There are more than enough laws to deal with any misdemeanors but the ruling party keeps implementing laws selectively and legislating to dilute the laws and remove all procedural checks and balances to impose their will most unjustly and fairly undemocratically. Now many BJP states want to legislate on love jihad, a term coined by them which is derogatory and criminalising inter-faith marriages, targetting Muslim men in particular.
The legislation makes mincemeat of the Constitutional right for adult choice and right to liberty and life as deemed fit by any citizen and has potential for great misuse. What is worse is involving parents and siblings and one months notice to DM for permission to choose?
The Supreme Court has held in abeyance the PILs on UAPA and such other transgressions by the majority government, even habeas corpus cases. In Goa, our DGP states that Goa has a beautiful country side, relatively clean air and atmosphere of a peaceful state, but it does not strike him that he will use his police to destroy that beauty and peace when students, reputed NGOs, residents are protesting in loud voices and great numbers the central schemes that "must have" been through all the required procedures and that are in national interest which are being carried out, the railways laying double tracks with armed policing?
The patriotic people of Goa, along with the opposition parties and even a BJP MLA are to be beaten into submission? The question to be asked is development for whom by what means that justice demands.
JOHN ERIC GOMES, Porvorim
