The unsightly spectacle of Raksha mantri Rajnath Singh smilingly conferring 'Bhavya Bharat Bhushan' medals and citations to military officers for their role in Operation Sindoor at the annual Maha Shivratri jamboree hosted by some self anointed 'Sadhguru' at his 'ashram' in Coimbatore has set alarm bells ringing among military veterans. Per viral posts on social media, these senior commanders from the army, navy and air force were called on stage before a motley crowd of thousands and awarded patently illegal insignias outside of the formal, time tested honours system in an environment replete with religious iconography rather than in regimental colours. This sets a very worrisome precedent for the future, tomorrow some other dodgy godman maybe Ram Rahim himself would like to 'honour' our soldiers and the government would play along for electoral gains. This mockery of our armed forces has to stop. That our defence establishment has been injected with the venom of venal politics and bigotry is lost on no one, the coming years certainly don't bode well for our military or our country if things continue in this manner.
Considering Mandovi river’s limits
The residents of Panaji and Reis Magos are once again raising their voices in defence of the Mandovi River. The Mandovi River is not only a lifeline of Goa but also a symbol of its ecological and cultural identity. At the heart of the growing unrest lies the proposal to replace an existing small casino vessel with a massive 112-metre ship. The Mandovi River has long sustained fishing communities, supported mangrove ecosystems, and drawn tourists to its scenic banks. However,…
