NO TO PDA & ODP.

Michael Lobo is the MLA of Calangute constituency which is known to produce some of the worst and cunning MLA’s of Goa who concentrated on accumulating wealth for them only by taking advantage of their MLAship.  These MLA’s when they take entry into this political segment, they always disclosed that they are contesting the election for Goa Legislatve Assembly only to gain better avenues and facilties for the electorate of their constituencies.  However, within a short  time the very MLA’s who were swearing on their Gods in the Temples and Churches, they turn out to be the worst liars, crooks, sex extortionists and in one word “Devils”.  Otherwise, see the wealth of these MLA’s that will give you perfect view of their assets.

On 11^th of this month people opposing PDA& ODP who are since last so many days struggling so hard  to bring pressure on the authorities concerned to abolish PDA & ODP,  joined together and gave a Memorandum to Candolim Panchayat with their demands for the necessary further action. If proper action is failed to take within 15 days,  they said they will intensify their agitation even by gheraoing all the Panch members.

On 12^th of this month at Azad Maidan Panjim, on the 4^th day of the chain hunger strike people from Candolim and Azosim took active part in todays hunger strike. 

A. veronica fernandes,

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MINING AFFECTED GOANS.

Last  fortnight at Azad Maidan, Panjim, I attended the Hunger strike – a daylong activity in support of the unemployed Goans and also those who were retrenched from the Mining Companies. Some of them are having their families to look after  while others have their loans to repay and still others so many other financial obligations. They cry saying the government is least bothered to know their plight while others say there is no government in Goa functioning in the absence of CM. 

During the whole day they said not a single government emissary visited them to enquire about their plight leave aside the ruling party MLA or any Minister.  And by the way why they should take interest in them?  Let them go to hell, they must be saying.  In Konkani they say  “KUNKOD MELEM FUNKOT GELEM”.

Somewhere in 1957/58 there was a chaos in the Mining belt where because of the dispute between Sesa Goa management and workers the mining activity came to an abrupt halt sending shivers in the veins of many of the Sesa’s employees.  Then Sesa as per my information readied itself to close down its operations in Goa and put the employees on the road.  This news reached to Salazar in Portugal who immediately advised Governador Vassalo e Silva to stop Sesa going ahead with their anti-workers policy but find a solution.  Then Sesa management did not terminate anyone but for few months made the employees sit at home on half the salary till the solution was found.  The question that Salazar posed to Goa Governador was:  Who will then support the employees and their families? 

It is a pity that the outsider Salazar was more sympathetic to Goans than our own insiders who without compassion put the people working in the Mining companies on the road.

The Mining companies accumulated crores and crores and according to the Shah Commission Report thousand of crores these companies owe to Goa and Goans.  Instead of utilising this amount for the benefit of affected Goans, Government is pampering the Mine Owners. There should be justice done to the affected Goans.

A.Veronica Fernandes.

SECOND DAY OF HUNGER STRIKE AGAINST ODP & PDA.

Today  is the second day of hunger strike in Panjim at Azad Maidan organized against the ODP and PDA which according to the people gathered there is pushed on Goans by Michael Lobo who is telling  that it is only the four “boddkam” opposing these. But in reality overwhelming majority of Goans is  opposing this and not the way what Lobo says, said one Striking leader.

Today’s proceedings were handled by people from St. Cruz with Mr. Rudolf Fernandes was answering the questions when I paused him for sometime. He said they will fight till the victory is attained and that victory is not very far. Further he said that they don’t want future generation to suffer because of this mistake government is doing. He also said that we Goans should not be strangers in our own land and what we do not want should not be pushed on us.

Because of the forcefully pushing of ODP and PDA on us, the people from Calangute constituency are very angry on Lobo  and surely this anger they will release during the next election, said one citizen from Calangute.  The power that Lobo wielding now is derived from the people and they only know how to snatch it and when.  Besides, this power is only temporary.

A.Veronica Fernandes.