NAGUESH KARMALI’S senseless and biased tirade against Portuguese rule has become a yearly affair now. I have the highest respect for this great son of Goa, but these comments are totally uncalled for. What good would it now serve for Portuguese nameplates to be removed? Is it more important than providing basic necessities like water and electricity to Goans? Where were Naguesh Karmali and other freedom fighters when Goa needed them to agitate against the Regional Plan? Where were the freedom fighters when Goa needed them for anti SEZ, anti mining and anti mega project agitations?

All the buildings that are built are not according to the approved plan; one sees practically no space around each and every building. Some of the buildings are actually supposed to be renovations of old buildings, according to the Mapusa municipality, but what one sees in reality is a posh building or a posh commercial centre.

LOOKING at the cover story of Goan Observer of June 6, 2010, I was appalled to see a coloured photograph of Mickky happily dancing on Nadia Torrado’s grave. What sort of humour was GO aiming at, if at all, it was humour? It was indeed distasteful. Reporting on the ills or the colourful lifestyle of Mickky is one thing, but making a mockery of our dead is most certainly uncalled for. GO’s apathy towards our dead is not acceptable. We Christians consider our resting place sacred and so our feelings should be respected.

THIS IS in reference to the cover story named ‘Ungodly Business’ on GO (May 15-21, 2010). I always follow Rajan Narayan’s write-ups with keen interest. His pen is fluent, his knowledge and study excellent. He saved us quite number of times and we are very much grateful to him.

THE CHIEF Minister’s remarks “I don’t depend on your votes” and “I don’t care, do what you want” have been widely reported in the newspapers. It is a well known fact that migrants and the minority community are pampered with benefits including free ration and schemes prepared to suit them. A vote bank has been systematically built up and hence he does not need our votes. It is a good lesson for all of us to learn.

The Archbishop and the priests are held in great respect and esteem by the Catholic community. This is not to say that all priests are above board or that they should enjoy immunity from criticism. Humans, as they are, they are bound to fall and commit mistakes like all of us do.

IT’S HIGH time the authorities in the government set up a committee to investigate the constructions of buildings in Mapusa, before it is too late. Builders have violated all rules while constructing buildings; they have used up all the space in the area to construct flats or shops and have even gone to the extent of converting parking lots into warehouses, so much that trucks are parked on the roadside and, in some cases, goods are thrown on the roadside. Where the parking for two wheelers sign board is erected, shopkeepers dump their wares and no authority has taken the trouble to solve this problem.

IT WAS disgusting to see images of civilised people celebrating the death sentence passed on Ajmal Kasab, the terrorist, however justly he deserves to be punished for his crimes. And shame on the TV channels that maximised their gains on the event going down to the level of asking an 11-year-old child to give her emotional and perhaps tutored comments and broadcasting the same repeatedly, for dramatic effect.

FIRST CAME the recently passed Right To Education, which was a huge step in the field of education, followed by a rather discouraging fee structure spelt out by the Government of Goa in a report earlier this month, with clear intentions on making the poor, poorer and the rich, richer. The Education Policy in the state of Goa seems to be a bigger scam than the IPL, with ministers supporting irresponsible individuals running private institutions in Goa to make a fast buck. A thorough enquiry should be initiated on every one of these individuals and to look carefully into the matter of the “fee hike”.

THE FOURTH state prides itself as the eyes and ears of the common man. We read so many letters in columns of newspapers, but has the fourth state found out what action the government agencies take? Or do they just read and throw our letters into the dustbin? There should be a follow up from the fourth state for all the letters addressed to the editor.