No reservations
In this competitive age for India to stride ahead, it is time to do away with the skewed policy of reservations for jobs and in electoral politics as well. Admissions to all professional colleges have to be also strictly on merit. The Constitution of India provides for the Fundamental Right to Equality, without discrimination on the grounds of sex, caste, creed or religion. The very concept of reservations is all about vote bank politics.
It is appalling at how plagued we have become by a sheer sense of illogicality. The government can financially help the economically backward in pursuit of further education so that they compete with the mainstream. On one hand the law provides for equality and on the other hand there is a policy of reservation, which by its very genesis is a favour. Equality doesn’t brook favours. After 68 years of Independence the golden rule has to be to aim to get the best qualified person for every position “ irrespective of sex, caste, creed or religion.
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
Unusual guest
Across Goa the tiatr Reporter was hailed for the moral values it portrayed, the star studded cast and singers, the “politician bashing” songs which are hungrily lapped up by the crowds, and the mimicry of Goan politicians. Its director, Francis de Tuem, was showered with praise and adulation. And what did Francis do? Got an alleged molester as the chief guest for his hundredth show and left a bitter taste in everyone’s mouth.
Tarun Tejpal is allegedly involved in a molestation and sexual abuse scandal right here in Goa, wherein he is said to have pawed and molested a close friend of his daughter in a lift, during a seminar. What was such a chief guest doing on such a show? Goans would have enjoyed and appreciated it very much if Francis had castigated the alleged shameful scandals of his “chief guest” in song, just as we enjoy every wrong doing of politicos that he exposes, instead of foisting him as a main guest on the public. Francis, kitem kelem Tuem?
James Monteiro, Loutulim
Rethink flag rules
The controversy over Narendra Modi signing a flag and handing it over to Barrack Obama is needless. I am not Modi’s biggest fan, but there is a limit to attacking anyone. The discussion should veer to whether we actually need to do away with archaic laws. If it was the national flag, why do we have to spark a hue and cry over an autograph to the head of another country? It may not be ideal but it does make one think. No one is saying drape it over scantily clad men or women. A simple signature shouldn’t really be that big of a deal that we embarrass the country by calling for the prime minister’s head. Attacking someone for the sake of it is not the way to go. The BJP government will make a lot of stupid mistakes in the months to come. We need to pick our battles.
Bhushan Kamat, Miramar
