Hypocrisy of leaders
Our leaders boast that we are a nation that is secular, multi-religious and pluralistic in character, with freedom for minorities to practise and propagate their religion freely, according to the constitutional provisions. Yet, we see so much of violence around unleashed on minorities, their places of worship and institutions. Unfortunately, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the Christian cathedral in Delhi on Christmas Day had little impact on the vandalism that was witnessed on Christmas Day in several parts of the country. Our leaders in Goa too are known to visit temples and churches to seek blessings from deities during religious festivals and elections. Yet, they are silent over atrocities on minorities. When will this religious fanaticism and hypocrisy end?
A F Nazareth, Alto Porvorim
Social media a boon
Those memories as a school student when it was a nightmare queuing up at the telephone exchange, then located at the Panjim post office, to even make a call to Bombay. One had to opt for an ordinary, urgent or lightning call and it was always a long wait. Today telecommunications and social media have transformed all this while drastically enhancing our power to communicate instantly across the world. Through WhatsApp, X, Facebook, Instagram besides other global networking sites, we are able to effectively communicate to share a message or a thought to a multitude of our near and dear ones worldwide. A great blessing indeed! What an amazing world.
Aires Rodrigues, London
Welfare schemes
Salcete taluka has witnessed a visible change under the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Centre and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant in Goa. This change is not only on paper but also in the lives of the ordinary people. The Bharatiya Janata Party governance has ensured that benefits reach those who truly need them. Schemes like Laadli Laxmi have supported our daughters at an important stage of their lives. Similarly, Graha Aadhaar Housewife Scheme, DSS, Ayushman Bharat, DDSSY, Mhaje Ghar, etc benefit the common man. For more than five years, free ration under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana has ensured food security for thousands of households in Salcete. There are over 50 state and central government schemes benefitting people in Salcete today. When development is visible, when support reaches every household and when governance is felt in everyday life, trust is built naturally.
Navin Pai Raikar, Panaji
Mob violence
The recent mob lynching of a Bangladeshi Hindu youth, which has sparked widespread outrage, is an act that deserves unequivocal condemnation. Such violence has no place in a civilised society governed by the rule of law. No individual or group has the authority to take law into its own hands. Mob justice is not justice; it is a grave moral and legal failure. What is particularly disturbing is that this incident reflects a wider and dangerous trend. Acts of violence and intimidation against minorities are being witnessed not only in neighbouring countries but increasingly within our own country. These developments point to a growing culture of intolerance that threatens social harmony and mutual trust. Equally alarming were the incidents of vandalism reported across several parts of India on Christmas Eve. Attacks on places of worship and religious symbols instil fear among citizens and strike at the very foundation of communal coexistence. Such acts are neither expressions of faith nor patriotism; they are manifestations of lawlessness. This raises a critical question: are people becoming so impatient and distrustful that they are deliberately bypassing the legal system? In a democracy, grievances, real or perceived, can and must be addressed through lawful means. Citizens always have the option to approach the police, courts or other competent authorities. When mobs assume the role of judge, jury and executioner, justice is replaced by rumour, prejudice and irreversible harm. Bypassing due process erodes public faith in institutions and pushes society closer to chaos. It is the duty of the government to rein in such groups and ensure strict punishment for those responsible so that such incidents are not repeated.
Samir Khan, Mapusa
Act decisively
It has been reported that many Christian organisations have appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to note the disturbing and alarming rise in attacks on Christians, which deeply wound the spirit of our Constitution. Apart from attending a morning Christmas mass at the Cathedral of Redemption in New Delhi on Christmas Day, the Prime Minister also posted on X. He said, “May the teachings of Jesus Christ strengthen harmony in our communities across the country.” At the same time, why do groups disrupt peaceful Christmas functions, vandalise religious places and even bully citizens? This encourages mob rule. The government that swears on the Constitution needs to act decisively to restore faith in our institutions.
John Eric Gomes, Porvorim
