Dark age
Whenever there is a demand for banning the Sanathan Sanstha, the argument put forward is that you cannot ban an entire organisation if a couple of misguided individuals are found involved in some clandestine activities. Now if we accept this argument then we just cannot blame Pakistan for the likes of Ajmal Kasab and others, as they are just misguided elements sometimes referred to as non-state actors. We cannot have “cultural purification’ by the fringe elements in a secular democracy. Emboldened by the majority of the BJP in Parliament, the saffron brigade is using organisations for attacking, assaulting and even killing scholars whose ideas goes against their belief.
We get carried away by fake images and rhetoric of a glorious past and a powerful future as our rights are being curbed and our private spaces occupied by the cultural police. We are adults; we know what is good for us and what is bad for us. We need a state that looks out for the welfare of its people over the welfare of the party it represents. We need a government that takes us and keeps us on a path of 8%+ growth for decades from now. We don't need a state that imposes its own (and maybe a few cabinet minister's) narrow and parochial view of culture upon millions. History will remember this government as one that led India to the dark age.
D C Dias, Taleigao
One way traffic
The trial run of the one-way traffic plan in Panaji has by and large been a success. The plan has led to traffic decongestion to a great extent. It would be in the fitness of things to introduce such one-way traffic plans in other cities as well specially, in the cities of Margao, Vasco, Mapusa and Ponda on a trial basis. These cities are witnessing a lot of traffic congestion as a result of increase in the number of vehicles on the roads. However it is pertinent to note that in many cities, specially, in Vasco there are several roads which are already designated for way-way traffic. For example all the internal roads connecting the FL Gomes road to the St. Joseph Vaz road and onwards to the Swatantra Path are all designated for one-way traffic. But the traffic is seen entering from both ends of these one-way roads. This is probably due to improper sign-boards or there are no cops around to see that the one-way rule is adhered to. There needs to be a proper survey of all the roads in the major cities and several roads need to be designated for one-way traffic to decongest the cities which seem to be bursting at the seams with rise in the number of vehicles.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
No money?
The news that crores of rupees were cast aside and nothing was spend on the development of cities by the municipalities is alarming. The contention that we are ready to have smart cities is indeed a curious one when compared to the decision to ignore these funds. There were no strings attached, yet the corporations chose to not spend the money. Atrocious decisions from those in power. Starting with Margao, the people should show its councilors what it thinks of this. Sadly, will that happen?
Insia Mendonca, Fatorda
