"MOTHER'S DAY" TIATRISTS ARRIVED.

Seen above is the group photo of the Tiatrists at Kuwait Internationa Airport after their arrival in Kwait.

Today at 3,30 pm they will perform in Milagres de Chandor's Tiatro "MOTHER'S DAY".

Goa MLA and ex Minister Mickey Pacheco coming all the way from Goa will be the chief guest.

ALL SET TO STAGE TIATRO "MOTHER'S DAY" IN KUWAIT TODAY FRIDAY 30.9.11.

Chief Guest coming all the way from Goa: Mickey Pacheco.

ADV. AIRES FILED COMPLAINT OF CHEATING.

COMPLAINT OF CHEATING FILED AGAINST MUMBAI SENIOR ADVOCATE AMIT DESAI & ADVOCATE ASHWIN BHOBE

A complaint of cheating against Adv. Amit Desai and that of criminalconspiracy with common intention against Adv. Ashwin Bhobe was todayfiled by Adv. Aires Rodrigues at the Panaji Police Station.

Adv. Aires Rodrigues has in his complaint stated that Adv. Amit Desaihad fraudulently raised bills and had claimed Rs five lakhs for fourhearings he never appeared for before the Bombay High Court at Goa inthe Ryan Fernandes death sentence confirmation case.

Adv. Rodrigues has in his complaint to the Panaji Police stated thatAdvocate Amit Desai had billed the Goa Government Rs 3, 75,000 forappearing before the Bombay High Court at Goa on 26th, 27th and 28thNovember 2008 and another Rs 1, 25,000 for an appearance on 13th Jan2009 but that the Court records do not show his appearance.

Adv. Rodrigues in his First Information Report to the Panaji Policestation today has stated that Adv. Amit Desai and Adv. Ashwin Bhobehad committed offences of cheating, misappropriation of property, andbreach of trust under Section 420, r/w Sec 34 & section 120-B of theIndian Penal Code.

On the advice of Advocate General Mr. Subodh Kantak the Goa Governmentby an order dated 30th October 2008 had appointed Adv. Amit Desai toappear for the State of Goa in death sentence confirmation case beforethe Bombay High Court at Goa at a fee of Rs 1, 25, 000 per hearing. Bythe same order Adv. Ashwin Bhobe was also appointed as Advocate onrecord to assist Adv. Amit Desai at a fee of Rs 5000/- per hearing.

Adv. Rodrigues in his complaint has stated that Adv. Amit Desai’sraising the bills was a clear act of cheating, while Adv. Ashwin Bhobecriminally conspired and corroborated in the act by submitting thosebills to the government knowing that the bills were falsely raisedwhen there was factually no such appearances and Adv. Amit Desai wasnot entitled to that payment.

Adv. Rodrigues has stated that the bills raised by Adv. Amit Desaiwere forwarded and pursued by Adv. Ashwin Bhobe who was fully awarethat Adv. Amit Desai had not appeared for those four hearings and wasfraudulently claiming Rs five lakhs.

Adv. Rodrigues has further stated that Adv. Amit Desai and Adv. AshwinBhobe with common intention conspired and dishonestly induced theState Government into paying the bills for appearances not made andfalsely represented before the Government that the four appearances inCourt were truly made.

Adv. Rodrigues in his complaint has also stated that surprisingly theGoa Government paid Adv. Amit Desai the five lakhs without requiringhim to produce appearance certificates issued by the High Court as wasmandatory before any government advocate is paid.

Alleging that Adv. Amit Desai and Adv. Ashwin Bhobe used the falsebills to cheat the Goa Government, Adv. Rodrigues has stated that asthe offences relate to cheating the State exchequer it was needed thatin public interest the Panaji Police expeditiously investigate thecase.

STOP FAMILY POLITICS IN GOA.

Family Politics In Goa

It’s only natural for the poor, to want to be rich and the rich to want to be richer; we also feel the same for our children and we often dream about it too, if not work towards it. Dreaming and wanting to be rich is neither a sin nor a transgression against God or anyone else, but when this want or dream becomes an infatuation or an obsession, to be rich at all cost or at everybody’s cost, it becomes an evil; it leads to indulgence and sin. No, no ! This post is certainly not a Sunday homily on sin and indulgence but an illustration of our apathy at what’s happening in and to our beloved Goa.

The events in the political sphere, during the last couple of months in Goa reminds me of the age old tradition in supposedly respectable families, where parents would go scouting for prospective well to do grooms or brides respectively, as soon as their kids were of marriageable ages, the criteria most sought after were, riches, beauty and literacy, in random order with morals and virtues as leftovers or toppings.

Not surprisingly, our politicians too have been doing the same, trying to find suitors for not just their come of age but aged as well, sprouts, siblings, even better halves legal or otherwise and some, for themselves as well, only with an eye on the prospect of a financial windfall, as virtues and morals are sacrificed on the alter greed. Initially they will be ready to pour out any amount of wealth for a license to kill and later on kill, they will, and now they are all set to thrust their kith and kin in to the jamboree called Goan politics.

In Goa, the time of elections has always been a season for political marriages, divorces and remarriages, some even preferred “livein” relationships. Mostly these relationships are built on suspicion, deceit, selfishness, egos and a variegated collection of unethical principles, with one common factor, they are all opportunists just waiting for a chance to upstage the other, they are rarely compatible but mostly cantankerous, deranged and oddest of alliances have been witnessed, with adultery and partner swapping at will, without any remorse or shame, as long as they get to climb the economically viable ladder of fortune.

Goan politics is certainly devoid of all ethics, honesty, loyalty and integrity, as a result of which, politicians in Goa are easily bought and sold like hot cakes during the festive seasons. There are neither friends nor foes in Goan politics but just purposes to serve. As a result of which Goan politics is become a brothel, state your price and take the cake or whatever ! There is no doubt that politics in Goa is a money spinning mechanism and today all the degenerates just don’t want to get out of it, so much so that they are now dragging their, siblings, sprouts, wives legal or otherwise, willingly or unwillingly for a share of the spoils of the Goa pie.

The power of dynastic political rule in Goa was started by none other than the first CM of Goa, the reason behind the “Opinion Poll” the late Dayanand Bandodkar, as his sprout Shashikala took the reigns after his death, now after a long time in political wilderness, is terrorizing Goan parents, in the guise of Identity, I wonder where was the love for our Identity during the Opinion Poll. Probably the grass was greener on the other side of the fence !

Not to be undone another former CM Pratapsingh Rane, cunningly brought in his sprout on an independent ticket and into his very first term was blessed with a ministry and he has already reaped the harvest. Then we have the siblings, Dhavalikar and the Alemao brothers, all these luminaries, have already fortified themselves and now, the Alemao brothers are bringing in their sprouts, Ravi Naik his son, Anil Salgaocar his sons, Navekar his better half, Mamie her son and Mikky his aamm…. partner. It looks like its going to be one hell of a family election ! Anyone wants to guess the source of the funds that will be used for their campaign ? Yeh ! We Goans have been had for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Suckers !

Some heavyweights have already thundered that no matter what, their kith and kin will surely contest, form any other party, if not for theirs, that means in some constituencies they will fight against their very own party, Ah ! It’s certainly a humdinger of the essence and the ethics of Goan politics and I am already looking forward to it, as it promises a carnival of sorts. No doubt it has happened before but certainly not at this scale and measure.

My fellow Goans please do not get fooled with gifts, money and even empty promises, a lot is at stake, for the rogues as well as for us but in adverse situations. Goa loving Goans, we are already on the brink of disaster and a slip now will be perilous and extremely detrimental to the wellbeing of Goa and our Goan Identity. With elections just round the corner, be wise and vote wisely, to save Goa from the hands of the degenerates, who are going all out to make Goan politics their own personal fiefdom and realm. Goa Jai Ho !

Freddy Agnelo Fernandes.

Mickey Pacheco to be the chief guest at Konkani drama in Kuwait

Mickey Pacheco to be the chief guest at Konkani drama in Kuwait

 

Francisco Pacheco, popularly known as Mickey Pacheco, a social worker and a football enthusiast, will be on a private visit to Kuwait and will be attending the Konkani drama this weekend at the Kuwait Medical Association Auditorium the chief guest.   In the last elections in Goa under the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) at the Benaulim constituency of votes polled numbering 15674 under heavy contest received 8092.  Goa's ex-Tourism Minister was born in Panjim, Goa, he is well known for several interest of the Goan community and Indian populace at large including: Social and cultural Activities, Sponsoring free education, books, imparting computer education to children, encouraging and assisting in the promotion of young and local talents in art, culture and sports.

 His special interest is in helping the poor and needy and development of Benaulim constituency. While his hobbies include sports, fishing, visiting places of touristic interests, fashion designing, and reading, he has also been keen in activities and membership of prominent clubs as also being the ex-promoter and financer of Fransa Football Club (Goa) at the National level. Presently, encouraging local youths to participate in sports activities/sports events all over Goa and rendering them with all the Financial assistance required, Mickey is the patron and chairman of the Real Betalbatim Football Club in Kuwait since September 2010 which was formed by a group of Football enthusiasts under their district/taluka name "Salcette United" later to be re-christened to "Real Betalbatim FC".  Last year a major glittering football festival "Sheikha Huda Al-Sabah Memorial International Tournament" was organized by Real Betalbatim in which Indian football teams from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries participated along with local expatriate teams at the Salmiya Baladiya Stadium.  This year, Real Betalbatim has joined as a member club of the Kuwait Indian Football Federation (KIFF) and are participating in the regular football tournaments.  Mickey Pacheco will be accompanied by Real Betalbatim FC's CEO Robino Fernandes, ex-Kuwait "Incredible XI" football team member, and can be contacted at 66060985.

 

BOOT OUT PARRIKAR.

Time to boot-out Parrikar

Parrikar’s outbursts on mining in Goa have come too late as if he has suddenly woken up from the grave. He has sat in the authority of PAC for such a long time while the loot and plunder of iron ore continued in every sphere. Such a long delay in bringing out the truth only reflects his failure to prevent the loot of Goa’s rich reserves. After disastrously nose diving in popularity on MoI- English issue, Parrikar’s present political stunts and deliberations are apparently best ways to take advantage of the public sentiments to ride on the storm engulfing the illegal mining issue. Goans don’t need his statements and press conferences to enlighten them. The electorate is more wise and sensible now. They are aware that the commuanal snakes have to be booted-out of the arena. The entire local, national and international print and electronic media which has given special coverage to all the illegalities that have plagued Goa, is more powerful and has done its part more than Parrikar. He should realise that Goans will not be fooled this time and are more sensible and can see beyond the scenes of this opportunist political tamasha of Congress, BJP and the Axis of Evil. Nobody wants to listen to him. His comments are viewed as cheap and disgraceful and too late to do any good.

Parrikar has failed to take on the powerful oligarchy, the traders, middle-men, strong industrialists and mining barons from the mining statistics available. His focus is more on Congress to polarise the gullible Goan voters to give the CM-in-waiting another opportunity which no doubt will be again be a set of another manipulations spiced with communalism or temporary minority appeasements. Parrikar should first clarify the issue of donations from mining companies to his party exposed by Goa Chronicle and come out clean. Now that the Congress ship is sinking due to their wrongdoings and if Digambar Kamat decides to re-enter BJP’s lotus, Goans have no doubt that Parrikar will welcome him with open arms for yet another stint in the greed for power. Parrikar’s rule gave lucrative career bases to people like Mickky and Monsarette which is now very difficult to dismantle. In the eyes of the Goan electorate, Parrikar has lost the moral legitimacy to get elected for another term. He is no longer needed anymore. It is time that not only Parrikar but even the Congress and the other constituents of the Axis of Evil namely MGP and UGDP to be booted out from the coming elections. Goans will see a new hope and new era in good honest candidates.

Rupert Coutinho
UAE

CHURCHIL'S SUFFERING ....

Churchill Continues To Suffer From Foot In The Mouth Syndrome

A few years ago, when Canacona saw its worst flooding due to a cloud burst, our enlightened and intelligent PWD, Science and Technology Minister blamed a mini tsunami in the Indian ocean for the downpour at that time, for which he should have been awarded a Phd. If that was not enough, now with his wide vision spectrum, he has come to the conclusion that mangroves are the cause of the deterioration of the life line of south Goa, the River Sal.

It’s no doubt Churchill has often contributed some conciliating one liners over the years, be it “on the Fatorda ground” or “the mini tsunami” he keeps Goans laughing and amused and that’s as far as it goes, but the abject fact that we are left with only remorse and guilt to drown ourselves in, that we Goans who call ourselves literate and educated have only clowns and buffoons to show for our intelligence and literacy, isn’t that a pity ?

Over the years I have been constantly reading about the deterioration of River Sal in the Goan media, one of the main river of South Goa, I too had contributed to the print media on a couple of occasions, but unfortunately it has had no effect on our intelligent and enlightened politicians, as sewerage and garbage in all forms, plastic, construction debris, food and from dead wood to dead animals, has led to the heavy silting of our beloved River Sal, which has further given rise to mangroves.

Fortunately or unfortunately our enlightened and intelligent PWD, Science and Technology Minister flies by in his red light cars day in and day out but so far failed miserably to take care of this river which flows around and through his own backyard and now after 20 years in Goan politics when this river is turned into a marsh land with mangroves evolving around it’s periphery, he has suddenly come to the conclusion that the reason for the rapid deterioration of this great river are the mangroves, isn’t that another bolt of thunder and lightening coming out of the mouth of our Minister ?

Some time back I had the misfortune of visiting the site of one abandoned bridge in Navelim along the river Sal, which was in a pathetic state, with construction debris blocking half of the river on either side and iron rods were visible all along the banks with heaps of garbage, now I wonder which mangroves were responsible for that ?

Building and abandoning bridges is not enough, the river beds and the river banks should be protected and maintained so that the river itself and the water life is not affected or destroyed. This is the responsibility of our Authorities but we all know that our politicians are experts in the equation of convenience of passing the buck around and it is indeed become an incompetent and unimaginative political habit to blame everything and everyone else and even the mangroves for their own lack of commitment and competence, that is why I am forced to say, that when we sell our votes for peanuts we invite monkeys to govern us !

Freddy Agnelo Fernandes.

GOAN MINING "CHORS" EXPOSED.

When Karnataka's Lokayukta Mr. Santosh Hegde submitted his report on corruption and illegal mining Congress party at the center made sure that BJP CM B S Yedurappa was sacked and the all powerfull Reddy brothers are sent to jail. What will the local ruling congress party and the center in Goa do now. The Public Accounts Committee of Goa has given its indictment and very shortly Justice Shah of the Shah Commission will give his ruling. Goa's politicians are now making headlines on national televisions for shameful acts. Read below the latest on NDTV.

Goa's Public Accounts Committee indicts ministers for illegal mining in the state
NDTV Correspondent, Updated: September 25, 2011 19:28 IST

Panaji: After Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh another mining scam is all set to rock Goa.

The Public Accounts Committee of Goa headed by Goa's opposition leader Manohar Parrikar has indicted Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamat in his report.

Says Parrikar ''Iron ore was exported evading royalty to the state government. The Public Accounts Committe is probing to see if these were extracted from illegal mines. We are also probing to see if they were extracted without environmental clearances

Mr Parrikar says that in the last five years iron ore worth about Rs. 3,500 crore has been exported without paying any royalty to the state government.

The report will be tabled on October 5, the first day of the legislative assembly session. It also indicts other ministers like Goa's Health Minister Vishwajit Rane and Urban Development Minister Joaquim Alemao.

The report also indicts the Goa Home Minister Ravi Naik's son Roy Naik and the Goa Congress president Subhash Shirodkar

Forwarded by: Xavier Furtado,
AVC - Kuwait.

ILLEGALITIES AND NOT IRREGULARITIES MR. SHIRODKAR.

Illegalities And Not Irregularities Mr. Shirodkar

We had heard that there were no drugs, no corruption and no illegal mining in Goa, for all that matters it’s been proved that there are drugs in Goa, along with corruption and illegal mining, now out comes Mr. Subhsah Shirodkar and goes a little further, categorically stating that none of the Congress members, nor the Government of Goa is involved in illegal mining but how is it that illegal mining still flourishes in Goa, Mr Shirodkar ? Is it not the Congress that is the government in Goa or are we in Karnataka ? If Mr. Subhash Shirodkar is right, which is highly unlikely, but even then, is it not the duty of the ruling government to stop illegal mining and illegal sale of ore and take action against those involved in it ? So why has the Congress failed to do what they should have been doing in the first place ? Mr. Shirodkar should certainly put money where his mouth is !

It is proved beyond doubt that there is large scale illegal mining in Goa and a huge amount of unaccounted ore has been exported, costing the Goan treasury thousands of crores, as has been identified and acknowledged by Justice Shah, so, is it not the responsibility of the Government, to see that the exchequer is not robbed of it’s valuable resources ? If Congress, the ruling dispensation in Goa is not able to safe guard our valuable resources, what right does it have to stay in power ? If the ruling Government cannot protect and safeguard what belongs to all Goans they should resign, because we Goans have been deprived of the benefits that we were due for, only because of the Congress inefficiency and greed.

Chief Minister Digambar Kamat has been the minister for mines for around a decade, should he not be held responsible for the loot of our precious resources ? There is absolutely no doubt that all most all Congress as well as the other MLA’s are involved in illegal mining one way or the other but have covered their tracks well but truth cannot be kept hidden forever. One has already seen the back of the cage because of illegal mining and the rest will sooner or later be in a similar position. If not for personally being involved, which is highly unlikely, they should be locked in the cage for negligence that has cost the exchequer huge sums of money.

Mining in Goa is a multimillion dollars industry, a legacy of the Portuguese. God or Nature, as one believes, was generous enough to Goans to fill it’s underbelly with rich ore, for the sustenance of it’s inhabitants. Unfortunately a few elite have hijacked this multimillion dollar industry and gone on rampage for their own personal financial enhancement, leaving the inhabitants in a limbo and in dire state, as our environment and our ecology is devastated by large scale and illegal mining. Agriculture as well as both human and animal live has been affected by the receding water tables and high levels of pollutions causing severe health problems, which has now led to dissent and opposition everywhere in Goa.

Studies have shown that if atrocities against our environment and ecology are not stopped and remedial steps not taken now, we are bound to pay a very heavy price, in the very near future. It is indeed difficult to understand the apathy of our government towards our environment and our ecology and the failure to comprehend the dangers inherent in excessive mining, as we have already experienced, though mild, the wroth of nature on more than one occasion. We should not be playing with nature, a slight imbalance could cause havoc with life and property, nature, should not be taken for granted just because we are yet to see the full force of the fury of nature, it is certainly better to be safe than sorry and this fear certainly not fictional.

Mr. Shriodkar tries to highlight the differences between illegalities and irregularities which is indeed amusing, should irregularities be condoned or forgiven ? Mr. Shirodkar’s argument clearly exposes his malafide intent, to twist facts and words to benefit himself and his fellow party men. Mining without a NOC from the environmental agency or any other required bodies is an irregularity or an illegality ? There are documents that are a prerequisite before starting a mine and lack of any of these documents make the mine illegal and for the kind information of Mr. Shirodkar there is certainly a very vast difference between irregularities and illegalities and mining without any of these prerequisite documents is an illegality and not an irregularity. I am sure most of Mr. Shidorkar’s political colleagues will be confused with the difference between irregularities and illegalities but certainly not us.

Can Mr. Subhash Shirodkar justify more than 400 mines in a small state like Goa ? No doubt mining contributes a major chunk to the Goan coffers but there in no doubt that what actually comes to the State’s coffers in just peanuts compared to what goes in to the pockets of those involved in mining ? So why should a few benefit while the people at large and the land suffers ? It is also true that no amount of money can justify nor compensate the destruction of our environment and our ecology because our very own survival depends or rather the survival of humanity depends very much on the survival of our environment and our ecology. The question now is, does Mr. Subhash Shirodkar know this fact and wise enough to accept it ? Only time will tell !

Freddy Agnelo Fernandes.

GOA MINING SCAM.

Politics News Updated Sep 25, 2011 at 08:29am IST
Goa mining scam lands state Govt in trouble
CNN-IBN.

Panaji: After Bellary, now it is Goa where Rs 8000-crore iron-ore mining scam has landed the state government in trouble.

Environmentalists and the Opposition have alleged that Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, also in-charge of the state mining ministry, colluded with the illegal mining firms.
They said that Kamat turned a blind eye to virtual iron ore loot in the state running into a whopping Rs 8,000 crore.

"It is exactly similar to Bellary's situation. The Chief Minster is involved as he is the minister of mines also for last 11 years. The friends of the CM are involved because it is only happening on friendship bases and the forest department is involved, department of mines is involved," said Claud Alvares, an activist.

Here are some of the glaring violations:

- Environmental clearance limit for the Vedanta-owned Sesa Goa Ltd's three mines was two lakh tonnes annually. However, in 2006, it extracted 8 lakh tonnes.

Similarly, VM Salgaocar & Brothers Pvt Ltd was permitted to extract 16.92 lakh tonnes from its four mines. But since 2006, the company extracted almost 27 lakh tonnes.
- Environmental clearance limit for VM Salgaocar & Brothers Pvt Ltd's four mines was 16.92 lakh tonnes annually, but since 2006, it extracted 26.92 lakh tonnes.

Another company, VS Dempo, had permission to extract 11 lakh tonnes from its three mines, but it extracted over 20 lakh tonnes in 2008.

The list goes on as 48 of the 92 mining companies have flouted norms and over 90 lakh tonnes worth several hundred crore has been illegally mined in the last four years alone.
"The situation in Goa is not as bad as Karnataka and Andhra," said Goa Congress chief Subhash Shirodkar.

In fact, the Goa Port, which is the country's largest exporter port of iron ore, alerted the government of illegal export of at least five million tonnes from Panaji.
The Mineral Ore Exporters Association also claimed that most of the exporters were not even registered, but the government did nothing.

With the stink of the multi-thousand crore scam spreading fast and a scathing Public Accounts Committee report likely to be tabled in the Goa Assembly in early October, the state Chief Minister finds himself on a minefield of allegations, quite literally.

Forwarded by: Xavier Furtado,
AVC - Kuwait.

MARCOS VAS TO SING A SPECIAL SOLO ON ROSARY FERNS.

Seen in the picture above is Rosary Ferns who suddenly died on 12th January this year while on vacation in Goa.

On coming Friday during the "Mother's Day" Tiatro in Kuwait, Marcos Vas the well known singer coming all the way from Goa to participate in this Tiatro will sing a specially composed solo on the late Rosary Ferns. This information was disclosed to goa-kranti by the organiser of this Tiatro.

ADV. AIRES RODRIGUES' 48 HOURS ULTIMATUM TO ADVOCATE AMIT DESAI.

ADVOCATE AMIT DESAI GIVEN 48 HOURS TO REFUND THE FIVE LAKHS TO THE GOAGOVERNMENT


Adv. Aires Rodrigues has today given Mumbai Senior Advocate Amit Desaia deadline of 48 hours to refund to the Goa Government the Rs five lakhs he had fraudulently billed for the four hearings he neverappeared for before the Bombay High Court at Goa.

Adv. Rodrigues has stated that he would be compelled to file an F.I.Rof cheating against Adv. Amit Desai and Panaji based Adv.Ashwin Bhobe. The Goa Police has already issued a notice to Adv. Amit Desai directing him to furnish High Court appearance certificates for thosefour hearings which he was paid a total of Rs five lakhs.


On the advice of Advocate General Subodh Kantak the Goa Government had engaged Adv. Amit Desai at a fee of Rs 1, 25, 000 per hearing to appear for the State in the Ryan Fernandes death sentence confirmation case. The government also appointed Adv Ashwin Bhobe to assist Adv.Amit Desai at a fee of Rs 5000 per hearing.

Adv. Rodrigues has stated that Adv. Amit Desai’s raising the bills was a clear act of cheating, while Adv. Ashwin Bhobe conspired and corroborated in the act by submitting those bills to the governmentknowing that the bills were falsely raised.

Adv. Rodrigues has stated that the bills of Advocate Amit Desai were submitted to the Goa Government by Advocate Ashwin Bhobe who was fully aware that Adv. Amit Desai had not appeared for those four hearingsand was fraudulently claiming Rs five lakhs.

Adv. Rodrigues has stated that Adv. Ashwin Bhobe had also pursued with the authorities to expeditiously clear out of turn Adv. Amit Desai’sbills while bypassing the laid down procedures.

Adv. Rodrigues has stated that this Amit Desai Saga calls for immediate action by the Law department into the manner in which advocates are currently being appointed by the Government as Special Counsels, the fees being agreed to be paidand their bills processed.

Alleging that the current system lacks any transparency with the coterie of lawyers around Advocate General Mr. Subodh Kantak just recklessly bleeding the State exchequer, Adv. Rodrigues has stated that the questionable role of Mr. Subodh Kantak in the entire Amit Desai episode has left many questions unanswered.


Adv. Rodrigues has further alleged that a look at the functioning of the Advocate General’s office and the government advocates it reveals that a privileged section of one particular community with the blessings and patronage of Advocate General Mr. Subodh Kantak had been reaping huge illegal benefits bringing the entire judicial system todisrepute.

TRUTHFUL AND UNTRUTHFUL RELIGIOUS LEADERS.

Bertrand Russell was a great philosopher of this planet. He was a professor at Oxford in UK. During the First World War he was arrested and detained by the British government for being conscientious when he from the class where he was teaching told the students not to support British government in its war. According to Prof. Russell this war was of no use, it was a useless war British government is fighting and you should not support the British government in this war.

Then came the Second World War and again the same Prof. Bertrand Russell in the same university and the same class from where earlier he told his students to stop coming to college, now during the Second World War instead told the students to join the British government in this war in fighting against the Nazis of Hitler. He further said “this monster Hitler is all out to destroy the human civilisation. We by all means have to stop him. Hence, you all join together and help the British government to fight against Germany”.

From the above we see two divergent views expressed by the same man according to his firm upright and truthful principles. Both his views were right according to the voice of his conscience and belief. And because he followed the voice of his conscience strictly and correctly with religious zeal he even accepted arrest but never altered his principle and belief in justice to please his government’s wrong act.

During the invasion time of Kuwait, in the month of September 1990, Saddam Hussein made the Chaldean Christian Bishop to declare from Iraqi TV his support for the illegal invasion of Kuwait. By acceding to the wishes of Saddam Hussein, Chaldean Bishop of Iraq committed a big mistake by justifying the wrong deed of Iraq and thereby he committed a sin against Christianity which does not approve of wrong doing. And as a leader of Christians he should be more faithful to the Christian doctrine of justice than that of Saddam Hussein’s injustice. As a leader of Christian community in Iraq he should have been more faithful to God than to Saddam Hussein even to the extent of going to the prison if required like Bertrand Russell.

The Bishop of Germany during the Second World War declared his support to Hitler while the Bishop of England opposed Hitler and his war on Europe. It is really ironical and funny to see Christian leaders are becoming cowards in front of their State leaders who by supporting injustice go against the Christian doctrine. A true Christian leader will remain faithful to the doctrine of his Heavenly father rather than that of the State leader when there is a clash of interest. A true Christian leader will be bold enough to face even the persecution of his State leader when the matter of fight comes for declaring truth which is the hallmark of Christianity.

On the day of the invasion of Kuwait on 2nd August 1990, early in the morning at about 6.00 I was caught by the Iraqi soldiers at gun point and while they were leading me to the Open Air Prison opposite to Kuwait City Sheraton Hotel, somehow I managed to escape from their clutches. Then next to the Church I entered into the Flat of one Goan family to tell them to take their females and flee from this area because Iraqi invading soldiers will start raping as it happened in Goa in 1961 December when my beloved Goa was invaded by Indian army men. Immediately after me, two Iraqi soldiers entered that Goan Flat and asked all the males from that Flat to leave except females one of them was a young school going girl. Knowing the motive of these ugly and dirty Iraqi soldiers, I refused to leave the Flat holding the young girl’s hand tightly. Noticing my refusal to leave, one Iraqi soldier pointed his gun to me threatening “either leave or I will shoot you”. Then he put the barrel of his gun on my neck and pushed me out of the Flat like a goat.

Immediately I came home and called one of the priests in the Church pleading with him to come out and try to save the girl from the clutches of the Iraqi soldier, the girl was doing lot of good work in the Church including Choir singing. As a priest I told him, Father you will have better chance to save that Catholic girl. But that priest like a coward refrained from doing anything by telling me “just pray and pray”. Wasn’t it the duty of the above priest to be bold enough to come out of the Church and try to save that girl? As a religious leader he should have been ready to risk even his life in the name of God. But I think this priest became coward. Such cowards do not deserve priesthood. Priesthood is the challenge to the brutes and sinful like Iraqi invaders who raped females even in the vicinity of the Kuwait City Church.

Jesus knew that men cannot produce good fruit by its own nor can do anything good so He said His words are recorded in the Gospel of John 15: 4 & 5 by this we can understand that if a person abides in Jesus then he is with Jesus and His character is within a person who abides in Jesus. If a person seeks for the things which are of this world rather than seeking those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God (COLOSSIANS 3: 1). A person should set his affection on things above, not on the earth (COLOSSIANS 3: 2). If a priest is dead for this world (if he truly abides in Jesus) then his life is hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3: 3).

When priest’s life is hidden in Christ then he acts also like Jesus, one of the characters of Jesus is He is a Good Shepherd for He said in John 15: 13. Jesus said in John 10: 14 that I am a good shepherd. He said in John 10: 11 I am a good shepherd; the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.


Before the invasion of Goa by the mighty Bharati Military in December 1961, from Portugal its dictator Salazar sent a message to his Governador in Goa to destroy Goa and turn it into ashes before Indian Military entered Goa. Accordingly at some places and locations Bombs were kept, some detonated while others kept undetonated. Then immediately the Portuguese Patriarch of Goa in Goa intervened and forcefully advised the Goa Governador not to carry on with the advice of Salazar because it is a bad advice. Patriarch as a top religious leader of Goa followed the advice of Heavenly Father and agreed to make peaceful end of Portuguese Government in Goa. For this the Governador of Goa had to face the punishment from Salazar when he returned to Portugal.

While concluding I must say that our religious leaders must be ready to speak out the truth fearlessly because the greatness of our religion lies in the truth, straight forward truth as expressed by Prof. Russell, by British Bishop and by the Portuguese Patriarch of Goa. Now a day we see our religious leaders are become “Chamchas” of their governments and rulers for this reason we see rampant injustice prevailing in our midst. Lip service to religion is become the mode of propagating of the religion.

A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.

VICTORY FOR ADV. AIRES RODRIGUES' CAMPAIGN.

GOA POLICE ISSUE NOTICE TO MUMBAI SENIOR LAWYER AMIT DESAI.

The Goa Police have issued a notice calling upon Mumbai SeniorAdvocate Amit Desai to furnish appearance certificates issued by theBombay High Court at Goa for the four hearings he had claimed to haveappeared and billed the Goa Government Rs five lakhs.

Acting on a complaint filed by Adv. Aires Rodrigues, the North GoaSuperintendent of Police Mr. Arvind Gawas has directed Adv. Amit Desaito immediately furnish the appearance certificates for the fourhearings he had claimed to have appeared for the State of Goa beforethe High Court at Goa in the confirmation of death sentence case ofMr.

Ryan Fernandes the main accused in the 2005 Vasco based Dr.Shrikant Verenkar murder case. Adv. Rodrigues in his complaint to the police has alleged that the GoaGovernment was billed Rupees five lakhs by Senior Advocate Mr. AmitDesai for four hearings in the High Court he never appeared.

Adv. Rodrigues has stated that Advocate Amit Desai billed the GoaGovernment Rs 3, 75,000 for appearing before the Bombay High Court atGoa on 26th, 27th and 28th November 2008 but that the Court records donot show his appearance. Adv. Rodrigues has further stated that Adv.Amit Desai billed the Government for another Rs 1, 25,000 for anappearance on 13th Jan 2009 while the court records reveal that therewas no hearing of the case on that day.

Surprisingly the Goa Government paid Adv. Amit Desai the five lakhswithout requiring him to produce appearance certificates issued by theHigh Court as is mandatory before any government advocate is paid.

Documents obtained by Adv. Aires Rodrigues under the RTI Act from theHome Department has revealed that Advocate General Subodh Kantak hadby a note on 7th October 2008 proposed that Adv. Amit Desai be engagedat a fee of Rs 1, 25, 000 per hearing to appear for the State in thedeath sentence confirmation case.

Adv. Amit Desai was also allowed executive class airfare from Mumbaiand stay at a five star hotel in Panaji. The Goa government alsoappointed a Panaji lawyer Mr. Ashwin Bhobe to assist Adv. Amit Desaiwith an appearance charge of Rs 5000 per hearing. Interestingly thefile notings show that on 11th July 2007 Advocate General SubodhKantak himself had agreed that Public Prosecutor Mrs. T. S. Sardinhashould represent the State in the case. The file notings also showthat then High Court Public Prosecutor Mrs. Winnie Coutinho had alsodeclined to appear in the matter as the accused Mr. Ryan Fernandes wasknown to her.

The information furnished to Adv. Aires Rodrigues further reveals thatthe Goa Government has already spent a whopping Rs 11, 29, 266 on Adv.Amit Desai. Of the total expenditure incurred Rs 10 lakhs was towardsAdv. Amit Desai’s court appearance charges while Rs 74,636 towards hishotel accommodation and Rs 54, 630 towards airfare expenses. Theexpenditure of Rs 11, 29, 266 incurred is from October 2008 toFebruary 2009 as the subsequent bills to date from Adv. Amit Desai arestill being processed.

The documents furnished by the Goa Police also show that Adv. AmitDesai held a two and half hour conference at Mumbai on 22nd November2008 which was attended by Public Prosecutor Mrs. T.S. Sardinha, Adv.Ashwin Bhobe and Deputy Superintendent of Police Mr. Mahesh Gaonkarwho was the Investigating Officer of the case. Adv. Amit Desai thensent the Goa Government a bill of Rs 62,500 for that Mumbai Conferenceat the rate of Rs 25,000 per hour. The government however declined topay that bill stating that he was not entitled to bill for theconference held.

It is however not known as to why Advocate General Mr. Subodh Kantakhad not himself appeared for the State in the confirmation case. It isalso not known as to why the State Government agreed to engage alawyer from Mumbai incurring such heavy expenditure though there areso many lawyers practicing criminal law in Goa. The records also donot show that the Government had made any efforts to engage theservices of any lawyer locally. A perusal of the orders recording theproceedings of the case show that Adv. Amit Desai had on least threeoccasions traveled all the way from Mumbai only to seek an adjournmentof the case while burdening the State exchequer by another Rs 1,25,000plus travel and accommodation for each of those trips.

Records of the case also reveal that since the confirmation case wasfiled in 2007 there have been already 28 hearings with the 29th onescheduled on 10th October 2011. Ironically the records reveal thatAdv. Amit Desai on 25th July this year submitted before the High Courtthat the Government was not pressing for the confirmation of the deathsentence. It is wondered as to why Adv. Ashwin Bhobe the localadvocate could not have informed this to the court instead of havingAdv. Amit Desai to come from Mumbai only to make this submission.Interestingly the Law department and the Home department have nowhowever informed Adv. Aires Rodrigues that the Goa Government has nottaken a decision not to press for the death sentence.

It may be recalled that South Goa Sessions Judge on June 15, 2007 hadawarded the death penalty to Ryan Fernandes, the main accused, andsentenced three other co-accused Mr. Francis D'Sa, Mr. Rajendra Singhand Mr. Sachin Parab to life imprisonment in the sensational murdercase of Dr Shrikant Verekar. The 55-year-old doctor from Vasco wasmurdered on Monday 17th Jan 2005 after being abducted. The body of theslain doctor was found seven hours later at Cansaulim. A deathsentence awarded cannot be executed unless it is confirmed by the HighCourt. The confirmation of the death sentence case filed in 2007 andseems to be taking longer than the investigation and trial of the caseitself.

Meanwhile, Adv. Aires Rodrigues has today stated that if Adv. AmitDesai does not immediately refund to the State exchequer the Rs fivelakhs he had fraudulently billed the Goa Government that he would becompelled to register an F.I.R of cheating against Adv. Amit Desai.

AGNELO GOMES ON VERONICA'S ARTICLE.

Goans don't have to defeat Congress nor BJP. Goan voters are no better than the corrupt Congress nor the BJP. They all are together.

Only Niz Goenkars if they come together then they should defeat the annexation of Goa by the Revolution. Similar to Egypt, Lybian, Palestian Style. Then defeat the corrupt Goans.

After the Revolt prove to the United Nations that corrupt Democracy introduced by India is unaccountable and fake. It's the Patriotic Goans are against corrupt Goans and corrupt Clergy men.

Viva Goa Revolution.

Agnelo Gomes
The Combakar

In a message dated 9/20/2011 11:04:59 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, averonicaf806@hotmail.com writes:

G O A

--No plans in this revolution are written for retreat--
September 20, 2011
FOR MINORITIES SECURITY, DEFEAT BJP.

FOR MINORITIES SECURITY, DEFEAT BJP.

The irrelevant and funny fast of Narendra Modi and his elevation in BJP rank making him the top contender for premiership of India finally brightened the prospects of Congress. Because of the all round corruption by Congressmen and also because of Anna Hazare’s fast the rating of Congress came to an ebb. However, because of Narendra Modi’s projection as topmost leader of BJP, Congress will cash on Modi’s faults to gain electoral leverage in the coming election to downgrade BJP and win the next election. People in India in greater number will surely oppose Modi and while opposing Modi voters will surely oppose BJP and on this pretext voters will vote for Congress because at least as seen externally Congress is more secular but definitely not BJP. According to my dictionary, BJP means Anti-Minorities and its anti-minorities impact thru its hatred for Muslims was clearly and openly noticed in the demolition of Babri Masjid. And in places like Goa if BJP wins the election it may by citing historical evidences demolish many Churches including that of my village Candolim.

Coming to Goa, now there are moves initiated by hungry for power Goan Christians to support BJP in the coming election. They cite an example of Parrikar as a good administrator but they fail to accept the fact that Parrikar is the member of BJP which controls the entire working of Parrikar and all other BJP members in favour of BJP principle of “hatred towards minorities”. When Parrikar was ruling Goa under BJP banner we saw how minorities in Goa were harassed even to the extent of hurting the religious sentiments of the Christians when their religious holidays were withdrawn. During that particular period in Goa Christians were given step-motherly treatment in the government jobs while those coming from BJP cadre were given preferential treatment.

In Goa, BJP should be treated as anti-Christian party and those Christians supporting this party and contesting election on this party symbol should be treated as enemies of Christians. Recently one Christian asked me to support him in his election campaign on BJP ticket. I asked him "what guarantee you will give BJP will not act against Christians?" He said "don’t worry, nothing of that sort will take place". I said "when BJP introduced anti-Christian decisions in Goa the Christian leaders in BJP namely Mathanay Saldanha and D’Souza from Mapusa remained like cockroaches allowing BJP to destroy Christians and Christianity in Goa". Then I asked him "what guarantee is there you will not support BJP’s anti-Christian activities by being inside the BJP Umbrella?" Still he said "not to worry, rely on me to do justice". I said "a man like Mathanay Saldanha became slave of BJP because of power and money, what are you my friend?" "And all those Christians who contest the election on BJP tickets are hungry for power and money. I have no trust in your uprightness, I told him finally because you are traitors and all Christians who support BJP are traitors".

The problem in Goa is that we don’t have a strong leader to lead and direct minorities. Mathanay has failed us by hiding under the petticoat of BJP for the financial gains. Christians from Cortalim, Cansaulim and Mapusa should not allow their votes to Saldanha and Desouza respectively. Both proved to be traitors by supporting BJP blindly. They had no marbles in their Pants to oppose BJP’s anti-Christian decisions. They are Judases of Goa and also all those Christians who support BJP in the coming election are to be considered as Judases. Christianity in Goa is in danger under BJP and if it comes to power in Goa the life and wellbeing of Christians in Goa will be in danger. Under BJP rule in Goa, Christians’ lives and security will be in danger. Under BJP Christians will be treated as Jews in Germany under Hitler’s Nazism.

BJP is number one communal; at all India level it has hatred for Muslims as if Indian Muslims are anti-Indian. Indian Muslims are as pro-Indian as any other pro-India Indian. With the establishment of separate homeland for Muslims from India, Pakistan kept its doors opened for all Indian Muslims to come there and settle in Pakistan but all the patriotic Muslims from India remained in India only proving their patriotism to India and not to Pakistan. No doubt some Muslims in India are bad that does not mean all other Muslims in India are also bad. Just because Hindu Brahmin (Of Horizontal cadre) Godse killed father of the nation Mahatma Ghandhi that does not mean all Hindus are bad.

It is a hard fact that during the colonial era minorities in India were very well treated and protected by the law makers and law enforcers but under the liberated India minorities are living in fear, they are afraid of their lives and their identity as their status as minorities invites hatred and dislike for them from the communal parties like BJP, Shiv Sena and other such Senas. Our elders fought for freedom to gain equality in all respects for all but in independent India minorities face more inequality and under BJP it is going to be worst.

In Goa those Christians contesting the coming election should be asked publicly and openly during their electioneering how they will oppose BJP’s anti- Christian activities and anti-minorities approaches by their being in BJP. According to the reports coming from Goa some heavyweight Saxttikars are going to collaborate with BJP to support BJP to form new government once they get elected. In this situation the Saxttikar voters should be very vigilant not to allow this to happen. The voters electing candidates contesting the coming election on non-BJP tickets should be made openly and publicly to declare their total allegiance to the their own parties only without joining any other party, not even lending support to BJP from outside. Heavy pressure should be brought on Churchill Alemao even by making him PUBLICLY swear upon Vailankani Saiinn that he will neither join BJP nor support BJP in any manner. \and if he is a real Churchill Alemao he will do this.

Saxttikar my brothers and sisters, because of Goa you have done lot of sacrifices. Now it is going to be your turn again to save Goa by squeezing the marbles of all the “Rostad” politicians who are going to support BJP once they are elected. Don’t allow these Rostad politicians to say “Voters boslet Konkear”, once they are elected. This is the right time to teach a very good lesson to all the defection oriented politicians. They have fooled the Voters and Goans enough. We should put an end to their cheating now once and for all. By getting our votes they are cheating us only. This should be stopped once and for all for the good of Goa and Goans.

A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
.

"MOTHER'S DAY" TIATRO IN KUWAIT ON 30.09.11.

DRAW FOR THE 36TH EDITION OF UG TROPHY.

U.G.C. 36th Annual Draw.

U.G.C is pleased to welcome all teams for our 36th annual draw which will be held on 23rd September 2011 at 9:30am on Al-Nassr Stadium, Abbasiya during the C.R.C tournament.

All K.I.F.F affiliated clubs are kindly requested to send their representatives to witness the draw.

Thanking you in advance for your usual co-operation.

UNITED GOANS CENTER,


KUWAIT.

ADV. AMIT DESAI CHEATS GOA GOVERNMENT.

MUMBAI SENIOR ADVOCATE AMIT DESAI ACCUSED OF CHEATING GOA GOVT BY FIVE LAKHS.

The Goa Government was billed Rupees five lakhs by a Senior Advocatefrom Mumbai Mr. Amit Desai for four hearings in the High Court henever attended. This has been revealed in the information furnished bythe Goa Police to Adv. Aires Rodrigues under the Right to InformationAct.

Senior Advocate Amit Desai billed the Goa Government Rs 3, 75,000 forappearing before the Bombay High Court at Goa on 26th, 27th and 28thNovember 2008 but the Court records do not show his appearance. Healso billed the Government for another Rs 1, 25,000 for an appearanceon 13th Jan 2009 while the records show that there was no hearing ofthe case on that day. Interestingly the Goa Government paid Adv. AmitDesai the amount without requiring him to produce an appearancecertificate issued by the High Court as is mandatory before anygovernment advocate is paid.

Documents also obtained by Adv. Aires Rodrigues under the RTI Act fromthe Home Department reveals that Advocate General of Goa Subodh Kantakhad by a note on 7th October 2008 proposed that Adv. Amit Desai beengaged at a fee of Rs 1, 25, 000 per hearing to appear for the Statebefore the High Court in the confirmation of death sentence case ofMr. Ryan Fernandes the main accused in the 2005 Vasco based Dr.Shrikant Verenkar murder case.

Adv. Amit Desai was also allowed executive class airfare from Mumbaiand stay at a five star hotel in Panaji. The Goa government alsoappointed a Panaji lawyer Mr. Ashwin Bhobe to assist Adv. Amit Desaiwith an appearance charge of Rs 5000 per hearing. Interestingly thefile notings show that on 11th July 2007 Advocate General SubodhKantak himself had agreed that Public Prosecutor Mrs. T. S. Sardinhashould represent the State in the case. The file notings also showthat then High Court Public Prosecutor Mrs. Winnie Coutinho had alsodeclined to appear in the matter as the accused Mr. Ryan Fernandes wasknown to her.

The information furnished to Adv. Aires Rodrigues further reveals thatthe Goa Government has spent a whopping Rs 11, 29, 266 on Adv. AmitDesai. Of the total expenditure incurred Rs 10 lakhs was towards Adv.Amit Desai’s court appearance charges while Rs 74,636 towards hishotel accommodation and Rs 54, 630 towards airfare expenses. Theexpenditure of Rs 11, 29, 266 incurred is from October 2008 toFebruary 2009 as the subsequent bills to date from Adv. Amit Desai arestill being processed.

The documents furnished by the Goa Police also show that Adv. AmitDesai held a two and half hour conference at Mumbai on 22nd November2008 which was attended by Public Prosecutor Mrs. T.S. Sardinha, Adv.Ashwin Bhobe and Deputy Superintendent of Police Mr. Mahesh Gaonkarwho was the Investigating Officer of the case. Adv. Amit Desai thensent the Goa Government a bill of Rs 62,500 for that Mumbai Conferenceat the rate of Rs 25,000 per hour. The government however declined topay that bill stating that he was not entitled to bill for theconference held.

It is however not known as to why Advocate General Mr. Subodh Kantakhad not himself appeared for the State in the confirmation case. It isalso not known as to why the State Government agreed to engage alawyer from Mumbai incurring such heavy expenditure though there areso many lawyers practicing criminal law in Goa. The records also donot show that the Government had made any efforts to engage theservices of any lawyer locally. A perusal of the orders recording theproceedings of the case show that Adv. Amit Desai had on least threeoccasions traveled all the way from Mumbai only to seek an adjournmentof the case while burdening the State exchequer by another Rs 1,25,000plus travel and accommodation for each of his trips.

Records of the case also reveal that since the confirmation case wasfiled in 2007 there have been already 28 hearings with the 29th onescheduled on 10th October 2011. Ironically the records reveal thatAdv. Amit Desai on 25th July this year submitted before the High Courtthat the Government was not pressing for the confirmation of the deathsentence. It is wondered as to why Adv. Ashwin Bhobe the localadvocate could not have informed this to the court instead of havingAdv. Amit Desai to come from Mumbai only to make this submission.Interestingly the Law department and the Home department have nowhowever informed Adv. Aires Rodrigues that the Goa Government has nottaken a decision not to press for the death sentence.

It may be recalled that South Goa Sessions Judge on June 15, 2007 hadawarded the death penalty to Ryan Fernandes, the main accused, andsentenced three other co-accused Mr. Francis D'Sa, Mr. Rajendra Singhand Mr. Sachin Parab to life imprisonment in the sensational murdercase of Dr Shrikant Verekar. The 55-year-old doctor from Vasco wasmurdered on Monday 17th Jan 2005 after being abducted. The body of theslain doctor was found seven hours later at Cansaulim.

A death penalty awarded cannot be executed unless it is confirmed bythe High Court. The confirmation of the death sentence seems to betaking longer than the investigation and trial of the case itself. Theconfirmation case from 2007 has been adjourned time and again inspiteof the court repeatedly making it very clear that no furtheradjournments would be granted.

Interestingly the confirmation case is pending since 2007 despite theSupreme Court ruling that the confirmation cases have to be heard anddisposed very expeditiously. This is the only confirmation casepending before the Bombay High Court at Goa. The last time aconfirmation case was filed before the Bombay High Court at Goa was in2005 against Soiru Gaonkar of Cuncolim which was disposed within ayear in 2006.

Meanwhile, Adv. Aires Rodrigues has today demanded a Vigilance probeinto all the bills submitted by Adv. Amit Desai and Advocate GeneralSubodh Kantak’s questionable role in the whole case.

Aires Rodrigues,
Ribandar, Goa.

DOES GANDHIGIRI, ANNAGIRI INSPIRE DADAGIRI AND GOONDAGIRI?

By Nisser Dias.


15th Sept 2011



In recent times or to be more specific since April Indians (minus politicians) of all hues came together as one to support 74 year old Anna Hazare in his fight against corruption or rather to make elected representatives accountable for their actions. We have observed in recent times that Union cabinet minister have caused losses to the country to tune of lakhs of crores of rupees. While some are cooling their heels in the Tihar jail as criminals, there are many who have got away scot free. There are as many in our state too.



Be that as it may our countrymen tend to follow prevalent trends. During the end of 2003, polity of this country were hugely inspired by Bollywood movie Munnabhai MBBS starring droopy eyed Sanjay Dutt. The movie was a runaway success and since Dutt professes “jaddo ke chappee” non-violence method of bridging gaps in relationships the term Gandhigiri came to be coined. That Sanjay Dutt was an accused in the Mumbai blast in and was convicted under Arms Act is a different matter.



But the fact of the matter is Mahatma Gandhi did resort to fast unto death to protest injustice, violence and even untruth by his companions, comrades, followers and the Indians at large, but the difference was the ‘Father of the Nation’ undertook this fasts either in his abode or Sabarmati Ashram where not a single individual was inconvenienced but made everybody including the governors of British empire to sit up and take notice. There was not a single individual including his wife to keep accompany him in the fast, though she would worry and urge him to end his fast.



It was not at all a grand display or posturing. It was neither a show of strength or an exhibit of oratory skills, but was simply a protest to right a wrong and as Gandhiji himself would meekly put it as self purification. Nonetheless Mohandas K Gandhi – a barrister at law in South Africa return to his country and brought the might British Empire to its knees and forced them to handover reins of administration to the country men and leave India. This is example of true grit and determination.



But gone are the days when true statesman, patriots used to resort to penance to force others to introspect and realize that they were wrong. When nobody even the government refused to take cognizance of such protests came in what is now known as Annagiri. To resort to Annagiri you have seek permission from various authorities like the district administration, police, traffic cell and lots others. The permissions or NOCs are required so that the routine life is not paralyzed or common man is inconvenienced or that there is no law and order situation arising from the protests.



Though these type are well publicized and stage is erected with huge shamianas provided with chairs and even fans for thousands of supporters and in some cases air conditioners for the main activists with doctors attending them round the clock, ambulances stationed and equipped with the latest gadgets and life saving drugs and the works, police protection 24 hours a day. Providing foods for tens of thousands of supporters. Collection and accepting donations to the tune of crores of rupees or lacks of dollars. Mahatma Gandhi would have not only rebuked such practice but would have undertaken another fast to put an end to such practice



There are backroom talks to resolve the matter and backroom channels working to convince the protestors to call of the hunger strike. Functioning of the Parliament is derailed with either the Opposition or political party having political interest disrupting the working of the parliament or legislative assembly.



Take the example of Anna Hazare protest. Wide publicity by the minute, national news channels competing with each other to increase its ratings forcing the government to faulter, comprise and finally give in to the demands. There was no such a hype when Mahatma Gandhi resorted to hunger strikes. Basically the common man was not put to hardships because of the protest.
Some in the year 2006 BJP in Goa tried to gain some cheap publicity. Zuari bridge continued to remain closed for heavy vehicles even after repairs were done because the concerned minister could not schedule time to officially declare it open. So the BJP workers swooped on the Agassaim side of the bridge and blocked the bridge paralyzing even light vehicles from using the bridge thereby causing hardships to the thousands of commuters. Manohar Parrikar addressing the media said that his partymen had resorted to Gandhigiri to protest, however for commuters who were inconvenienced called it dadagiri.



Last year BJP paralyzed the entire state to protest against price rise. They saw to it bandh was total with all the markets and shops downing their shutters. More recently BBSM called for a bandh and its supporters were literally threatening shopkeepers, businessmen to close their establishment to protests against the grant-in-aid being extended to schools that use English as medium of instruction. This was not Gandhigiri or Annagiri but goondagiri.



Let us take the example of Balli carnage. Schedule Tribe came to Balli to my their protest against the government for not fulfilling their demands. They not only inconvenienced the general public at large but went on to indulge in arson and rioting. They did not even spare the Collector and top police officials. ST community members torched government vehicles causing loss to exchequer and after causing a loss of lakhs of rupees they are demanding twelve percentage reservations for legislative assembly elections. These are not peaceful protests or Gandhigiri or Annagiri but dadagiri and goondagiri.



Send your comments/reactions to nisserdias@gmail.com Or SMS 9422437029)
(Nisser Dias writes a regular column in GT every Thursday).

TRUTH HAS PREVAILED. CHURCH IN SHAME.

TRUTH HAS PREVAILED IN 2004 RIBANDAR CHURCH CASE:

Adv. Aires Rodrigues has today stated that the truth had finally prevailed in the 2004 Ribandar Church case but has lamented that theArchbishop of Goa Filipe Neri Ferrao, former Chief Minister Pratapsingh Rane and Father Newton Rodrigues had proved that they wereabove the law by managing not to be present in Court.

Adv. Rodrigues has stated that the then Parish Priest of Ribandar Father Newton Rodrigues had filed this false and fabricated complaint to divert the attention of the public from the issue of the alleged molestation of the Ribandar minor girl in which he was allegedinvolved.

Adv. Rodrigues has stated that certain persons in high positions used this false case as a tool to harass him over the last seven years bygetting the government to even challenge before the Sessions Court andlater in the High Court his earlier acquittal in the same case. Stating that persons in high positions cannot be allowed to use thepolice and Courts to harass their opponents, Adv. Rodrigues hasexpressed anguish that it had taken seven long years for the truth toprevail with over 100 hearings of the case spread over the JMFC,Sessions and the High Court.

Stating that the entire case proceedings was a criminal waste ofjudicial time and public money, Adv. Rodrigues has stated that thecrime Branch had wasted 33 months investigating a case they knew wasfalse and fabricated while the prosecution moved ahead with this malicious prosecution. Pointing out that this was a fit case to now sue Father NewtonRodrigues and the Goa Government for the malicious prosecution, Adv.Rodrigues has however stated that he had decided not to add another case to an already huge back log of cases the Goa Courts are grappling with.

Panaji Judicial Magistrate First Class Mrs. Sarika Faldessai in a 29 page judgment acquitted Adv. Aires Rodrigues and 14 others in the 2004Ribandar Church case. While Adv. Aires Rodrigues and 14 others had been accused of having on16th August 2004 trespassed into the corridor of the Ribandar Churchand disturbed a meeting of the Parish Pastoral Council, JudgeFaldessai in her judgment has stated that the prosecution had notshown that the Ribandar Church was a prohibited area and that therewas any prohibition from entering the church premises.

Judge Faldessai has in her judgment noted that all the three Investigating officers of the case in their cross examination had admitted that there was no need of any permission to enter a church, mosque or temple. Stating that none of the witnesses had supported the case of the prosecution, the Judge has stated there was no evidence produced to establish that a meeting of the Parish Pastoral Council of the Ribandar Church was scheduled to be held on the day of the alleged offence.

Judge Faldessai has in her judgment stated that there was no evidenceto show that Adv. Rodrigues had created any commotion or intimidated anyone at the Church premises. Pointing out the glaring discrepancies in the testimony of prosecution witnesses Mrs. Connie Rosario, Mrs. Cynthia Fernandes and Mrs. Mica D’Souza who were members of the Parish Pastoral Council, Judge Faldessai has stated that their statements become unreliable.

Referring to the manner in which the investigation of the case wascarried out the Judge in her judgment has pointed out that for overtwo years the Investigating officer did no investigation at all exceptdiscuss the case with his Superiors and further took another three months to xeroz copies of the charge sheet. The Judge has stated that from the evidence of the Investigating officers it was clear that there was a delay in the investigation ofthe case and that the reason for the delay was not satisfactory.

Stating that Father Newton Rodrigues had set the criminal law inmotion and that inspite of being summoned he failed to remain presentin court, the Judge in her order has stated that the prosecution hadalso not examined Sister Celia Fernandes who was alleged to have beenintimidated by Adv. Aires Rodrigues. In 2004 Adv. Aires Rodrigues was leading an agitation demanding actionagainst Father Newton Rodrigues for having allegedly molested a 13year old Ribandar girl.

While Adv. Aires Rodrigues and others werecharge sheeted for confronting Father Newton Rodrigues, the case filedagainst Father Newton Rodrigues by the mother of the 13 year old girlwho was allegedly molested was closed after then Governor of Goa Mr.S.C Jamir reportedly intervened to save Father Newton Rodrigues frombeing charge sheeted. Father Newton Rodrigues was later relieved fromthe Archdiocese of Goa and is now the Pastor of St. Bernadette Churchat Calgary in Canada.

This was the second case filed by the police against Adv. AiresRodrigues in connection with the Ribandar Church incident. While thecurrent case was on the complaint filed by Father Newton Rodrigues theearlier charge sheet was on the complaint by the Superior of AjudaConvent Sister Celia Fernandes.

Acquitting Adv. Aires Rodrigues on 9th April 2009 in that case thethen Panaji Judicial Magistrate First Class Mrs. Sharmila Patil had inher judgment stated that the allegations against Adv. Rodrigues seemedto have been manipulated and that he was falsely implicated in thecase. Judge Patil had also held that the possibility of the complaintagainst Adv. Rodrigues having been lodged due to politicalinterference could not be ruled out.

MY TRIBUTES TO LATE TERESA FERNANDES.

She was a nice and pretty looking young girl having an upright character and schooling at Little Flower of Jesus Convent High School, Calangute. Very stylish and very well dressed drawing attention of many boys from her locality and also of the neighbourhood. When she was schooling at Calangue I was schooling at Arpora St. Joshep’s. We both finished together our SSC doing our final exam together in the same hall, at Britto Mapusa. She got distinctions in many subjects while I got first class with only one distinction. After her SSC she went to Bombay for higher education while I joined Xaviers at Mapusa to complete my further education. During this period we lost much of our contact.

She was none other than my friend the late Teresa Fernandes wife of Jerry Call also from Calangute and a friend of mine who a year ago released his CD “Calangute”. Jerry Call is the cousin brother of my wife and he and me we both studied together till our SSC at St. Joseph’s Arpora. He, like me also excelled in Sports, Table Tennis and Cycle Race were his forte, in both these items he won championships. While he was producing victory after victories in sports, Teresa was admiring him and his talent as many of the young girls of that period. Finally they both agreed to join together in the holy sacrament of matrimony and became husband and wife.

Later on Jerry went to Abu Dhabi where Teresa also joined him there and took up the employment in the Bank (HSBC) where she worked till her voluntary retirement a few years back.

The greatness of Teresa lies on her involvement in Goan and Konkani movements in Abu Dhabi. Among expatriate Goans, Kuwait Goans stand first in organising movements for the promotion of Goan causes especially for Konkani and after Kuwait Goans comes the Abu Dhabi Goans. Why Abu Dhabi? Because Teresa and her husband Jerry were working there and since both they were dynamic couple ready to do anything within their capacity for Goan causes, they motivated the Goans there to promote Goan causes. They both used their popularity in Abu Dhabi amongst Goans to raise funds for Konkani Martys besides many of the Konkani causes including Fr. Freddy’s Gulab cause.

During Novem Goem Newspaper and Konkani movement they took me there and organised a big meeting of Goans where I campaigned for the cause of Konkani. Teresa with the help of her husband brought Tiatrists and Tiatro groups from Goa to perform there. Some of the top Goan and Bombay Tiatro troupes came to Abu Dhabi thru the efforts and initiatives of Teresa and Jerry. And in fact her Flat in Abu Dhabi was a home away from their homes in Goa for many of the visiting Goan Tatrsts in Abu Dhabi who also enjoyed best of hospitality from her.

Additionally Teresa was very instrumental in helping her husband to bring in to Abu Dhabi many Goans for employment some of them were totally unknown to them. Also, the job of Bom Samaritan she did many times for the suffering Goans in Abu Dhabi. Even Goans faced with financial difficulties were rescued from their difficulties by Teresa. For the promotion of Goan causes she did more than any other Goan female in Abu Dhabi. It was she who deserved NRI Award from that area more than anyone else.

Konkani movement makers especially persons like me will always remember her and her efforts in promoting Konkani cause in Abu Dhabi.

May her soul rest in peace and may the heavenly God give her husband and children courage to bear this colossal loss.

A. Veronica Fernandes,
Fernandes.
.

DEPLORABLE GOAN ROADS.

Everyday we hear people of Goa complaining of bad roads. The capital city of Panjim is more in the news. I want to share the plight of Margao and surrounding areas which I have noticed during my last visit to Goa late August 2011. The highway road which bisects from Nuvem bypassing through neighbouring Fatorda and entering Goa Bottling area is like a lake. This road was perfect during my previous visit in May 2011. The junction road at Goa Bottling which passes through old RTO office straight to Gogol, Housing Board and onwards is another horrible sight. The junctions at Gogol, Housing Board and Power House where this same stretch passes is a sight never witnessed before. The road from Chowgule College to Borda is another nightmare.


All these roads and more in South Goa were completely motor-able in May 2011and within a couple of months have been washed away. The reason is some of the perfect roads were dug just before monsoons on the pretext of hot mixing. Early June 2011 just below my building at Gogol junction one side of the road was scrapped for no apparent reason and hot-mixed in broad daylight when the traffic was at its peak and stopped after about 50 mtrs. Till today it is not completed. PWD engineers are blaming the ongoing monsoons for the roads being washed by rains. Ignorance at its height.


From where these engineers get their certificates from? Certainly from the local municipalities. Was there no retention retained from the PWD contractors? Was there no guarantee obtained from these PWD contractors? It seems the PWD contractors have only 40% of the total contract value left in the end after bagging the contract to construct the roads and have to use substandard material to finish the roads. Where does the 60% go even before the road is being built? Even a stray dog knows the reason behind the sorry state of the roads in Goa. The roads are hot-mixed in a hurry this year because by the time the same exercise is conducted it will election time and code of conduct will be in force and not possible for any more commission till elected again.


Very soon politicians will be coming to our door steps to promise us better roads in return for votes. Can we elect them in April next when the roads are good and dump them in August next when the roads turn bad? It is a known fact that on paper we goans have a government to rule the state, but governance is nil. Who is to be blamed for all this? We the Goans. God, Bless Goa and show Your Might before we are ravaged again by our own people.


Regards,
Xavier Furtado

ADVANI'S YATRA AND MODI'S FAST.

Advani’s Yatra And Modi’s Fast

Looks like fasting has become seasonal in India, no doubt it has some good effects on health as it detoxifies our bodies of gluttony and abuse but within a limit, in excess it could ruin ones health. There is absolutely no doubt that Anna’s fast has had a phenomenal effect all over India and especially on our corrupt politicians who at this moment are feeling a wee bit weak-kneed in the unconditional acceptance of Anna’s anti corruption mantra.

Corruption is the social and economic cancer that our politicians and bureaucrats have entrapped our Nation in, and over the years we ourselves have contributed to its magnanimity and enhancement, so much so that today corruption is become an enormous uncontrollable fire breathing dragon annihilating development, progress and the wellbeing of our people in it’s wake and it is rather unfortunate and amusing that we are still debating a solution.

Anna’s triad against corruption has given us a ray of hope amidst despair, but unfortunately the simplicity of Anna’s thoughts and being, has infused hope and offered opportunity to renegades, who brought India to the brink of a civil war amidst it communal agendas, to rise up from it’s ashes. It is indeed the opportunist agenda of Advani that has forced him yet again, on yet another yatra, interestingly the Nation is yet to recover from the first one.

If Advani and the BJP were sincere about getting rid of corrupt, why did Advani and BJP not implement the Lokpal during their tenure ? Or better still why is it not implemented in the BJP run states ? It’s always easier to see the speck in your neighbour’s eye ! Annaji even though took his time to assimilate the BJP agenda and their motive, has finally stood his ground and has refused to support and endorse Advani’s yatra, claiming it a ploy and a political gimmick, thus establishing equidistance from both the Congress and the BJP and rightly so. If Congress is deplorable BJP is certainly not the solution, two negatives may make a positive in modern mathematics but two wrongs just cannot make a right in reality and never will.

On the heels of Advani’s yatra proclamation, the Barbarian of Gujarat has heaved a sigh of relief form the decision of the SC and claimed victory even though he knows, he has been temporarily let off the hook, it will certainly take lot more than temporary relief to wash his hand clean of the blood from the worst massacre of free India. His loud proclamations of triumphant joy are rather premature.

His feeble attempt to propagate his secularist hue, a fast for a secular united India, is rather amusing, can wild animals forget the taste of blood or can leopards change their spots ? Without doubt his three victories in Gujarat have come entirely from his hard core communal and divisive agendas and all of a sudden he now fasts for secularism and unity, something must have certainly changed or is there another twist in the agenda, which certainly fits the bill.

Even if Modi is absolved by the SC, will he be washed clean of his deplorable sins and will the minorities ever forgive him and believe in our system of justice ? If Modi is absolved, there will surely be hundreds of right wind extremists waiting in the wings to pounce on and spill more blood of the minorities, if one can get away with a massacre, what guarantee is there that others won’t, thought that is fuel enough for a bloodbath. It does put an onus on our judiciary and our justice system to profess secularism, however pseudo it may be. India at this moment just cannot afford communalism under any guise or form nor can it afford corruption in the guise of pseudo secularism. So what are we left with ?

Even after more than sixty years of independence, all that we have in our bowl is, corruption, pseudo secularism and communalism, to choose from, is this what we want ? Is this all that we get ? If so, what good will our fasts and yatras do ? I can only say God help the land called India !

Freddy Agnelo Fernandes.

CHURCH LEADERS BEWARE OF WHAT YOU PREACH.

Bishop Frances Mechallef.

Monsg Frances Mechallef a Maltese citizen was ex Bishop of Kuwait who served Kuwait Vicaerate for about a quarter of a century. When he joined Kuwait Church I penned down a nice article on his pastoral activities he did before becoming Bishop of Kuwait. This article I wrote in the prestigious Goa’s monthly magazine “Goa Today”. Holding this magazine in his hand in the Church compound he told the people around him “there is a gift in this magazine for me from Goan community”. He was as a servant of God a very humble person readily stooped to any level to serve mankind and God and never acted like a feudal lord. Many times I saw him even brooming the Church compound floor and other areas of public and Church utilities. He had missionary zeal in him to serve the people. Humility was his hallmark and not feudality. He made himself accessible to every faithful even in the Church compound where he would give keen hearing to the advices and grievances of the faithful.

Front view of the Church with beautiful trees which are no more now.

He studied the situation of the faithful very well especially that of their financial plight. Knowing their genuine financial grievances he did not put extra burden on their already depleted financial kitty. He showed his total sympathy towards poor financial status of the faithful coming from Asian countries. Taking this view into consideration he never allowed visiting priests especially coming from Goa, Mangalore and Bombay to collect funds thru donations from the faithful here in Kuwait.

One day one visiting priest from Mangalore after his talk to the Konkani congregation in the Church Hall (Big), requested everyone to contribute One KD each for his missionary work in Mangalore. At that particular moment Bishop Mechallef was strolling outside the hall and Fr John Pinto and me we were talking also outside the hall. Suddenly when Bishop heard the word from the visiting priest saying “Only One KD”, Bishop Mechallef immediately got alerted and called Fr. Pinto and forcefully told Fr. Pinto to instruct the visiting Mangalorean priest to stop this Dinar business saying people here in Kuwait have enough of financial problem and this Dinar business should not put extra burden on their financial resources.

Bishop Mechallef seen with Church Helpers.

Bishop Mechallef view was that Kuwait should not be Dinar milking cow for the visiting priests especially in the Church premises. His contention was that visiting priests as Priests should be smart enough and graceful enough to raise funds for their missionary work without pinching the already pinched pockets of the local faithful. He very well knew the poor financial plight of the faithful here in Kuwait. For this reason without demanding any contribution in any form from the faithful he constructed such a big edifice in the Church compound costing millions of Dinars. Bishop Mechallef wanted every faithful in Kuwait to make maximum use of his hard earned Dinar for his own personal benefit and security. He knew how faithful are suffering in Kuwait to earn that One Dinar. He knew the hardship the faithful faced during the invasion of Kuwait for having no Dinar while the very priests who collected Dinars from the faithful in Kuwait happily enjoyed their life as usual.

Bishop Mechallef disliked taxing faithful either directly or indirectly. More so he hated collecting fund by the priest and Church authorities thru organising of commercial ventures like Dramas and Ballroom Dances. He said like Mahatma Gandhi “If means are bad then ends must also be bad”. He felt to raise funds for Church activities by organising functions that lead to sins is an antichristian act. According to one Theologist faithful should not be a party to the fund raising campaign by the Church and priests thru organising of commercial ventures in the name of God and Church. He further said that commercial ventures are creating occasions for sins, for this reasons good faithful should refrain from joining in such ventures even though the Church leaders may think what they do is correct. Time is not very far for the Church leaders to commercialise the females involved in the Church affairs, and that too to raise funds for the Church activities.

Old Grotto of Mother Mary in the Church compound.

Many times Church leaders and Bishops in the name of Christian religion gave opposite views on the same subjects thereby distorting the true Christian doctrine. During the Second World War, German Bishop expressed his views on this war in support of Hitler and his party Nazi while the Bishop of England opposed Hitlerism and Nazism. German Bishop supported the War while England’s Bishop opposed this war. During the invasion of Kuwait, coming on to Iraqi TV in the month of September 1990, the Chaldean Bishop of Iraq supported Saddam and the invasion of Kuwait while all the Bishops in the world opposed the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq. In view of this, who is expressing the correct view of our religion? For one Bishop Fund collection drive thru commercial and sinful activities is acceptable while for other not. Who is correct? God alone will know but many Bishops and priest are fooling the faithful in the name of the religion to suit their needs. They will even embrace Lucifer to get their work done.

The late Fr. Freddy J. D’Costa in early eighties came to Kuwait with the letter from the Patriarch of Goa to organise a Tiatro in the Church Hall to raise funds for the missionary work of Fr. Freddy in Goa. Immediately after reading this letter, Bishop Mechallef fired his reply to Goa Patriarch asking him “What Pastoral Significance Fr. Freddy’s visit is having in Kuwait? Is it the job of a priest to organise such commercial ventures where there is no spiritual benefit?”

Priests’ job according to Bishop Mechallef is to take care of the spiritual needs of the faithful thereby strengthening the moral fabrics of the faithful especially in places like Kuwait where opportunities for sinful acts are plenty. Today Priests and Bishops in many places are become hungry for money and wordly honour, they have lost their sanity to act spiritually upright. God may give them spiritual wisdom to act right. But as lay persons it is our duty to correct them when they are going wrong if we love our religion.

A. Veronica Fernandes,

Kuwait.

AVC KUWAIT WINS KIFF 2011 -012 SOCCER OPENER.

AVC - Kuwait have won the KIFF 2011-2012 season opener 7 a side Football tournament for the Willy Gomes Rolling Trophy held on 2nd September 2011 at the Digital Grounds in Kuwait City. In the finals AVC - Kuwait beat SkyNet to lift the Rolling trophy.

AVC's coach and ace professional goalkeeper Alvaro Dias was awarded the " Man of the Finals'' Award. AVC - Kuwait comprised Alvaro Dias, Francis Rodrigues, Custodio Almeida, Anthony Fernandes, Liston Raju, Savio, Nicholas Fernandes, Molvito Mascarenhas, Ignatuis, Ronny, Vincy,Luciano D'Souza, Braulio Fernandes and Melvy Fernandes.

The tournament was held under the afilliation of Kuwait Indian Football Federation.

Xavier Furtado.

ADV. AIRES RODRIGUES DEMANDS TO BRING ADVOCATE GENERAL WITHIN LOKAYUKTA.

Adv. Aires Rodrigues has today demanded that the Advocate General of Goa be brought within the ambit of the proposed Goa Lokayukta legislation.

Adv. Rodrigues has stated that within Goa’s context it is important that this is done inview of the grave financial and other irregularities witnessed over the last five years in the office of the Advocate General.

Pointing out that besides the excessive and double billing Advocate General Mr. Subodh Kantak had also employed his own family members in the Advocate General’s office, Adv. Rodrigues has stated that Mr. Kantak had also conveniently appointed his close friend Mr. Ramnath Pai, a clerk at the Corporation of City Of Panaji as his Personal Secretary on a gazetted officer’s pay scale.

Adv. Rodrigues has also stated that the manner of allotment of cases by Advocate General Mr. Subodh Kantak to the Government Advocates and Additional Govt Advocates was highly questionable in as much as it raised serious and valid suspicions as to the motives.

Alleging that the status and sanctity of the high constitutional post of Advocate General had been completely degenerated, Adv Rodrigues has stated that it was public knowledge that anyone wanting to file a petition against the Goa Government had to first meet and negotiate with Advocate General Subodh Kantak.

Adv. Rodrigues has further stated that Mr. Subodh Kantak would himself then advise the private litigant which advocate from amongst his coterie of lawyers should be engaged to ensure that a stage managed friendly legal battle followed.

Lamenting that the office of the Advocate General should not have been converted into a commercial venture to drain out the State's exchequer, Adv Rodrigues has stated that the payments being made to the Advocate General of Goa Mr. Subodh Kantak by the Goa Government could never have been more than that of the President of India and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

VIOLENCE AND POLITICAL PATRONAGE.

Violence And Political Patronage

Incessant violence from the streets of Miramar to the ghettos of Monti Dongor, Kharebandh and Chimbel, is a reality that we Goans will have to live with, may be for the rest of our lives. In the last decade or so anti-social elements and anti-social activities have thrived and flourished under the political patronage of our politicians, violence has erupted time and again obliterating the peace and tranquility that we Goans were once used to, unfortunately because of their political patronage, no firm actions is taken against the perpetrators of violence, as a result of which law and order in Goa has ebbed into anarchy and shambles.

It’s no secret that the Monti Dongor and Kharebandh entities have been protected by the political patronage of Margao who has on a number of occasions audaciously claimed that they are his supporters and well wishers and it is these elements that espouse terror and violence in and around Margao without a worry of the law machinery. The infamous swords case is a classic example as it is still accumulating dust in some deserted cabinet.

In central Goa too we know of two powerful gangs under the political patronage of the two powerful politicians, one a minister and the other a political aspirant from the outskirts of Panjim, spreading a reign of terror, and it is believed that the violence that erupted a few weeks ago at Miramar was between these two gangs in which an innocent bystander nearly lost her life. Even though most of these attacks are carried out in broad day light and in public places our security services still find it difficult to convict these criminals, exposing the lack of commitment of our security services and the raw underbelly of our lax system.

It is also common knowledge that most of our politicians have their own pack of dogs that they let loose on people with uncompromising principles, in south Goa, these dogs have been let loose on people fighting against mega housing, those fighting against mining and against those people who are not ready to sell their lands, the poor victims subjected to mental torture and blackmail often succumb to the powers that be and the few who fight back are harassed by the police.

A few decades ago it’s was the MLA from Quepem who was the then Don of the Goa Assembly, who neither followed procedures nor cared for the law nor respected it, he was later shot in the head, that ended his political career. It is true that violence begets violence, as we have seen in history violent men have met violent ends, let it be a lesson to our politicians who profess violence and protect the perpetrators of violence that history is bound to catch up with them; the hand that feeds the dogs is someday bound to get bitten by the same dogs.

In Goa what we miss is the ethics, both political and social which has led to the arrogance and apathy, of our politicians and our people. We Goans do not like to get involved in issues till we become the issue and it is this apathy that is responsible for the pathetic state of affairs in Goa. It’s me for myself and God for others attitude that has led us to this appalling eventuality and if we do not change our perception and our attitude now and take corrective actions Goa will be lost forever. Beware and be wise Goans, Goa’s future is in our hands !

Freddy Agnelo Fernandes.