AN INDISCIPLINED CHIEF SECRETARY.

By Aires Rodrigues

Discipline is vital to the success of any administration but Chief Secretary Mr. B. Vijayan who is heading the bureaucracy in Goa is not leading by example. Mr. Vijayan who came to Goa in Nov 2010 completed his two year tenure way back but has just refused to move out of Goa despite his transfer order having been issued. After having sent repeated reminders asking Mr. Vijayan to swiftly shift to Arunachal Pradesh, the Union Home Ministry has now reportedly issued him a show cause notice for having failed to comply with the directives.

My spy camera in the corridors of power has revealed that Mr. Vijayan who is due to retire in Sept next year is now contemplating taking VRS and is eyeing the post of State Chief Information Commissioner which will enable him make Goa his retirement nest for the next five years. Mr. Vijayan may succeed in this mission as he has obligingly been bending and bowing down to all the dictates of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar by signing on the dotted line.

WHERE ARE THEY GONE NOW?

Before BJP came to power in the last Goan election, Congress was ruling in Goa. The biggest loot of Goa was systematically conducted without any fear of anyone by these Congressmen. Almost all the Congress ministers were looting Goa, not only they but even their close and distant family members including their dogs and cats even. With the amount of looted money power flowing into their hands they could even go to the Moon for Honeymoon not with their wives but with their concubines because almost every Congress MLA and every Congress Minister was having a concubine; according to one source not one concubine but in dozens. These concubines were provided with lavish amenities to lead a very lavish life because looted money power was great into the hands of these politicians, it was easy money and not hard earned.

With the enormous amount of money power into the hands of these politicians, a few of them used to travel and visit Kuwait regularly, almost every second month either as Chief Guests for soccer final or for Tiatro or for annual dance organised by the Kuwait Goan Associations and soccer clubs. While coming to Kuwait they were not coming individually but in groups with their close relatives, friends and neighbours as well. According to my information these visitors used to spend lakhs of rupees for their Air tickets, boarding and lodging and for sponsoring the functions that they were coming to attend. This much of money an ordinary person cannot easily spend but these Goan politicians were spending such a big amount because almost everyone was on looting spree in Goa. They were looting Goa and Goans.

By being in Goa they used to sponsor the Shows and Events in Kuwait by spending their own money in lakhs which were looted from Goa. They did not feel the pain to earn this money because it was accumulated thru loot of Goa. It was easy money they collected from the blood of poor Goans by extorting bribes from them. I remember when we Kuwaitkars brought Churchill Alemao as a chief guest to the Tiatro in late eighties the expenses for his entire trip including Air Ticket and boarding and lodging was borne by the Kuwaitcars. But during the recent past when Congress was ruling Goa prior to the current BJP government came to power these politicians spent money like water for their visits to Kuwait. Some of them were even begging with Kuwaitcars to allow them to come on their own expenses to Kuwait as chief guests and our cheap Kuwaitcars were obliging them. Some of them while coming were bringing even their mistresses to have fun with them in Kuwait. This was the power of their looted money. Good that they lost in the last election otherwise Goa would be finished by them and not by the uncontrolled influx of non-Goans.

It is now almost a year that these Congressmen are out of power and being so their financial power is also gone down because as Ministers and MLA’s they cannot do the same barbarity on Goans to extort money from them as bribes for services they rendered. Since their money power is gone down their visits to Kuwait are also gone down. In Kuwait among Goans nobody remembers them. Earlier even one Goan soccer team was sponsored by Churchill Bros.

Now my question is this: Where are all these politicians gone now since their defeat in the last election? Not a single political heavyweight is visiting Kuwait. Where are they gone now? And where are their Kuwait chamchas gone? There were so many soccer finals played in Kuwait, there were so many Tiatros organised and other events but not a single of them came to attend the same as chief guest since the last Goan election. It is a pity now to see that once making a big show in Kuwait the same Goan politicians are become unknown not only to Kuwait Goans but also for those individuals and associations in Kuwait who enjoyed their doles.

There is a saying which says “When you laugh the whole world will laugh with you but when you cry, you will have to cry alone”.

And those in Kuwait among Goans who boast of their closeness to the Goan politicians, they must know one more saying which is in Konkani and it says:

"ETA BILU VETA BILU - PUN BILUCHI NADDI KHUIM KOSMELEA"

A. Veronica Fernandes,

Kuwait.

CHURCHILL ALEMAO AT HIS SARCASTIC BEST.

By Nisser Dias 30th May 2013

 

Earlier last week I was quite surprised to read former PWD minister Churchill Alemao’s statement to the media during a press conference. Of course he addresses the media less frequently since his ouster from active politics but most often it is for self glorification or clarification and resurrection of his political career. However his statement last week had different undertone, texture and it was sarcastically intelligent.

I say so because for the first time the Varca strongman was subtly taking digs at the electorate for keeping him and the Congress party and also his family out of the Legislative Assembly. He took pot-shots at the chief minister Manohar Parrikar for trying to appease the minority communities in Salcete with his frequent trips to Margao and neighbouring villages and offering sops. While praising the government for its decision to name the Collectorate building after late Mathany Saldanha, Churchill said that the BJP should also field a minority candidate in South Goa for the up-coming Lok Sabha election next year.

Elaborating further former chief minister of 19 days said that since the BJP government took over the administration of the state more than a year ago, prices of essential commodities has dropped. He made this statement knowing very well that the prices are still soaring and though chief minister Parrikar has abolished Value Added Tax (VAT) on petrol, he has actually burdened the common man much more by raising the slab of other taxes. And with entry tax being imposed on non-state vehicles bringing essential commodities to Goa, Goans will have to dig deeper into their pockets.

Churchill Alemao surely must have engaged the services of a public relations (PR) company to tutor him on what, when, where and how to speak. This crosses my mind because he slyly touched a sore spot. Infact I would say he rubbed salt and vinegar into the grouse of the Christians and Muslims by stating that since BJP took over the reins of governance, beef is easily available. It is a known fact that both these communities sell and consume beef. Ironically the cat was let out of the bag when it was exposed that chief minister Manohar Parrikar happened to be the adviser of the NGO that knocked on the doors of the High Court to redress the grievances prevailing at the government abattoir. The message that Churchill was trying to send was, while the chief minister is trying to hoodwink the minority community with sops and friendliness, his long term hidden agenda is very much alive and he puts it into action not very obviously but deviously.

While the Congress party is yet to deliberate its failure to comeback to power in the state, Churchill seems to have introspected his and his family’s defeat. For a year now he seems to be the only member of the clan who addresses the media, there is no sign of Valanka Alemao, Yuri Alemao is fleetingly seen in his car, Joaquim Alemao is more in Malaysia than Goa. Churchill and Valanka both have stopped doles to the poor and needy. For them it is since they have not been elected there are also no poor and needy in Goa or maybe Goans become poorer when they are elected.

Apart from all this the new side of Churchill seems to be very attention-grabbing as his statements have a double edge to it. While he cannot antagonize the chief minister Manohar Parrikar directly due to the alleged scam in the PWD during Churchill’s tenure as PWD minister at the same time he cannot mount a scathing attack on the people and his future in politics lies in their hands and hence he is doing it ingeniously. That is the power of the long distance correspondence course that Churchill Alemao had enrolled himself in years back. He is finally putting it to great use.

Since this is his first time addressing the media so tactfully, he will take some time to convincingly answer the queries of the media. Infact he exposed himself when the media questioned him on his stand on the proposed airport at Mopa. His comment was that he started the movement against Mopa airport while he was in the Save Goa Front party. Ironically he forgot all about it after he rejoined the Congress immediately after the elections. He further said that he did not attend the hugely attended meeting at Lohia Maidan on 15th May 2013 because he would be made to sit in the audience. First and foremost Churchill Alemao had not only ditched the movement and the Goans but was convinced that both the airport could co-exist while he was in power. He had clearly stated that his SGF manifesto claimed that he would retain Dabolim airport and the media had called his bluff. But now having lost all his credibility and power he is desperately trying to gain sympathy of the people. And for the sake of Goa and Goans which he says he loves so much, what is there for Churchill to sit in the audience. He has to face the reality he is no more a VVIP but a simple common man.

He further went on to question the presence of ministers Alina Saldanha and Avertano Furtado at the meeting. Churchill demanded that they either force the chief minister to stop going ahead with the airport or quit his cabinet. When reminded that people also demanded the same thing of him while Digambar Kamat was pursuing the proposed airport he said that he expressed his willingness to resign from the cabinet.

Ironically resigning as a minister is one thing and threatening to do so is another. People saw through his rhetoric and false promises and sent him home. Churchill needs to do some homework on this issue.

Over the years we have experienced both the sides of Churchill Alemao. One as a commoner and the other as the elected representative of the people. And there is a vast difference. While not in power he attracts people with experience, wisdom and intelligence around him and seeks their advice on issues. After coming to power he distances himself from this group and gathers ‘Yes men and henchmen’ around him. People of Goa have seen this over the decades and are unlikely to be fooled again.

Send your comments/reactions to nisserdias@gmail.com Or SMS 9422437029)