasion as Goa celebrates the 400th anniversary of the canonization of one of the greatest saints of the Catholic church and a gift from God to the world.
Every parish priest needs to observe March 12, 2022 in solemnity, devotion, fervent thanksgiving and joyful celebrations for the gift of St Francis Xavier who has devotees belonging to different religious groups in the State. It will indeed be a historic day for the Catholic Church while recalling the outstanding contributions, made by the saint to the life of the church.
Adelmo Fernandes,
Vasco
India must evacuate Indians from Ukraine
Vladimir Putin will soon be known as Bloodymir Putin because of the bloodshed he has brought on the innocent people of Ukraine only because of his selfish interests.
No independent and sovereign country can be bullied and invaded by another country. India is a very old ally of Russia and India must take a very strong stand especially because there are many Indian students stranded out in Ukraine.
Just repeating what China is saying will not save the lives of the Indian students and the innocent people of Ukraine.
Matias Lobo, Tivim
Curious case of unused public toilets
A toilet block was built and installed by the Goa Tourism Development Corporation in March 2020 at Pernem reportedly at a cost only Rs 1 crore. Perhaps respecting the huge price, none were willing to use and defile the toilet and it was used only for a month.
Recently it is reported that this toilet has been removed and no one is aware about its fate. A little more than a decade back two public toilets with air-conditioners (perhaps to cool down the agitated users) were built at Margao.
Hopefully, these are under use and the A/Cs are working and not missing.
In 2008, ‘high-tech’ toilets were set up with much funfare near Panjim jetty and at Campal, but these are covered with advertisements. In the absence of any visible door or name board, the public and tourists are unaware that these are toilets!
It is good that the authorities think of citizen’s basic comforts, but are the toilets being used? Anyway, old habits die hard and since Open Defecation is Free, citizens may think why pay to answer the call of Nature? Taxpayers money is gone to waste.
By the way, how do the VIPs inaugurate a toilet? Do they cut a ribbon or use the facilities?
Now they must be sleeping peacefully irrespective of the status of the toilets on which large amounts have been spent that have literally gone down the drains!
Sridhar D’Iyer,
Caranzalem
