By Aires Rodrigues
The Manohar Parrikar Government has been in office for a month. Cheaper petrol has come as a succor to the Aam Aadmi. Much of the budgetary proposals are to be doled out by way of allowances to the elderly, women and unemployed. Let us hope the money for these schemes will not be raised by further taxing the Aam Aadami. That will be an exercise in futility. The motive behind abolishing house tax in Panchayat areas is not known as there was no demand to this effect from any quarter.
The three month honey moon period will soon end. On completion of six months the people of Goa will be able to judge the performance of this government. During the election campaign and over the last month much has been promised. The people of Goa will want every promise fulfilled and will accept no excuses. Political compulsions should be no reason to violate the law and allow corruption to perpetuate. And with a crystal clear mandate, the BJP will not be able to dodge the issues plaguing Goa.
While in the Opposition the Chief Minister had aggressively campaigned for the removal of casinos. His backtracking on the issue is a matter of great concern. He should not succumb to the powerful casino lobby and should make sure he delivers what he promised. Whether delivering laptops and electronic tablets to school children is a wise and feasible decision only time will tell.
Mr. Manohar Parrikar had promised that Goa would be garbage free within three months. He has another two months to fulfill this promise. Infact tackling the garbage crisis should have been the priority of the new government rather than toppling the chairpersons of the Municipal councils. Fortunately the Panchayat term is coming to an end otherwise the toppling games would have extended to the Panchayats too.
A war against illegal mining has to be waged as promised. The interests of his newly elected MLA’s in illegal mining should not hinder Mr. Manohar Parrikar from taking tough action. The government would also have to expedite the removal of what remains of the River Princess at Candolim before the ensuing monsoons. The promise of new bridges, better roads and an end to parking woes in the cities have to be fulfilled. The rampant menace of stray dogs will also need this government’s prompt attention. The people of Goa have a lot of expectations from this government which has also promised an effective Lokayukta within 100 days of coming to power.
It may not have been his election promise but Mr. Manohar Parrikar should definitely consider slashing the exorbitant fees currently being paid to the Advocate General and bring it on par with other states. A vociferous defender the illegal mining, builder and Casino lobby in the past, it may now be untenable for the new Advocate General Mr. Atmaram Nadkarni to do justice in legally assisting a government which has vowed to work against the very same lobbies.
A clean, transparent and corruption free administration should be the hallmark of this government. There should be no political interference or manipulation of the bureaucracy. As mandated by the Supreme Court of India the police should be given the freedom to function independently. Mr. Manohar Parrikar should permit no illegality and govern strictly by the rule book. He should not hesitate to crack the whip on anyone involved in any irregularity including his own MLA’s and party functionaries.
We were also assured that government corporations would be headed only by professionals with expertise. The Chief Minister has already deviated on this promise. The government should also seriously consider winding up unnecessary corporations some of which were created only to accommodate former politicians with a position and perks at public expense.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and his Ministers should ensure that there are no brokers or agents hovering around them. Centers of power should not be used to manage and lobby for illegalities. If Manohar Parrikar can live upto his promises and assurances by providing a corruption free and a secular government he may be a hero. Otherwise he may turn out to be yet another villain on Goa’s political landscape and find himself at the receiving end of public fury.
Let us hope Mr. Manohar Parrikar will act as a true statesman and rise over petty party politics and secure the interest of every Goan. He should govern with a wide vision and definitely ensure that he doesn’t commit the mistakes of the past while ensuring that caste and communal politics never raises its ugly head again.
A very weak and spineless opposition in the Legislative Assembly should be no solace to the Manohar Parrikar government. A duty is cast on every citizen to expose and fight against any and every illegality that this government may try to commit.
Mr. Manohar Parrikar, let us get on with the job to save what remains of Goa. No further time can be wasted on celebrations and felicitations. A badly battered and bruised Goa has been grieving and in a state of mourning for too long.
It would be very unfortunate if under the new BJP regime, only the mode and the beneficiaries of Corruption and Nepotism change while the much touted Zero tolerance to corruption remains just a promise.
(the writer can be contacted on 9822684372 or airesrodrigues@yahoo.com)
April 8, 2012
April 7, 2012
A tribute to Navelkars
By Joseph L R Vaz
Whenever any candidate wins, his favorite words are “it is people’s victory” even though he uses money to buy votes, threats, intimidation, manipulation, goondagiri, etc to ensure his victory. I thought these 2 words “people’s victory” had lost its meaning until I saw how Mr. Avertano Furtado won in Navelim.
Avertan’s win, who has been described by most of the newspapers as the boy next door, was indeed a “people’s victory” right from organizing corner meetings, to big public meetings, from door to door campaigning to word-of-mouth campaigning, each and every Navelkar, baring a few contributed his bit, as one of my friend commented “for a bottle of soda”, no biryani, no whisky, just plain soda, sometimes even without that.
Churchill’s rants against the Clergy was uncalled for, as Dr. Jorson rightly pointed out – ‘bad workers blame their tools’. I attend mass in Navelim Church and have never heard any Priest tell the congregation not to vote for Churchill, yes they kept telling us not to vote for corrupt, now if Churchill considers himself as corrupt, then yes, it is for him.
In his pride Churchill could not feel the undercurrents sweeping through Navelim. It all started in 2008, with his move to occupy fertile fields of poor Goan farmers, most of whom are his voters from Aquem-Baixo and to gift them to mostly non-Goan illegal settlers from Raanfond, all of whom are already settled elsewhere.
Navelim Forum & Navelim Xetkarancho Exvott withstood the pressure including his public threats of “Finishing them” (which incidentally is his favorite sentence at all public speeches). He failed to realize that even his ardent followers were with the farmers in this agitation. Perhaps for the 1st time in Navelim, armed guards were used to forcibly snatch away the fields from poor farmers. With help of the Rosary (the Patroness of Navelim village), the farmers gathered support from all over Goa which put the then Chief Minister Mr. Digambar Kamat under tremendous pressure, forcing him to put the acquisition on hold and promising the farmers a favourable solution to return the fields, but our own MLA Mr. Alemao was still adamant and kept on challenging the agitating people, who were his voters.
The 2nd major issue was the Sinquetim bridge, there again armed guards were used to forcible construct the bridge against people’s wishes. Somehow the people managed to slow down the progress of the bridge construction and withstood all the threats and intimidation. There were more issues of some more farmers at Mandopa and residents of Dongorim. Davorlim too also had land acquisition problem against people's wishes. None of the people cowed down under pressure even though harassment and dadagiri was used. He must have thought that ultimately with money and gifts he can buy all the voters of Navelim, which sadly back fired upon him.
When Avertano announced his interest to contest in Navelim, it gave a big relief to all right thinking Navelkars. From then on support kept on increasing for Avertan, with each passing day. Navelim was the only place where it was straight fight, 1 against 1, good v/s bad, new fresh blood v/s old tainted blood, youth v/s old. Elsewhere people had little choice, to choose the best amongst the rest.
Churchill tried every trick to win, from offering inducements to harassment in business, but Avetan stood firm. Then came expletives like “fogetti”, “kimus”, ect, little realizing that with each passing day, he was digging his own grave deeper and deeper. Avertan was under lot of pressure, his main worry – ‘what if I lose’ – and I believe his prayer during the last couple of days was not “I hope I win” but rather “I hope I don’t lose”, such was the fear that Churchill instills, but the people of Navelim did not let Avertan down, and with one voice brought down the Alemao’s of Varca Kingdom and brought a change, a real change in Navelim.
Churchill most favorite sentence, “when God and people are with me, nobody can defeat me”. Well, when you break the 1st commandment, don’t try the 2nd. This whole process was a result of our consistent every Wednesday Rosary, continuously for 3 years despite many difficulties.
People have given Avertan the mandate to undo all the wrong done for the last 5 years and bring about a real change in Navelim. Let’s hope he performs as per people’s aspirations.
10,231 Navelkars did not take money and voted as per their conscience, in fact for the 1st time, people were seen spending their own money for firecrackers, people took part in the victory rally without any allowances, which showed the spirit of the people of Navelim. Hope this spirit spreads to rest of Goa. The 1stvoice for Goa’s freedom started from Navelim, from Mr. Francis Luis Gomes, history has repeated again for the new true liberation of Goa, let it spread, Viva Goa.
The full unedited article was published in Herald (6-4-2012) in "People's Edit" column.
Whenever any candidate wins, his favorite words are “it is people’s victory” even though he uses money to buy votes, threats, intimidation, manipulation, goondagiri, etc to ensure his victory. I thought these 2 words “people’s victory” had lost its meaning until I saw how Mr. Avertano Furtado won in Navelim.
Avertan’s win, who has been described by most of the newspapers as the boy next door, was indeed a “people’s victory” right from organizing corner meetings, to big public meetings, from door to door campaigning to word-of-mouth campaigning, each and every Navelkar, baring a few contributed his bit, as one of my friend commented “for a bottle of soda”, no biryani, no whisky, just plain soda, sometimes even without that.
Churchill’s rants against the Clergy was uncalled for, as Dr. Jorson rightly pointed out – ‘bad workers blame their tools’. I attend mass in Navelim Church and have never heard any Priest tell the congregation not to vote for Churchill, yes they kept telling us not to vote for corrupt, now if Churchill considers himself as corrupt, then yes, it is for him.
In his pride Churchill could not feel the undercurrents sweeping through Navelim. It all started in 2008, with his move to occupy fertile fields of poor Goan farmers, most of whom are his voters from Aquem-Baixo and to gift them to mostly non-Goan illegal settlers from Raanfond, all of whom are already settled elsewhere.
Navelim Forum & Navelim Xetkarancho Exvott withstood the pressure including his public threats of “Finishing them” (which incidentally is his favorite sentence at all public speeches). He failed to realize that even his ardent followers were with the farmers in this agitation. Perhaps for the 1st time in Navelim, armed guards were used to forcibly snatch away the fields from poor farmers. With help of the Rosary (the Patroness of Navelim village), the farmers gathered support from all over Goa which put the then Chief Minister Mr. Digambar Kamat under tremendous pressure, forcing him to put the acquisition on hold and promising the farmers a favourable solution to return the fields, but our own MLA Mr. Alemao was still adamant and kept on challenging the agitating people, who were his voters.
The 2nd major issue was the Sinquetim bridge, there again armed guards were used to forcible construct the bridge against people’s wishes. Somehow the people managed to slow down the progress of the bridge construction and withstood all the threats and intimidation. There were more issues of some more farmers at Mandopa and residents of Dongorim. Davorlim too also had land acquisition problem against people's wishes. None of the people cowed down under pressure even though harassment and dadagiri was used. He must have thought that ultimately with money and gifts he can buy all the voters of Navelim, which sadly back fired upon him.
When Avertano announced his interest to contest in Navelim, it gave a big relief to all right thinking Navelkars. From then on support kept on increasing for Avertan, with each passing day. Navelim was the only place where it was straight fight, 1 against 1, good v/s bad, new fresh blood v/s old tainted blood, youth v/s old. Elsewhere people had little choice, to choose the best amongst the rest.
Churchill tried every trick to win, from offering inducements to harassment in business, but Avetan stood firm. Then came expletives like “fogetti”, “kimus”, ect, little realizing that with each passing day, he was digging his own grave deeper and deeper. Avertan was under lot of pressure, his main worry – ‘what if I lose’ – and I believe his prayer during the last couple of days was not “I hope I win” but rather “I hope I don’t lose”, such was the fear that Churchill instills, but the people of Navelim did not let Avertan down, and with one voice brought down the Alemao’s of Varca Kingdom and brought a change, a real change in Navelim.
Churchill most favorite sentence, “when God and people are with me, nobody can defeat me”. Well, when you break the 1st commandment, don’t try the 2nd. This whole process was a result of our consistent every Wednesday Rosary, continuously for 3 years despite many difficulties.
People have given Avertan the mandate to undo all the wrong done for the last 5 years and bring about a real change in Navelim. Let’s hope he performs as per people’s aspirations.
10,231 Navelkars did not take money and voted as per their conscience, in fact for the 1st time, people were seen spending their own money for firecrackers, people took part in the victory rally without any allowances, which showed the spirit of the people of Navelim. Hope this spirit spreads to rest of Goa. The 1stvoice for Goa’s freedom started from Navelim, from Mr. Francis Luis Gomes, history has repeated again for the new true liberation of Goa, let it spread, Viva Goa.
The full unedited article was published in Herald (6-4-2012) in "People's Edit" column.
April 5, 2012
HAIL PARRIKAR - HELL CONGRESSKAR.
From the above picture one can easily make out the simplicity of Parrikar, such images were not seen during the corrupt rule of Congress in Goa. For this reason I admire:
PARIKAR’S SIMPLICITY AND HATE CONGRESSMEN’S FEUDALITY.
Never in the history of Goa the chief minister seen moving in Scooter but always in a government provided luxury car like a Maharaja, even for walking distance. Parrikar may be a person of communal BJP but in simplicity he is best identifying himself with the common people. No CM of Goa after Dayananda Bandodkar identified himself in simplicity with the common persons as Parrikar did. All the other previous CM’s acted and behaved like Maharajas. While going on Scooter there were no bodyguards and security escorts to protect Parrikar thereby proving how charismatic he is with all the segments of Goan populace. From here Parrikar must induct into his colleagues whether portfolio holders or not, simplicity measures and apply austerity measures too. BJP came to power with fewer expenses; many of its MLA’s spent less on election expenditure compared to their corrupt congress opponents who spent millions in bribing the voters till voters kicked them.
I don’t understand why our ministers require a posse of policemen and fleet of police jeeps and cars. This is the system we inherited from Congress since the time of independence of India from Britain. No congressmen listened to the advice of Ghandiji to practice austerity measures and live a simple life. But on the contrary congressmen acquired the habits of British Monarchs to lead a feudal type of life. Congress uprooted Maharajas from their Thrones and occupied the same for themselves in the name of fake secularis and started living and acting like Maharajas. The same thing congressmen did in Goa. These congressmen are crooks without proper family base for this reason they opted for artificial Maharajas status. Where are all the pompous facilities now gone from the corrupt congressmen who were massacred in the last election? Where are their Bungalows from Altinho Panjim gone now? Where are their security escorts gone now? Shameless people!! They are now feeling the absence of all their earlier free of charge facilities and for this reason they formed their group under Ravi Naik to play dirty politics to acquire power thru illicit way. One “Bamtto” Congress MLA says that his voters are advising him to join BJP. What a shameless pimp he is! In the name of voters he wants to jump into ruling segment under BJP. Out of power these congressmen will do anything worst. Parrikar must be careful of congressmen’s approaches. They are traitors.
Many times I encountered Dayananda Bandodkar who was without any single body guard, moving freely as if he was a commoner. Thru this manner he identified himself with the common men. By acting as simple man he captured the attention of simple Goans. People approaching him were not required to go to the Secretariat only; even on the road and on playground he was accessible to the common people. Thru this simplicity he made the common persons feel free to approach him. One day in the month of July when it was heavily raining one old Hindu woman wearing very old and torn Saree came to the Secretariat in Pajim and asked the security man there thus ‘Bahu Saib aila re?’ The security man seeing the shabbily dressed old lady tried to ignore her. At that moment suddenly Bandodkar from nowhere reached there and when he faintly heard the question of that old lady who was wet in rain water, he himself condescended and came to her and took her with him to his office upstairs. This was the humility and simplicity of Bandodkar. Do we see such attitudes today in our Ministers and MLA’s? No. Only Parrikar is something and his colleagues like Caitu, Bostu, Ramu can emulate this feat for the good of the common men.
Parrikar must know one thing that people of Goa gave him this strong mandate by fully relying on him to give justice to Goa and Goans. He should not fritter away this hope of the Goans, common as well as elite. When Janata Party at the Centre came to power in 1977, people expected Morarji Desai’s government will give proper justice to all even by cutting cruel Indira Ghandi into pieces for the cruelties she committed earlier. But instead Janata Party leaders started fighting among them like Cats and Dogs till Janata government collapsed. Prrikar must now learn from the failure of Janata in Delhi and accordingly as per the expectations of the people who voted for his government to power, act hard with the crook congressmen and bureaucrats who looted Goa earlier. People expect Parrikar to punish severely all the wrong doers and looters of Goa during the congress rule in Goa. People in Goa common and others expect Parrikar to expose the misdeeds and punish the earlier corrupt congress ministers and their officials “chamchas” who cooperated with them during their misdeed while they were ruling Goa. For this Parrikar must appoint a "Commission of Enquiry" to find out the misdeeds of all congress MLA’s and Ministers who looted Goa and Goans during the last 5 years of their corrupt rule.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
PARIKAR’S SIMPLICITY AND HATE CONGRESSMEN’S FEUDALITY.
Never in the history of Goa the chief minister seen moving in Scooter but always in a government provided luxury car like a Maharaja, even for walking distance. Parrikar may be a person of communal BJP but in simplicity he is best identifying himself with the common people. No CM of Goa after Dayananda Bandodkar identified himself in simplicity with the common persons as Parrikar did. All the other previous CM’s acted and behaved like Maharajas. While going on Scooter there were no bodyguards and security escorts to protect Parrikar thereby proving how charismatic he is with all the segments of Goan populace. From here Parrikar must induct into his colleagues whether portfolio holders or not, simplicity measures and apply austerity measures too. BJP came to power with fewer expenses; many of its MLA’s spent less on election expenditure compared to their corrupt congress opponents who spent millions in bribing the voters till voters kicked them.
I don’t understand why our ministers require a posse of policemen and fleet of police jeeps and cars. This is the system we inherited from Congress since the time of independence of India from Britain. No congressmen listened to the advice of Ghandiji to practice austerity measures and live a simple life. But on the contrary congressmen acquired the habits of British Monarchs to lead a feudal type of life. Congress uprooted Maharajas from their Thrones and occupied the same for themselves in the name of fake secularis and started living and acting like Maharajas. The same thing congressmen did in Goa. These congressmen are crooks without proper family base for this reason they opted for artificial Maharajas status. Where are all the pompous facilities now gone from the corrupt congressmen who were massacred in the last election? Where are their Bungalows from Altinho Panjim gone now? Where are their security escorts gone now? Shameless people!! They are now feeling the absence of all their earlier free of charge facilities and for this reason they formed their group under Ravi Naik to play dirty politics to acquire power thru illicit way. One “Bamtto” Congress MLA says that his voters are advising him to join BJP. What a shameless pimp he is! In the name of voters he wants to jump into ruling segment under BJP. Out of power these congressmen will do anything worst. Parrikar must be careful of congressmen’s approaches. They are traitors.
Many times I encountered Dayananda Bandodkar who was without any single body guard, moving freely as if he was a commoner. Thru this manner he identified himself with the common men. By acting as simple man he captured the attention of simple Goans. People approaching him were not required to go to the Secretariat only; even on the road and on playground he was accessible to the common people. Thru this simplicity he made the common persons feel free to approach him. One day in the month of July when it was heavily raining one old Hindu woman wearing very old and torn Saree came to the Secretariat in Pajim and asked the security man there thus ‘Bahu Saib aila re?’ The security man seeing the shabbily dressed old lady tried to ignore her. At that moment suddenly Bandodkar from nowhere reached there and when he faintly heard the question of that old lady who was wet in rain water, he himself condescended and came to her and took her with him to his office upstairs. This was the humility and simplicity of Bandodkar. Do we see such attitudes today in our Ministers and MLA’s? No. Only Parrikar is something and his colleagues like Caitu, Bostu, Ramu can emulate this feat for the good of the common men.
Parrikar must know one thing that people of Goa gave him this strong mandate by fully relying on him to give justice to Goa and Goans. He should not fritter away this hope of the Goans, common as well as elite. When Janata Party at the Centre came to power in 1977, people expected Morarji Desai’s government will give proper justice to all even by cutting cruel Indira Ghandi into pieces for the cruelties she committed earlier. But instead Janata Party leaders started fighting among them like Cats and Dogs till Janata government collapsed. Prrikar must now learn from the failure of Janata in Delhi and accordingly as per the expectations of the people who voted for his government to power, act hard with the crook congressmen and bureaucrats who looted Goa earlier. People expect Parrikar to punish severely all the wrong doers and looters of Goa during the congress rule in Goa. People in Goa common and others expect Parrikar to expose the misdeeds and punish the earlier corrupt congress ministers and their officials “chamchas” who cooperated with them during their misdeed while they were ruling Goa. For this Parrikar must appoint a "Commission of Enquiry" to find out the misdeeds of all congress MLA’s and Ministers who looted Goa and Goans during the last 5 years of their corrupt rule.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
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