OPPOSE DICTATOR PARRIKAR ON MOPA.

A month after his death during the condolence meeting at Lohia Maidan, Margao, Alina Saldanha the wife of Mathanay Saldanha made a very important statement about her husband saying “the greatest tribute we can pay to him is to carry out the works and causes he led during his lifetime”.


The first step in keeping the legacy of Mathanay Saldanha alive will be the strong protest by Alina herself on the anti-Goan decision of Parrikar to construct Mopa Airport. Her husband was against this Airport. It will be a fitting tribute to the dead Mathanay if his dearest wife carries forward the work of him in opposing the construction of Mopa Airport.

Though she is still in a moaning period yet it is not too early for her to condemn Parrikar to pilot the anti Goan project of Mopa. Mathanay Saldanha during his life time worked for the fulfilment of people’s wishes especially those that are good for Goa and Goans. His unlimited support for the Ramponkars cause, Konkani cause, Statehood cause, Meta Strip and many others will remain in the history of Goa written in golden capital letters.

By the way, if he was alive today, would he oppose Parrika’s decision of going ahead with the construction of Mopa Airport? Looking at his track record I doubt very much. Mathanay Saldanha achieved all his achievements not when he was in the Legislative Assembly and in the Cabinet. When he was inducted into the Cabinet as a Minister, Mathanay Saldanha became a slave of Parrikar and BJP. If it was not so, he would not remain a silent spectator to the anti-Christian VCD circulation by Parrikar government; if it was not so, Mathanay Saldanha would not keep his silence when Parrikar cancelled the Good Friday holiday.

As a minister in BJP ministry under the skippership of anti-Christian Parrikar, Mathanay Saldanha failed and as one proof I can refer the example of River Princess Ship at Candolim. Immediately after taking Oath as Minister he assured the people of Candolim in particular and Goans in general that his top priority will be to clear this rot from Candolim Beach to avert environmental disaster. Finally what happened? Mathanay failed in his promise.

Mathanay Saldanha was good as a layman civilian to fight for the people’s causes but not as an official of government. As a minister he was more selfish to protect his chair just like any other corrupt and insincere minister. To oppose government from outside he was very good but as a minister himself from inside the government he was very bad. He was the Yes man of Parrikar for this reason inspite of being a Christian he kept his silence when anti-Christian legislations were introduced by Parrikar. Anti-Christian legislation means anti-Goan legislation because hurting the sentiments of any religious community in Goa means affecting the peace of Goa as a whole.

Will Alina succeed where her husband would likely sleep accepting Parrikar’s decision on Mopa? From her few statements and her body language and talking to her close friends during her academic career, I feel Alina will surely challenge Parrikar by publicly opposing Mopa Airport in tune with the wishes of Goa lover Goans.

Besides Alina, all the MLA’s who defeated Congress candidates and supporting Parrikar are duty bound to oppose Parrikar. They must not be afraid of BJP because BJP Manifesto does not show Mopa and because it was so people voted BJP. If Mopa was included in BJP manifesto many voters would not vote for BJP candidates and BJP backed candidates. And all the BJP and BJP backed MLA’s are elected by the people of their constituencies to fulfil the wishes of them and not of Parrikar. Parrikar cannot eat as we say in Konkani - “Aitea Folear”. Here voters are important and their wishes should carry priority. Come on voters from Calangute constituency, Navelim, Benaulim, Mapusa and other constituencies, speak out and speak out loudly the voice of your conscience. Do not support anti Goan voice of Parrikar.

The Navelim constituents who are known to be giant killers must ask Avertano his stand on this, so also constituents who voted Lobo in Calangute. People from Aldona constituency who shook Narvenkar must now shake Tiklo on this topic. So also elsewhere in Goa people must shake their BJP and BJP backed MLA’s. People’s voice must be heard and accepted and not of Parrikar’s. This is the meaning of Democracy for which our elders fought in Goa against Salazar’s dictatorial “dadagiri”.

Parrikar is a dictator following in the footsteps of Salazar. We don’t want Salazar anymore. We want democrat who listens to the voice of the people in Goa.

A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.

Aquem-Baixo residents gather to save play ground

Margao Municipal Council Chairperson Mr. Arthur D'Silva along with ward councilor Avinash Shirodkar, Vice Chairperson, Pratima Countinho, Municipal Engineer and officials of SGPDA conducted a site inspection of construction site at Aquem-Baixo on a complaint filed by Navelim Civic & Consumer Forum & Navelchea Xetkarancho Ekvott.

During the site inspection the villagers and the farmers pointed out the various illegalities to which the builder, Mr. Kotari of Sapana Developers had no answers. The farmers complained that the builder has deliberately encroached into their fields by digging for the compound wall. NCCF pointed out that the builder has not done the demarcation of the property as required under the law hence the encroachment.
Adjacent residents pointed out that their traditional accesses will be blocked if the construction is allowed to come up. The residents produced a copy of an objection filed by at least 74 persons objecting to the sale of the property as it was being used by them as a village playground. The builder did not challenge nor did he reply to the later, thereby implying that the residents are correct.
Residents also pointed out to  a religious place of worship which will be blocked if the project is allowed to come up. Also the officials were questioned as to how a paddy field was converted to a "C1" zone and that too with an existing road of 4 mts only.  The farmers also pointed out that the proposed road by the builder is 10 mts, and that for the builder to make huge profits the farmers will have to sacrifice their meager land.
The residents also pointed out to an illegal structure constructed by the builders without any permission from MMC and SGPDA. Hence they demanded that the whole project be scrapped.
The Chairperson promised to initiate action immediately including stopping the work. SGPDA officials were also surprised to see these illegalities and said that they were not aware of the facts and that they will take appropriate action in the matter.   
 
Joseph L. R. Vaz - Secretary, Navelim Civic & Consumer Forum
 

SUPPORT KIDNEY PATIENTS.

Sir,


It is sometimes now, I see the hype for Antonette de Calangute issue being taken by Tiatrist fraternity and funds being raised by them for the transplant of her kidneys. I am just wondering how much money may be required for her transplant.

I along with my husband attended one of the musical show held at Ravindra Bhavan, Pai Tiatrist Hall, Margao purchasing ticket of Rs 500/- each in aid of Antonette de Calangute and the show was houseful. The same show was held in Panjim and elsewhere also. The collected funds may have gone to laks and laks of rupees.

No doubt, I understand she is from Tiatrist fraternity and at the same time she is getting these funds as she is very influential too. But besides her there are many other kidney patients also who have no support and nobody comes forward to help them.

I, for example am one of the kidney patients who have been suffering for the past 5 years and am undergoing dialysis. There are many other patients like me doing hemodialysis and/or CAPD dialysis and who are in dire need of financial help, some of them are dying due to lack of financial support. Goa govt is indeed helping but with partial support which is not sufficient enough to meet the needs of the patients.

Therefore, I would request some kind hearted people/groups on behalf of other kidney patients to come forward and help the unfortunate patients for further treatment as this sickness is very costly and the fund provided by Goa Govt is very less and the payments are not paid on timely basis. I would appeal to any organization/clubs/individuals to come forward and help the patients. There are some kind hearted and sympathetic individuals who in fact have come forward to help the unfortunate patients by forming a group under the name of "GOA RENAL SUPPORT ASSOCIATION" (Govt Regd. No.896/GOA/2009), A/c. No.31074245264 with State Bank of India, Panaji. There is an urgent need to support this Association in order to reach to the rescue of these helpless kidney patients.


Thanking you .


Annie Rodrigues
Navelim