Absurd decisions
Politicians and police never cease to surprise us with absurdities; politicians by their statements and police by their actions. Last week in Bangalore, a man travelling with his wife on a bike lost control over a 4 metre wide pothole and fell, resulting in the death of his wife. The pothole caused the death but the police booked the husband making him responsible for it.
In a similar, recent incident in Thane, Maharashtra, potholes on a newly constructed road caused the death of a woman when the scooter which her daughter was riding fell down. Despite best efforts of the daughter and the local people who rushed the injured woman to the hospital, the daughter lost her beloved mother. The police have booked the daughter making her responsible for her mother’s death. In both the cases, the contractors went scot-free and the husband and daughter who are booked could be put behind bars for up to two years. What absurdity? Reminds me of a konkani saying: “Chortolo chorun gelo, sopear bosla taka dhorlo” (The One who robbed went away, the one who was sitting around was nabbed).
Rodney De Souza, Assagao
Clean up Goa
On World Tourism Day an important aspect that the government needs to tackle is garbage disposal. Tourism in Goa is reportedly attracting negative reviews among international travelers because of the state’s unresolved garbage issue. It is understood that some countries are issuing advisories to its citizens not to travel to Goa saying that it is a dirty place. Scandinavians are reportedly advised not to travel to Goa because it is an unclean place. However cleanliness is not just about the government tackling the garbage problem, it is for each individual and household to make it a point to keep the surroundings clean. There should be sufficient urinals in the state so that people, do not urinate in the open. It is understood that Goans settled in Canada have a desire to invest in the tourism sector in the state. But what keeps them away is the garbage issue, innumerous vendors on the beach who hassle tourists and touts who take the tourists for a ride. On World Tourism Day the government should resolve to address these issues in right earnest.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Probe Sanstha dealings
Recent governments in Goa have been known to skirt relevant issues that could better Goa, for instance, the moving of the casinos out of the River Mandovi. This has been a promise made and broken by the Congress and the BJP. Law and order has taken an ugly turn. The current CM often errs but often he does make relevant statements, like the one on legalising dhirios. He knows fully well that to overturn the Supreme Court order on bull fighting will be next to impossible. But the vote banks love it. This is all transparent to many. His decision to skirt the Sanathan Sanstha issue is a perilous one. On one hand we ban a trouble maker, the openly bigoted Pramod Muthalik, but we fail to take cognisance of the proclivities of the Sanstha, an organization that openly propagates communal disharmony. Is this because they have the backing of politicians, businessmen and other prominent members of society? Perhaps this decision is transparent too. A probe needs to be ordered.
Sanjay Naik, Mapusa
