Is there no compassion in Islam? Yes, there is. Islam is full of compassion, pity and forgiveness and because of these attributes Islam is admired, loved and followed by millions of people all around the globe. The recent killing on 4th of this month in cold blood of Salman Taseer the Governor of Punjab in Pakistan could have been easily avoided if the killer and his group had to show little compassion to the Christian woman Asia Bibi who was rightly or wrongly sentenced to death for blasphemy. The Governor of Punjab a liberal was supporting the woman Asia Bibi against this death sentence, he wanted this sentence to be commuted as he had his own doubts about the uprightness of this sentence. Being a small minority in Pakistan, Christians are facing lot of hurdles there, many times they are made to face troubles for no fault of theirs. The intelligencia in Pakistan is aware of this but they are not forceful in their resentment as the late assassinated Governor of Punjab who sadly had to pay the price for his straight forwardness. But one thing we must admit, while fighting for justice we have to face the gun shots till justice is delivered.
The killing of Punjab Governor on last Tuesday at Islamabad resembles the killing of Indira Gandhi by her own body guard who was supposed to protect her and also of Anwar Sadat the President of Egypt. It is sad to note that the protectors of VIP’s are become killers of VIP’s . In this situation how can we protect our leaders? Mr. Jinnah the founder of Pakistan if he was alive now, surely he would not approve of the killing of the Governor nor he would allow sentencing of the Christian woman Asia Bibi for Blasphemy. As a matter of fact was the judgment against Asia Bibi proper or was it one sided? In the past when judgment of death sentence against Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was passed, the judiciary was mutilated on the instruction of Gen. Zia who was hell-bent to liquidate Bhutto from this planet. Was Asia Bibi given proper hearing and was she equipped with best legal counsel? Coming back to Jinnah, his secular outlook and action were all well known. He was never a religious fanatic and those who propagate fanaticism in Pakistan are going against the principle of Jinnah who was more secular than the seculars themselves.
It is a pity that because of religious belief people of minority community is suffering in Pakistan. In many places in Pakistan Christians are treated as second class citizens. In order to humiliate Chritians Gen. Zia selected a Christian hangman Tara Masih to hang the late Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. Many of the people leaving Pakistan are Christians like what is happening in Iraq. I don’t think Islam propagates hatred for other religious communities especially the people of the book like Christians. Islam recognizes Christianity and as such those Muslims who try to show their hatred towards Christians in the name of their religious belief are doing disservice to their own religion.
How long the tirade against Christians will survive? Day by day Pakistan is going towards extremism. Extremists are pampered and adored. This will finally bounce back on Pakistan only either today or tomorrow and such religious fanatics and extremists will themselves liquidate Pakistan as it is existing now. It is not my wish to see Pakistan getting liquidated thru the power of extremism and fanaticism but something concrete has to be done to prevent this end. The radicalism promoted in Pakistan to teach a good lesson to India is now teaching a very good lesson to Pakistan only.
While concluding, let me quote Jinnah the founder of Pakistan where he shows his secular outlook and sense of justice towards minorities in Pakistan. And will ask the Pakitani religious fanatics whether they are worthy of Jinnah’s ideals.
“We are starting in the days when there is no discrimination, no distinction between one community and another, no discrimination between one caste or creed and another. We are starting with this fundamental principle that we are all citizens and equal citizens of one State.The people of England in course of time had to face the realities of the situation and had to discharge the responsibilities and burdens placed upon them by the government of their country and they went through that fire step by step. Today, you might say with justice that Roman Catholics and Protestants do not exist; what exist now is that every man is a citizen, and equal citizen of Great Britain and they are all members of the nation.Now, I think we should keep that in front of us as our ideal and you will find that in course of time Hindus would cease to be Hindus and Muslims would cease to be Muslims, not in the religious sense, because that is the personal faith of each individual but in the political sense as citizensofthestate.I do not wish to take up any more of your time and thank you again for the honour you have done to me. I shall always be guided by the principles of justice and fair play without any, as is put in the political language, prejudice or ill-will, in other words, partiality or favouritsm. My guiding principles will be justice and complete impartiality, and I am sure that with your support and co-operation, I can look forward to Pakistan becoming one of the greatest Nations of the world". (Presidential Address to the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan on11thAugust,1947).
" It will be our constant Endeavour to work for the welfare and well-being of all the communities in Pakistan, and I hope that everyone would be inspired by the idea of public service, and they will be imbued with the spirit of co-operation and will excel in their political and civic virtues which go to make a great nation and help to advance its greatness" (Speech on the inauguration of the Pakistan Constituent Assembly on 14th August 1947).
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
January 12, 2011
January 11, 2011
BAR TAINTED POLITICIAN.
Bar Tainted Politicians
If I said politics is the art and science of governance, a lot of people may agree, but if I said, politics is restoring of hope and dignity in this age and era of cynicism, I am sure a lot people will not connect with my definition, and for all that it’s called, if Isay, politics should be without doubt, in simple terms “community service”, here, I am sure everyone without exception will say“halleluiah”. It is community service that is the very base or the bedrock of politics, no matter what tongue twisting words and phrases we use to analyze it, politics should always be service of thecommunity.
Bar tainted MLA’s, in the call given by the Election Commission, is it the first time ? Nope, will it be the last time ? Nope. First and foremost, it is only appropriate that no party should give election tickets to the tainted, seasoned or aspiring candidates, it is only common sense, isn’t it ? For the future of the nation or the state andit’s people is left in the hands of these elected representatives. We are over a billion people and so why is it so difficult for the political parties to get a few hundred good, honest and dedicated people ? Here too the parties in the first place should have morals above reproach, only then can they pursue impeccable candidates. It isnot just enough to say, bar tainted MLA’s, it is the duty of the ECto see that it’s call is adhered to and make sure that criminalizationof politics does not take place.
For the very purpose and position that he or she is elected, it is indeed of paramount importance that the candidates should be of impeccable reputation, as they are the ones that carry the hopes and aspirations of the general public, as we trust them with our very own lives and we should expect them to accomplish their duties towards thegeneral public, without delay or impediment and with much aplomb. Thisshould actually be the essence and the mantra of every goddamnpolitician.
Politics as I have mentioned on a number of occasions is a noble cause, because, it directs the energy of a few, to an illuminated future for the land and it’s people, honesty and integrity as well asthe authenticity of the candidates willingness to go to any length to bestow parity to the poor and the downtrodden, to uphold the law andprotect the rights of every citizen, the candidates eagerness to provide sustainable development to provide employment and irradiate impoverishment, the candidates foresight to protect and preserve ourecology and environment for posterity and above all his commitment tofight and destroy the axis of evils that have maligned and destroyed the lives of people and the reputation of the land, should be the bases of selecting candidates by our political parties.
Unfortunately politics in Indian and for that matter, more so in Goa,is become a business, or even family business, the noble cause has strictly become a business profession, where first they pay to get election tickets and then go on rampage to sustain and finance their election campaigns for the rest of their lives. If the Party it’s self takes money to give tickets, how can the party stop their candidates from taking money ? It is but obvious and thus the chain of corruption rolls on, we mostly say that corruption starts from the bottom and goes upwards; this analysis is not at all true, in politics the mightychain of corruption starts from the top and spreads downwards to the whole pyramidal system. To arrest and stop corruption, there is only one way, cut at the apex body, change the system at the top and the lower rugs will fall in place. In college we use to use this phrase totee off our college leaders and the phrase goes like this “lashkar kasardar hi chor hai, to lashkar ka kya haal ho sakta hai ?“ whichmeans, “if the commander of a battalion is himself a rogue, will hismen be any different ?” This phrase, very much depicts our patheticsystem, isn’t it ?
At ever election, every candidate has to declare his or her assets and it bemuses me to no end as to why the EC does not investigate their assets, the phenomena or the journey of our politicians from rags to riches is an open secret, which today even the little kids know. Some of them even flaunt openly all their ill gotten gains and the EC plays dumb, isn’t it the duty of the EC to investigate and book these crooks? Because of the ineffectiveness of the EC, we have guys like Madhu Koda feathering their nests with thousands of crores in just a fewyears. Is the EC really blind and dumb, so as not to notice theseheists ? It’s is the question that the general public needs to ask the EC.
In Goa, politics is an orgy, our politicians change parties, political partners and affiliations to their hearts content, there are noenemies, nor friends in Goans politics, they bed anyone and everyoneas long as it suits their purpose, just yesterday there was a photo in the news paper of the two bitter enemies, the queen mother and the prince charming, in each others arms almost locked in a “lip lock”.The ex MLA from Agonda is become the shadow of the big king “Momo”,hoping for a ticket along with “Momo’s” daughter, it only goes to show the hollowness of their character, their impish political diktats and their well planned agendas. It will indeed be fun to watch the reaction of our politicians, if and when party tickets are denied to them and their family members. I am sure like the last elections, this time too there will be overnight divorces and remarriages or live inarrangements, made at the spur of the moment. Oh ! Goan politicsstinks to kingdom come.
It’s such a real pity that our Supreme Constitution is as porous asour national borders and these crooks taking advantages of the loopholes therein are making merry. It certainly looks like the Election Commission nor the Enforcement Directorate has the will, the inclination or the political power to tackle these rogue politicians and their parties and for this obvious reason, politics has ceased, to being community service and has infact become a means of self-servicefor our inapt corrupt politicians. In this age and era of extremecynicism, I only hope and pray that some day in the near future,politics becomes a tool to restore hope and dignity of the Goanpeople.
Freddy Agnelo Fernandes,
Dubai - UAE,
Nuem,
Cabo de Rama - Goa.
If I said politics is the art and science of governance, a lot of people may agree, but if I said, politics is restoring of hope and dignity in this age and era of cynicism, I am sure a lot people will not connect with my definition, and for all that it’s called, if Isay, politics should be without doubt, in simple terms “community service”, here, I am sure everyone without exception will say“halleluiah”. It is community service that is the very base or the bedrock of politics, no matter what tongue twisting words and phrases we use to analyze it, politics should always be service of thecommunity.
Bar tainted MLA’s, in the call given by the Election Commission, is it the first time ? Nope, will it be the last time ? Nope. First and foremost, it is only appropriate that no party should give election tickets to the tainted, seasoned or aspiring candidates, it is only common sense, isn’t it ? For the future of the nation or the state andit’s people is left in the hands of these elected representatives. We are over a billion people and so why is it so difficult for the political parties to get a few hundred good, honest and dedicated people ? Here too the parties in the first place should have morals above reproach, only then can they pursue impeccable candidates. It isnot just enough to say, bar tainted MLA’s, it is the duty of the ECto see that it’s call is adhered to and make sure that criminalizationof politics does not take place.
For the very purpose and position that he or she is elected, it is indeed of paramount importance that the candidates should be of impeccable reputation, as they are the ones that carry the hopes and aspirations of the general public, as we trust them with our very own lives and we should expect them to accomplish their duties towards thegeneral public, without delay or impediment and with much aplomb. Thisshould actually be the essence and the mantra of every goddamnpolitician.
Politics as I have mentioned on a number of occasions is a noble cause, because, it directs the energy of a few, to an illuminated future for the land and it’s people, honesty and integrity as well asthe authenticity of the candidates willingness to go to any length to bestow parity to the poor and the downtrodden, to uphold the law andprotect the rights of every citizen, the candidates eagerness to provide sustainable development to provide employment and irradiate impoverishment, the candidates foresight to protect and preserve ourecology and environment for posterity and above all his commitment tofight and destroy the axis of evils that have maligned and destroyed the lives of people and the reputation of the land, should be the bases of selecting candidates by our political parties.
Unfortunately politics in Indian and for that matter, more so in Goa,is become a business, or even family business, the noble cause has strictly become a business profession, where first they pay to get election tickets and then go on rampage to sustain and finance their election campaigns for the rest of their lives. If the Party it’s self takes money to give tickets, how can the party stop their candidates from taking money ? It is but obvious and thus the chain of corruption rolls on, we mostly say that corruption starts from the bottom and goes upwards; this analysis is not at all true, in politics the mightychain of corruption starts from the top and spreads downwards to the whole pyramidal system. To arrest and stop corruption, there is only one way, cut at the apex body, change the system at the top and the lower rugs will fall in place. In college we use to use this phrase totee off our college leaders and the phrase goes like this “lashkar kasardar hi chor hai, to lashkar ka kya haal ho sakta hai ?“ whichmeans, “if the commander of a battalion is himself a rogue, will hismen be any different ?” This phrase, very much depicts our patheticsystem, isn’t it ?
At ever election, every candidate has to declare his or her assets and it bemuses me to no end as to why the EC does not investigate their assets, the phenomena or the journey of our politicians from rags to riches is an open secret, which today even the little kids know. Some of them even flaunt openly all their ill gotten gains and the EC plays dumb, isn’t it the duty of the EC to investigate and book these crooks? Because of the ineffectiveness of the EC, we have guys like Madhu Koda feathering their nests with thousands of crores in just a fewyears. Is the EC really blind and dumb, so as not to notice theseheists ? It’s is the question that the general public needs to ask the EC.
In Goa, politics is an orgy, our politicians change parties, political partners and affiliations to their hearts content, there are noenemies, nor friends in Goans politics, they bed anyone and everyoneas long as it suits their purpose, just yesterday there was a photo in the news paper of the two bitter enemies, the queen mother and the prince charming, in each others arms almost locked in a “lip lock”.The ex MLA from Agonda is become the shadow of the big king “Momo”,hoping for a ticket along with “Momo’s” daughter, it only goes to show the hollowness of their character, their impish political diktats and their well planned agendas. It will indeed be fun to watch the reaction of our politicians, if and when party tickets are denied to them and their family members. I am sure like the last elections, this time too there will be overnight divorces and remarriages or live inarrangements, made at the spur of the moment. Oh ! Goan politicsstinks to kingdom come.
It’s such a real pity that our Supreme Constitution is as porous asour national borders and these crooks taking advantages of the loopholes therein are making merry. It certainly looks like the Election Commission nor the Enforcement Directorate has the will, the inclination or the political power to tackle these rogue politicians and their parties and for this obvious reason, politics has ceased, to being community service and has infact become a means of self-servicefor our inapt corrupt politicians. In this age and era of extremecynicism, I only hope and pray that some day in the near future,politics becomes a tool to restore hope and dignity of the Goanpeople.
Freddy Agnelo Fernandes,
Dubai - UAE,
Nuem,
Cabo de Rama - Goa.
January 9, 2011
THE TIMES OUR LEGISLATORS INSULTED GOANS IN 2010.
By Nisser The times our legislators insulted Goans in 2010
As I reminded the readers in my last article of the chief minister Digambar Kamat’s words to niz Goenkars, “I don’t depend on your votes, go ahead and do whatever you want”. But he was not alone in degrading and insulting Goans. PWD minister and Navelim MLA Churchill Alemao went a step ahead and called Goans ‘squealing pigs’ for objecting to a mega housing project in his constituency. It was very obvious that he was acting on behalf of the promoters and inspite of his directives to the authorities to sanction the plans, nothing was moving forward as a PIL was filed in the High Court against the project by Carmona panch Orlando D’silva. Churchill’s frustration came out in his words. However it was not the first time that the strong man from Varca has been abusive to Goans. It is pertinent to remind that he was caught on camera calling Goans ungrateful when he was a parliamentarian.
In the second week of July BJP and its allies brought the entire country to a grinding halt by calling and enforcing a bandh to protest against the hike in fuel prices. BJP which is out of power for the last two terms is feeling out of water and tries to remain afloat in the eyes of the people by resorting to such gimmicks. This party which has set a bad precedents of dividing Indians on communal lines should have taken the government to task in the parliament, instead of increasing the hardship of the common man. At the end of the day they were no closer to reducing the spiralling prices but succeeded in increasing the woes of the people.
It was in the month of July Benaulim MLA Mickky Pacheco spilled the beans in the Supreme Court through his anticipatory bail application that he was more than a close friend of late Nadia Torrado. Ironically the highest court in the country rejected his anticipatory bail application thereby sealing his fate of spending time in police custody, which he subsequently suffered. Incidently he became the first MLA to spend entire 14 days in police custody, even though he feigned weakness and sickness, the courts refused to grant his bail. Finally upon end of 14 days in police custody did the courts enlarged him to bail.
During the assembly session in August Health minister Vishwajeet Rane stood completely exposed on his alleged dealing with Israelis Gun Runners. Opposition Leader Manohar Parrikar on the floor of the house disclosed that Vishwajeet had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a company whose main business was dealing in arms. The junior Rane had signed an MoU between the state and the Isaraeli company to hand of 10,000 sq. Mts. of land at GMC to the company to build a 200 bedded hospital (Elbit) at the cost of 120 crores under Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) basis. The lease was for 60 years and the Arms company would have to pay a meagre amount of just Rs. 2 crores per year. It is well known that arms deals runs in billions of dollars.
It was also in the month of August that stalwart and face of Goa Bachao Abhiyan Dr. Oscar Rebello resigned from the organisation that had stopped the politicians in their tracks from selling Goa with their draconian Regional Plan 2011. He was the only person other than Patricia Pinto in the GBA who took on the might of the politicians, builders and others who sought to benefit from RP 2011. Dr. Oscar connected with the people from all walks of life. But some in the GBA itself did not like his soaring publicity and questioned his integrity in public thereby forcing him to quit. And was quite predictable Goans who used to flock for meetings called by him dwindled drastically. But we can be sure of one thing, if need be Dr. Oscar will surely rise again with much vigour and might.
In the month of September drug peddler Atala’s disappearance from the state while on bail made news. Atala was arrested after his former girlfriend Lucky Farmhouse released videos on YouTube of him boasting of his connection with the cops. This led to his arrest and that of some cops including a police inspector. However the cops dragged their feet in investigating the case even after the Farmhouse should willingness to co-operate with the cops. Even the suggestion by the High Court to handover the case to the CBI was turned down by the government. Finally Atala was granted bail who fled the country days later leaving the police department red faced.
In the month of October, PWD minister Churchill Alemao roused the anger in the Goans again with his statement that Karwar and Joida should be merged with Goa. There was strong resentment against Alemao not only from Goa but also from Goans living worldwide. The merger God forbid if it ever materializes would surely spell death knell to Goan identity, its ethos and its traditions and cultures. As it is the state is flooded with migrants and still more are entering the state thereby diluting our presence in the state. And if the merger goes through we are doomed forever.
In the month of November Benaulim MLA Mickky Pacheco was not only in the news again, this time he got a taste of his own medicine when he was beaten up by the supporters of his own party colleague Revenue minister Jose Philip D’souza for allegedly distributing money to voters to cast their ballot against the candidates backed by D’souza in the Municipal Council election. Revenue minister himself made a statement that Pacheco was involved in distributing money thereby erasing any doubts in the minds of the people that money is being used to win election.
It was in the same month that the National Geographic Society’s centre for Sustainable Destinations -- rated Goan beaches as among the world’s worst 10. This should be the wake call for the government who from the 70’s has cashed in on beach tourism but has not spent money to conserve them. Infact successive governments since Liberation has allowed destruction of our beaches by allowing illegal construction by star hoteliers. And the present incumbent has even invented a method to circumvent Supreme Court’s order to demolish illegal extension of Cidade de Goa by introducing an Ordinance to save it.
During the end of November Goa Bench of Bombay High Court came to the rescue of activists fighting a battle against the allotment of large tracts of the land to SEZ promoters. The Bench held that the system adopted the Goa Industrial Development Corporation to allot land to the SEZ promoters was lopsided. If the government is sincere enough it should start an enquiry into the assets of the members of the board including the chairman. In my opinion the board members should not be prosecuted but persecuted from trying to commit a fraud on Goans by selling part of the limited land mass of the Goa.
In the month of December Chief minister Digambar Kamat made an irrational statement of compensating land losers at the market rate. Today the land rates in Goa have sky rocketed to the extent of price of land in the same area differs drastically. And if the government tries to pay the land owners the prices demanded by the owners the coffers of the treasury would soon be empty and if the government refuses to pay the amount demanded by the land owners it will invite litigation which will go on for decades thereby stalling all round developments.
As the year was coming to an end flamboyant MLA from Benaulim was once again in the news. Efforts by his High Command to reinstate him in the minister saddle by sacrificing his party colleagues did not fructify as Churchill threatened to overthrow the government. After hectic parleys with party observers it was decided to keep Mickky’s induction as minister in abeyance.
Send your comments/reactions to nisserdias@gmail.com
Or SMS 9422437029)
(Nisser Dias writes a regular column in GT on Thursday. This article was published in GT today)
As I reminded the readers in my last article of the chief minister Digambar Kamat’s words to niz Goenkars, “I don’t depend on your votes, go ahead and do whatever you want”. But he was not alone in degrading and insulting Goans. PWD minister and Navelim MLA Churchill Alemao went a step ahead and called Goans ‘squealing pigs’ for objecting to a mega housing project in his constituency. It was very obvious that he was acting on behalf of the promoters and inspite of his directives to the authorities to sanction the plans, nothing was moving forward as a PIL was filed in the High Court against the project by Carmona panch Orlando D’silva. Churchill’s frustration came out in his words. However it was not the first time that the strong man from Varca has been abusive to Goans. It is pertinent to remind that he was caught on camera calling Goans ungrateful when he was a parliamentarian.
In the second week of July BJP and its allies brought the entire country to a grinding halt by calling and enforcing a bandh to protest against the hike in fuel prices. BJP which is out of power for the last two terms is feeling out of water and tries to remain afloat in the eyes of the people by resorting to such gimmicks. This party which has set a bad precedents of dividing Indians on communal lines should have taken the government to task in the parliament, instead of increasing the hardship of the common man. At the end of the day they were no closer to reducing the spiralling prices but succeeded in increasing the woes of the people.
It was in the month of July Benaulim MLA Mickky Pacheco spilled the beans in the Supreme Court through his anticipatory bail application that he was more than a close friend of late Nadia Torrado. Ironically the highest court in the country rejected his anticipatory bail application thereby sealing his fate of spending time in police custody, which he subsequently suffered. Incidently he became the first MLA to spend entire 14 days in police custody, even though he feigned weakness and sickness, the courts refused to grant his bail. Finally upon end of 14 days in police custody did the courts enlarged him to bail.
During the assembly session in August Health minister Vishwajeet Rane stood completely exposed on his alleged dealing with Israelis Gun Runners. Opposition Leader Manohar Parrikar on the floor of the house disclosed that Vishwajeet had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a company whose main business was dealing in arms. The junior Rane had signed an MoU between the state and the Isaraeli company to hand of 10,000 sq. Mts. of land at GMC to the company to build a 200 bedded hospital (Elbit) at the cost of 120 crores under Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) basis. The lease was for 60 years and the Arms company would have to pay a meagre amount of just Rs. 2 crores per year. It is well known that arms deals runs in billions of dollars.
It was also in the month of August that stalwart and face of Goa Bachao Abhiyan Dr. Oscar Rebello resigned from the organisation that had stopped the politicians in their tracks from selling Goa with their draconian Regional Plan 2011. He was the only person other than Patricia Pinto in the GBA who took on the might of the politicians, builders and others who sought to benefit from RP 2011. Dr. Oscar connected with the people from all walks of life. But some in the GBA itself did not like his soaring publicity and questioned his integrity in public thereby forcing him to quit. And was quite predictable Goans who used to flock for meetings called by him dwindled drastically. But we can be sure of one thing, if need be Dr. Oscar will surely rise again with much vigour and might.
In the month of September drug peddler Atala’s disappearance from the state while on bail made news. Atala was arrested after his former girlfriend Lucky Farmhouse released videos on YouTube of him boasting of his connection with the cops. This led to his arrest and that of some cops including a police inspector. However the cops dragged their feet in investigating the case even after the Farmhouse should willingness to co-operate with the cops. Even the suggestion by the High Court to handover the case to the CBI was turned down by the government. Finally Atala was granted bail who fled the country days later leaving the police department red faced.
In the month of October, PWD minister Churchill Alemao roused the anger in the Goans again with his statement that Karwar and Joida should be merged with Goa. There was strong resentment against Alemao not only from Goa but also from Goans living worldwide. The merger God forbid if it ever materializes would surely spell death knell to Goan identity, its ethos and its traditions and cultures. As it is the state is flooded with migrants and still more are entering the state thereby diluting our presence in the state. And if the merger goes through we are doomed forever.
In the month of November Benaulim MLA Mickky Pacheco was not only in the news again, this time he got a taste of his own medicine when he was beaten up by the supporters of his own party colleague Revenue minister Jose Philip D’souza for allegedly distributing money to voters to cast their ballot against the candidates backed by D’souza in the Municipal Council election. Revenue minister himself made a statement that Pacheco was involved in distributing money thereby erasing any doubts in the minds of the people that money is being used to win election.
It was in the same month that the National Geographic Society’s centre for Sustainable Destinations -- rated Goan beaches as among the world’s worst 10. This should be the wake call for the government who from the 70’s has cashed in on beach tourism but has not spent money to conserve them. Infact successive governments since Liberation has allowed destruction of our beaches by allowing illegal construction by star hoteliers. And the present incumbent has even invented a method to circumvent Supreme Court’s order to demolish illegal extension of Cidade de Goa by introducing an Ordinance to save it.
During the end of November Goa Bench of Bombay High Court came to the rescue of activists fighting a battle against the allotment of large tracts of the land to SEZ promoters. The Bench held that the system adopted the Goa Industrial Development Corporation to allot land to the SEZ promoters was lopsided. If the government is sincere enough it should start an enquiry into the assets of the members of the board including the chairman. In my opinion the board members should not be prosecuted but persecuted from trying to commit a fraud on Goans by selling part of the limited land mass of the Goa.
In the month of December Chief minister Digambar Kamat made an irrational statement of compensating land losers at the market rate. Today the land rates in Goa have sky rocketed to the extent of price of land in the same area differs drastically. And if the government tries to pay the land owners the prices demanded by the owners the coffers of the treasury would soon be empty and if the government refuses to pay the amount demanded by the land owners it will invite litigation which will go on for decades thereby stalling all round developments.
As the year was coming to an end flamboyant MLA from Benaulim was once again in the news. Efforts by his High Command to reinstate him in the minister saddle by sacrificing his party colleagues did not fructify as Churchill threatened to overthrow the government. After hectic parleys with party observers it was decided to keep Mickky’s induction as minister in abeyance.
Send your comments/reactions to nisserdias@gmail.com
Or SMS 9422437029)
(Nisser Dias writes a regular column in GT on Thursday. This article was published in GT today)
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