The mask is one of the five must-do actions to arrest Covid-19 spread. It is also the one most violated: whether by not wearing the same altogether or using it under the chin or not covering the mouth and nose - a style made famous by our IAS officers.
What better role model on mask wearing than the Goa Police? On Christmas eve, they were ‘diligently’ asking Mass goers, who were already wearing masks, to wear masks.
They adopted undemocratic means to harass unarmed youth sitting in protest and then taking them not to the nearest police station which is in fact the jurisdiction of the alleged crime, if any? The same police treats sword-wielding goons with kid gloves.
During the lockdown, we saw these stalwarts mercilessly beating a handful of citizens who moved out. Now, hordes of tourists are attending rave parties, clubs, beaches, etc with neither masks nor social distancing and should you ask any of them they will tell you how our Police are invisible.
The Iron Mask seems forever. Objective of 2021 must be to come out of the iron mask.
R FERNANDES, Margao
