LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

In Support Of Bhumiputra Bill

THE Bhumiputra Adhakarini bill, 2021 has been in the eye of the storm over misapprehensions, insinuations and allegations. This particular bill is reminiscent of the Goa, Daman and Diu Agriculture Tenancy Act, 1964 and its corollary – the Goa, Daman and Diu Mundkars (Protection from Eviction) Act, 1975. I believe that the Bhumiputra Adhakarini bill is the need of the hour considering the present times, and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant took a right step by getting it passed in the state legislative assembly. I strongly feel that this bill will help obliterate vote-bank politics. To understand the bill, we should reflect on certain terms: a migrant is a person who moves from place to place looking for work; and a settler is a person who goes to live permanently in a place where not many people live. We can’t claim that the bill aims at appeasing the migrant vote-bank because these people have settled long ago in this state; they cannot be treated as second-class citizens and looked down upon due to their poor economic conditions. Their encroachment on parcels of land took place when the Congress was in power. The Congress regime had not made any efforts to evict them; but the migrants were instead provided with voter and Aadhaar cards. The Chief Minister rightly said that he has bravely decided to remove the Sword of Damocles, which had been hanging over house occupants’ heads, and given them freedom to live a life of dignity.

AMAR KANTAK, PANAJI 

The Dhanbad Outrage

KNOWING well that many judges prefer to be left alone most of the times, the hit and run murder of Dhanbad additional district and sessions judge Uttam Anand is shocking. It has sent a dangerous message to the judiciary. So far judges were not physically harmed for the verdicts they gave in a courtroom, except for a very few instances. Assuming Anand was killed for reasons other than personal, the incident is a chilling warning to the top echelons of judiciary that the life of a judge is no more foolproof. The judge is said to have rejected the bail application of an unwanted element who was close to a former legislator. He was also seized of some important criminal matters pertaining to the Dhanbad mafia. The jurisdictional police presumed the judge was hit by an unknown vehicle. They did not care to go deep into the matter. Even after the video of the incident went viral, it is said the police were in two minds about registering a murder case. They were ‘waiting’ for a formal complaint from the judge’s family. Were they under pressure? Some time was lost before the two autorickshaw drivers were apprehended.  Police say they are further investigating. But the alacrity with which the legal fraternity took stock of the situation was commendable. Senior lawyers repeatedly made references in the Supreme Court, and the Chief Justice of India spoke to Jharkhand High Court Chief Justice. It was only after that things really started moving.  Ideally a High Court-monitored probe has to be undertaken. It was appropriate that top-ranking police officials were in attendance at the courtroom of Jharkhand High Court Chief Justice to explain the course of the investigation. The murder should be probed from all angles, and the culprits have to be quickly nabbed. If something like ‘super-fast tracking’ of cases exists, it has to be judge Uttam Anand’s. 

GANAPATHI BHAT, AKOLA

Govt Bulldozing Agenda in House

THAT contemptuous Bhumiputra Adhakarini bill, 2021 is the biggest insult that this government could have inflicted on the very identity of Goa and Goans. The power-intoxicated ruling party is stooping to unimaginable levels while dragging the remains of Goa to the gutters. As any legislation that is enacted has far-reaching effects on the state and its people, there must be a detailed and thorough debate on the pros and cons of every law that is contemplated. We elect legislators to debate issues concerning the people and to enact good laws. The assembly is the democratic forum where elected representatives of the people must hold debates on matters that affect the people. It should afford an opportunity for members to discuss the intricacies of government policy, proposed new laws and topical issues of the day. Debates are designed to assist MLAs to reach an informed decision on a subject. Curtailing to mere three days the duration of the recently-concluded session of the state legislative assembly was a very highhanded wrong move that did not augur well in the framework of democracy. Besides in this current pandemic, Goa is grappling with so many very serious issues and the legislative assembly should have been a proper and appropriate forum for the MLAs to raise and debate issues concerning the public. Sessions of the legislative assembly have to be meaningful and fruitful in the interest of the state and not merely a cosmetic exercise aimed at fulfilling that constitutional requirement. It is imperative that there should be a free and fair meaningful debate without bulldozing legislations through. Stifling debate by a lacklustre, ill-informed assembly only leads to the current malaise and downward spiral we find ourselves in and it is absolutely anti-democratic. It ignores the aspirations and best interests of the people and leads to a more dictatorial style of government with poor laws, lack of accountability, scrutiny and transparency. It erodes any trust that the public may have in their MLAs. If elected lawmakers can be so uncaring and abdicate their sacred and democratic duties how can they expect other institutions of government and the people to respect the poorly enacted laws that they legislate? In a way we deserve the political rot because sadly we knowingly elect MLAs who are by the people, of the people but definitely not for the people.

AIRES RODRIGUES, RIBANDAR