Illegal accommodations
A day after solving the gang rape of a mentally challenged woman at Cansaulim, the Fatorda police reportedly moved the Tourism Department for cancellation of the trade licence of the guesthouse at Cansaulim where the crime was committed by five persons. This is a step in the right direction, as it will act as a deterrent for such horrific incidents taking place. According to the police, the guesthouse at Cansaulim where the crime took place did not maintain any details of the accused nor their identities. It is learnt that one of the accused would often visit the guesthouse with other women, and the details were never registered on the logbook. Did the staff of the guest house not find it suspicious that a woman of unsound mind was accompanied by five men? It must be made mandatory for guesthouses to keep a record about the identities of the guests. It is pertinent to note that there is a proliferation of rental units illegally operating as tourist accommodations. Many of these could be used for illegal activities and could serve as temporary accommodation for thieves, anti-social elements, and even terrorists. The tourism department needs to act against these illegal rental units as it hurts the interest of legitimate hotels, thereby causing loss of revenue to the government.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Needless controversy
The controversy of comparing the current Chief Minister, Pramod Sawant, with the first Chief Minister of liberated Goa, the late Dayanand Bhausaheb Bandodkar, is a waste of time and futile. Bandodkar led Goa post-liberation amid a challenging time, which saw the transition from a colonial regime to civilian administration via a regime led by a governor. Bandodkar had the magnanimity to resign before the historic Opinion Poll. He accepted the verdict of the masses in the Opinion Poll. Post the Opinion Poll, the assembly election saw Bandodkar gaining a majority and forming the government once again. This fact cannot be overlooked as it proves that Bandodkar was elected with a majority by the same electorate that rejected his pro-merger advances. Bandodkar contributed much to Goa, especially in the fields of infrastructure, education, and social welfare. The Agricultural Tenancy Act, 1964, alone is a shining example of his legacy. The politicians of today must face the current challenges and lead Goans to tide over them. Let us give the former Chief Ministers, right from Late Bandodkar to Late Parrikar, their due. We must assess their governance but with an academic perspective.
Sadanand Raikar, Colva
Stop misuse of loudspeakers
The High Court has taken a tough stand against the use of loudspeakers by religious institutions by asserting that they are not an essential part of any religion. Law enforcement agencies have been directed to take strict action against the perpetrators. Religious institutions take advantage of the stoic resignation of people towards noise and blaring loudspeakers. Instead of creating a tranquil atmosphere for worship, religious institutions have become noise-creating places. People should not be deprived of their right to live in quiet places. A quiet and peaceful atmosphere is essential for the physical and mental well-being of people. Ironically, people who want to worship in a quiet atmosphere are turned into a forced audience by religious institutions. People who suffer a lot of discomfiture from the noise from other sources are forced to endure the cacophony of loudspeakers too. Let’s hope the law against the use of loudspeakers in religious institutions is implemented all over the country.
Venu G S, Kollam
Snub to Kishore Kumar
Padma Awards—one of the highest civilian awards of the country—are conferred in three categories, namely, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri. The President, Droupadi Murmu, has approved 139 Padma Awards, including 1 duo case (in a duo case, the award is counted as one). The list comprises seven Padma Vibhushan, 19 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri Awards. Twenty-three of the awardees are women, and the list also includes 10 persons from the category of Foreigners and 13 posthumous awardees. But even after 38 years of his death, legendary singer Kishore Kumar’s name is missing in the posthumous list. There is no official statement from previous and even current governments explaining why Kishore Kumar, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest, most influential, and dynamic singers in the history of modern Indian music, was never awarded a Padma award. It seems likely that Kumar failed to make the cut due to a combination of factors, including his perceived rebellious nature, political disagreements with the government at the time, and a lack of active campaigning for such recognition, even though he received numerous Filmfare Awards, Bengal Film Journalists’ Association Awards, and other accolades throughout his career. Hope, the day is not too far when Kishore Kumar is recognised as one of the Padma awardees.
Bidyut K Chatterjee, Faridabad
