CHURCHILL ALEMAO AT HIS SARCASTIC BEST.

By Nisser Dias 30th May 2013

 

Earlier last week I was quite surprised to read former PWD minister Churchill Alemao’s statement to the media during a press conference. Of course he addresses the media less frequently since his ouster from active politics but most often it is for self glorification or clarification and resurrection of his political career. However his statement last week had different undertone, texture and it was sarcastically intelligent.

I say so because for the first time the Varca strongman was subtly taking digs at the electorate for keeping him and the Congress party and also his family out of the Legislative Assembly. He took pot-shots at the chief minister Manohar Parrikar for trying to appease the minority communities in Salcete with his frequent trips to Margao and neighbouring villages and offering sops. While praising the government for its decision to name the Collectorate building after late Mathany Saldanha, Churchill said that the BJP should also field a minority candidate in South Goa for the up-coming Lok Sabha election next year.

Elaborating further former chief minister of 19 days said that since the BJP government took over the administration of the state more than a year ago, prices of essential commodities has dropped. He made this statement knowing very well that the prices are still soaring and though chief minister Parrikar has abolished Value Added Tax (VAT) on petrol, he has actually burdened the common man much more by raising the slab of other taxes. And with entry tax being imposed on non-state vehicles bringing essential commodities to Goa, Goans will have to dig deeper into their pockets.

Churchill Alemao surely must have engaged the services of a public relations (PR) company to tutor him on what, when, where and how to speak. This crosses my mind because he slyly touched a sore spot. Infact I would say he rubbed salt and vinegar into the grouse of the Christians and Muslims by stating that since BJP took over the reins of governance, beef is easily available. It is a known fact that both these communities sell and consume beef. Ironically the cat was let out of the bag when it was exposed that chief minister Manohar Parrikar happened to be the adviser of the NGO that knocked on the doors of the High Court to redress the grievances prevailing at the government abattoir. The message that Churchill was trying to send was, while the chief minister is trying to hoodwink the minority community with sops and friendliness, his long term hidden agenda is very much alive and he puts it into action not very obviously but deviously.

While the Congress party is yet to deliberate its failure to comeback to power in the state, Churchill seems to have introspected his and his family’s defeat. For a year now he seems to be the only member of the clan who addresses the media, there is no sign of Valanka Alemao, Yuri Alemao is fleetingly seen in his car, Joaquim Alemao is more in Malaysia than Goa. Churchill and Valanka both have stopped doles to the poor and needy. For them it is since they have not been elected there are also no poor and needy in Goa or maybe Goans become poorer when they are elected.

Apart from all this the new side of Churchill seems to be very attention-grabbing as his statements have a double edge to it. While he cannot antagonize the chief minister Manohar Parrikar directly due to the alleged scam in the PWD during Churchill’s tenure as PWD minister at the same time he cannot mount a scathing attack on the people and his future in politics lies in their hands and hence he is doing it ingeniously. That is the power of the long distance correspondence course that Churchill Alemao had enrolled himself in years back. He is finally putting it to great use.

Since this is his first time addressing the media so tactfully, he will take some time to convincingly answer the queries of the media. Infact he exposed himself when the media questioned him on his stand on the proposed airport at Mopa. His comment was that he started the movement against Mopa airport while he was in the Save Goa Front party. Ironically he forgot all about it after he rejoined the Congress immediately after the elections. He further said that he did not attend the hugely attended meeting at Lohia Maidan on 15th May 2013 because he would be made to sit in the audience. First and foremost Churchill Alemao had not only ditched the movement and the Goans but was convinced that both the airport could co-exist while he was in power. He had clearly stated that his SGF manifesto claimed that he would retain Dabolim airport and the media had called his bluff. But now having lost all his credibility and power he is desperately trying to gain sympathy of the people. And for the sake of Goa and Goans which he says he loves so much, what is there for Churchill to sit in the audience. He has to face the reality he is no more a VVIP but a simple common man.

He further went on to question the presence of ministers Alina Saldanha and Avertano Furtado at the meeting. Churchill demanded that they either force the chief minister to stop going ahead with the airport or quit his cabinet. When reminded that people also demanded the same thing of him while Digambar Kamat was pursuing the proposed airport he said that he expressed his willingness to resign from the cabinet.

Ironically resigning as a minister is one thing and threatening to do so is another. People saw through his rhetoric and false promises and sent him home. Churchill needs to do some homework on this issue.

Over the years we have experienced both the sides of Churchill Alemao. One as a commoner and the other as the elected representative of the people. And there is a vast difference. While not in power he attracts people with experience, wisdom and intelligence around him and seeks their advice on issues. After coming to power he distances himself from this group and gathers ‘Yes men and henchmen’ around him. People of Goa have seen this over the decades and are unlikely to be fooled again.

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ON MOPA AND LIARS INDIAN AND GOAN LEADERS.

Because of the personal gains, many like Parrikar are issuing statements saying when Mopa becomes operational, Dabolim will also remain functional as usual. For me this statement is a pure lie because nobody has authority to issue such statements, This statement is to fool the people of Goa.

In India there is not a single leader on whom we can rely and to whom we can trust. In India all the Indian leaders are selfish and liars. Every Indian leader is corrupt. We Goans were not like this, we Goans got polluted with Indian dirty habits only when India annexed Goa and passed this contagious desease of corruption on to us. The end result of this desease on us is so strong that our corrupt Goan leaders and even ordinary Goans can easily out beat any genius in corruption from any part of India.. The highest authority of India, the then Premier of India, the late Jawaharlal Nehru, betrayed Goans with a Judas Kiss by not fulfilling his word when he himself had assured Goans that the separate individual identity of Goa will be maintained. And finally Nehru proved to be a liar.

Following the invasion Goa by Bharat, somewhere in late 1962 Nehru visited Goa and on one fine late afternoon visited Calangute Beach. Since this visit was announced earlier, to see him there from close angle, innumerable people from Calangute, Candolim and other surrounding villages thronged at Calangute Beach and being a Sunday the crowd was more. There was only one hotel there known as Caravela touching the beach. His simple motorcade with a few security personnel was a pleasure to see. With smiling face he came out of his car and waved to the enthusiastic crowd waiting to see him. Seeing his facial appearance one could easily read his forehead which said he was overwhelmed to cast his glance on the Queen of Beaches that is Calangute Beach with silver sand.

After halting for a few moments and casting his glance on Hotel Caravella, he moved down to the Beach and straight went to the Beach up to the watery waves standing there and admiring the greatness of this beautiful Beach. Then after a few minutes he turned back and waved to the crowd gathered there, all Goans and genuine Goans who were wearing very decent dresses. In that crowd there was not a single Lungiwala nor Zopatpatiwala as it was in other parts of India. Then speaking a few words he said  "Portuguese stayed in Goa for 450 years and during this lengthy period Portuguese did not do any good to Goans except the Portuguse made you Portuguese. You Goan people got different and decent characteristics and your life style is also totally different which has to be maintained by keeping Goa’s unique identity intact.

Four years later Nehru died and with him his promise was also interred with his bones. This is the quality of Indian leaders. If Nehru was true to his promise he would have granted Special Status for Goa immediately following the ouster of Portuguese from Goa but he did not want to do this since he was intentionally fooling Goans and our Goan leaders were not smart enough to put pressure on Nehru to fulfil his promise. And to our bad luck suddenly from nowhere a traitor in the frame of Dayananda Bandodkar came on to the scene and demanded to kill Goan identity by merging Goa with Maharastra. For this purpose with the backing of corrupt Maharastrian leaders Bandodcar formed a political party known as Maharastrawadi Gomantak Party. This party splitted Goa and Goan interest. The greatest enemy of Goa was Dayananda Bandodkar who tried to liquidate Goa from the Map by merging Goa with Maharastra. The greatest enemy of Goa was Bandodkar, his MG Party and all who supported MGP. This was the big tragedy of Goa which told us that our enemy was within ourselves only.

Now some Goan and Delhi leaders are wooing Goans to accept Mopa. I feel we genuine Goa lover Goans must never trust any Indian leader. They are ignorant, liars and crooks. The efforts to put pressure on Goa government to scrap Mopa Airport must be increased. By shouting we may get nothing but by keeping silent will we get anything? Hence all Goans must stand behind Fr. Eremit to face the challenge posed by Parrikar and his colleagues.

Parrikar must know that in the last election his BJP party came to power not because Goans loved Parrikar and BJP but Goans hated Congress Party. For this reason top heavyweights in Gongress Party lost the elelction. Nowhere in BJP Manifesto gave a single clue that Mopa will be built. Their Manifesto remained totally silent on Mopa and because Mopa was not in their Manifesto, Goans voted BJP to power. Hence BJP has robbed the trust of its voters. Parrikar and his BJP has to pay the price for this "Chori" in the coming Parliamentary election and also in the next Goan election.

A. Veronica Fernandes,

Kuwait.

WE NEED DABOLIM AIRPORT ONLY AND NOT MOPA.

The first time I saw physically the Dabolim Airport was in 1959 when as a student of Portuguese School, Escola Primaria de Abade Faria - Candolim, we were taken on excursion to see this Airport. I was very young boy at that time and during that time I saw how Portuguese Pakle soldiers guarding the Airport were nice and courteous to us. It was not congested, one Plane was seen ready to take off while another at a distance was lying idle and it was not operational, partially broken. As a small naughty boy, without any body’s notice, I jumped into it and shouted my Eureka for getting an opportunity to sit into the Plane for the first time in my life though it was partly broken one. Approximately 5 years prior to this date of our excursion, this Dabolim Airpot was commissioned and made operational and officially put into the control of civilian authority and NOT NAVY.

 

After Goa was forcibly annexed to Bharat in December 1961 against the wishes of greater number of Goans, Indian Navy without proper official formalities and discipline, in haste took control of Dabollim Airport because during that time there was chaos everywhere in Goa and Goa was treated like an enslaved territory by its Bharati masters having no voice and no proper authority to talk for Goa and Goans. Everything was dictated from Delhi and by one Mr. Handoo who was the then advisor to the Bharat occupied authority of Goa. Delhi Babus treated Goa as a colony by thinking and deciding for Goa and Goans as per the benefit of them and not for the benefit of Goa and Goans. During that time Goa was treated by Delhi Babus worst than Lisbon Salazarists headed by Dictator Salazar; in fact Portugal protected interest of Goans much better than Delhi Babus headed by traitor Nehru who cheated Goa and Goans.

The Dabolim Airport under the control of Indian Navy is become a pleasure center for the Indian Navy men. It has got vast area to create facilities for huge aircrafts to land round the clock. The area is so vast that even there is one soccer ground and Golf Course for Navy men for their recreation. If Dabolim Aiport is to be upgraded for the top and most advanced Aircrafts, the current Dabolim Airport Authority can easily utilise only 25% of the available land under the control of Dabolim Airport. According to experts if only 25% of the available land is used to upgrade the current facilities at Dabolim, there is no need of one extra Airport at Mopa.

What prevents the Indian authorities to upgrade Dabolim Airport to international standard and scrap Mopa? The answer is very simple; Indian Navy wants to keep Dabolim Airport entirely for its own use only. Everybody is giving an assurance that when Mopa is operational, Dabolim will not be closed for civilian Aircrafts. It is a pure lie. Recently even Indian Defence Minister Mr. Anthony gave the same assurance. If Anthony’s government in Delhi collapses tomorrow then the new government will never support the decision of Antony. In fact the new government will decide the new policy which may be worst. The way governments are changing, the policies are also changing in India.

Parrikar is assuring Goans that Dabolim will also remain operational for civilian Aircrafts once Mopa starts. Who is Parrikar to give false assurances to Goans? Who is Parrikar to give such an assurance as if Dabolim Airport is his “Bapaichem Bens”. Parrikar is not an authority to talk on Dabolim. Parrikar does not know whether his government will survive tomorrow. If his government falls he will be nowhere to protect his assurance. Parrikar is fooling Goans as if he is the owner of Indian Navy. Indian Navy does not care for Parrikar and for that matter for nobody in Goa. In the name of national security Indian Navy can usurp any land from Goa. Parrikar is supporting Mopa because of the Land Scam there. According to one source, all the influential persons and politicians including Parrikar from Goa purchased the land pieces at and around Mopa very cheaply. Once the Mopa Airport becomes a reality then the value of the same plots will be like that of Diamond. Parrikar is a crook and a liar. In the coming general election, Goan opposing Mopa Airport must campaign very hard against Parrikar’s BJP and defeat both the BJP candidates.

Goan MP “Tallo” Francisco Sardina was assuring Goans not to worry for Dabolim Airport saying it will also remain functional side by side Mopa. Sardinha is a big liar and selfish. Who is he to give assurance that Dabolim will remain as it is for civilians Aircrafts? Dabolim Airport is not the “Paicho Fath” of Sardinha. It is on record that both the former Chief Ministers of Goa, Sardinha and Luizinho Faleiro have written two letters separately to the Central government to make hurry to build Mopa Airport as soon as possible. See these both the so called Goa lover Goans how they are betraying Goan interest. They are both traitors like Judas. Such traitors should be stoned to death without giving them a chance to commit suicide like Judas. Now the responsibility falls on the shoulders of Saxttikars to ask Tallo Sardinha and Faleiro the explanation of these letters and under whose instruction they wrote these letters.

Indian government wants Goa as a brand name to sell its services to the outsiders in the name of Goa. The Mopa Airport with a prefix or suffix Goa will attract more passengers mainly the tourists. Mopa is at the border of Maharastra and most of the benefits of this Airport will go to the Maharastrians. From Mopa Airport it will be closer to go to the Maharastra where more hotels will come up giving more jobs to Maharastrians. In Maharastra bordering Mopa, because of Mopa Airport business and tourism will boom and its facilities will be captured by the Maharastrians. Tourism will collapse in Goa giving rise to unemployment. Mopa Airport will better serve Maharastra and not Goa.

And finally to you Alinabai, if you are real wife of your late husband Mathanay Saldanha believing in gis principles, you will oppose Mopa very strongly.  If necessary, even by surrendering your porfolio.

A. Veronica Fernandes,

Kuwait,