PARRIKAR IS A LIAR - MATANHY NOT.

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Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has triggered a hornet’s nest with his statement on the floor of the House that Matanhy Saldanha was convinced that Mopa airport was needed for the State. The chief minister, if he expects universal public acceptance for this statement, may be in for a disappointment.

Ironically, though, Parrikar's statement may well be happily welcomed by the Opposition as the Mopa airport plan was initiated by local Congressmen and there are vested interests who will always fall silent because an airport at Mopa would mean a huge increase in valuation of landholdings in the vicinity, even for those with mokaso land!

The truth is that Matanhy was dead against Mopa. He foresaw that Goa’s over-development would sound the death knell of Goan identity. He even termed the airport plan as a "land scam" wherein builders were eyeing the project to build structures for migrants.

A year has gone by without Matanhy. Among those for whom power is an end in itself, Matanhy well may have been condemned as a failed politician. Many wrote him off as a disgruntled element, with some even concluding that he feared success. But giving credence to such assessments and conjectures would be to ignore a very fundamental aspect of his life ~ he lived his political-activist life as an underdog fighting for the rights of others. Perhaps Matanhy was a so-called failed politician but a resounding success as a man of the masses, who was ahead of his times at that. Agree with him or disagree, it cannot be denied that his lifelong opposition to government policies he perceived as anti-people and his passion for Goa were his calling cards. He dreamed of a better, more equitable Goa and was extremely vocal about what he strongly felt ~ Goa, Goa and more Goa.

As early as 2008, he lamented the indiscriminate hill cutting and vociferously opposed the manner in which hillocks were being flattened in Mandrem, Chopdem and Korgao that adversely affected the forest cover. Matanhy is on record as stating that "Goa is already saturated". The following extract from his 2008 Press note is a telling blow to those who presume that the people will believe what is being said about him today:

“With further profit-ridden development, by builders, real estate agents, and some unscrupulous elected representatives, Goa soon will make Goans not only a minority, but strangers in their own land. Do we want this? Goans and all who love Goa, irrespective of religion, caste, region or political affiliations, UNITE to stop Goa from being eliminated.”

More tellingly, on Mopa, he said in an interview published in November 2002: "I am totally against another airport in Goa. Goa is too small for another airport. They (politicians) don’t know the implications...

The whole idea of the airport arose because Disneyland wanted to come to Goa. So they wanted to do it on a Build Operate Transfer basis… Why didn’t they exchange Dabolim airport for Anjidiva when the island was handed over to the Indian Navy? There was nothing anti-national about it. In Hyderabad, the chief minister compelled the Indian Air Force to leave. He said, he wants to make Hyderabad an international airport. So, what national security are we talking about?”

Apparently, the ruling dispensation has gone back on the solemn commitment made at the funeral of Matanhy, promising to keep his legacy alive. Would he, if he had been among us today, accepted and/or signed up to the Chief Minister's statement? Your guess is as good as ours.

IN REPLY TO JULIO CARDOSO'S ARTICLE.

To

Kranti Editor.

 

Sir

Please publish this article in your blog. I am a regular reader of your blog. Keep up the good work.

This is in response to Julio Cardozo's post about refereeing. I have a few points to make in this regard. Julio writes that referees are humans and that they are prone to make mistakes. I completely agree on this aspect. But the fact of the matter is that Julio should also understand that when we are talking about big league games there is a lot at stake. There is no drawing parallel between Soor soccer and professional league at the highest level. Please keep in mind that my article is only focusing on major soccer leagues.

For example, assuming Chelsea and Manchester City play one another the pressure on players is so enormous that sometimes it gets the better of them. Referees sometimes commit howlers as the whole world witnessed in the Champions League between Manchester United V/s Real Madrid.

Turkish referee committed a blunder that changed the whole complexion of the game. You may remember that Manchester United were in driving seat and in full flight until Nani was red carded for a high challenge. That foul deserved yellow at best. In a situation like this, what you expect the players to do? Kick the ground?

In the subsequent melee, the referee was surrounded by referee and the players began arguing and that is fine. The referee should also realize that he made mistake and the referee no doubt has a reverse gears on decisions but at least he is cautious knowing the fact that he is under the scanner. Imagine if the referee is not questioned he is under the impression that everything is cruising well, so it is important that the player hold up the mirror to him. In short, it keeps him on his toes.

For example, in premier league, a player can lose his berth temporarily for committing a mistake. Drawing parallel between soccer and other games, Julio should remember that soccer is played at ferocious tempo, end-to-end action, as opposed to slower pace of the other games.

When you play at high tempo, the adrenalin is pumping and the stress begins pick up steam. It has been scientifically proven that professional soccer players are more aggressive because the way the game is being played. Moreover, professional teams are under great pressure to deliver from their sponsors and as a result the pressure gets to the players.

Manchester City were at the receiving end last week as the referee failed to point to the dreaded spot after Everton player handled the ball. This again was a game changer. Manchester City players circled the referee and quite rightly so. Here they were being robbed of a goal and if emotions don’t run high---what will?

Subsequently, Everton’s tail was up after that and they fired on all cylinders and went on to win the match. On many occasions, referees have ruined matches due to bad decisions. So what does Julio has to say about situations like these? The referee always goes scot free but the players come under fire. Referees also never apologize for their mistakes. So as you can see referees always get away with their sloppiness and incompetence. In order to avoid this, we need to bring in technology into play. Just like the third umpire in cricket. Believe me it will change the landscape of football in a positive manner. Hope better sense prevails.

Seby Mascarenhas.

DEATH OF TIATRIST PATRICK FERNANDES.

It is with deep regret and sorrow that I write these few lines on the sudden and untimely death of Tiatrist Patrick Fernandes, on 19th of this month in UK where he was working. Earlier he was working in Kuwait.

He was a well-known actor and singer. After the liberation of Kuwait I met him in Kuwait while he was acting in the Tiatro of the late Rosary Ferns where he did a major role with superb display of his acting caliber. As a man he was very humble and shy but on Stage he was totally different devoted totally to his roles. He was excellent on the Stage in serious roles and very good in rendering serious and sorrowful “Cantos”.

He had great love for Konkani Stage and when I requested him, like his elder brother Frncis de Verna, he never acted for fees. He participated in our Shows organized in Kuwait by Kuwait Konknni Kendr without charging anything. He along with his brother Francis de Verna and F.X. Pereira formed a nice Trio to perform in Konkani Shows and their Trios were very good and meaningful in favour of Goa and Konkani. He had very good voice to sing solos and other type of songs.

In his death Konkani Stage lost a great Stage Artiste and I lost a great supporter of my activities in support of Goa, Konkani and Kuwait Goan community.

May His Soul Rest in Peace and May Heavenly God give courage to all his family members to bear this loss.

A. Veronica Fernandes,

Kuwait.