During my younger days we had a lot of toddy tapers in our village and their distilleries consumed a lot of wood to keep the fire burning, in distilling coconut fenni. Mostly the women of the backward class, from Betul us to roam the forests in our area and collect the dead wood and sell it to the toddy tapers, while their men worked in the fields and properties. It took a lot of wood to sustain the good number of toddy tapers and their tedious profession.
Thursday, 21 July 2011
GOAN OCCUPATION 1961 AND IRAQ LIBERATION 2003 BY Agnelo Gomes, Combakar
Goa was Invaded and Bombarded during Invasion by Indian military in 1961 destroying Dabolim Airport, Emissora de Goa (radio station of Goa), Government buildings, Bridges, etc and raised Indian flag on Goan territory. Deceived the United Nations and the world community calling that was the Liberation. An aggression uncalled by Goans of the soil.
JMFC TO DECIDE ON JULY 22nd HOW TO PROCEED WITH RIBANDAR CHURCH CASE
PANJIM: Judicial Magistrate First Class Mrs. Sarika Faldessai will on July 22nd decide how to proceed with the 2004 Ribandar Church case. Former Parish Priest of Ribandar Father Newton Rodrigues who is the complainant has failed to remain present in Court despite being summoned and a warrant of arrest issued against him.
Wednesday, 20 July 2011
VILLAGERS OF ARROSIM-CANSAULIM-CUELIM-VELSAO DEMAND PI JIVBA DALVI’S DISMISSAL
VASCO: The villagers of Arossim and Cansaulim under the banner of Cansaulim-Arossim-Cuelim-Velsao Villagers Forum, on Wednesday, demanded immediate dismissal of the then Verna PI, Jivba Dalvi and police sub-inspector, Mr Sushant Gawas from the services for the dereliction of duty.
GLOBAL GOANS AND THEIR SUPPORT TO GOA by A. Veronica Fernandes, Kuwait
I am an Indian citizen not by my own choice but by force imposed on me by the Government of India on 19th December 1961 and thru this force Government of India stationed in New Delhi forced Indian citizenship on me.
GOA’S ENVIRONMENT MINISTER DEFENDS FROG POACHING
PANJIM: Much to the dismay of the environmentalists, Goa Environment Minister Aleixo Sequiera today defended frog-killing in the state, terming it as a `habit'. Sequeira, addressing a convention of youths on environment at Dona Paula near here, said "frogs have been eaten in the state for (the past) several years".
BLACK MONEY HOLDERS INVEST IN REAL ESTATE
PANJIM: Goa's real estate boom is not driven by "people who love the land", but by speculative investment of black money in the state, environmentalist Madhav Gadgil said Wednesday. Speaking at the concluding session of a workshop on environment here, Gadgil, the man behind India's "People Biodiversity Register", also said that a huge influx of black money in Goa in form of real estate investments was severely crunching land resources in one of India's smallest states.
EC ISSUES NOTICES TO VALANKA ALEMAO AND JITESH KAMAT
MARGAO: The elections to the executive committee of the state Youth Congress is turning out to be quite an eventful affair with two contestants - the frontrunner for the president's post, Valanka Alemao, and another candidate Jitesh Kamat - being slapped notices by the election commission of the Indian Youth Congress.
AGAÇAIM POLICE REGISTER A CASE AGAINST TWO PERSONS FOR ORGANISING BULLFIGHTS
PANJIM: Bullfights continue to resurface in the state despite the ban. The Agaçaim police on Monday morning registered a case against two persons for organising a bullfight. The police said that on July 18, between 6am and 7am, Rosario Mascarenhas from Taleigao and Dunjao from Goa Velha organized a bullfight at an open public place in Siridao but escaped from the scene with their bulls.
CUNCOLIM POLICE ARREST TWO MORE INVOLVED IN GANG RAPE
MARGAO: The Cuncolim police on Tuesday arrested two more persons in connection with the alleged gang rape of a Cuncolim woman last week. The police disclosed the names of the arrested as Gangesh Pagi, 26, and Ramakant Velip, 26, both from Cola, near Betul.
The police had earlier arrested three persons and are on the lookout for the sixth accused. Police sources said that the victim was a resident of Cuncolim and that the six accused took turns in raping her after she was confined in a room at Betul.
RAIL TRACKS WORK WILL BE COMPLETED BY 21ST JULY: KONKAN RAILWAY
HIGH COURT TO HEAR ON 16TH AUGUST GOA GOVERNOR’S PLEA AGAINST RTI
PANJIM: The Bombay High Court at Goa has directed that the hearing on Goa Raj Bhavan’s petition against the RTI Act will continue on August 16th. With Dr. S.S.Sidhu being the only Governor to challenge the RTI Act, the issue whether the Governor is a “Public Authority” is being raised before a High Court for the first time.
Tuesday, 19 July 2011
WAR OF NERVES BETWEEN DGP ADITYA ARYA AND HOME MINISTER RAVI NAIK
ZUARI BRIDGE ABOUT TO EXPIRE: NEW BRIDGE REQUIRED
EC SERVES NOTICE TO VALANKA ALEMAO
PANJIM: The Election Commission (Youth Congress elections) has served a notice to Valanka Alemao, the daughter of PWD Minister Churchill Alemao for using her father’s position to influence voters for the youth Congress elections.
It has been learnt that Valanka has been personally using her father’s position to threaten the voters to vote for her by force. She has been threatening the voters if they do now vote for her then the consequences will be dire.
In the meantime it has also been learnt that Churchill Alemao has sent his goondas out to threaten the voters and to force them to vote for valanka. At the same time he has promised a huge amount of money if they vote for Valanka.
Valanka is vying for the top post along with GPYC former vice-president Pratima Coutinho. The elections are scheduled for July 23 and 24.
Prakash Joshi, Chief Election officer - Youth Congress Election Commission also served notices to another candidate Jitesh Kamat for his outbursts against returning officers. In the notice to Valanka, the CEO has asked her to reply as to why she should not be debarred from contesting Youth Congress elections.
The charges against Valanka are
• That she has used her father’s position to influence voters.
• Valanka has taken support of the chief minister, party president and the legislators to win elections.
• Had a meeting with politicians, against rules, at a starred hotel in Margao.
It is reliably learnt that the CEO’s action has come in wake of complaint filed by Jitesh Kamat, who had also mailed a CC to Rahul Gandhi. The CEO has also served notices to Jitesh for his outbursts against the LROs and the ZRO (returning officers).
He has been asked to reply as to why he should also not be debarred from contesting elections. Mr Joshi when contacted confirmed the notices were served but refused to elaborate further. “I can only say we have served the notice but I will be able to comment only tomorrow on the issue after I receive the replies,” he said.
On the deadline for replies, he said, “Still there is time I cannot say now.” Zonal Returning officer Sumit Khanna, however, refused to comment on the matter so did GPCC president Subash Shirodkar, who only said “you ask Valanka, I am not her PA to know this.” Efforts to contact Valanka for her comments on the issue proved futile. Jitesh on the other hand claimed he has not received any notice yet.
MOI CIRCULAR WILL BE IMPLEMENTED FROM THIS YEAR
PANJIM: The advocate general (AG), Subodh Kantak, on Monday informed the high court of Bombay at Goa that the state government would implement the medium of instruction (MoI) circular from this academic year.
On July 12, the high court had directed the state government to take a decision within a week's time on whether the recent cabinet decision on the MoI would be implemented in a phased manner from this academic year onwards or from the next year. On May 25, the cabinet had taken a decision to release grants also to English medium primary schools, along with the Konkani and Marathi medium schools.
When the matter came up for hearing before a division bench comprising Justice S A Bobde and Justice F M Reis, the AG said that the government wants to implement the cabinet decision in a phased manner from this academic year onwards. He sought a day's time to file an affidavit bringing on record the government's decision. The AG also assured the court that the government would not implement the MoI circular until the next date of hearing.
Subsequently, the court directed the government to file the affidavit on July 19.
The petition was filed by educationist Pandurang Nadkarni and others challenging the cabinet decision for providing grants to English medium primary schools in the state. The petitioners have also questioned a circular issued by the department of education (DoE) for implementing the cabinet decision. According to the petitioners, the DoE has issued the circular in violation of the Rules of Business made in accordance with Article 166 of the Constitution of India.
The government had earlier pointed out to the court that the cabinet took the decision after receiving several representations from parents belonging to the economically backward classes, who could not afford to send their children to English medium primary schools.
HIGH COURT DIRECTS A S TO FILE AFFIDAVIT WHY THE OFFICES OF THE PRESIDENT OF INDA, GOVERNOR AND SPEAKER NOT FALL WITHIN RTI
PANJIM: The high court of Bombay at Goa on Monday directed the additional solicitor general of India, Vivek Tankha, to file an affidavit explaining how the offices of the president of India, governor and speaker do not fall within the scope of 'public authority' as defined under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005.
While arguing on a petition filed by N Radhakrishnan, special secretary to Goa governor S S Sidhu, Tankha questioned the order passed by the Goa state information commission, which held that the governor's office was a public authority.
The commission had passed the order on a plea filed by activist Aires Rodrigues under the RTI Act. The RTI Act states that an applicant has the right to access information which is held by or under the control of any public authority.
Tankha contended, "The 'public authority', as defined under Section 2 (h) (a) of the RTI Act, does not include the offices of the president of India, governor, speaker, chief justice of the Supreme Court as well as the high courts." "The office of the governor does not come within the administrative domain, as it does not have any administrative functions. It's not a ministry," he held. At this point, a division bench comprising Justices S Bobde and F M Reis directed the additional solicitor general to submit an affidavit explaining how the offices are not public authority as defined under the Act.
The court also asked how the offices cannot be said to have any executive powers and duties to comply with. Earlier, Rodrigues, an advocate, argued that even the president of India has complied with the provisions of the RTI Act. "S S Sidhu is the only governor in the country who has not complied with the RTI Act, by claiming that he is not a 'public authority'," Rodrigues alleged.
He prayed that the petition should be disposed of as soon as possible as the RTI Act has remained "grounded" for the last three years as far as the governor's office is concerned. Rodrigues had sought information under RTI from the governor's office about details of the action taken against state advocate general Subodh Kantak on complaints filed by him.
WHILE GOA IS IN CHAOS, GOVERNMENT TO PARTY IN LONDON by Adv. Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
Goa is reeling under a host of serious issues due to a government that has become dysfunctional and apathetic to the people’s concerns. The Aam Aadmi is raging with fury and disgruntled. Almost every decision taken by this government over the last four years has either been kept on hold by the government if not stayed and quashed by the Courts.
DOG DAY AFTERNOON ( AND MORNING AND NIGHT ) by Dr. Oscar Rebello, Goa
Dr. Rosario Menezes, the ever smiling effervescent and genial pediatrician from Vasco has been screaming hoarse about the dangers of Rabies in Goa, for years now. Mostly his advice has been ignored or at times, even ridiculed by the motley bunch of vociferous ‘animal lovers’.
And now, predictably, the chickens or shall we say the dogs have come home to roost.
The number of dog bite cases in our little state has increased so dramatically, that it almost certainly competes with the number of mining leases the Digambar Kamat government dishes out every month. If you do not die of mining pollution, there is a good chance you may die of rabies, in style.
I understand the morally sound and very persuasive arguments put forth by the sincere champions of animal rights and acknowledge the difficulty work put in by two of the most celebrated activists I know, the graceful and elegant Normal Alvares and Angela Kazi. Killing or torturing any form of life is perverse.
However, it is very evidently seems, the strategy is not working on the ground. The dogs are ferociously multiplying. The dogs are ferociously running around, the dogs are ferociously biting and many of the dogs are ferociously rabid.
So, from the human prism, I seek answers to a few of my very serious doubts.
1. How can anyone in our cities be sure that the confirmed rabid dogs have not bitten other stray animals, thus potentially delivering a rabies ‘dog’ – demic on our hands? Surely, strays do not have a complaint register, do they?
2. What if your child, unsupervised, gets licked by a rabid dog playing on the beach? often, kids also do not have a complaint register. Hence, if your child develops and dies of an encephalitis ( a brain infection), the virus could very well be a rabies virus and your pediatrician may be in the dark about it.
3. Any standard textbook mentions that Rabies Immune Globulin (RIG) must be given as standard prophylaxis for preventing rabies. RIG is expensive and almost never available in government hospitals. Hence, the standard rabies vaccine may not provide you 100 per cent cover. It is almost akin to using a ruptured condom and then taking yours bets on the pregnancy. Good luck mate!
4. Why is it that despite a great degree of love and compassion for animals in the western world, you never see strays frisking around as tourist attractions on the streets of Paris, London or New York. The only sophisticated stray currently running around there appears to be Rupert Murdoch and they are planning to assassinate him as well.
5. What if a red light minister or sarkari babu gets bitten by a stray dog, when apparently haggling for free fish at the market? Will we then see tangible, concreter action to rid the market of strays? Hell hath no fury like a minister bitten, but not shy.
6. Why is it that despite allegedly successful sterilization campaigns, the stray population multiplies faster than the Indian Mujaheedin?
7. Do we as doctors, consider rabies as a possible differential diagnosis in flaccid paralysis patients (weakness of lower limbs, upper limbs and face ) which ultimately kills. Rabies may not always present itself in its archetypal violent, aggressive neurological manifestation .
8. What is our strict enforcement of vaccination programmes for domesticated animals? Does anyone keep a log? Is there a fine on owners for non compliance? Did we know that even cat bites can lead to rabies? These creatures with ‘green eyes’ always cleverly escape public scrutiny.
9. Do I, as a tax paying or non tax paying citizen, have the inalienable human right to walk the streets of my town freely and fearlessly, not having to look over my shoulder as to when that crazy adorable son of a **** is going to bite my pants off or should is surrender that right to this nebulous and dangerous animal love?
10. Who pays compensation and costs of health care in case of rabies or should I even die in penury for this worthy cause. Statistics say that every dog bite leads to a negligible number of fatal rabies, but what if I am the fortunate one called to sacrifice my life? Am I prepared to be the hero? Has anyone even asked my permission if I was to be that hero? Has a memorial been erected to rabies victims in our country?
Let me confess. I abhor dogs!!Period ! Yeah, yeah! I know familiarargument goes, a dog is a man’s best friend and they have fluffy ears and they are loyal and all that jazz. But they also bite unprovoked.
I still recall fondly how, when on a home visit to see a patient, the domestic dog thought my tibia was fair game and sunk his bloody teeth into my leg. I had to take my shots, got paid a measly fee for my house call and had to endure the jolly guffaw of the pot-bellied owner when boomed,”Oh, Figo does that to only people he likes,” Heavens, what does he do to guys he hates?
So okay, maybe do not shoot them, torture them or position them. We all want our place in heaven after all. THE STRAYS MUST NECESSARILY GET OFF OUR STREETS and the animal lovers must show us the way, work out the solution. Now and pronto!
We, as Goans, have enough amount of misery inflicted on us by animals in our political arena. We do not need any further suffering of the whimsical, salivating teeth of our friendly, neighbor hood super dogs.
DR. OSCAR REBELLO'S REACTION ON DOG MENACE IN PANJIM by Freddy Agnelo Fernandes
Humans are God’s or nature’s prime creation, depending on what we believe, that is in God or in nature, and I have absolutely no doubt that any one of us, including Dr. Oscar and Dr Anjali for that matter, would not think twice of saving a human if it came to a definite choice between saving a human or an animal, not because we all hate animals but because we value human life more than any other form of life on this earth. Am I not right?
Now going back to Dr Oscar Rebello, I, more than any one else understand why he is being, once bitten twice shy of dogs. Most of us love dogs but at the same time fear them the most. As for me I would prefer tackling a snake than a dog any given day. Whenever I visit people, before I get off my bike or out of my car, I make sure that there are no dogs moving in the yard or compound, I have a phobia for other people’s dogs and especially stray dogs, the bigger the dog the more scared and terrified I am, even though I have always had a dog in my house, and it sure wasn’t for any social status, though there may be some who do it, like my dog is bigger and more ferocious than yours, the same like my house is bigger and better than yours, having said this, I would like to bring to the notice of Dr. Anjali, the reasons for the fear psychosis of being bitten by a dog.
If any dog growls, at any of us, it is enough to affect the smooth blood flow in our body and drench us in sweat and set our bones and joints rattling. I doubt any of us would be calm in a situation, where we have an unknown dog small or big with it’s mouth open, saliva dripping, displaying it’s canines in all it’s glory and making that dreaded sound “grrrrrr grrrrrr grrrrrr”. A sight like that could dry up anyone’s blood.
There are also some dogs that are dangerous enough, without ever displaying their emotions, they are the ones who will shake their tails till you are well within the range and than snap at you without any provocations, I would call them the smiling assassins. A dog bite is a dog bite no matter what, be it a pet or a stray and Dr. Anjali or anyone else should not be telling us that, fatality is a rarity even in a rabid dog bite. The affect of a dog bite is more mental, psychological and emotional rather than physical which makes it still worse.
I wonder how many rabid persons Dr. Anjali has seen or treated and that too in the latter stages. I have seen just one and that has blown my hackles to kingdom come. It’s a shattering image, once seen will never ever be forgotten, that every time you see a stray dog, it will come to the fore and shake you up to the core, I did have nightmares for the first few months and still have occasionally. People have seen and lot more have heard of the extreme effects of a rabid dog bite, and since it’s mostly impossible to tell if a dog is rabid or not, the fear psychosis and rightly so.
Would Dr. Anjali like to be a person who would like to follow the age old adage “prevention is better than cure”? Or let it happen to any one, if you survive you are lucky if not who cares, but dogs should not and must not, at any cost be targeted, isn’t this hypocrisy ?
There is one spot in the heart of Margao on the four road junction near Fatima Convent and the Police Station, with six schools and a college in that vicinity, can you imagine, only the number of children that go through that junction in a day ? With plenty of stray dogs there, it’s a disaster just waiting to happen. At night and early morning they chase bikes and cars, isn’t that scary? Would you risk your own children being bitten by stray dogs, rabid or not, I surely wouldn’t, and if it happened I would surely go on a shooting spree.
I know Dr. Anjali is fighting for a lot of social and environmental causes and admire her for it but her argument to justify that death is rare from rabid dog bite is both absurd and ridiculous. A dog bite especially from strays or pets that mix with other dogs should be prevented rather than looked to be treated; this should be our philosophy, if we are wise enough we should not be taking even a 1% chance that could prove fatal for any person loosing his or her precious life+ Vaccinations, sterilizations and medications are secondary which have to follow but the prime and primary objective should be the wellbeing of our fellow humans.
I don’t think even Dr. Anjali and her animal lovers would say otherwise. The preserve of human life should be our priority and to do that if animals especially strays have to become collateral damage, so be it. I too love animals and hope the endangered become populous at the earliest, but if they become a threat to human life they should go, and there should be no two ways about it. The sooner we understand it the better it will be.
I would like to ask Dr. Anjali, why humans who carry deadly infectious diseases are quarantined? If humans can be quarantined to safeguard other humans, why shouldn’t it be applied to dogs who carry deadly infectious diseases or even do away with them as preventive measures ? Isn’t our life worth more than a dog’s or is it?
THE GRAND GOVERNMENTAL SHRUG by Joaquim Correia-Afonso, Benaulim.
The print media of Goa had highlighted how the late Alban Couto’s work, even two years after his death in June 2009, has received only “a grand governmental shrug”. The late IAS officer was the first Development Commissioner of Goa. Later he served as advisor to the governor during President’s rule and was also advisor to the Goa government. Before and after his stint in Goa, he served in Bihar, Delhi, Chennai and even in London, in the Commonwealth Secretariat. Lately, he had been appointed Chairman of the Goa State Finance Commission.
Couto always maintained an active interest in issues related to Goa, and had put forward many proposals and recommendations for implementation of projects for the benefit of Goa and Goans.
According to the media, Couto, while on a holiday in 2004, having come to know, that officials of the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) were in Delhi, approached them and convinced the officials to visit Goa. After two years of discussions, at his own home, which was made to serve as his office, he managed, in 2007, a proposal to bring to Goa an over Rs. 1000 crore JICA project to augment and modernize water supply and set up sewerage systems. Government delayed this initiative for which Couto toiled tirelessly and It is only recently that the state has launched five of the over 20 packages included in the project.
While in Macau on official work, in 2006, Couto had submitted a proposal to set up biodegradable waste management facilities in two main cities – Panaji and Vasco. This being a project that would benefit the people, the “government for the people” promptly rejected it. And we have still not solved the problem of waste management. Apparently, land acquisition for waste “disposal” is more profitable, therefore the proposal for waste “management” was promptly shot down.
As Chairman of the second Goa State Finance Commission, Couto submitted the report in December 2007. The recommendations included functions and responsibilities of Panchayati Raj institutions and urban local bodies as mandated under Articles 243G and 243W of the Constitution and the devolution of financial powers.
You all must have noticed that anything to do with increase or devolution of administrative and financial powers to the local self-government bodies, or with grass-roots governance, is taboo to our legislators, who want to retain the power in their hands and keep the local bodies under their thumb. The fact that the report has not yet been tabled in the Legislative Assembly, therefore, comes as no surprise. After so many years, it is more likely that government will term it as irrelevant now.
These same legislators are likely to come to our door just before the next elections due next year, if not earlier, seeking our votes to perpetuate their political circus and increase family representation in the Legislature. With proposals for pro-people projects being given “a grand governmental shrug”, it is high time we the people give the perpetual vote seekers “a grand people’s shrug”.
The print media of Goa had highlighted how, the late Alban Couto, who passed away a little over two years ago, had put forward many proposals and recommendations for implementation of projects for the benefit of Goa and Goans, but the same received only “a grand governmental shrug”.
The IAS officer always maintained an active interest in issues related to Goa, right up to his death in June 2009.
He was the first Development Commissioner of Goa. Later he served as advisor to the governor during President’s rule and was also advisor to the Goa government. Before and after his stint in Goa, he served in Bihar, Delhi, Chennai and even in London, in the Commonwealth Secretariat. Lately, he had been appointed Chairman of the Goa State Finance Commission.
FATHER NEWTON RODRIGUES FAILS TO APPEAR IN COURT: JMFC TO DECIDE FUTURE COURSE ON JULY 21ST
PANJIM: Former Parish Priest of Ribandar Father Newton Rodrigues today failed to appear before Panaji Judicial Magistrate First Class Mrs. Sarika Faldessai as was directed by the Court while giving him a last opportunity. JMFC Faldessai will now decide on Friday 21st July how to proceed with the case.
The Crime Branch has asked the JMFC to issue a non-bailable warrant of arrest against Father Newton Rodrigues, the former Parish Priest of Ribandar and now Pastor of St. Bernadette Church at Calgary in Canada.
A non- bailable warrant has been sought as the immigration authorities and the consulates overseas can only execute a non-bailable warrant. The police will also intimate all airports and check posts across the country that Father Newton Rodrigues be arrested. The Crime Branch will also seek the help of the Interpol to bring Father Newton Rodrigues to Goa.
Father Newton Rodrigues the former Parish Priest of Ribandar and now Pastor of St. Bernadette Church at Calgary in Canada has failed to remain present in Court despite being summoned and even a warrant of arrest issued against him.
It was on Fr. Newton Rodrigues’s complaint that Adv. Aires Rodrigues and 14 other Ribandar residents were charge sheeted for trespassing into the church corridor and disturbing a Parish Pastoral committee meeting.
Adv. Aires Rodrigues today moved an application before the JMFC that to expedite the proceedings he be allowed to begin examining his witnesses and that Father Newton Rodrigues could be examined as and when the Police arrest and produce him in court. Adv. Aires Rodrigues will examine seven defence witnesses which include Archbishop of Goa Filipe Neri Ferrao and former Chief Minister of Goa Mr. Pratapsingh Rane.
The government has over the last seven years been aggressively pursuing this case against Adv. Aires Rodrigues with the State having even challenged before the Sessions Court and later in the High Court the earlier acquittal of Adv. Aires Rodrigues in this same case.
In 2004 Adv. Aires Rodrigues was leading an agitation demanding action against Fr. Newton Rodrigues for having allegedly molested a 13 year old girl from Ribandar. While Adv. Aires Rodrigues and others were charge sheeted for confronting Fr. Newton Rodrigues, the case filed against Fr. Newton Rodrigues by the mother of the 13 year old girl who was allegedly molested by Fr. Newton Rodrigues was closed after then Governor of Goa Mr. S.C Jamir reportedly intervened to save Fr. Newton Rodrigues from being charge sheeted.
HEAVY RUSH FOR FREE TANKS IN CANACONA – Niz Goenkar Reporter in Canacona
CANACONA: After announcement at the churches in Canacona about the free tanks a heavy rush was observed to get free tanks at chaudi town
Braving the heavy rains Canconkars were seen standing in long serpentine ques as early as eight in the morning to get stamp papers at the local stamp paper vender at Chaudi, After geting the paper all had to run to Mr. Isidor Fernande's(a strong contender for congress ticket) office to pint an affidavit and there after to submit to BDO office to get a free 500/300 Lts tank.
And you thought that you got the tank then you are mistaken, At BDO office the concerned people tell you to get an income certificate from panchyat and water connection bill and resubmit the file.
People were so much troubled that there was not even drinking water for the people in the ques. All were found complaining that it was not worth the trouble. when the tank itself cost not more then Rs. two thousand.
The business community especial hardware shop owners were heard grumbling that one day this government will give every thing free including the undergarments and they will have to starve to death for want of any business.
DIGAMBAR’S NEW LOVE FOR TECHNOLOGY by Willie Menino Severes, Majorda (Dubai)
In 2010, Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamat demanded to put a ban on social networking sites Facebook and Orkut. Today, it is nice to see the same CM using the technology of video conferencing to listen to the grievances of the aam admi.
It is understood that he will be attending to the grievances of the people of South Goa every Tuesday, from the South Goa District Office which will be connected to all municipalities and panchayats in South Goa through the internet, and every Friday for the people of North Goa from the North Goa District Office.
However this week his online interaction has been cancelled, as he is in Delhi and will not able to reach on time.
Why can't Digambar Kamat use the facility of video conferencing to interact with his advisors in Delhi? Our politico Babu's should stop wasting Goan taxpayer’s hard earned money, to make unnecessary trips to Delhi.
Monday, 18 July 2011
GOA SWINDON DAY: CLARIFICATION AND STAND OF MR. SANTANA SOUSA AND HIS COMMITTEE MEMBERS
SWINDON: On 17th July 2011 Niz Goenkar was invited for a press briefing by Mr Santana Sousa and his team in order to clarify their stand on the cancellation of the GOA DAY that was supposed to be held on 16th of July 2011 at the County Ground, Swindon. Below is the clarification given by Mr. Santana Souza on the issue.
Alongwith Santana were present chairman Mr Floriano D’Sa, Vice chairman Mr. Socorro Pinheiro, Treasurer Mr. Miguel Da Cunha. Only The General Secretary Mr. Abel Nunes as absent. Santana briefed NG starting with his clarifications on the recent incident of Goa Day Cancellation. According to Santana an emergency meeting took place and they discussed about the Goa Day event, which he said was illegally organised by the committee headed by president Mr. Jacinto Souza.
Santana said that he had no intention of stopping the Goa Day. However he said that the procedures by the organisers were not followed and were incomplete and that is the reason why the Borough Council of Swindon cancelled the event.
Santana disclosed to NG the email that appeared previously on NG in the preceding article, wherein it was mentioned to stop the event, was indeed written by him to Mr. James Holland and to enquire about the Goa day.
Mr James Holland told Santana that he had submitted the forms for the noise pollution. Santana was on his work when James called him. Santana told us the he replied to him that he was not involved in the organising committee to which James asked Santana how many committees were in existence among them.
Santana told NG that he informed James that the committee run by him was the legally elected committed on 16th March 2011 and that he was the president of the same. James then asked Santana to forward to him the names of the legal committee.
Santana told NG that people are accusing him of blocking the Goa Day and got it cancelled using his influence which is false and baseless. He further reiterated that he and his committee are not against the Goa Day and will never be against it even in future or even any other function organised by the Goans.
Mr Floriano D’Sa the Chairman spoke and said that in the past the current organisers of Goa Day had organised many events but they had never obstructed or objected that. “We never ever objected them in anything they organised” said Floriano.
Santana said that the current organisers had not informed the neighbours about the event as the law requires them to do and that is the main reason for the event to be cancelled. Santana said “if they had completed the formalities then neither we nor anybody could stop the event”
Stressing on the accusation by the other committee and the people that Santana misappropriated £6000, he said “I say that if they prove that if I have pocketed even .60 pence, I hereby declare that I shall never never again occupy any post in the organization all my life”
Mrs Cimilda Sousa another member of the GSA said “why has the council not recognised them and allowed them to go ahead with the event? If they were right on their side, Council would not stop them on Santana’s email”
Floriano debated that, Jacinto used the wrong dates when addressing the crowd on Saturday. He said that Jacinto said the date on the email was 13th July whereas the actual date on Santana’s email was 14th July When NG asked Floriano whether what was spoken was right or wrong, he replied ”Do you think so?”.
When asked about the election of the new committee under Mr. Jacinto Sousa, Santana said that what they have done is not in the constitution of GSA just to elect a board committee like that. Floriano said that as long as the old committee does not step down, How can new committee take over “which I have not seen anywhere in my life and am seeing here in Swindon for the first time” he said.
Over all they showed NG the minutes of the meeting that took place on 3rd July 2011 to discuss on the issue of Goa Day. Of that below are just three points of the minutes.
IN THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING:
They had discussed the phone call of Mr. Ian Pickering of Croft Centre where the event was supposed to he held, saying that it would not be nice to have two Goa Days on the same venue, as this may hinder the holding of the event in future.
Ian had arranged a meeting with both the committees and had informed Mr. Anthony Fernandes and kept a message. However no one responded for four days and as such Ian had to postpone the meeting.
The minutes also say that General Secretary Mr. Abel Nunes inquired whether the event of Goa Day on 16th July 2001 can be stopped. According to Santana and the others present there Abel's was only an enquiry and not a suggestion or pressure to stop or block the event.
NIZ GOENKAR ADDS: Mr. Abel Nunes contacted NG and informed that the above information is incorrect and that he never inquired if the Goa Day could be stopped. Abel said "This is a conspiracy against me, I have never said these words anywhere at all. I never enquired about stopping the Goa Day." He further stated that this is being done to create confusion among people and to malign him.
NIZ GOENKAR ADDS: Mr. Abel Nunes contacted NG and informed that the above information is incorrect and that he never inquired if the Goa Day could be stopped. Abel said "This is a conspiracy against me, I have never said these words anywhere at all. I never enquired about stopping the Goa Day." He further stated that this is being done to create confusion among people and to malign him.
Below are the copies of two documents presented to NG by Mr. Santana Souza:
ATHELETICS COACH FROM UTTAR PRADESH ARRESTED FOR RAPING A 15 YEAR OLD MINOR
PANJIM: Goa Police have arrested an athletics coach from Uttar Pradesh for raping a 15-year-old kho-kho player at a hotel on Colva beach. According to police, the victim is a class XI student from government college near Bijnor in UP. The incident happened last week, which came to light after the girl sought help of a local waiter to approach the police.
Colva police stated that Amit Ragi, an athletics coach from UP sexually abused the girl, whom he had brought to Goa under the pretext of selection for national kho-kho. The coach and the victim came to Margao on July 7 and later checked in at a hotel near Colva beach and he allegedly raped her next day, they said.
Police stated that after the incident, the victim sought help of a hotel waiter, who assisted her to reach the police. The coach was arrested under Section 366 and 376 of IPC and sent to judicial custody. Teacher of the victim came to Goa from Bijnor after she got to know about the incident. She sought the custody of the girl, which was refused by the police.
President of 'Bailancho Ekvott' Auda Viegas, who assisted police in getting the statement, said that the girl was sent back with the police escort. "She is now safe with her parents," Viegas said adding that Colva police responded quickly after the initial complaint, which resulted in speedy rescue of the girl. – PTI
GOVT PROTECTS THE KILLERS OF BALI TRIBALS: UTAA
PANJIM: Tribal leaders on Monday accused the government of protecting the killers of two tribal activists, who lost their lives during the Bali violence on May 25. "Two of our people died. While the perpetrators are out free, our people are in jail. Only one has been arrested," United Tribal Associations Alliance (UTAA) leader and BJP MLA, Mr Ramesh Tawadkar told media during a daylong symbolic dharna at Azad Maidan to protest against the government apathy towards tribals.
UTAA convenor, Mr Prakash Velip said that the Crime Branch instead of getting to the bottom of the case were more interested in harassing their men and were regularly issuing summons and making them sit for hours at their office.
The activists also agued that neither the chief minister nor any other minister was interested in the welfare of the tribals, pointing out that till date the judicial enquiry in the Bali killings had still not started. "Where is the judicial enquiry which the chief minister promised? Are there no retired judges available? The killers of Mangesh Gaonkar and Dilip Velip are still at large," Mr Velip told media. "The government has not done anything till date, besides harassing our people. But we will not be cowed down. Our agitation will continue," he added.
After the violence, the chief minister had assured the tribal leaders of a judicial enquiry into the incident and the case was transferred to the Crime Branch.
Tribal leaders, who have been demanding implementation of reservation for tribals in government jobs and other tribal rights, claimed that nothing is being done in this direction. "The government is just promising things. The coordination committee meeting that it had promised has still not happened. Our money is still not being spent for our development. These are all excuses," Mr Velip charged.
TRIBAL LEADERS ACCUSE CM KAMAT OF BEING ANTI–TRIBAL
PANJIM: Tribal leaders here Monday accused Chief Minister Digambar Kamat of being "anti-tribal" and protecting the killers of two tribal activists during a May rally this year. Speaking to reporters during a day-long tribal protest here, convenor of the United Tribal Associations Alliance (UTAA), Prakash Velip, said that Kamat's disinterest in tribal welfare affairs was obvious as no judicial enquiry was in sight into the killing of two tribal activists during an agitation at Balli, some 50 km from here, May 25.
"Where is the judicial enquiry which the chief minister promised? Are there no retired judges available? The killers of Mangesh Gaonkar and Dilip Velip (both tribal activists) are still at large. The chief minister is anti-tribal," Velip told reporters at the Azad Maidan here.
Days after the violence, Kamat had assured the tribal leaders of a judicial enquiry into the incident. The case was also transferred to the Crime Branch for investigation.
The tribal leaders, who have been demanding implementation of reservation for tribals in government jobs and other tribal rights, have also said that Crime Branch officers were more interested in harassing tribal activists and threatening them rather than probing the killings.
"Those who killed Mangesh and Dilip are still at large. Only one person has been arrested. They were young boys who were attacked and thrown into fire, where they were charred to death. It cannot have been done by one person," tribal activist and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Ramesh Tawadkar said. – IANS
NIZ GOENKAR: A SITE DEDICATED TO GOA AND GOANS by Nisser Dias
At the very onset I would like to congratulate Menino Fernandes and his NIZ GOENKAR team for hosting, update and administer a very bold website dedicated to liberate Goa and Goans from the shackles of our own doing.
Be it mining – legal and illegal that is harming own brethren, destroying our environment and the natural beauty of a paradise on this earth called Goa. Rampant construction at the cost of our green hills, swaying palms, flowing fields, cascading springs and lakes, heritage structures and monuments and not forgetting our 104 km long coastal stretch. Acquisition of tracts of land belonging to people and the communidade for projects that are not really required for a small state like Goa. Communal division of Goan polity, politicization of police department, corruption at every level of governance, all this has been exposed on NIZ GOENKAR site.
More importantly Menino and his team dedicate a lot of time on the comments of Goan bloggers so as to give them importance. The comments of Goans be it in Goa or the diaspora Goans are so palpable that one can feel their anger against the present day government. Furthermore NIZ GOENKAR site is a window to all the diaspora Goans as it keeps them updated about the happenings and events in the mother state on a daily basis which even our popular dailies fail to do.
Kudos to Menino and his team for not only updating the site on regular basis, but dedicating themselves to cause and that is to maintain Goenkarponn and at the same time educate people of Goa to bring about a change in governance. To elect a government that will work for Goa and Goans and not a government made up of self-centered, communal politicians.
Through hard work, dedication, perseverance and enthusiasm NIZ GOENKAR team has made the government, police, politicians and politicians –in-waiting to sit up and take notice and be wary of the team because Menino and co, have stood up to the pressures of the police and politicians.
All the best in your new venture and I earnestly hope that NIZ GOENKAR site will bring about the required change.
Nisser Dias
(Journalist)
HC DIRECTS ADDITIONAL SOLICITOR GENERAL TO FILE AFFIDAVIT IN GOVERNOR’S PLEA AGAINST RTI
A Division Bench of the Bombay High Court at Goa comprising of Justice S. A. Bobde and Justice F.M.Reis today directed the Additional Solicitor General of India Mr. Vivek Tankha to file an affidavit to the effect that the President of India, Governor and the Speaker do not have any executive powers or duties to comply with.
The High Court direction came after the Additional Solicitor General Mr. Vivek Tankha while appearing on behalf of Goa Raj Bhavan today argued that the President of India, Governor, Speaker and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court & High Courts do not come within the purview of the Right to Information Act.
While making it clear that the Court does not intend to keep this petition pending the Division Bench stated that it would fix the next date of hearing soon.
Pleading that the petition against the RTI Act filed by Goa Raj Bhavan be disposed as soon as possible, Adv. Aires Rodrigues drew the attention of the Court that the RTI Act had been grounded for the last three years in the State as far as the Governor of Goa is concerned.
Submitting to the Court that even the President of India was complying with the RTI Act, Adv. Aires Rodrigues told the Court that Dr. S.S.Sidhu is India’s only Governor to have taken a stand that he is not a “Public Authority” and has refused to comply with the RTI Act.
Special Secretary to the Governor Dr. N. Radhakrishnan in his petition before the High Court has challenged the 31st March order of the Goa State Information commission which had directed the Raj Bhavan to furnish Adv. Aires Rodrigues the information sought by him under the Right to Information Act.
The Goa Raj Bhavan has in its petition contended that the Governor not being a “Public Authority” does not come within the purview of the RTI Act. The Raj Bhavan has also further contended that the Goa State Information Commission has not been properly constituted and that the State Chief Information Commissioner could not have heard matters in the absence of another Information Commissioner.
The State Chief Information Commissioner Mr. Motilal Keny in his order had ruled that the Goa Governor was a “Public Authority” and does come within the ambit of the Right to Information Act.
Adv. Aires Rodrigues’s complaint against Goa Governor Dr. Sidhu follows the stand taken by the Goa Raj Bhavan that the Governor was not a public authority and did not come within the purview of the RTI Act.
Adv. Aires Rodrigues had sought from Goa Raj Bhavan under the RTI Act details of action taken on his complaints to the Governor of Goa against the Advocate General of Goa Mr. Subodh Kantak. Adv. Rodrigues had also sought copies of noting sheets and correspondence pertaining to the processing of his complaints against the Advocate General.
ITS RAINING CATS AND DONGS IN CANACONA! by NG Reporter, Canacona
CANACONA: Rain has played havoc in canacona affecting schools, business and most government offices. Most parts of Canacona remained submerged in water for last week.The only people with a smile were the farming community.
The figures provided by the irrigation department which measures the rainfall in Canacona in their observatory located in front of the Mamlatdar office at Chaudi Canacona were as follows.
last week recorded a downpour of total 21 inches of rainfall in Canacona,and till now Canacona has recorded a rainfall of 85 inches. However the seasonal total rainfall should be average 120 inches. The farmers have just finished transplanting the rice crop and expect a bumper crop this year.
TWO PERSONS DETAINED IN CONNECTION WITH GANG RAPE
PANJIM: Two people were detained for questioning early Monday and the police are on the lookout for four others who allegedly gang raped a 32-year-old widow in Goa.
The woman, a domestic help, said in her complaint that she was on her way to home from work late Sunday when she was picked up from Cuncolim. She was taken to a house in Cabo De Rama, a south Goa village about 50 km from here, and then allegedly gang raped.
"We have sent her for medical examination. Two people she has identified have been detained. We are looking out for the others," Deputy Superintendent of Police Umesh Gaonkar told a news agency. – IANS
COLLEAGUE MURDERED FOR TICKLING
PANJIM: Narayan Biswas had to pay with his life after he tried to tickle his friend and colleague Neerapan Sunil Mandal at Mapusa on Friday night. Biswas, who was residing at Karaswadda, Mapusa, was allegedly murdered by Mandal, who shared a room with him. Mapusa police have registered a murder case and arrested Mandal. Both were construction workers and staying in a room close to the construction site.
Elaborating on the incident, police said that Biswas was in the habit of tickling Mandal for fun. He also used to pinch him. "Mandal used to find it irritating and often warned Biswas to behave himself, but to no avail," said sources. On Friday, after having some drinks in the room, they began poking fun at each other. Later, while Mandal was cutting vegetables, Biswas entered the kitchen and tried to tickle Mandal, who warned him to behave himself.
When Biswas didn't stop, an angry Mandal suddenly, flashed his knife at his colleague and according to the police, slit his neck. When Biswas was taken to Asilo hospital , he was declared "brought dead".
WOMAN FROM NUVEM GANG RAPED AT CUNCOLIM
MARGAO: A 30-year old widow from Nuvem was allegedly gang-raped by at least six persons at Cuncolim on Saturday. Cuncolim police registered an offence on Sunday against unknown persons and have taken into custody a suspect for interrogation, police sources said.
Police sources said that one of the six accused was known to the victim. He allegedly invited the lady to Cuncolim on Saturday and when the unsuspecting victim went to meet him as he suggested, she was taken to a room where he, along with five others allegedly raped her. Based on a complaint lodged by the victim, Cuncolim police booked an offence against unknown accused and are conducting further investigations.
WILL FATHER NEWTON RODRIGUES APPEAR IN COURT?
PANJIM: With Panjim Judicial Magistrate First Class Mrs. Sarika Faldessai having given a last opportunity to the Prosecution to produce Father Newton Rodrigues in Court on 19th July at 10 am it will have to be seen whether the former Parish Priest of Ribandar now appears in Court.
Father Newton Rodrigues the former Parish Priest of Ribandar and now Pastor of St. Bernadette Church at Calgary in Canada has failed to remain present in Court despite being summoned and even a warrant of arrest issued against him.
It was on Fr. Newton Rodrigues’s complaint that Adv. Aires Rodrigues and 14 other Ribandar residents were charge sheeted for trespassing into the church corridor and disturbing a Parish Pastoral committee meeting.
If Fr. Newton Rodrigues fails to remain present on July 19th the Court could close the prosecution evidence and allow Adv. Aires Rodrigues to lead his evidence. Adv. Aires Rodrigues will be examining seven defence witnesses which include Archbishop of Goa Filipe Neri Ferrao and former Chief Minister of Goa Mr. Pratapsingh Rane. The other option the Court has is to stop the proceedings of the case and pass a judgment acquitting Adv. Aires Rodrigues and 14 others.
The government has over the last seven years been aggressively pursuing this case against Adv. Aires Rodrigues with the State having even challenged before the Sessions Court and later in the High Court the earlier acquittal of Adv. Aires Rodrigues in the same case.
The Prosecution has now faced a series of setbacks with the manner in which the witnesses including the Investigating officers have deposed. Old Goa Police Sub Inspector Mr. Hanshakutti who had initially investigated the case has told the Court that he did not even read Fr. Newton Rodrigues’s complaint and registered the case against Adv. Aires Rodrigues on the instructions of his superiors.
Inspector Braz Menezes who later investigated the case at the Crime Branch conceded that though he was the Investigating officer all the directions in the case were being issued by his Superiors. Inspector Menezes also conceded that then Chief Minister Mr. Pratapsingh Rane had on 4th February 2005 directed that the charge sheet against Adv. Aires Rodrigues be filed.
Crime Branch Police Sub Inspector Vinayak Mahale who later took over the investigation and filed the charge sheet against Adv. Rodrigues conceded in Court that he did no investigation in the case and that all he did for over two years was discuss the case with his superiors. He has also deposed in Court that it took him three months to xeroz the copies of the charge sheet.
In 2004 Adv. Aires Rodrigues was leading an agitation demanding action against Fr. Newton Rodrigues for having allegedly molested a 13 year old girl from Ribandar. While Adv. Aires Rodrigues and others were charge sheeted for confronting Fr. Newton Rodrigues, the case filed against Fr. Newton Rodrigues by the mother of the 13 year old girl who was allegedly molested by Fr. Newton Rodrigues was closed after then Governor of Goa Mr. S.C Jamir reportedly intervened to save Fr. Newton Rodrigues from being charge sheeted.
Sunday, 17 July 2011
NOW ADDITIONAL SOLICITOR GENERAL TO DEFEND GOA GOVERNOR AGAINST RTI
PANJIM: Additional Solicitor General of India Mr. Vivek Tankha arrived in Goa this evening to defend Governor of Goa Dr. S.S.Sidhu before the Bombay High Court at Goa on Monday 18th July in his case against the RTI Act. Mr. Tankha is one of the 14 current Additional Solicitor Generals in the country.
The Goa Raj Bhavan’s petition against the Right to Information Act will come up for hearing before a Division bench of the Bombay High Court at Goa comprising of Justice S. A. Bobde and Justice F.M.Reis.
Mr. Gopal Subramaniam who was scheduled to defend Governor Sidhu before the High Court, cancelled his visit to Goa last week following his resignation as the Solicitor General of India.
Special Secretary to the Governor Dr. N. Radhakrishnan in his petition before the High Court has challenged the 31st March order of the Goa State Information commission which had directed the Raj Bhavan to furnish Adv. Aires Rodrigues the information sought by him under the Right to Information Act.
The Goa Raj Bhavan has in its petition contended that the Governor not being a “Public Authority” does not come within the purview of the RTI Act. The Raj Bhavan has also further contended that the Goa State Information Commission has not been properly constituted and that the State Chief Information Commissioner could not have heard matters in the absence of another Information Commissioner.
The State Chief Information Commissioner Mr. Motilal Keny in his order had ruled that the Goa Governor was a “Public Authority” and does come within the ambit of the Right to Information Act.
Adv. Aires Rodrigues’s complaint against Goa Governor Dr. Sidhu follows the stand taken by the Goa Raj Bhavan that the Governor was not a public authority and did not come within the purview of the RTI Act.
Adv. Aires Rodrigues had sought from Goa Raj Bhavan under the RTI Act details of action taken on his complaints to the Governor of Goa against the Advocate General of Goa Mr. Subodh Kantak. Adv. Rodrigues had also sought copies of noting sheets and correspondence pertaining to the processing of his complaints against the Advocate General.
With even the President of India complying with the RTI Act, Dr. S.S.Sidhu is India’s only Governor to have taken a stand that he is not a “Public Authority” and has refused to comply with the RTI Act.
A WOMAN GANG RAPED AT BETUL ON SATURDAY NIGHT
MARGAO: In a shocking incident, a 32-year old widow has complained of gang rape by a group of six persons at Betul Saturday night. The woman, who made her appearance at the Cuncolim police station on Sunday evening, was later referred to medical examination. It is learnt that the woman was subjected to medical examination and the police were awaiting medical report for further investigations.
Police sources informed that the woman has complained to the police that she was given a lift by a known person, whose name was provided as Sunil. Instead of dropping her at her residence at Molorem-Cabo de Rama, she was taken to Betul by force in a room and allegedly raped. Her trauma and ordeal did not end, as five other persons effected entry into the room and allegedly raped her. The accused are believed to have fled from the scene of offense, leaving the woman to take shelter in the house of a woman. Today, she narrated the incident to her brother, after which the brother intimated the police of the gory incident.
The woman, who has been eking a living by working as a domestic help, has given the name of three persons to the police. Later in the evening, police detained two and are on the look out for the other accused.
The police are investigating whether the accused, who had given a lift to the woman, had called the other accused persons to commit the offense. The police are investigating.
Meanwhile, the Cuncolim police has registered a case of kidnapping in connection with the missing girl from Cuncolim. Police said the girl (15) and an 18-year old boy from Calconda had gone missing over a fortnight ago. The police have registered a case of kidnapping against the boy. The police are investigating
KRCL CLEARS THEMSELVES OF FALSE JOB PROMISERS
PANJIM: Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL) on Sunday said that unscrupulous elements were promising jobs in the corporation for the land-losers and innocent jobseekers and that it has not planned any recruitment.
"Some unscrupulous elements are reported to be involved in misguiding the innocent jobseekers and land-losers, assuring them jobs in the corporation," KRCL’s Chief Public Relations Officer Siddheshwar Telugu said in a press note.
The corporation which had acquired huge tracts of land to lay the rail tracks has an employment policy for those who have given their land for the project.
Telugu said that some anti-social elements made false claims about getting jobs to land losers and the corporation has not authorised any person for recruitment. The corporation has appealed to people not to pay any heed to the unauthorised agents making false promises of offering jobs in KRCL. – PTI
JULY 25 RESULTS WILL SILENCE DETRACTORS: VALANKA YOUTH CONGRESS ELECTIONS
MARGAO: Exuding confidence that her detractors would be silenced when the results are out on July 25, PWD Minister, Churchill Alemao’s daughter Valanka has said the question before the Youth Congress members is not whose daughter is contesting the YC polls, but of a youth who has come forward to strengthen the organization.
“Here is not the question whose daughter you are or what. Here is about a youth, who has come forward. The Youth Congress members will answer all your questions on July 25 when the results are out”, she said, when newsmen asked her about the controversy surrounding the Youth Congress polls with party heavyweights throwing their lot behind her.
Saying this is the first time a youth Congress president will be elected and not selected, Valanka said this is the first time that Rahul Gandhi has asked all states to motivate youngsters and enroll as many members as possible. “ As per Rahul’s call, I have enrolled many members not just in Navelim and Benaulim, but across Goa. The youth have shown their trust and faith in me. They are a motivate lot”, she said.
Asked whether she thinks her ticket for the Benaulim Assembly constituency will be confirmed if she becomes the Youth Congress president, Valanak shot back “ I am just working to build the organization. I believe in Rahul’s organization. I have enrolled many members, including women. All these questions will be answered on July 25”. When it was pointed out to her that she would contest the polls on the NCP banner if denied a ticket by the Congress, Here is not the question whose daughter you are or what. Here is about a youth, who has come forward.
Congress, Valanka said, “Iam hearing this for the first time. Ever since I joined politics in 2007, I am with the Congress. Nobody would tell that Valanka has thought about any other party. I am contesting the YC polls and my votes will answer your question”. When her attention was drawn to complaints lodged by contestants against lobbying by party leaders in support of her candidature, she said “here I am running short of time for campaigning, while others are complaining. Those who say they are in the party for 12- 15 years, will know where they stand in the elections”. - SR
NIZ GOENKAR ADDS: "Baap ek numbari, Bethi 10 numbari" as the saying in Hindi goes is true to this article. Beware, this daughter could be worst than the father. She is alleged to be expert in extortion, she never practised as a lawyer but is alleged to be an expert in manipulating and extorting. One of the NG can confirm that she throttled one builder until he/she submitted to her demand.
“Here is not the question whose daughter you are or what. Here is about a youth, who has come forward. The Youth Congress members will answer all your questions on July 25 when the results are out”, she said, when newsmen asked her about the controversy surrounding the Youth Congress polls with party heavyweights throwing their lot behind her.
Saying this is the first time a youth Congress president will be elected and not selected, Valanka said this is the first time that Rahul Gandhi has asked all states to motivate youngsters and enroll as many members as possible. “ As per Rahul’s call, I have enrolled many members not just in Navelim and Benaulim, but across Goa. The youth have shown their trust and faith in me. They are a motivate lot”, she said.
Asked whether she thinks her ticket for the Benaulim Assembly constituency will be confirmed if she becomes the Youth Congress president, Valanak shot back “ I am just working to build the organization. I believe in Rahul’s organization. I have enrolled many members, including women. All these questions will be answered on July 25”. When it was pointed out to her that she would contest the polls on the NCP banner if denied a ticket by the Congress, Here is not the question whose daughter you are or what. Here is about a youth, who has come forward.
Congress, Valanka said, “Iam hearing this for the first time. Ever since I joined politics in 2007, I am with the Congress. Nobody would tell that Valanka has thought about any other party. I am contesting the YC polls and my votes will answer your question”. When her attention was drawn to complaints lodged by contestants against lobbying by party leaders in support of her candidature, she said “here I am running short of time for campaigning, while others are complaining. Those who say they are in the party for 12- 15 years, will know where they stand in the elections”. - SR
NIZ GOENKAR ADDS: "Baap ek numbari, Bethi 10 numbari" as the saying in Hindi goes is true to this article. Beware, this daughter could be worst than the father. She is alleged to be expert in extortion, she never practised as a lawyer but is alleged to be an expert in manipulating and extorting. One of the NG can confirm that she throttled one builder until he/she submitted to her demand.
WHEN WILL THE CCP GET ITS ACT TOGETHER? by Adv. Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
The Corporation of City of Panaji Act provides for the nomination of five Corporators having special knowledge or experience in municipal administration, engineering, architecture, heritage etc. It was definitely not the intent of the Act to load the CCP with political stooges but to have aboard, people with expertise to contribute to the welfare and betterment of the City.
Mrs. Patricia Pinto has rightly been co-opted to help ease the city’s garbage crisis. To fill the other fours slots the CCP could first seek the help of a knowledgeable Town planner. The second nomination could be someone who could contribute with plans for easing the current chaotic traffic and parking woes.
A person with knowledge of horticulture could also be taken aboard to upgrade the city’s parks, gardens and ensure an increase in Panaji’s green cover. The fourth person who could be nominated is someone who would find a solution to the alarming stray dog menace and also enhance the city’s sanitation while curbing the increasing health hazards. If the CCP Act had provided for a sixth nomination it would definitely have to be a retired detective with expertise in criminal investigation who could monitor and curb the corruption at the CCP.
Saturday, 16 July 2011
GOA DAY CANCELLED: SADDEST DAY FOR ALL GOANS IN SWINDON AND ELSEWHERE IN UK.
SWINDON: This is a day that brings all the Goans together in their thousands as they visit the venue where the famous Swindon Goa day is celebrated, with grandeur and pomp. Goans from other European countries,especially from Paris (France), Portugal etc come all the way to have fun that day in Swindon.
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| GSA President Jacinto explaining Goans why Goa Day was Cancelled |
But this year is a very sad day as the Goa day was cancelled by the Swindon Borough Council with a last minute notice to the committee members of GSA who were the organisers of the event.
But the main reason for the cancellation of the event is one single email from a fellow Goan who recently had declared himself as the leader of Goan Community in Swindon, in which it is claimed that he is the legal authority of the GSA with a request to the Swindon Borough Council to stop the event as he had not given any permission to the current organisers to organise the event.
The man is none other than Mr. Santana Souza, a native of Goa Velha in Goa, who by force is trying to hold on to the reins of GSA. The current committee which was lawfully elected in October 2010 consists of President: Mr. Jacinto Sousa, Vice President: Ms Sheela D’Costa, Chairman: Mr Anthony Fernandes, General Secretary: Mr Hilario Do Rego and Treasurer: Mr. Nascito Francisco Fernandes.
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| Mr Abel Nunes clarifiying his stand to the Goans over his name featuring in the email of Santana |
However inspite of the new committee in active role, Mr Santana claims that he and his ex-co-committee members are the legal Committee and not the current committee.
According to the current president of GSA Mr Jacinto who spoke to Niz Goenkar, Mr. Santana is not ready to step down even as he has been asked by the members. He continues to defy the new committee and that is what he showed by creating a rift among the Goans and causing the cancellation of the yearly Goa Day.
Mr Jacinto further stated that they had initiated the legal procedures for the event and obtained the necessary licence from the Borough Council of Swindon. On 6th June 2011, the Borough Council had issued a licence to the committee consisting of Mr. Jacinto and others mentioned above. Preparations for the event were in full swing. Stalls were allotted to the Goans who setup food items etc every year. Those who had booked the stalls prepared themselves spending lot of money to get the items ready for the event.
On 13th of July the Borough Council summoned Mr. Jacinto and his co-committee members for discussions about the event and to ensure that the rules and regulations have been followed.
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| GSA Vice President Ms Sheila D'Costa next to her the child artist Chloe in purple. |
On 14th they were again summoned for a chat with the fire security officer and were given the safety details list. They were briefed about the noise pollution etc.
However on 15th i.e. just one day before the all set event, the council called them in again and told them that the event has to be cancelled as all the procedures were not done in accordance with the rules and regulations, they were asked to sign the event cancellation letter. All the pleadings went deaf.
However the Borough Council asked them to organise the event at a later date about four weeks from now. They also promised to help them do the legal procedures and to provide them a fresh licence.
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| Goans gathered to find a solution |
This morning Mr. Jacinto received a letter by post which turned to be a copy of an email by Mr. Santana Souza , addressed to Mr. James Holland stating that he is the authority of the GSA along with Mr. Abel Nunes, Floriano D’SA and Mr. Miguel da Cunha. At the ending part of the email Mr. Santana has mentioned ‘As the president of GSA I DON’T AUTHORISE the event to go ahead on the 16th July without them completing ALL THE FOMALITIES.’ (FOMALITIES is as spelled in the email) This email brought to light that Mr. Santana was instrumental in the great event being cancelled.
The organisers and the stall takers are the ones that suffered the greater loss at the cost of this selfish man Santana Souza said one Goan in the crowd, at the County Ground where Goans gathered today to find a solution and the cause behind the cancellation of the Goa day.
Niz Goenkar interviewed Mr. Abel Nunes the ex-Secretary of the so called committee run by Mr. Santana, who had this to say:
NG: What do you say on this Mr Abel
ABEL: I have no objection for the Goa day whatsoever and I have done nothing to stop the event.
NG: What do you say on this Mr Abel
ABEL: I have no objection for the Goa day whatsoever and I have done nothing to stop the event.
NG: Mr. Abel, your name features on this email, whereby it shows that you are involved in the cancellation of the Goa day. Is that correct?
ABEL: No I do not know anything about the email and I am not involved in this at all.
NG: Then how come your name features on the email by Santana? Can you shed some light on it?
ABEL: This has been done without my permission. I was not even consulted on this by Santana.
NG: So you say that this is done without your knowledge?
ABEL: Absolutely I am not aware of any such thing. Mr. Santana has not even consulted me.
NG: Who do you think that your name appearing on the email of Santan?
ABEL: I was very very angry as I have nothing to do with it. I did not even know about this.
NG: Thank you Mr. Abel.
We interviewed two little children of age 6 and 8 about the cancellation of Goa day. Little Miss Chloe and Little Master Valanko the two little children who had practiced hard some dances to be performed were totally dejected and heartbroken. When asked by NG how she felt about the cancellation of Goa day, Chloe said that she was upset. We felt that she was gloomy with sadness. She said that she had practiced a lot and was to perform some dances with Valanko. NG then asked master Valanko his feelings; he said he is very sad that he could not perform due to the sudden suspension of the event. We felt the boy too was very gloomy. All this was caused by just one person who tried to and tries to portray himself as the leader of the Goans when he is not.
Below is the copy of the email of Santana which was received through post by the president of GSA Mr. Jacinto Sousa.
A meeting has been called of all the Goans in Swindon on 23rd July 2011, Saturday at 11 AM to deal with the problem and to have a fresh go for organising the GOA DAY at a later day.
The copy of the email of Santana
HIGH COURT TO HEAR ON 18TH JULY GOA GOVERNOR’S PLEA AGAINST RTI
PANJIM: The Goa Raj Bhavan’s petition against the Right to Information Act will come up for hearing on Monday 18th July before a Division bench of the Bombay High Court at Goa comprising of Justice S. A. Bobde and Justice F.M.Reis.
The petition could not be heard last week as Advocate General Subodh Kantak had sought time while submitting that he was not ready with his arguments.
Mr. Gopal Subramaniam who was scheduled to defend Governor Sidhu before the High Court, cancelled his visit to Goa following his tendering of resignation as Solicitor General of India.
Meanwhile efforts are still on to get Mr. Gopal Subramaniam to appear on behalf of Raj Bhavan as Governor Sidhu is known to be a personal friend of the former Solicitor General
Special Secretary to the Governor Dr. N. Radhakrishnan in his petition before the High Court has challenged the 31st March order of the Goa State Information commission which had directed the Raj Bhavan to furnish Adv. Aires Rodrigues the information sought by him under the Right to Information Act.
The Goa Raj Bhavan has in its petition contended that the Governor not being a “Public Authority” does not come within the purview of the RTI Act. The Raj Bhavan has also further contended that the Goa State Information Commission has not been properly constituted and that the State Chief Information Commissioner could not have heard matters in the absence of another Information Commissioner.
The State Chief Information Commissioner Mr. Motilal Keny in his order had ruled that the Goa Governor was a “Public Authority” and does come within the ambit of the Right to Information Act.
Adv. Aires Rodrigues’s complaint against Goa Governor Dr. Sidhu follows the stand taken by the Goa Raj Bhavan that the Governor was not a public authority and did not come within the purview of the RTI Act.
Adv. Aires Rodrigues had sought from Goa Raj Bhavan under the RTI Act details of action taken on his complaints to the Governor of Goa against the Advocate General of Goa Mr. Subodh Kantak. Adv. Rodrigues had also sought copies of noting sheets and correspondence pertaining to the processing of his complaints against the Advocate General.
With even the President of India complying with the RTI Act, Dr. S.S.Sidhu is India’s only Governor to have taken a stand that he is not a “Public Authority” and has refused to comply with the RTI Act.
NATIVE OF WEST BENGAL ARRESTED FOR MURDERING HIS COLLEAGUE AT CARASWADDO
MAPUSA: A case of murder has been registered at the Mapusa police station against a construction worker from West Bengal for allegedly murdering his colleague Narayan Biswas in Caraswaddo, Mapusa Friday night.
The Mapusa police have arrested Neerapan Sunil Mandal on a murder charge. The police, however, said that Narayan and Mandal were roommates staying near the construction site at Karaswadda. After having some drinks in the room, they began poking fun at each other before Mandal began cutting some vegetables in the kitchen.
All of a sudden, he flashed his knife at his colleague and according to the police, it slit his neck. Narayan collapsed within minutes bleeding profusely. Mandal panicked and raised an alarm. When Narayan was taken to Asilo, he was declared "brought dead". - TNN
GOVT TO RECONSIDER SP TRANSFERS SINCE OBJECTED BY DGP
PANJIM: The government will on Monday examine the transfers of a few superintendents of police (SPs) after it received a letter from director general of police (DGP) Aditya Arya objecting to the transfers, chief secretary Sanjay Srivastava said.
Srivastava said that he has received the letter from the DGP requesting that the transfer of SPs should be reconsidered. "I have gone through the letter sent by the DGP. We will examine the views expressed by the DGP on Monday and then we will take a decision," Srivastava said.
The DGP, while going on leave, had orally instructed the SPs to stay at their present postings, till he returns on July 30. – TNN
BJP DEMANDS THE ARREST OF ROY NAIK SON OF HOME MINISTER RAVI NAIK
PANJIM: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday demanded the arrest of Goa Home Minister Ravi Naik’s son, Roy, for his alleged links with the drug mafia in the state. Leader of Opposition Manohar Parrikar said that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is investigating the drug-nexus case, should arrest Roy, as he stands accused in the case.
BJP’s demand comes after an interview given by Swedish Model, Lucky Farmhouse on Thursday, in which, she said that Roy was giving drugs to her former boyfriend Atala (alias Yaniv Benaim).
Parrikar said that Lucky, who is the prime witness in the drug-nexus case, should be questioned immediately by the CBI, so that Roy's role becomes clear. BJP also demanded that CBI should investigate Goa Crime Branch officers for their connivance at the Israeli drug lord involved in the drug nexus case.
"CBI should take into custody Deputy Superintendent of Police Chandrakant Salgaoncar and Police Inspector Pravinkumar Vast, who arranged bail to Atala," Parrikar said. Seven policemen were arrested after Lucky had shot video clips of Atala bragging about his links with the officers. – PTI
ALL OF GOA’S CHURCHES TO FOLLOW DRESS CODE
PANJIM: After Goa's oldest church, other churches in the state could soon follow suit and impose a rigid dress code for tourists visiting their premises. Fr Francisco Caldeira, a spokesperson for the Goa Archibishop, told a news agency that the example set by Goa's 450-year-old church, the Basilica of Bom Jesus, in setting up a dress code was the way to go.
"It is true that other churches like the Se Cathedral will follow suit. The church will take all this into account," Caldeira said. The Basilica of Bom Jesus is part of several churches, including the Se Cathedral, both located in the former Portuguese city of Goa, today called Old Goa. Thousands of tourists flock to these churches every day as part of guided tours that often include trips to the local beaches in the vicinity.
Last week, the Basilica officials said indecently dressed tourists who came to the church premises would be asked to wear shawls provided by the church authorities in order to cover themselves up. Goa has more than 100 churches.
In June, the 450-year-old Mahalsa Narayani temple in Ponda, 30 km from here, banned the entry of foreigners after they were found 'inappropriately dressed' or even kissing inside the temple. Another popular temple at Mangueshi, near Ponda, has also imposed dress restrictions on people visiting the temple premises for 'propriety' reasons. – IANS
SUB-REGISTRAR OF PERNEM ENQUIRED FOR ALLEGATIONS OF CORRUPTION
PANJIM: Law secretary Pramod Kamat has initiated an inquiry into allegations of corruption against the sub-registrar of Pernem taluka and sought an explanation from her. Kamat confirmed this, but said the matter has not yet been referred to the vigilance department. A law department source said that in the past, the department has several complaints of misconduct against the lady sub-registrar at Pernem.
The trigger for the inquiry is a written complaint by a Mumbai-based Goan against the sub-registrar. In a complaint to the chief secretary and the state registrar, a copy of which has been forwarded to the chief minister, J M D'Silva has alleged that the lady sub-registrar first refused to give him a date for registering his property documents, but did the job after he paid her a bribe.
D'Silva has urged the government to investigate the matter, warning that if he does not receive a favourable response then he will forward his complaint to social activist Anna Hazare and the media, and also file a writ petition in the high court.
The complainant has explained that he and his cousins had arrived at a settlement regarding their ancestral house in Tembwado, Morjim, and accordingly, his cousins agreed to sell the land occupied by him. For this, he was required to execute two sale deeds which had to be registered before the sub-registrar at Pernem.
D'Silva approached the sub-registrar on May 9, along with his wife, who is a lawyer. D'Silva has alleged that the sub-registrar said the documents could not be registered till June 15, as her "diary was full". She advised the couple come again in June. To the Mumbai couple's pleas, she expressed helplessness and advised them to see a local lawyer. Someone outside her cabin also suggested a particular lawyer's name.
When the D'Silva's approached the local lawyer, he told them that the sub-registrar was very corrupt and they would have to "shell out an exorbitant sum" to get their work done. The complaint states that after the local lawyer telephoned the sub-registrar, she registered the documents on May 12, "with the connivance of the local advocate after receiving substantial amount through him".
"This said female is also rude and arrogant with villagers. If this sub-registrar behaves with Mumbai advocates in this way, then I fail to understand what will be her conduct with the aam admi of Goa," D'Silva has also stated in his complaint.
HEAVY RAINS LASH GOA WITH GUSTY WINDS SINCE TWO DAYS
PANJIM: Incessant rainfall accompanied by gusty winds, over the last two days, caused floods and wreaked havoc by uprooting trees, damaging houses and disrupting power supply across the state. In Bicholim, the market area and the locality around the Shantadurga high school were submerged with losses estimated at Rs 3 lakh. The school authority also announced a holiday for its pupils in view of their safety. Traffic in the town was blocked for almost three hours.
The flooding was caused by torrential rains in the ghat region, which led to a rise in the water level in the rivers. Bicholim mamlatdar Pramod Bhat, deputy collector Narayan Gad and water resources officials visited the flood affected area. "The time has now come to make a detailed enquiry about cause of floods in Bicholim," said mamlatdar Bhat. "The water level at Anjunem dam has not crossed the danger mark till date. If it reaches the mark, water from the dam will have to be released leading to a possibility of a flood," he added.
Villages in Ponda taluka also witnessed uprooting trees damaging property, with losses estimated at 1.25 lakh. Fire personnel at Pernem had a busy day at work, clearing trees that fell across roads in Mandrem, Pernem town and Morjim.
Mandrem also did not have regular power supply at several places during the last four days, with department officials blaming the delay in restoration to shortage of staff.
Cansaulim village in Marmugao witnessed many areas inundated with knee-high water levels. The localities around the sports complex, panchayat ghar, electricity department and telephone exchange were the most affected.
The flooding brought life in most parts of the village to a standstill. Students of St Thomas higher secondary school faced inconvenience while trying to leave the premises after class. Verna in Salcete saw a tree falling onto the houses of Agnus Colaco and Rita da Silva. The total loss estimated was 30,000. – TNN
AGITATON IN MELWYN GOMES CASE CONTINUES: ULTIMATUM SERVED TO GOA POLICE
VELSAO: The case of deceased Melwyn Gomes is not sealed and buried, thanks tot he family members and agitating villagers of Arossim, Cansaulim and other villages have served a 72- hour deadline on the IGP to bring the culprits to book or threatened to come on the streets and intensify the agitation.
“The agitation seeking justice for Melvyn will not fizzle out till justice is given to the family members. If this attitude of the police continues, the same will not be tolerated”, warned the agitating villagers in a memorandum submitted to the IGP on Friday.
A copy of the memorandum was served on Margao Sub- Divisional Police Officer, DySP Umesh Gaonkar, who had conducted an inquiry into Melvyn’s death, maintaining that Melvyn was murdered at his work place at the construction site on June 15.
The villagers maintained that the suspension of PI Jivba Dalvi shows that concerned police officers were well informed or involved in the case. Seeking to know why the police officers are destroying evidence and protecting the culprits, the villagers demanded that immediate cognizance be taken of all facts placed before the police authorities. “ We demanded the arrest of the culprits; justice given to our brother Melvyn and the concerned police officers terminated of their services to protect our state and country from danger within the police department”, the memorandum said.
“ We strongly believe that if the police want, they can close the case with pride by bringing the guilty to their due punishment and holding the employer responsible and compensating the family of the death of their only bread winner”, the memo further added.
While thanking the IGP for placing PI Dalvi under suspension, the memorandum said that PI Dalvi is aware of the murderer and can lead the department to the truth.
The memorandum has been signed by Reiza Gomes, besides the family and villagers of Arossim, Cansaulim- Cuelim, Majorda, Utorda, Betalbatim, Velsao and Verna.
NIZ GOENKAR ADDS: NG commends the efforts of every Niz Goenkar supporting this noble cause of bringing the culprits to see justice met. Niz Goenkar also convey our support to the family of Melwyn, villagers and supporters of the cause. Suspension of PI Dalvis itself is not enough, he should be dismissed from service for destroying evidence and put behind bars. This is not the first time Dalvi is suspended, he will come back again through the back door, after a while. NG demands nothing but putting P I Dalvi behind bars or else he will ensure that witnesses, evidence is done away completely.
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