Untimely death of Ketan Bhatikar
The sudden demise of Congress leader Dr Ketan Bhatikar has cast a deep shadow over Goa’s political and social landscape. His passing has left not only his family and close associates grief-stricken, but also countless Goans shocked and saddened by the loss of a young leader who had stepped into public life with hope, conviction, and promise. Dr Bhatikar was known first as a dedicated physiotherapist who earned the trust and respect of people through his service and compassion. His decision to enter politics reflected a larger desire to contribute to society beyond his profession. He represented a new generation of educated and socially conscious leaders who sought to bring sincerity and public service into politics. Many in Goa saw in Dr Bhatikar the possibility of a bright political future. He possessed the qualities that could have made him an influential public figure in the years ahead. Om Shanti. May the departed soul of Dr Bhatikar rest in eternal peace.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Crude oil woes
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has demanded that Indian citizens tighten their fossil fuel consumption as there have been crude oil concerns. China holds an estimated 1.4 billion barrels of strategic crude oil reserves, larger than the combined strategic inventories of the US, Japan, OECD Europe, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Iran, the UAE, and India. The US ranks second with a 413 million barrel reserve chest. Japan is third with 263 million barrels, because it has limited domestic energy resources; it imports a 96 per cent of its crude oil. But India, with the exact same imports dependent weakness as Japan, has a mere 21 million barrels—less than 8 per cent of Japan’s inventory. With the world’s largest population, India has just 1.5 per cent of China’s oil reserves. Mind you, these statistics are from December 2025, before the US waged war on Iran. The Petroleum Minister’s statement in March 2026 that India’s petroleum reserves were filled to 64 per cent capacity was misleading, for that would mean that India had added 7 per cent more inventory when the rest of the world was facing serious shrinkage in the wake of the Hormuz shutdown.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
Elusive gold
A friend cancelled his wedding citing the sharp hike in gold prices and is now waiting for rates to fall. This reflects the growing distress of the common man, as gold — deeply rooted in Indian culture and often serving as a financial safety net for ordinary households — is rapidly becoming unaffordable. While gold holds immense emotional and social value, soaring prices driven by international markets, stagnant income growth, and rising living costs have pushed it beyond the reach of average families. Many are shifting from 24-karat to lower purity options like 22, 18, or even 12-karat ornaments. With high EMIs and inflation squeezing budgets, physical gold is slowly turning into an elite asset rather than a common investment. If prices continue climbing, retail demand will decline further. India must seriously explore domestic gold mining to reduce import dependence and shield citizens from global volatility.
Rajesh Banaulikar, Arpora
Vijay’s triumph
It is heartening that TVK leader and Chief Minister Joseph Vijay has convincingly won the trust vote in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, thanks to the unconditional support of AIADMK rebels. This marks a significant setback for AIADMK leader Edappadi Karuppa Palaniswami, who appears to have lost the confidence of his own party members. It would have been wiser if EPS had set aside his ego and backed Vijay to form the government earlier. Left with no choice, Vijay had to secure support from allies of his archrival DMK. Even the DMK’s decision to skip the vote seems a tactical move. Reports suggest that even without the AIADMK rebels, some DMK members might have voted in his favour. Now that he has proved his majority, expectations are high for Vijay to function as an impartial and effective Chief Minister. His prompt cancellation of astrologer Rickey Radha Pandit’s appointment shows willingness to heed public criticism and correct course.
N Mahadevan, Chennai
Mosquito menace
Monsoon brings with it a host of infections and diseases. Mosquito- borne viral infections and diseases like common cold, typhoid and dengue are common when rains fall after a scorching season of heat. In particular, dengue poses a huge challenge to policymakers and healthcare personnel. Sudden and high fever often with deviation in the common duration, intense headache, joint and muscle pain characterise dengue. In India, burgeoning population and irregular climate changes have fuelled the surge of dengue cases. May 16 is the National Dengue Day and this year’s observance carries the theme ‘Unite. Act. Eliminate’. Every word is worth its weight in gold because a concerted action towards mosquito control is the key in prevention and control of dengue.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
