Messi visit and
Kolkata chaos
Lionel Messi’s tour of India reportedly kicked off on a chaotic note on Saturday as fans ripped up seats and threw them towards the pitch after the Argentina and Inter Miami forward’s brief visit to the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata. Messi is in India as part of a tour during which he is scheduled to attend concerts, youth football clinics and a tournament, and launch charitable initiatives at events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Delhi. The 2022 World Cup winner walked around the pitch at the stadium waving to the fans, but was closely surrounded by a large group of people and left 20 minutes after his arrival. Like Goa, Kolkata is football-crazy. It must be said that the fans cannot be blamed for the chaos that was unleashed at the Salt Lake stadium. They paid a fortune, but the day ended with anger and disbelief. Instead of memories of Messi, many left with videos of chaos, damaged property that summed up a visit remembered more for the mess than the magic. What was supposed to be a once-in-a-lifetime moment for football fans in Kolkata turned into a story of frustration and chaos. Among them was one fan who claimed he had paid Rs 10,000 for a ticket, only to leave the stadium without seeing the Argentine superstar even once. He said he didn’t see Messi but ended up seeing the politicians that we end up seeing every day instead. Organizers of such events should see to it that incidents like this do not recur in future as they hurt the country›s image.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Goa nightlife woes
The State government is currently conducting what it calls a ‘crackdown’ on a few select tourism-related establishments, despite the fact that nearly 90% of hotels and businesses linked to tourism operate illegally. This selective enforcement appears to be a façade, giving the impression that strong action is being taken against unlicensed establishments that blatantly promote illegal activities along Goa’s coastal belt. It seems the government remained largely inactive until the tragic death of 25 people at a controversial Arpora club sparked widespread outrage. This sudden display of action seems less about upholding the rule of law and more about responding to public anger following the Arpora disaster. It is widely known that many major hotels and tourism businesses allegedly pay hefty monthly bribes—or ‘haftas’—to local politicians and officials responsible for issuing licenses. As a result, illegal nightlife activities continue unchecked, with little regard for proper licensing or fire safety measures. Given this backdrop, it is difficult to believe that any meaningful change will occur. Despite the government’s loud assurances, the reality for the tourism industry remains: “Paisa feko, tamasha dekho” (pay the money, enjoy the show). With the Christmas and New Year season approaching, the focus will once again shift to profit, and music will blare louder than ever along the coastal belt, whether residents like it or not. Only God can save the people of Goa.
Jerry Fernandes, Saligao
Corruption over compliance
The Arpora tragedy has indeed unmasked Goa’s carefully marketed image and exposed the dark underbelly of governance failure in the state. What happened was not an accident; it was the predictable outcome of systemic neglect, regulatory capture and administrative indifference. Violations across the sectors have become norm rather than exception. From politicians to administrators, from IAS and IPS officers to urban/village heads, the common thread binding them together is ‘hafta’ culture. This common trend is visible in sectors like illegal constructions, nightlife and tourism businesses, beach shacks, transport, and land dealings. Politicians play a crucial role by shielding errant operators, transferring honest officers, or informally cautioning who should not be touched. Administrators and enforcement staff, in turn, exploit regulatory complexity to extract their periodic bounties.
Gregory Fernandes, Mumbai
Death penalty upheld
President Droupadi Murmu has rejected the mercy petition of a man convicted of kidnapping, raping, and murdering a two-year-old toddler in Jalna, Maharashtra, in 2012. The Supreme Court had upheld the death sentence awarded by the sessions court in 2019, describing the convict as a “pervert with no control over carnal desire who had crushed a life yet to bloom.” According to the 2023 National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report, incidents of child sexual abuse rose by 9.2% compared to the previous year, with an estimated seven children abused every hour in India. These numbers are deeply alarming. The trauma and lifelong scars borne by survivors can be devastating.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
