-Soter D'Souza
The debate around 'Ratol' and why it should be banned just because it was
consumed by Nadia seems to be more important and glamorous than the issue of
suicides by thousands of farmers in this country after consuming pesticide.
Why is there no demand to ban pesticides?
Alcohol is another silent killer in 'Amchem Goa'. The disease of alcoholism
has resulted in a large number of young widows in Goa's villages. Besides
this hundreds of women and children in Goa have to bear the daily torture
from an alcoholic for years together. Why is there no outcry to ban alcohol
in Goa?
Then we have the potential threat from leakage of posionous gases and
chemicals at Goa's industrial sites. Why is there no public frenzy generated
around this issue?
The public debate around 'Ratol' is more deadly than the effects of the
posion because it could give ideas for those with suicidal tendencies to try
out this lethal chemical. Why all this hypocrisy for publicity?
