INDIA ON PATH TO BECOME VISHWAGURU!
Governor of Goa PS Sreedharan Pillai expressed confidence that India’s dream of becoming Vishwaguru is on the right path. He made this statement after unfurling the national flag at the 75th Republic Day function held at Goa University Ground in Taleigao Plateau on Friday,January 26, 2024. Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant was present and he in turn extended Republic Day greetings to everyone, noting that our Constitution is widely accepted globally and is much admired. Governor Pillai acknowledged the rapid development of Goa under the Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant and said Goa is progressing as a smart state in India. He highlighted several achievement projects such as the new Zuari Bridge, G20 success, Goa’s role model status in drinking water supply, the organization of Purple Festival reaching out to the differently abled and finally, he stressed on the importance of citizens’ eternal vigilance as a guarantee for protecting freedom and democracy.Governor Pillai appealed to the people, irrespective of caste, creed or religion to work hard towards achieving a fully developed India by 2047! He reviewed the parade and medals of honour were given to various persons for distinguished public service. Present were state cabinet ministers including Shripad Naik, Member of Rajya Sabha Sadanand Tanavade, Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar Goel, IAS, Jaspal Singh, IPS, DGP Goa, MLAs alongside other dignitaries. The 1st place for the Best Marching Contingent was secured by Our Lady of Rosary High School, Donapula. Navy Children School, Vasco claimed the 2nd place, and the 3rd place was awarded to Old Goa Educational Institute, Old Goa.
SIDDHARTH’S SILENCE!
AFTER the outburst by Revenue Minister Atanasio Monserrate against former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, the BJP leadership in Goa seems stupefied and has preferred to maintain silence. It is most unfortunate that the former MLA of Panaji and Parrikar’s successor as MLA, Siddharth Kunkolienkar, did not chose to condemn the remarks by Monseratte.
It is widely known that Kunkolienkar was groomed by Parrikar and when Parrikar became the Union Defence Minister, it was Kunkolienkar who was made the MLA of Panaji. In fact, Kunkolienkar presided over the initial mess of the Smart City, which saw nothing except alleged pilferage of public funds by installing artworks worth whopping amounts in city squares and painting of public places.
Siddharth’s political identity was solely due to the blessings of Parrikar and it is unfortunate that the former has now remained mum when the legacy of the latter is being questioned by Monseratte!
—Rama G Tari, Ribandar
GOA’S GAMBLE!
A few decades ago,
Standing at Panaji’s ferry bus-stop
Seeing the green covered hillocks of Verem
Home to birds, insects and reptiles
The heart swelled with joy and pride.
Since a few years back,
My shoulders droop and eyes well
When people have immigrated into Goa
And the stripped, barren hillocks are like bald-headed eagles.
While the wildlife have out-migrated from Goa.
No internal Pride is now left
For the Daddies have casino vessels
That bob in the dirty placid waters of the Mandovi
Like Royal floats in a Carnival.
While people may be Maharajahs
Goa has gambled with Mother Nature
Wait for her smiling fury in the future
For she is not everyone’s Jack but their Master!
—Sridhar D’Iyer, Caranzalem
POLITICAL APPEASEMENT!
WHO says that the BJP does not indulge in appeasement politics? The BJP leaders should be congratulated for successfully taking out huge slogan-shouting rallies everywhere along with their supporters after the consecration ceremony of the grand Ram Mandir at Ayodhya and for turning this religious event into a BJP event with an eye on the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in the country.
They not only declared a public holiday for government offices, schools, colleges and banks in most states, to bring everything to a grinding halt, on the lines of “All-India Bharat Bandh,” but also forced the owners of beef/pork/chicken/mutton centers to keep their shops closed (which they did fearing attacks on their shops) for one whole day on January 22, the consecration day of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.
Why should working people bear the brunt such political events and even have to stay away from their regular non-vegetarian fare for a whole day? Just because of a single religious event in Ayodhya? This too in a secular country like India? The BJP leaders are historically known for accusing all the other opposition parties (especially the Congress party) of indulging in minority appeasement for the sake of their own political survival in our country.
The BJP leaders themselves show how much the party loves the majority and indulges in appeasement. If this is not majority appeasement politics, what is it? The BJP too indulges in appeasement politics in our country be it India or Bharat and that too openly. The reason is that it represents just one community and solely depends on their votes during elections for its own long-term political survival. This is the hard reality whether one accepts it or not.
—Jerry Fernandes, Saligao