The brutal attack on a Dalit family in Gujarat by vigilantes for skinning a dead cow is just the latest in a series of such shocking incidents that have rocked the country since last year. The cow brigade is running amok with the Modi government turning a blind eye to these dastardly attacks. By its benign tolerance of the lawless acts of these fanatics of Talibanist terror, the BJP-led government is allowing a serious divide to develop which could have serious repercussions for communal harmony and social peace in the country. They probably are harbouring the idea that such moral policing can yield political dividend for the party at the assembly polls due in five states. But this could boomerang adversely. If the Modi government is sincere in promoting 'sabka saat, sabka vikas', such vigilantism, including attacks on Christian places of worship, should be reined in forthwith, or else it will send a signal that it is pandering to forces of religious extremism for its own ends.
It must be said that in whatever haphazard way we treat the environment, mother nature gives back in equal measure. The loads of garbage that are being washed ashore along the coastal belt is a testimony to this fact. This is probably nature’s way of reminding us to take care of our own garbage and not dump it into water bodies that ultimately makes its way into the sea. Garbage is being washed ashore at Galgibaga beach in Canacona, which happens to be a designated turtle nesting site. The condition of the beach is so pathetic that visitors spurn and don't want to visit it. Galgibaga beach is not the only beach which has been affected by garbage being washed ashore. Several other beaches, including Caranzalem beach, are also affected. We need to stop throwing garbage into the sea and other water bodies, but rather dispose it in a proper manner. In the past, there were reports that waste from the Sada garbage dump was entering the sea. Garbage being washed ashore on the beaches has become an annual feature during the monsoon. Unless we humans learn a lesson from this fact, the government will have to spend crores of rupees from the treasury towards beach cleaning activities. It ultimatety boils down to public money going down the drain, or rather into the sea.
Constitutional posts like Ministers at the state and national level, Speakers, Governors, ex-PM, etc, have been getting denigrated over the last two decades. These significant posts were looked up with pride and respect by the public.
Earlier, incumbents, after occupying such high positions, would not think of continuing in power on lower positions, but rather preferred to retire gracefully. However, today we see politicians stooping to any level just to occupy a chair. It is pathetic to see an ex-PM coming on the streets to join a morcha in an attempt to display his loyalty to a particular party. A CM, who was also Speaker in the State Assembly in the past, is now Leader of Opposition, and is perhaps willing to continue even as MLA. All this shows the greed of our politicians who hope of clinging to power by any means. The present Defence Minister gives priority to distributing bulbs when there is an alarming situation developing in some part of the country.
We hope that better sense prevails, and the dignity of these privileged Constitutional positions is maintained.
