The recent fisticuffs between two Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) members and legislators of the Goa Assembly namely Jose Philip D’souza and Mickky Pacheco let the cat out of the bag that our politicians win elections basically with money power. I will not delve into the details of Mickky visiting Vasco as nobody can stop a citizen from travelling in his own country lest within the state itself. But at the same time the Benaulim MLA should have exercised restraint as a complaint of him trying to induce and influence voters to cast their franchise against the candidates fielded by the Vasco MLA was already filed with the party bosses. At the same time that does not give a right to the Revenue minister to take law into his hands, minister he surely is that he is not above the law.
Chief minister Digambar Kamat instead of hiding behind statements like, ‘it is an internal matter of the NCP’ should have divested the Jose Philip D’souza of his ministerial berth, but knowing our chief minister who will do anything to cling on to his chair and inculcating discipline among his cabinet colleagues is the last thing on his mind. And the worst has been the attitude of the so called law keepers or in common parlance the police. In case of cross complaints police immediately apply section 151 (preventive arrest) and arrest both parties but in this surprisingly the police ignored the usual trend.
Be that as it may, it is not that the general public was ignorant about this fact that distribution of money plays a big role in winning elections, but when it comes from the horses’ mouth, even the shadow of doubt is erased from the public mind. And this was endorsed by the Revenue minister of the state Jose Philip D’souza when he claimed that his supported manhandled or assaulted the former Tourism minister and Benaulim MLA Mickky Pacheco for allegedly distributing money to voters to cast their franchise against candidates fielded by D’souza for the civic polls.
In almost every election be it the panchayat, municipalities, corporation, assembly or parliamentary money plays a big role in changing the tide and those candidates who spend the most general get elected or taste victory. Infact one of the legislators quipped to his supporters immediately after his success at the last assembly elections that he was not victorious because his constituents voted for him but because he bought their votes. And the repercussion of buying votes is well known these same elected representatives be it the panchayat members or the councillors or the MLAs or the parliamentarians try to recover the money spent on elections and also make more money hook or by crook to contest future election.
Can we forget the recent Commonwealth Games or the Adarsh housing society scams or can we forget the cash for question scam in the parliament or the cash for library imbursement scam. Or have we forgotten the financial scam related to clearing of the garbage at Sonsoddo and how can we forget the Excise scam and drug scam. In Goa specially one can name a legislator and immediately a scam pops up.
But the interesting fact is that the losing candidate or political parties’ failing to clinch a victory always resort to one liners such as, ‘we lost due to money and muscle power’. And leader of opposition Manohar Parrikar uses it so often that even the media persons know what his retort will be after a bad election. It is not that the BJP does not use money power, they also do, infact all the political parties have created reserve funds to be spent on exigencies during elections. But till date the norm to blame the other political party for using money and muscle power but in the case of the Jose Philip D’souza and Mickky Pacheco both are from the same party.
It seems that the Benaulim legislator has an axe to grind against his colleague from Vasco. Immediately after the general assembly election 2007, Pacheco got himself nominated as the leader of the legislative wing of NCP in the Assembly. This did not go well with the party leaders and nominated Jose Philip. Subsequently early last year, Mickky organized an impressive party meeting at Betalbatim, however this too did not impress national leaders present at the meeting and early this year again selected Vasco MLA to head the NCP unit in Goa as its president. And the final nail in his coffin was when Pacheco was alleged linked to his close friend Nadia’s death and subsequently in the money laundering scandal, Revenue minister quipped that one MLA does not make a difference to his party and Mickky is free to leave the party. And knowing Mickky, who is not the forgiving type tried to get back at his party colleague during the civic polls and got assaulted.
That is besides the point but what has been established by the fracas between the two politicians is that money is being distributed by the politicians during elections. Now this has direct connection with the high rate of corruption in the state and the country. Once a politician gets elected he sees an opportunity to make easy money and exploits it to the hilt and for those who are inducted in the cabinet as ministers, the scope to accumulate ill-gotten wealth is much higher. And part of this money is ploughed back to win subsequent elections and also to increase vote bank and power base by fielding and financing candidates for self governing bodies.
Though the Election Commission of India has brought in lot of reforms and stringent measures to curtail the use of money during election, veteran politicians formulate ways to circumvent it and spend much more money than authorized by the ECI. Even complaints by one political party against the other is treated as political rivalry complaints and thorough investigations are not carried out. Infact we yet to see a candidate or a political party being penalized for use of money. But in the present case it is an intra-party allegations wherein one colleagues is accusing the other of distributing money to defeat his candidates for civic polls. This is a lot of fodder for the state election commission to look into and present before the public the true picture.
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November 7, 2010
November 5, 2010
RIVULET CALLED "ONUIM. By Elvino Rodrigues.
Sub: Rivulet called "ONUIM"
Some years back a son of Mandopa, Navelim, Mr. Ignatius Gomes have twice in his letters to Editor, brought to the attention of Public and Government, the very need to desilt the once richly supportive Rivulet to agricultural life of Navelim: Dongorim, Aquem Baixo, Firgulem, Mandopa, Ravoll, Fradilem etc. with a chain of 3 Bandhs, known as Voilo Bandh, Modlo Bandh and Sokoilo Bandh which not only supported irrigation life there but it also served a pisiculture that served the surrounding inhabitants of East Navelim that runs from Ravonfond of Aquem Baixo till Jaknibandh of Fradilem where it crosses NH17 and later flows its fresh water to embrace salt water rivulet, as one of the several tributories of Rival Sal that runs from Nuvem till Betul after serving Margao, West Navelim, Benaulim, Varca, Orlim, Chinchinim, Asolna, Cavelosim and Betul
The Rivulet was simply named as “ONUIM” if one remembers. These Bandhs’ trapping of fag end of Monsoon flood waters have also served in increase of ground water level and held hundreds of domestic drinking wells water level well high for long scorching summer days and therefore wells were hardly used to go dry even after the monsoon rains starts.
But now having abandoned the trapping of monsoon waters due to unknown reasons the Rivulet has become very shallow due to Years of silt collection, as a result irrigation has been abandoned and excused as not viable. As a result surrounding domestic wells are also going dry from November / December only and the Rivulet, once beautiful serpentine shaped river look like nothing but a nullah.
The then MLA and our good friend did not think of it as fit to do anything remedial to save the life supporting Rivulet for reasons best know to him. Hence, the popular request for desilting the river, preserving the monsoon waters and reactivating the river for cultivation & vegetation purpose have been ignored. The people surrounding the Rivulet were very much relying on these waters not only on the irrigation but vegetation too soon after the harvest of paddy crop was over.
No doubt there was another disturbing problem for the people of Aquem Baixo, Dongorim, Firgulem and Mandopa to suffer for cleaner waters of Voilo Bandh and that was the waters of Voilo Bandh used to get contaminated as the untreated Sewage of Indian Military at Davorlim, Quepem Road was released at Ravondfond Bridge which was spoiling the clean waters of the Voilo Bandh but that sewage water now stand as stopped. In this view now there stand better chances for reviving the trapping of monsoon waters and for reactivating the Rivulet for the benefit of the thousands of surrounding household. For this purpose the desilting of the Rivulet is very much necessary for the benefit of all concerned. Can therefore, the present MLA, Mr. Churchill Alemao who got himself elected from Navelim Constituency challenge the strongest past MLA, Mr. Luizinho Faleiro of Navelim for decades and do something more which past MLA never ventured to do for the local people?
The call for such a very important need is being repeated now for the 3rd time if not more in requesting to desilt the Rivulet and is a perfect challenge to his bete-noire that Churchill can do in his very first term what Luizinho could never do for last 3 plus decades. Time and challenge will only tell us what Churchill is capable to do!!!
Thank you.
Elvino Rodrigues.
Some years back a son of Mandopa, Navelim, Mr. Ignatius Gomes have twice in his letters to Editor, brought to the attention of Public and Government, the very need to desilt the once richly supportive Rivulet to agricultural life of Navelim: Dongorim, Aquem Baixo, Firgulem, Mandopa, Ravoll, Fradilem etc. with a chain of 3 Bandhs, known as Voilo Bandh, Modlo Bandh and Sokoilo Bandh which not only supported irrigation life there but it also served a pisiculture that served the surrounding inhabitants of East Navelim that runs from Ravonfond of Aquem Baixo till Jaknibandh of Fradilem where it crosses NH17 and later flows its fresh water to embrace salt water rivulet, as one of the several tributories of Rival Sal that runs from Nuvem till Betul after serving Margao, West Navelim, Benaulim, Varca, Orlim, Chinchinim, Asolna, Cavelosim and Betul
The Rivulet was simply named as “ONUIM” if one remembers. These Bandhs’ trapping of fag end of Monsoon flood waters have also served in increase of ground water level and held hundreds of domestic drinking wells water level well high for long scorching summer days and therefore wells were hardly used to go dry even after the monsoon rains starts.
But now having abandoned the trapping of monsoon waters due to unknown reasons the Rivulet has become very shallow due to Years of silt collection, as a result irrigation has been abandoned and excused as not viable. As a result surrounding domestic wells are also going dry from November / December only and the Rivulet, once beautiful serpentine shaped river look like nothing but a nullah.
The then MLA and our good friend did not think of it as fit to do anything remedial to save the life supporting Rivulet for reasons best know to him. Hence, the popular request for desilting the river, preserving the monsoon waters and reactivating the river for cultivation & vegetation purpose have been ignored. The people surrounding the Rivulet were very much relying on these waters not only on the irrigation but vegetation too soon after the harvest of paddy crop was over.
No doubt there was another disturbing problem for the people of Aquem Baixo, Dongorim, Firgulem and Mandopa to suffer for cleaner waters of Voilo Bandh and that was the waters of Voilo Bandh used to get contaminated as the untreated Sewage of Indian Military at Davorlim, Quepem Road was released at Ravondfond Bridge which was spoiling the clean waters of the Voilo Bandh but that sewage water now stand as stopped. In this view now there stand better chances for reviving the trapping of monsoon waters and for reactivating the Rivulet for the benefit of the thousands of surrounding household. For this purpose the desilting of the Rivulet is very much necessary for the benefit of all concerned. Can therefore, the present MLA, Mr. Churchill Alemao who got himself elected from Navelim Constituency challenge the strongest past MLA, Mr. Luizinho Faleiro of Navelim for decades and do something more which past MLA never ventured to do for the local people?
The call for such a very important need is being repeated now for the 3rd time if not more in requesting to desilt the Rivulet and is a perfect challenge to his bete-noire that Churchill can do in his very first term what Luizinho could never do for last 3 plus decades. Time and challenge will only tell us what Churchill is capable to do!!!
Thank you.
Elvino Rodrigues.
November 4, 2010
MISMANAGEMENT OF CHURCH FUNDS & CHURCH PROPERTIES.
The credit for India’s freedom should not go to some Gandhi or Nehru but to the Germans & Japanese who severely injured the military spine of the Britishers during the second world war. With an injured spine the British were no more in a position to control India and left in a hurry in 1947. Indian Armys & Navys top generals, colonels, commanders, top officers and Politicians, bureaucrats, senior Govt. servants & ias/ips officers are involved in grabbing land in coastal cities & towns of India for setting up posh bungalows & residential complexes for themselves, their families and all their relatives. The Adarsh Building scam in Colaba is just the tip of the iceberg. There are thousands of such illegal buildings in colaba, juhu, versova in bombay that have violated all rules and regulations. If all these illegal buildings are not demolished then more and more such illegal buildings will come up everywhere.
The Adarsh Building in Colaba has been built on the former lands of kolis (fisherfolks) so are all the other buildings in colaba even the Britishers grabbed the lands of kolis to build the colaba military cantonment. Why is the Indian news media not talking about the kolis who have been displaced because of land acquisition. To setup Special Economic Zones, Mining Zones, Residential Building Complexes, Slum Colonies, Seaside Apartments, etc for each and everything the Farmers, Tribals & Fisherfolks are being looted of their lands. Leaders of Farmers, Tribals, Fisherfolks should come together and report this land grabbing matter to the United Nations, International Human Rights Organizations & International News Media. The common man is also being looted of his hard earned money through taxes & bribes. Most of the tax payers money goes in maintaining the Bimaru & Overpopulated states of UP & Bihar as well as the defence of Kashmir.
On the subject of ‘Church Land Going Going Gone’ The Church Parish Bulletins never discloses what the Clergy do with the money received from the sale of church properties. Neither the Church parish bulletins discloses the total vacant properties in possession of the church. The vacant properties in possession of the church are not the private properties of the clergy the properties belong to the local parishioners who had donated their lands to the church. A few decades back the Clergy lived a disciplined, ascetic & ardous life and were content with the money dropped by the lay catholics in the collection box during the Sunday mass but times changed. Greed overtook the Clergy and in order to enjoy a secular life and whatever the material world has to offer the clergy resorted to selling church properties to satisfy their wants and needs. Also take note of how the priests when they have to travel from one state to another will not use the inter state transport bus or Indian rail instead the priests will travel by planes.
Catholic Missionaries collect donations from Catholics but help poor non-catholics instead of poor catholics. As a result the poor catholics are left with no option but to go to hindu, parsi, muslim charitable organizations to get help. The upper/middle class Hindus pay donations and their children are given admissions in catholic schools. A vast majority of catholics in India are poor and not in a position to pay donations and the only option left is to beg with the parish priest to get admission for their children and inspite of begging many catholics are refused admission. This explains why out of every 4 catholics in India only 1 has been through a catholic school the others through municipal & government schools.
Unlike the clergy who live in the parish buildings and within church premises for most of their lives the lay catholics have to live and work in the midst of hindus. Hence the clergy are ignorant about the problems which the lay catholics face. Apart from the sufferings from the Clergy & Missionaries the lay catholics are also suffering due to the anti-catholic activities of the right wing hindu parivar (rss,vhp,bajrangdal,shivsena,etc) and are also suffering because of the inability in getting Government jobs / housing / facilities. Because of all the above reasons the population of catholics in India has declined. It is extremely shameful when the clergy call upon lay catholics to have more children when these same clergy are not interested in utilizing church assets, resources, properties for the benefit of lay catholics.
Along with the previous Pope John Paul the current Pope Benedict was also one of the architect of the Vatican II council. VATICAN II BROUGHT CONFUSION, CORRUPTION AND APOSTASY, and that was the warning from the Third Secret of Fatima. The Blessed Virgin warned against modernizing the church because the result would be irreconcilable Corruption and the end of respect for such a "democratic" institution. Prior to Vatican II churches in Europe had 90% attendance after Vatican II the attendance declined and now its barely 10 or 20%. The Clergy including Bishops, Priests & Cardinals have misused the 'Responsible Freedom' which was granted to them by the Vatican - II council of 1962-1965. Corruption has become rampant in the catholic church after the Vatican II council. Church properties are being sold off. Church finances are being misused. Bishops, Cardinals, Priests are not accountable to the lay catholics and hence the lay catholics cannot do anything to stop the corruption in the catholic church. The historical rituals of Catholicism were immediately abandoned after Vatican-II. The changes in rituals and environment obscured the definitive truths which were so visible in the past and left an emptiness in their place. Altars were moved out from the wall, and the priest went to the other side facing the people. He spoke in English or Vernacular instead of Latin. Guitars were brought in to replace organs. People sang folk songs, while papers shuffling and chairs rattling was all else that was heard. Today Catholicism is the weakest religion in the world and the entire blame should go on the popes, bishops, cardinals and priests.
Gabriel D’souza,
Mumbai.
The Adarsh Building in Colaba has been built on the former lands of kolis (fisherfolks) so are all the other buildings in colaba even the Britishers grabbed the lands of kolis to build the colaba military cantonment. Why is the Indian news media not talking about the kolis who have been displaced because of land acquisition. To setup Special Economic Zones, Mining Zones, Residential Building Complexes, Slum Colonies, Seaside Apartments, etc for each and everything the Farmers, Tribals & Fisherfolks are being looted of their lands. Leaders of Farmers, Tribals, Fisherfolks should come together and report this land grabbing matter to the United Nations, International Human Rights Organizations & International News Media. The common man is also being looted of his hard earned money through taxes & bribes. Most of the tax payers money goes in maintaining the Bimaru & Overpopulated states of UP & Bihar as well as the defence of Kashmir.
On the subject of ‘Church Land Going Going Gone’ The Church Parish Bulletins never discloses what the Clergy do with the money received from the sale of church properties. Neither the Church parish bulletins discloses the total vacant properties in possession of the church. The vacant properties in possession of the church are not the private properties of the clergy the properties belong to the local parishioners who had donated their lands to the church. A few decades back the Clergy lived a disciplined, ascetic & ardous life and were content with the money dropped by the lay catholics in the collection box during the Sunday mass but times changed. Greed overtook the Clergy and in order to enjoy a secular life and whatever the material world has to offer the clergy resorted to selling church properties to satisfy their wants and needs. Also take note of how the priests when they have to travel from one state to another will not use the inter state transport bus or Indian rail instead the priests will travel by planes.
Catholic Missionaries collect donations from Catholics but help poor non-catholics instead of poor catholics. As a result the poor catholics are left with no option but to go to hindu, parsi, muslim charitable organizations to get help. The upper/middle class Hindus pay donations and their children are given admissions in catholic schools. A vast majority of catholics in India are poor and not in a position to pay donations and the only option left is to beg with the parish priest to get admission for their children and inspite of begging many catholics are refused admission. This explains why out of every 4 catholics in India only 1 has been through a catholic school the others through municipal & government schools.
Unlike the clergy who live in the parish buildings and within church premises for most of their lives the lay catholics have to live and work in the midst of hindus. Hence the clergy are ignorant about the problems which the lay catholics face. Apart from the sufferings from the Clergy & Missionaries the lay catholics are also suffering due to the anti-catholic activities of the right wing hindu parivar (rss,vhp,bajrangdal,shivsena,etc) and are also suffering because of the inability in getting Government jobs / housing / facilities. Because of all the above reasons the population of catholics in India has declined. It is extremely shameful when the clergy call upon lay catholics to have more children when these same clergy are not interested in utilizing church assets, resources, properties for the benefit of lay catholics.
Along with the previous Pope John Paul the current Pope Benedict was also one of the architect of the Vatican II council. VATICAN II BROUGHT CONFUSION, CORRUPTION AND APOSTASY, and that was the warning from the Third Secret of Fatima. The Blessed Virgin warned against modernizing the church because the result would be irreconcilable Corruption and the end of respect for such a "democratic" institution. Prior to Vatican II churches in Europe had 90% attendance after Vatican II the attendance declined and now its barely 10 or 20%. The Clergy including Bishops, Priests & Cardinals have misused the 'Responsible Freedom' which was granted to them by the Vatican - II council of 1962-1965. Corruption has become rampant in the catholic church after the Vatican II council. Church properties are being sold off. Church finances are being misused. Bishops, Cardinals, Priests are not accountable to the lay catholics and hence the lay catholics cannot do anything to stop the corruption in the catholic church. The historical rituals of Catholicism were immediately abandoned after Vatican-II. The changes in rituals and environment obscured the definitive truths which were so visible in the past and left an emptiness in their place. Altars were moved out from the wall, and the priest went to the other side facing the people. He spoke in English or Vernacular instead of Latin. Guitars were brought in to replace organs. People sang folk songs, while papers shuffling and chairs rattling was all else that was heard. Today Catholicism is the weakest religion in the world and the entire blame should go on the popes, bishops, cardinals and priests.
Gabriel D’souza,
Mumbai.
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