Panaji (PTI): The Goa government on Saturday carried out a cleanliness drive at 37 beaches across the state, where Chief Minister Pramod Sawant stressed to need to preserve the coastline for future generations and to boost the blue economy.
The state Tourism Department, in association with the Central Government, organized the drive on the occasion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birthday.
While Sawant and Governor P S Sreedharan Pillai took part in the drive at Miramar beach near here, state Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte participated in the drive at Calangute beach in North Goa.
Addressing the event at Miramar beach, Sawant said Goa's economy is largely dependent on beaches, and stressed the need to preserve the coastline. "We should also be able to preserve and pass on the benefits of blue economy to our future generations," the chief minister said.
Sawant also made an appeal to the locals and tourists to keep the beaches clean always.
At Calangute, Khaunte said that the livelihood of the people in the coastal belt is dependent on beaches.
The minister said that around 90 lakh tourists visit the state annually to enjoy the "sun, sand and the sea". "If we want to retain our USP of sun, sand and sea, we will have to ensure that our beaches are clean and safe," he added.
Khaunte said that cleanliness of the shorelines is also important for the protection of ecology and to ensure safety of the sources of livelihood of the people.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Marxism will remain relevant despite Left electoral's losses, says general secretary M A Baby
New Delhi (PTI): CPI(M) General Secretary M A Baby on Thursday asserted that the Left movement would remain relevant despite not being in power in any state, saying the ideology would continue to endure as long as social and economic inequalities persist.
Hitting back at BJP leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar over his reported remarks that Marxism had become irrelevant, Baby, in an interview with PTI Videos, said, "So long as there is division in society, so long as there is exploitation of the majority of workers, peasants and ordinary masses by a handful of billionaires, Marxism will remain relevant."
"That perhaps Mr Rajeev Chandrasekhar may not be able to understand, but this is the fact of the matter," he said.
Baby acknowledged that the CPI(M)-led Left was currently without an elected government in any state, but maintained that electoral setbacks would not diminish the movement's role.
"We may not have an elected government in any state. There were occasions when we didn't have a government. But the red flag and the commitment to organise and struggle for the rights of the dispossessed, marginalised and exploited will always be upheld by CPI(M) and the Left movement," he said.
He said the Left continued to enjoy support among workers, peasants, agricultural labourers, youth, students and women, and argued that the movement remained necessary because "oppression and assault" continued in society.
"So long as such problems exist in society, the red flag and the working class movement will continue to work among the masses," the Left leader said.
Exuding confidence on the Left's revival, Baby said the party would reflect on the reasons behind its electoral loss.
"We may be rejected in one election, but we will stage our comeback by understanding what went wrong with us," he said, adding, "We will listen to people and we will come back with higher strength."
Baby also criticised the Congress over reported factional tensions in Kerala after the Congress-led United Democratic Front's victory in the state.
"The way they are behaving is being watched by the people of Kerala," he said, referring to infighting within the Congress.
"Those who have given a massive majority to Congress and UDF would be watching all this," he added, while urging party leaders to "settle the problem in an amicable, democratic manner".
Referring to West Bengal, Baby alleged that violence had escalated following the BJP's victory in the state assembly polls.
"It is quite unfortunate that the moment BJP snatched a massive victory in West Bengal, violence has also started on a big scale," he said.
He also accused the Trinamool Congress of being "notorious for violent activities" and alleged that the "RSS-controlled BJP" had "unleashed violence in many places" after the election results.
"This is not good for Bengal, not good for the country. We wish and hope that normalcy would be restored as soon as possible," he said.
Baby said the CPI(M) and the Left in West Bengal would continue efforts to "pacify people" and avoid violence and confrontation.
Asked about former Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan not reacting publicly to the election results, Baby said Vijayan would respond "at an appropriate time".
