Systematic Destruction of GOA - By Reuben from Goa

Oh yes we do have a right to protect our own cultural heritage by putting a cap on immigration. Presently the migrant population is about 40% of the total people of Goa and steadily rising. No other state in the country has faced this overwhelming immigration and suppression of its population.

Goa joined the union territory of India in 1961; more than 10 years after the formulation of the Constitution and missed two five-year economic development plans. They had no say in providing clauses for the protection of the cultural and historical rights of its indigenous population. The Constitution of India under Part XXI provides for temporary, transitional and special provisions to be made by Parliament with respect to certain states. Within this Part a provision under Article 371 has states like Jammu & Kashmir, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland etc issue statutes for regulating/restricting ownership and transfer of land with respect to sale of land to non-residents/foreigners. There are similar provisions that empower states to protect their identities under Article 19-D of the Constitution. Why should Goa not enforce such laws as our ancestral homes are being demolished to create multi-stories monstrosities to house non-Goan families? Non-Goans now have a firm grip on the burgeoning real estate market. It’s a sad day when the son’s of the soil have to pay outsiders for a share of their motherland.

You have not experienced the true culture of Goa. All you have seen is a media fueled distortion of facts and patented Bollywood stereotypes that are an insult to our culture. So I do not expect you to understand sitting all the way there in your stuffy apartments crawling the web for information about Goa to suit your petty mindsets. I mean judging from your states of origin I can understand why you are having "pipe-dreams" about settling in Goa. Looking forlornly towards a state with a higher standard of living than yours is only going to help satisfy your cravings for a moment but working hard there and offering a better future for your people is what is going to keep you happier in the longer run.

While i'm at that topic, you might as well check the following link:-

http://fungoa.blogspot.com/2008/12/migration-impact-on-goan-demography.html

For the record let it be known that i'm a resident Goan in my early twenties and am working with an NGO trying to reform our corrupt political system. when everything is done and dusted, y'all have a lot of soul-searching to do..

Dr. Jack de Sequeira Father of Goan Nation - Menino Fernandes

GOA was lost forever! Dayanand Bandodkar was about to commit a Heroic deed by selling off Goa to Maharashtra.

 It was inevitable everything was all set. At this critical time the FATHER OF THE GOAN NATION sprung into action. He gathered all his colleagues - Christians, Hindus and Muslims who were patriotic Goans and created the Opinion Poll in 1967 to counter the sale of Goa by the traitor Bandodkar. Dr. Jack de Sequeira stood up firmly with his colleagues and after a hard struggle these champions of a free Goa aloof from any other state of India along with the Father of Goan Nation won their battle and the traitor was defeated and Goans won the biggest war in its History - GOA FOR THE GOANS

It is sad to see that there exists only one statue in Calangute of this great statesman and the Father & Saviour of Goa Dr. Sequeira. It should have been in the capital city of Panjim first and later on throughout Goa. Whereas the statue of the traitor Bandodkar the seller is erected and garlanded and pampered by the Ministers including Digamber Kamant when Digu should have realized that this was the very man that would have kept him at bay from being a chief minister leave alone chief minister, Digamber Kamat would not have been even an MLA thanks to Bandodkar and yet here he is honouring the man who was out to sell Goa. If these ministers and Digamber Kamat wants to thank somebody then it should be Dr. Sequeira and his colleagues due to whom he is the chief minister of Goa. Stop pampering the seller and respect and honour the saviour DR. JACK DE SEQUEIRA.

(More on this to follow soon....)

Salazar’s prophecy - A S Prabhu, Moira

A beautiiful letter to HERALD by A S Prabhu from Moira

The last governor-general of Portuguese India was General Vassalo de Silva, who became a household name in Goa because of his affability towards his people. The then Portuguese Prime Minister Dr Antonio de Oliveira Salazar had delegated all powers to him, except to surrender.

When the situation in Goa became tense, sensing trouble, he flashed a message to Lisbon. In response, Dr Salazar replied: “We have abiding faith in the Patron Saint of Goa, St Francis Xavier,” and added, “Goa ninguem levara nas por si acabara,” translated: “Nobody will take Goa; it will vanish by itself.” He advised the Governor to blast everything and flatten Goa if the Indian Army invaded. To this the humane general replied: “O que eu fiz nao posso fazer desfazer,” translated: “Whatever good that I have done cannot be undone.”
What a prophecy. Today, Goa has been destroyed by our 40 monsters, and reduced to rubble. Our hills have been bulldozed to make way for mega housing projects. Our green fields are now concrete jungles. There are no water bodies, and the mangroves have been butchered.
There are rules and laws, but who cares? Everyone turns a blind eye to this destruction in the name of development. My own village is slowly becoming a concrete jungle. Water has become scarce, but there are nearly half a dozen swimming pools in collusion with the authorities. NGOs have become spineless. My heart bleeds for Goa. What legacy are we leaving for posterity?

Mickky Pacheco's House raided by Cops in Betalbatim

Former tourism minister Mickky Pacheco's Betalbatim house was raided by the police today amidst rumours that he was detained by the ivestigating agency. The police confiscated around eight computers from his residence, besides some files.

According to police sources, they are investigating into the "professional" relationship between Mickky and Nadia, whose suicidal death has resulted into Mickky facing charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder and destruction of evidence.

The earlier charge that Mickky had extra-marital relation with Nadia is now taking a different shape with "professional" relationship coming under the scanner.

Winston Barreto, deceased Nadia's husband, in the meanwhile has confirmed that Benaulim MLA, who was compelled to resign after Nadia's death, had extra-marital relation with his wife. He has reportedly repeated almost 80 per cent of the allegations he has made in his divorse suit.

Meanwhile, rumours were afloat throughout the state today that Mickky was arrested by the police. Several police officials, though refused to confirm the news, also did not confirm it.

Interestingly, Mickky failed to file his anticipatory bail application in the high court today, after it was rejected by the district and sessions court. The anticipatory bail application fileld by his "close associate" Lyndon Monteiro would be now heard on Monday.

In the meanwhile, an Orissa-based maid servant who worked at Nadia's Loutolim residence, will be interrogated by Goa police to unearth further evidence in the death case.

"We will be sending a team to Orissa to take the statement of the maid who was working with the family between January to April this year," a police official said.

Nadia's family reportedly had three maids working at their place and only one of them was present when she allegedly committed suicide by consuming poison.

Police said efforts are on to get the statement of this maid servant, who could be a key witness in this case.

Another maid, who arrived at her place, a day after Nadia's death, has already deposed before the police giving the statement that her mother, Sonia, asked her to burn the evidence related to the case.

"We will have to interrogate the maid servant from Orissa, who has been working with the family for a long time," the official said.

The Crime Branch expects that the maid will provide information on Pacheco's relation with the family.

Lucky Farmhouse still in Bombay

Contrary to the Police claim, Swedish model Lucky Farmhouse said that she can even come tomorrow to Goa, if police want. In an email interview to Press Trust of India, Lucky today said that she had told police that she is very much in Mumbai. "I have told them that my next planned trip to Goa is in August, but I can come earlier if they want that. If it's very urgent I can come tomorrow," she said.

Lucky said that she was waiting for them to ask me to come. "I'm sure they know I've been in Mumbai," she added. Crime Branch which is dragging its feet to interrogate Lucky, who exposed police drug peddler nexus through spy cam, had said that the model was unwilling to come to Goa before August. "We can go wherever she is. We want her statement before August," deputy superintendent of police (Crime Branch) Chandrakant Salgoankar had said. The crime branch had also moved a file to clear trip of their officers to Sweden to take the statement. When contacted, Salgaonkar today maintained that `Crime Branch has no information that the model is in Mumbai.' Stating that so far there is no pressure on her not to depose before police, Lucky said that she has given her address in Sweden and telephone number to the police with an assurance to provide all possible support in breaking the policemen drug peddler nexus.
Reiterating that son of a politician was hobnobbing with Atala, she said that the son used to come every day in Siolim and at evenings at Atala Coffeshop. "Everyone knows him," she quipped. Lucky said that in Mumbai she is busy in auditions and meetings. "I have got a second lead role in a smaller movie and a good agency want to sign with me. I'm very happy with that," she added. "I have also been to three commercials which have been Micromax Q7 and another commercial for Micromax and one for a Scooter," Lucky said. Seven policemen were arrested for their links with drug peddler after Lucky posted videos on youtube.com showing Atala bragging about his friendship with police