By Rajan Narayan

AND a few stray thoughts for yet another Saturday. For a Saturday following the week when flooding and choked up drains all over Goa has led to a steep increase in the number of dengue cases. For a Saturday following the week about the ongoing battle between BJP Mormugoa MLA Sankalp Amonkar and importers and exporters using Mormugoa port. For a Saturday following the week when the special investigative team appointed by the Uttar Pradesh government claimed that Bhole Baba (or Narayan Sakar Hari, original name Suraj Pal) was innocent in the Hathras stampede. For a Saturday following the week when Catholic saints chased Narendra Modi even in Russia.
AND a few stray thoughts on the flooding and choking of drains all over Goa which had led to a steep increase in dengue cases. The Health department has revealed that 60 cases of dengue have been confirmed during June alone. Of these 52 cases are from north Goa. Cases have been reported not only in Panaji but Aldona, Siolim, Bicholim, Mayem and Chimbel. July figures will also show a massive increase in dengue cases due to the one week long non-stop rains from July 4. It is not the rains that are the problem but choked drains which lead to stagnant flooding for the water has nowhere to drain away. As usual the State government puts the blame on the migrant population. The theory is that it is migrant workers from endemic dengue areas from Karnataka who bring the dengue infection to Goa.
The Health department claims that there has been a huge increase in the arrival of migrants in 2024. The cumulative total of migrants increased from January to June 2024. This year is reported to be almost two lakh. But this is just the excuse as most of the migrant construction labor have virtually settled in Goa.
The dengue outbreak is due to the failure of the Health department to eliminate the breeding grounds of mosquitoes and especially the dengue-causing mosquito. Unlike the malaria mosquito which is only active after sunset, the dengue mosquitoes bite any time during the day also. Moreover, the dengue mosquito can bite any part of the body, unlike the malaria mosquito which bites only below the knee.
The deputy director in charge of the Vector Borne Disease Control Program, Dr Kalpana Mahatme, has cautioned malaria and dengue patients from reliance on tablets of papaya leaves to cure dengue. She has advised steps to prevent mosquito breeding grounds. But this can be done only if government works and the people prevent the stagnation of water around in their areas of habitation. The problem with diagnosing dengue is that the blood sample has to be taken when the patient has a fever. The other symptoms of dengue are eye pain, muscle pain, bone pain, headache, rash, nausea and vomiting.
Dengue can be fatal if it is not treated on time. If you are diagnosed with dengue get yourself admitted to a hospital good ICU facilities. Dengue attacks the lungs and you may need respiratory support. In the meanwhile, according to the advice from Health department, you should wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants. I do not know how children in primary schools will switch to wearing long sleeve shirts and long pants. Children are more vulnerable as they may like to play in water puddles on the way to school.
Among the worst affected areas due to the week-long rain is the Don Bosco School where the approach roads are full of stagnant flooded waters in potholes. The Municipal Corporation of Panaji and the panchayats should be held responsible and not migrant labor. Indeed, migrant laborers are the biggest victims and not transmitters of dengue.

MORMUGOA PORT BATTLES
AND a few stray thoughts on the ongoing battle between the BJP Mormugoa MLA Sankalp Amonkar and the importers and exporters using the Mormugoa port. In a series of report, the Times of India has accused Sankalp Amonkar of harassing transporters. Amonkar has been accused of intimidating transporters hired by companies which have imported raw goods including gypsum and coal through the MPT.
Several large importers including the Aditya Birla Group are reported to have shifted to ports in Maharashtra. Amonkar on his part has claimed that he is fighting the monopoly of outsiders in the transport business. Amonkar insists that he is fighting the privatization of berth numbers 9 and 10 which are leased out to the Jindals and Adanis. Amonkar has alleged that the Mangalore-based logistic company Delta has a monopoly over the transport of the goods imported through MPT.
On the intervention of Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant the MPT has agreed to register the transport operators and ensure that local companies were given preference. The controversy has taken a new turn with Amonkar claiming that he is fighting for local interests and TOI accusing him of dadagiri.

PM IN RUSSIA
And a few stray thoughts on Catholic saints chasing Narendra Modi even in Russia. President Vladimir Putin conferred Russia’s highest civilian award, the Order of St Andrew, Apostle of Jesus Christ. It seems ironic that a Communist government should have an award named after St Andrew. This dramatically establishes that the hold of the Church in Russia is still very strong. Or maybe, dictator Vladimir Putin was sending out a message to dictator Narendra Modi. To be sensitive to the interests of minorities in India. It was the tzar Peter the Great who instituted the St Andrew’s Award. The tradition has been continued by successive communist governments.
St Andrew is still considered the patron saint of Russia. It is very amusing to learn that Modi lectured Putin on the death of innocents in Ukraine. To quote Modi any person who believes feels pain when people die especially when innocent children die. “My heart bleeds and I would request you (Putin) to prevent such a tax.”
Modi’s remark came in the context of a Russian missile strike in Ukraine on the day Modi arrived in Moscow in which a large number of children were killed. Modi’s heart of course does not bleed when Muslims are targeted for lynching in Uttar Pradesh and other parts of India.

BHOLE BABA INNOCENT
AND a few stray thoughts on the special investigative team appointed by the Uttar Pradesh government claiming that Bhole Baba was innocent of the Hathras stampede. The stampede happened when Bhole baba, a self-styled godman, held a religious function attended by over two lakh people. There were no proper arrangements made for the prayer meeting.
Bhole Baba apparently told the local administration and the local police that their presence was not needed. That his team could manage the event. The stampede was reportedly caused by a rush of followers to be blessed by Bhole Baba. Over a hundred people, primarily women and children, were injured in the stampede. Bhole Baba did not stay back to see if the victims of the stampede were taken care of, instead he ran away from the scene and is supposed to be absconding. The police are guarding his ashram instead of arresting him.
In fact, this Bhole Bagat is not named in the first information report filed by the police. The special investigative team appointed by the UP Chief Minister Yogi Aditiyanath has blamed the local administration and the police for the disaster. The collector and several senior police officials have been suspended. But the organisers of the prayer meet and Bhole Baba himself have escaped scot free. It is clear that Bhole Baba enjoys the patronage and protection of Chief Minister Yogi Aditiyanath.
It is a mockery that the victims in this entire stampede episode courtesy Bhole Baba should be considered guilty by the SIT. Interestingly, Bhole Baba was a former police constable who appointed himself as a godman. Unlike other godmen, Bhole Baba does not wear saffron. He wears a white shirt, trousers and dark glasses. Bhole baba has large following and owns assets of over a Rs100 crore.

MY SPINAL TB!
AND a last stray thought on tuberculosis or TB of the spine. I was diagnosed with TB of the spine over a year ago and have been taking anti-TB medicines supplied by the Department of Tuberculosis affiliated to the Central government health services. My treating doctor Dr Edwin Gomes has told me that I was cured of TB when he discharged me from the GMC’s Ward No115, he said I could stop taking the TB drugs by end-May. However, when I did an MRI end-May it was discovered that the TB bacteria were still residing in spinal pockets here and there. I am now being treated by Dr Teresa Ferreira, Head of the Department of Neurology. The problem is that there is no spinal TB expert in Goa. There is a TB & Chest Hospital which focuses only on the most common form of pulmonary TB.
Dr Uday Kakodkar, who is the chest TB expert, has not given me an appointment to meet him. The right side of my body is still paralysed because of the effects of the spinal TB. I need to know from experts if the TB tablets I’m still taking have ceased to be effective or am I totally in remission. Or perhaps if the dosage is not appropriate as claimed by Dr Edwin Gomes after his treatment failed to cure me totally of the spinal TB. Can anyone of my doctor friends tell me how I can contact Dr Soumya Swaminanthan who has been appointed as the principal advisor to the Government of India TB program?