The Chief Minister’s statement on the floor of the house that in the Arab world, Indian Muslims are referred as ‘Hindus’ is absolutely incorrect.
The fact is: India in Arabic language is referred as “Al Hind” and all Indians regardless of religion are called ‘Hindi’ and not Hindus.
The CM should concentrate more on governance, rather than unnecessary get involved with other insensitives issues like ‘Hindus’ and ‘Hindu culture’. Any culture is a way of life and cannot be defined per se because it evolves over long period of time. The present way of our life may possibly be the culture in a thousand years, who knows ! Moreover, culture cannot be enforced on anybody by the State or any self appointed group.
The important issue to be addressed by the so called ‘Hindus’ with all their Parivars and Senas is about preaching to bring about equality and tolerance among their own community first. The Ram Sena asking hindus to keep swords in their houses is a poor campaign for propagating Hindu culture, if at all, in a multi diverse community like Goa.
Geraldo Oliveira, Caranzalem
Governed by constitution
The RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has triggered another controversy by his recent statement:” All Hindustanis are Hindus”. In support of his statement he asked: “If inhabitants of England are English, Germany are Germans, then why all inhabitants of Hindustan are not known as Hindus?”
Bhagwat should know that our country is governed by the Constitution of India (not of Hindustan). The first article of the constitution states that ‘India, that is Bharat, shall be a union of states’. We are all citizens of India and hence called Indians. While writing the constitution Dr Ambedkar kept in mind that our country has followers of many religions. So he chose the word Bharat. The word Hindustan does not appear in the constitution.
Incidentally, if Mr Bhagwat is still firmly convinced that all Indians are Hindus, he must explain why Dalit Christians are discriminated against. Of the approximately 25 million Christians in India nearly 70% are Christians Dalits. Why are they denied the reservation facilities given to ‘Hindu’ Dalits?
Prof Robert Castellino, Calangute
Vote bank politics
Margao Municipal council plans to regularize 24 daily wage workers who have completed five years of service, this happens in all Government departments, our ministers recruit their non-Goan voters in their respective departments on daily wages to avoid fifteen years residence, a back door entry to government jobs in order to create guaranteed vote bank.
Our government talks of special status to Goa and Goans , but failed to bring in law to favor Goans in Government jobs, land purchases , admissions to colleges etc which could have easily kept non-Goans out of our state, but our ministers need a reliable vote bank because Goans kick them out on time.
James Moraes, Cuncolim
Muthalik gets free publicity
I refer to the article in Herald dated 17th August 2014 titled ‘ Ram Sene determined to set base in Goa : ‘ It is not surprising that the SRS secretary has defended his leader endorsing Muthalik’s advise to Hindus to keep swords in their house. Hindus are in majority in this country and they don’t need to keep swords for their protection .
What they need is to get rid of such elements who in the name of protecting their religion are actually creating more harm than good and are mostly doing it for selfish or political gains .
During his interview recently Muthalik was sounding so humble , charismatic and of genteel.
With such gentle traits he displays in public and the free publicity he keeps getting from the media , I am afraid that one day he may become the Prime Minister of India !
Napolean A.D’Souza, Saligao
Historic day
It was an historic day & proud for India and its people, more particularly to the Indian Navy that on Sunday, the Aug 17, 2014, indigenously built by the Mazagon Docks Ltd., Mumbai, a defense public sector unit, war ship destroyer was dedicated to the nation to be inducted in the Indian Navy, by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi who said that military might is the best deterrent to war and that no country will dare to challenge India.
With commissioning of INS Kolkata in the Indian Navy, it will boost India’s military prowess/defense preparedness and give confident to our naval personnel.
The warship is proud for India, and envy to India’s neighbors (enemies). Kudos to the designer the ” Navy’s Design Bureau & MDL “ & its engineers & workers.
Vijay D. Patil, Pune
