MONDAY, 31 AUGUST 2026

Democracy and accountability

The Chief Minister stated in the Assembly that the Wayanad landslide tragedy is an alarm bell and the House agreed that this must not happen to Goa. However the basics of the landslides being neglected are already happening in Goa, land sinking, hill cutting and illegal encroachments etc seem to be happening with state patronage and complete neglect of the Madav Gadil report.  

He also stated that the government will develop a system whereby police will act on complaints of illegal activities/hill cutting and so on immediately, blaming heavy rainfall triggering activity. At the same time a Bill is being tabled to avoid judicial scrutiny of permissions given for ODPs.  

This is unconstitutional and illegal. We are not a Banana Republic where the Constitution and courts can be simply negated by executive legislation that can be pushed through to favor vested interests. The government may make laws but they cannot and must not be the law so that state patronage is legalized?  


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GST on life and medical insurance must be withdrawn

DIOMEDES PEREIRA, Corlim
Published Aug 2, 2024, 12:29 AM IST
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The Finance minister introduced GST on life insurance and medical insurance premiums of 18 per cent in the recent Budget 2024 -25 which was rightly opposed by Rahul Gandhi during his budget speech and later supported by Nitin Gadkari and said " Leving GST on life insurance premiums amounts to levying tax on uncertainties of life." He also felt that person who covers the risk of life's uncertainties to give protection to the family should not be levied tax on premiums to…

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