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Kamat govt on hiring spree 1,221 jobs up for grabs in 3 depts SURAJ NANDREKAR PANJIM, FEB 10

In a surprising development which could cost the exchequer dearly, the Digambar Kamat government today notified a total of 1,221 vacancies to be filled up in only three departments – tourism, mines and geology and industries.

Notifications in this regard have been issued in the Official Gazette released on February 10, 2011.

While the Department of Tourism has advertised for maximum 500 posts, the Department of Industries will recruit 491 posts followed by the Directorate of Mines and Geology with 230 posts.

The Tourism Department requires 250 wardens and 250 as-

sistant wardens.

Officials in the department said that filling of these posts were necessary as the present tourist security force with just 100 personnel is inadequate.

The notification for recruitment in the Mines Department for field supervisors has come based on the assurance given by the chief minister in the assembly, Director of Mines Arvind Lolyekar told Herald.

Chief minister Digambar Kamat had told the assembly that to keep a tab on mining firms avoiding royalty the government will appoint field supervisors at every mine.

Asked why 230 posts when there are only 100 mines operating, Lolyekar said, “We have considered two persons for

WANTED

Department Industries Mines Tourism Total

Posts 491 230 500 1221

each mine as they work in two shifts.”

“Another 20 posts we have considered taking in view the leave vacancies while the rest we need to appoint at other places,” the director clarified.

In the Industries Department there are vacancies for 491 posts - chief security officers, Goa Industrial Security Force, (2); industrial security guards (248); assistant industrial security guards (230); dhobis (3), cooks

(3) and mess servants (5).

What is surprising is the timing of the notifications as the Kamat-led government seems to be all set for elections and creating the vacancies could mean the Congress is planning for early polls.

Also it is pertinent to note that recruiting 1,221 posts would put a minimum financial burden of Rs 24 crore per anum even if a minimum salary of 2 lakh per annum is considered per person, including other benefits.

This at a time when the government is struggling to cope up with the implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations, which has put a financial burden of Rs 300 crore per annum on the exchequer.

Advocates boycott courts in support of Desmond HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, FEB 10

Agitated over the suspension of South Goa Additional Sessions Judge, Desmond D’Costa, members of the South Goa Advocates Association on Thursday boycotted the courts and took a huge morcha demanding immediate revocation of the suspension order.

Court proceedings were disrupted in the District and Sessions Court, besides the lower courts throughout Thursday as agitating advocates abstained in protest of the suspension of D’Costa.

The advocates have called an emergency meeting outside the district court here on Friday morning to chalk out their future course of action and will

also call on the High Court registrar. (Related reports on pg 2) Led by their president Anacleto Viegas, the advocates marched from the lower court to the district court to meet the Sessions Judge U V Bakre, but were stopped by the police at the entrance of the judge’s chamber. Initially, Bakre conveyed a message through the police that he is ready to meet only one representative of the association, but the lawyers insisted that the judge hear them on the issue.

It was only after Viegas and Trifonio Jacques went inside the chamber, that the judge agreed to come in the open court to accept the memorandum.

In the court room, Viegas told the judge that D’Costa has been

suspended allegedly because of his complaint made to the High Court in the Mahanand Naik case disposed off by him.

Viegas requested the judge to have a re-look at the complaint or report submitted by him to the High Court so as to facilitate the revocation of the suspension order. Viegas maintained that the lawyers have only come to convey their sentiments and concern and not to embarrass or coerce him to take a particular stand.

Viegas later told newsmen that members of the legal fraternity has requested the district Judge to correct the information provided to the High Court visà-vis the South Goa additional sessions judge and demanded (Continued on page 13)

Go after corporates in 2G scam: SC directs CBI PTI NEW DELHI, FEB 10

Broadening the net, the Supreme Court today asked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to bring under its scanner corporate houses which were beneficiaries of the 2G spectrum scam without being influenced by their status be it millionaires or whether they are on the Forbes list.

Giving a free hand to the investigating agency and setting the contours of the probe, the court asked the government to set up a special court exclusively to try the spectrum scam case.

A bench comprising Justices G S Singhvi and A K Ganguly asked the agency to lay its hand on the big corporate houses and government officials who may have a role in the scam “as mere summoning them for examining them may not be sufficient”.

“We have a large number of persons who think themselves to be law. Law must catch them.

It should be done with greater expedition. Merely because they are in the list of Forbes or they are millionaires does not make any difference,” the bench said after perusing the status reports filed by the probe agencies in which names of big corporates houses and their officers were

We have a large number of persons who think themselves to be law. Law must catch them. It should be done with greater expedition.

Merely because they are in the list of Forbes or they are millionaires does not make any difference mentioned.

Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for a non-governmental organization (NGO), Centre for Public Interest Litigation, pointed out that the agencies have not questioned the heads of several companies including Swan Technology, which was controlled by Anil Ambani’s Reliance Group, when the spectrum was allocated.

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Goa’s Heartbeat: Sallu-Katrina are back together!

Pg 4

Main witness in Cipriano case faces murder charge HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, FEB 10

A day after Panjim policemen were charged for murdering Cipriano in police custody, Ryan Fernandes, the driver who ferried the deceased in a Bolero jeep from Porvorim on that fateful day, also found himself booked for murder and destroying evidence.

On Thursday, Crime Branch also charged Ryan under section 302 (murder), 201 (destroying evidence) read with 34 (destroying evidence) of the Indian Penal Code. The accused drove the Bolero jeep in which Cipriano was brought to Panjim police station from Porvorim.

Cipriano was arrested on January 7 for allegedly threatening his lady friend and later died in the Goa Medical College and Hospital while in police custody. He worked as second cook on a European cruise liner and was on a two-month vacation.

Ryan was called by one of the Panjim police officials to pick up Cipriano from Por vorim after the seafarer’s lady friend filed a formal complaint against him.

All the officers who were on duty right from the time Cipriano was brought in Panjim police custody till he was admitted to the hospital on the intervening of January 7 and 8 are being investigated.

Breakthrough in headless murder case HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, FEB 10

In a major breakthrough in the sensational headless body murder case, the Maina Curtorim police on Thursday recovered a chopper, koita, besides a knife from a river at Dabal KirpalSanguem which was allegedly used to commit the cold

blooded murder of Sultan Bellary.

Margao Sub-Divisional Police Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Police Umesh Gaonkar told newsmen the weapons were recovered allegedly at the instance of accused Sandeep Kalangutkar, who was reportedly driving the (Continued on page 13)

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GOA, FRIDAY, 11 FEBRUARY, 2011

Amonkar chides Belgaum veg association for playing dirty HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, FEB 10

The Belgaum wholesalers association which launched a massive protest against supplying vegetables to Goa State Horticulture Corporation (GSHC) on Thursday failed to show up for the scheduled signing of an agreement with the latter.

In a high-level meeting at Belgaum on Wednesday, the Belgaum Wholesale Dealers Market Association (BWDMA) had committed to supply vegetables to the Corporation at cheap rates.

Corporation Chairman Sankalp Amonkar told Herald the members of the BWDMA had committed to sign the agreement today morning but none turned up. I am pursuing the matter with the Government, he said.

The association comprising of around 200 members on Saturday arrived at a unanimous decision to stop the entire vegetable supply to Goa if GSHC, which is adamant with its policy of patronising only four suppliers, did not allow participation of more suppliers.

A delegation from Goa comprising Agriculture Secretary C

P Tripati, Agriculture Director Satish Tendulkar and Horticulture Managing Director Orlando Rodrigues convened a meeting with the Belgaum Collector to sort out the crisis.

The Goan delegation accepted the Collector’s suggestion to accept supplies from BWDMA as its fifth supplier.

Following this, the association president Divkar Patil committed before the officials to sign the agreement with the Corporation on Thursday.

However the situation seems to have changed after the meeting. Sources said the association members in a late night meeting decided to abandon their decision to cooperate with the Corporation.

Lashing at the association, Amonkar said it was clear the intentions of these Belgaum traders were not clean. “After we agreed to their demands they did a volte face. This shows they neither have the capacity to supply vegetables nor capability to keep up to their promises,” he chided.

Even though the association took a collective decision not to sign the agreement, its individual members approached the Corporation today insisting

they be awarded to supply vegetables.

“I met at least six to seven individual members affiliated to the protesting Belgaum association. They assured to solve the issue if contract is given to them on individual grounds and not to the association. This shows their unity,” Amonkar said sarcastically.

The Opposition benches during the winter session of the Assembly had alleged the corporation was buying vegetables for hefty commission and selling them at subsidised rates.

Agriculture Minister Vishwajit Rane has ordered an internal audit after the Opposition pressure. Amonkar welcomed the move stating it will silence all the critics.

business and welfare activities,” said Ram Haval, the veteran wholesale vegetable supplier and former CWVMA president.

“Neither have we met any political leader in Goa and Karnataka, nor has anyone from any political party contacted us,” added Ram Haval.

“We neither patronize politics, nor we have we indulged in any such activity, because, it is the question of our very existence in the profession and our livelihood,” he asserted refuting charges made by GPYC General Secretary Upendra Ghatwal.

“As no one from Goa came

to Belgaum, we will be glad to know our supporters in Goa,” he quipped.

Commenting on threats

by Goan activists the CWVMA President Diwakar Patil said: “Let them stop our vehicles.”

“Stopping Belgaum vehicles will only escalate tension, leaving the common man to suffer.

Let the leaders of the political parties keep themselves away and refrain from passing irresponsible remarks,” he ascertained.

Meanwhile, an uneasy calm prevailed in the wholesale vegetable market here, amid normal business activities.

Rates at GSHC outlets on Thursday (per kg) Tomatoes – Rs 15 Onion – Rs 25 Potatoes – Rs 18 Chillies – Rs 35 Cabbage – Rs 15 Cauliflower – Rs 20 Lady Fingers – Rs 30 Carrots – Rs 35 French beans – Rs 30 Cluster beans – Rs 25

‘Don’t interfere in our business’ HERALD CORRESPONDENT BELGAUM, FEB 10

The Cantonment Wholesale Vegetable Merchants Association (CWVMA) has urged Goan authorities and political parties not to indulge politics in the age-old relations between the vegetable suppliers in Belgaum and the consumers in Goa. The CWVMA has also denied charges of involvement of any political party in the agitation against the Goa State Horticulture Corporation's (GSHC) alleged favouritism policies.

“We are professionals and not politicians. Hence, CWVMA is not attached to any political party and is engaged only in

One held for assaulting brother HERALD CORRESPONDENT CALANGUTE, FEB 10

Calangute Police on Thursday arrested a person on charges of assaulting his brother at Saligao.

According to Calangute Police, Philip Mascarenhas allegedly assaulted his brother Peter, who is a postman.

In another incident on Wednesday, taxi driver Rohan Korgaonkar of Verla-Canca was assaulted by his neighbours while he was on his way near Hotel Neelam Grand at Calangute at about 5.45 pm.

Calangute Police on Thursday registered a case of assault, while no arrests have been made so far. Havaldar Ramesh Shet is investigating the case under the supervision of Calangute PI Manjunath Dessai.

Post-mortem ordered into seaman’s death HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, FEB 10

The Sub-divisional Magistrate, Margao Johnson Fernandes has ordered post mortem examination on the body of deceased Randall Jason Fernandes, who died onboard the Passenger Cruise liner Costa Fortuna.

The dean of Goa Medical College has constituted a panel of doctors, Dr Edmund Rodrigues, Dr Andre Fernandes and Dr Sidharth Banaulikar to conduct the autopsy.

Randal’s body arrived in the state on Wednesday and the Sub divisional Magistrate, Johnson has conducted the inquest Panchanama in the presence of the boy’s parents.

The SDM is conducting the inquiry after the parents of the 26-year resident of Navelim-

Telaulim petitioned to the Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat for a detailed probe, suspecting foul play in the death of their son.

The parents has refused to believe the theory that their son has committed suicide, saying that Randal was strong, healthy and was a very independent and upright person and was of a strong mind and body.

SuiCiDE: A 25-year old native of Ankola on Thursday ended his life by hanging at MadelMargao.

Police said the body of the deceased was found hanging today and ruled out any foul play.

He was working on a fish mending net and was putting up in a room at Madel.

The police are investigating.

Says supply not affected HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, FEB 10

The decision of some of the Belgaum wholesalers of not supplying vegetables to Horticulture outlets in Goa took its toll on supply to government-run hospitals and institutions which met their needs for veggies from Maharashtra.

Supply to Goa Medical College and Hospital, Asilo and Hospicio hospitals, Aguada jail, catering institute and government-aided schools was affected for a day, but the situation is now back to normal.

“We have started importing vegetables from Kolhapur, Nashik, Chikmagalur, Ichalkaranji and Sirsai. The supply did affect these establishments for a day, but we had options,” Goa State Horticulture Corporation Chairman Sankalp Amonkar told Herald.

Amonkar said, “Supply to the 350-odd carts and 246 mobile vans is not affected.

The shortage was plugged with steady supply from Maharashtra and Karnataka, he said and added, “Karnataka government’s Agriculture Produce Marketing Corporation (APMC) godown was hired by the Corporation to store the vegetables before transporting them to Goa.” The Belgaum protestors on Tuesday had entered the godown and assaulted the staff there before spoiling the vegetables and.

Amonkar said that the situation was normal at present as the Belgaum yard is being used only to accumulate and to do the packaging. Import of vegetables from Belgaum has for the time being, he mentioned.

Vasco lawyers stay away from court HERALD REPORTER VASCO, FEB 10

Condemning the suspension of Additional District Judge Desmond D’Costa, the Vasco Advocates Association brought the evening court proceedings to a standstill in Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Vasco on Thursday.

The Vasco Advocates Association (VAA) showed its solidarity, as none of the advocates appeared for the proceeding in JMFC Vasco. The VAA also showed its solidarity to South Goa Advocates Association (SGAA).

As many as 29 cases were scheduled to be held in the evening in three courts (A, B and D) at JMFC Vasco. Since most of the advocates refrained from attending the court as they called pen down work to show solidarity towards SGAA, court rooms remained empty.

Vasco woman succumbs HERALD REPORTER VASCO, FEB 10

A 20-year-old woman from Mangor Hill, Vasco, who had set herself ablaze after an argument with her husband last week, succumbed to burn injuries.

It may be recalled that Heena Togri and Mehboob had tied the knot barely eight months ago, but were frequently found arguing during the past few days.

Heena, who set herself on fire in the presence of her husband, sustained major burn injuries, while Mehboob had also sustained burn injures on his hands and other parts of body in a bid to rescue his wife. Both were admitted in GMC Hospital. Vasco Police has registered a case of unnatural death and SDM is investigating the case.

To be vital, any philosophy has to maintain a relevance to the present it operates in, said Chairman of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and noted Hindu scholar Karan Singh. He said that going back to the past cannot be an option, and as astro-physicist Stephen Hawking said, the “arrow of time” moves in only one direction. Dr Singh was delivering the concluding lecture of the D D Kosambi Festival of Ideas 2011, on the ‘Relevance of Vedanta in the present time’, at Kala Academy, Panjim, today.

Introduced by artist Dr Subodh Kerkar as “the contemporary Vivekananda”, Dr Singh unfolded a concise and simple but lucid and masterful vision of six cardinal concepts that comprise the essential philosophy of Vedanta, which he defined as a body of philosophy encompassing the four Vedas and their interpretation in the 12 principal Upanishads.

Profusely quoting from Sanskrit ‘shlokas’ throughout the lecture, he pointed out that one of the important differences between Indian religious texts and those of the ‘Abrahamic’ religions like Judaism, Christianity and Islam was that the latter were based on didactic wisdom or the ‘revealed word of God’, while dialogue was the basis of

Dr Karan Singh delivering the concluding lecture of the D D Kosambi Festival of Ideas on Thursday. Photo by Sachin Ambadoskar

the former. This vital difference, he said, makes Indian religions more open to reinterpretation from age to age.

The first concept, he said, was the all-pervasiveness of the Divine, called ‘Brahman’, an eternal, unchanging, infinite, immanent, and transcendent reality that pervades all matter, energy, time, space, being, and everything beyond in this Universe. A spark of this universal Divine, he said, is inherent in human beings – the only species capable of self-realisation – and is called ‘Atman’ or universal spirit, which is the essence of one's true self and forms the second concept.

The third concept, he said, is ‘Yoga’, which is the union of ‘Atman’ with ‘Brahman’, to achieve ultimate realisation.

‘Yoga’ itself has four aspects, ‘Gyan Yoga’ or the way of the mind through study and dialogue; Bhakti Yoga’ or the way of the heart through devotion (for which a ‘form’ or idol is required); ‘Karma Yoga’ or the way of work done as an offering to the Divine; and ‘Raj Yoga’ or the royal road to enlightenment by awakening the ‘Kundalini’ through ‘asanas’. What nowadays is taught as yoga, he explained, was Hatha Yoga, which is only a small aspect of Raj Yoga.

The fourth concept, Dr Singh said, was ‘Vasudha eva Kutumbakam’, or the entire world as one family. For the realisation of this concept, he said, eradication of poverty, suffering, exploitation and wars worldwide was an essential pre-condition.

He posited the divergent inter-

pretations of Arthur Koestler – who prophecied that the human race is programmed for self-destruction – and Sri Aurobindo, who argued that we after physical evolution, humankind is programmed for spiritual evolution.

The fifth concept the said, was ‘Ekam Sat Viprah Bahudha Vadanti’, literally, ‘truth is one; but sages proclaim it differently’.

Dr Singh, however, interpreted it to mean that no religion has a monopoly on the truth. He said Vedanta accepts that there is a multiplicity of paths to the Divine. He said it was ironic that each religion looked upon itself as compassionate, but strife on account of religious differences had caused so much bloodshed.

He said that Vedanta does not endorse a clash of civilisations but rather a confluence.

The sixth and final Vedantic cardinal concept, he said, was ‘Bahujan hitaya, bahujan sukhaya’, literally and figuratively ‘the welfare of the many and the happiness of the many’. Dr Singh interpreted this as an exhortation to repay one’s debt to society, and likened it to the ‘Fundamental Duties’ enumerated in the Constitution of India, which he said he had helped to draft.

Several members of the audience expressed concern about the role of religion in communal violence. De Singh replied that in his opinion, there is a value-

Subash retained GPCC chief

HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, FEB 10

As expected, the Congress today formally appointed Cortalim legislator Mauvin Godinho as the chairman o the Pradesh election campaign while retaining Subash Shirodkar as the president of the Goa Pradesh Congress committee (GPCC).

A press release issued by the All India Congress Committee General Secretary Janardhan Dwivedi says “The Congress President Sonia Gandhi has approved the proposals of appointments of Subash Shirodkar as PCC president of Goa and Mauvin Godinho as the chairman of

the Pradesh election campaign committee.”

The announcement come on the expected lines as senior partymen had opposed moves to replace Shirodkar with anyone else as according to them he was doing a “good job”.

Also, Herald was first to report on Mauvin’s appointment on Tuesday even though the sources close to the legislator had ruled out such a possibility.

Speaking to Herald GPCC president expressed happiness over the high commands decision.

“I am quite happy with the

confidence reposed in me by the party high command. I will try my level best with all my colleagues in the PCC and the block committees to meet the expectations of the workers and the high command,” Shirodkar said.

He further said he will strive hard for the organization and upliftment of the common man through local schemes as well as United Progressive Alliance (UPA) flagship programme.

When contacted by Herald Mauvin said it was a honour bestowed upon him by the high command as a loyal soldier of the party.

Pilgao company accused of chopping trees HERALD CORRESPONDENT MAYEM, FEB 10

Pilgao Vikas Manch (PVM) has a c c u s e d a c o m p a n y f ro m Fanaskungo-Pilgao of illegally cutting trees at Pilgao.

In its complaint to the Bicholim deputy collector, Mamlatdar, Forest Department and Bicholim police, the PVM has alleged that company has illegally cut the trees without taking prior permission of Forest Department.

According to the complaint, the company has purchased a huge land at Pilgao, popularly known as Fanaskungo, for dumping iron ore rejects.

“The concerned company is only interested in its benefit, but not bothered about the society. As such, the company has undertaken massive deforestation converting greenery into a red muddy mountain,” alleged Rohidas Jalmi of PVM. “Bagwada, Mathwada, Sarmanas and Dhatwada which comes under Fanaskungo has

People’s Forum objects suspension HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, FEB 10

The Goa People’s Forum has strongly objected to the suspension of South Goa Additional Sessions Judge Desmond D’Costa.

In a communiqué, issued by its convenor advocate Satish Sonak, the forum also referring to the earlier suspension of Anuja Prabhudessai stated “Such repeated suspension orders will provoke people into thinking that the fountains of justice are running dry.”

It strongly backed the suspended judge saying that he is even fit to be appointed to the High Court.

The forum urged that the an enquir y be conducted within eight days by a High Court other than the Bombay High Court to avoid the unpleasant situation of judge versus judge in the judicial arena.

Religions must adapt to the times: Karan Singh SPECiAL CORRESPONDENT PANJIM, FEB 10

Mauvin formally appointed poll campaign manager

based broad way to interpret religion, and a narrow fundamentalist way. “Religion is not fanaticism,” he said, even though some may want to make it that way. He pointed out that the Mughal prince Dara Shukoh, the eldest son of the Emperor Shah Jehan, had translated the entire Upanishads into Persian and Urdu, and had he ascended the throne instead of his brother Augranzeb, the entire history of India may have been different.

To a question about untouchability in Hinduism, he said that there are no references to it in the ‘Shruti’ or the Vedanta, but it is all-pervading in the ‘Smriti’ or later texts. Untouchability, he said, was “completely unacceptable”.

To questions about ‘Akhand Bharat’ and re-unification of the Indian sub-continent, he said it was “neither feasible nor desirable”, but that with greater cooperation, the South Asian Association For Regional Cooperation (SAARC) could become more like the European Union, and make existing borders irrelevant.

To a question about the atheist traditions within Hinduism, he said that the so-called ‘Charvaka’ school of thinking was not mainstream, but that followers of that philosophy could be Hindus despite being atheists, as it was a very wide and tolerant religion.

Mining pollution at Pilgao.

56 different types of trees having medicinal values and if the company destroys these invaluable trees, then the villagers will face a hardship,” added Jalmi.

Ramchandra Garde of PVM said time has come to initiate action against the company.

“Bicholim deputy collector

should direct police to stop the work,” said Garde. Sushant Kavlekar stated that the natural water reservoirs in areas like Barajan Tale, Lingdawadcgi Zar, Talikdil Zar, etc, will be totally dried up if tree cutting is continued.

“This area also has 52 wells which may also dry up,” said

Photo by Vishant Vaze

Ajay Gaonkar and Shivaji Jalmi.

PVM has also brought to the notice that ore transportation is carried out even after 6 pm, thereby flouting rules. The PVM members have cautioned the administration to look into the matter and take stringent action against the offenders.

Judge denies Mahanand’s case led to Desmond’s suspension HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, FEB 10

South Goa District and Sessions Judge U V Bakre on Thursday told agitating lawyers that his report made to the high court on the disposal of Mahanand Naik murder case is not the reason behind the high court decision to place Additional Sessions Judge Desmond D’Costa under suspension.

When the lawyers called on the district Judge in the open court room, he said that it is not because of his report on the Mahanand case that Judge D’Costa has been placed under suspension.

“Till date, I have no knowledge why Judge D’Costa has

Quepem advocates boycott court HERALD CORRESPONDENT QUEPEM, FEB 10

The advocates from Quepem on Thursday evening boycotted the Quepem Court in protest against suspension of Additional District and Sessions Judge Desmond D’Costa by the High Court.

The advocates fraternity from Quepem claimed that D’Costa’s suspension is arbitrary and unjust and demanded immediate reappointment of Judge D’Costa.

In the absence of advocates, matters in Quepem Court did not proceed and the clients had to take dates.

been suspended by the high court. The reasons can be different”, Judge Bakre said, when the agitating lawyers pointed out that the report or complaint filed by the Judge in the Mahanand case could be the reason behind the suspension.

Judge Bakre further told the lawyers that as the Principal District and Sessions Judge, he is required to submit reports on

the functioning of the Judges every three months. “I have to file reports to the high court on any other issue given my position as the Principal district and Sessions Judge”, Judge Bakre added.

The lawyers pointed out to the Sessions Judge that he had even allegedly complained to the Director of Prosecution because the Mahanand case was closed.

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Govt should declare war against drug dealers, mafias: Narvekar HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, FEB 10

Aldona legislator Dayanand Narvekar today demanded that the government declare war against the drug dealers and mafias working in the state.

In an open letter to the chief minister Digamabar Kamat, Narvekar pointed out to an article printed in India Today which claimed a turnover of Rs 300 crore per year in the state through drugs trade. “Certain individuals and police were arrested recently. Police were caught selling even in Belgaum which gives inter-State and international dimension to

the case�, he said.

Substantiating his claim, Narvekar said, “A person like Atala has escaped from Goa with police connivance, there are al-

legations of fabricating drugs charges against innocent people of Goa, Supari killing in drug issue, Scarlet murder, murder of Nigerian national at Assagao who was a drug peddler, English man’s death across the border of Goa, number of rapes and other various crimes committed along the coastline related to drugs requires an inquiry.�

On the Cipriano custodial death, which ahs been registered, he said, “The case has tarnished the image of the image of Goa police.�

Also, he questioned the government for not making any moves to stop drunken driving.

“The deaths on roads and accidents which claim more than one life everyday can be curtailed if drunken driving is stopped. If Mumbai police are monitoring drunken driving why not Goa?� he said adding the device used to check alcohol content should be used immediately. “Heavy fines for traffic violations must be imposed including police custody,� he stated.

Sighting that there is a death ever yday on Goan road, Narvekar said, “The accident death victim family must be paid Rs 2 lakh for the death caused on Goan roads within seven days.�

Mid-day meal scheme not affected: Powar HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, FEB 10

Officials in the Education Department on Thursday said police complaint against few self-help groups supplying food under the Mid-day Meal Scheme has not affected their project.

Deputy Director Anil Powar said all the appointed SHGs have been providing food to schools regularly without any hindrance. “We have not received any complaint from schools where these groups are operating,� he added.

Police on Tuesday had registered a complaint stating some of the SHGs from Bardez taluka, providing the scheme to primary and upper-primary school children, were allegedly found selling the items used in cooking the meals in the open market.

Nigerian held with drugs HERALD CORRESPONDENT CALANGUTE, FEB 10

Calangute Police on Thursday arrested a 28-year-old Nigerian national on charges of possessing illegal drugs worth Rs 1.10 lakh at Saligao.

According to Calangute Police, Ugochukwu R Nwokeka was arrested on charges of possessing Cocaine, weighing 11 grammes.

Police further informed that the illegal drugs were seized on a tip-off while the Nigerian national was waiting for potential customers at Saligao near the Church. “The raid was carried out at about 6 pm by Calangute police team led by PSI Gaurish Parab,� informed police.

Police suspect about eight groups from the taluka may be involved in the racket, where the entire quota of rice and wheat supplied through mamlatdar was sold in the open market.

When asked, Powar said that there was no scope for extra quantity of rice and wheat being sold to these groups as the quota is certified by the respective headmasters once they receive it. “The headmasters of each school certify this quota at the beginning as well as at the end of the month. Hence there is no chance of any sort of irregularity or scam,� he explained. Talking

about the police complaint, Powar said all the accused SHGs have responded to the queries raised by the police.

Nearly, 83 such groups supply mid-day meals to schools covering around 1.64 lakh students.

NOTE ready to furnish all details: Dr Salkar HERALD CORRESPONDENT MAYEM, FEB 10

National Organization for Tobacco Eradication (NOTE) India General Secretary Dr Shekhar Salkar has stated that the NOTE is ready to furnish all details to authorities to prove the transparency of the organisation.

Dr Salkar was reacting to press clippings on dailies dated February 8 in connection with Aldona MLA Dayanand Narvekar's reported request to the chief secretary to investigate into functioning of the organization.

In a press note, Dr Salkar stated: “NOTE-India is yet to receive any communications from the chief secretary inquiring about its activities and financial dealings. We would be very happy to furnish all the details whenever such query is posed to us by the chief secretary.� “I would like to place on record that NOTE India functions in a transparent manner and all our actions are within the framework of legal and moral stipulations,� adds the press note. “We have been strictly fol-

“I would like to place on record that NOTE India functions in a transparent manner and all our actions are within the framework of legal and moral stipulations. We have been strictly following the guidelines of Central and the State government in utilization of the funds released by them to us.� lowing the guidelines of Central and the State government in utilization of the funds released by them to us. So also the funds released by WHO are utilized as per the Agreement for Performance of Work (APW) signed with them,� stated the press note. “As the issue was raised in the Assembly, it will not be proper to make any statement in the press as it would have invited action under breach of privilege of the House,� adds

Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Goa with headquarters in Goa.

the press note.

NOTE (India) is a National federation of 20 Non-Governmental Organisations that came together during a meeting in the State in 1992 under the leadership of Dr Sharad Vaidya, who was the National Chairman from 1992 until his death in 2000.

Currently it is chaired by Dr Shekhar Salkar.

NOTE has Chapters in seven states, namely Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Bihar,

THANk YOu ST. JuDE

Most holy apostle, Saint Jude Thadeus, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the name of the traitor who delivered your beloved Master into the hands of his enemies has caused you to be forgotten by many, but the Church honors and invokes you universally as the patron of hopeless cases and of things despaired of. Pray for me who am so miserable; make use, I implore you, of that particular privilege accorded to you to bring visible and speedy help where help is almost despaired of.

Come to my assistance in this great need, that I may receive the consolations and succor of heaven in all my necessities, tribulations and sufferings [here make your request].

May I bless God with you and all the elect throughout eternity.

I promise you, O blessed Jude, to be ever mindful of this great favor, and I will never cease to honor you as my special and powerful patron and to do all in my power to encourage devotion to you.

Amen.

Lokmanya Lok L kmanya Multi-purpose i-purpose C Co-op.

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MAPUSA M APUSA : Market Sub Yard, Yard, ard d, Infront of Kadamba Bus stand, Mapusa, pusa, Goa. Ph.: 0832-2254645 M ARGAON : V ikrant Building, ng, Above SBI Personal Banking Branch, nch, Malbhat, Margaon, Goa. MARGAON Vikrant 0832-2735253 Ph.: 0832-273 35253 *2$ %5$1&+(6 Â? * 2$ %5$1&+(6 Â?

Vasco Panjim : 2423547, Mapusa : 2254644, 2 Va asco : 2500184, Sankhali : 2366131, 2 Curchorem : 2654260, Valpai Va alpai : 2375119, 2375119, Bicholim : 2360065, Ponda : 2316239, Panjim im (Market) : 2421964, Baina : Vaddem 2500809, New Va addem : 2500793, 500793, Margaon : 2735253, Cancona na : 2644159, Gogol : 2750366, Tisca-Usgaon T isca-Usgaon : 2344584, Agarwada arwada : 2246365, Malbhat : 2735253 3 27+(5 5(*,21$/ 2)),&(6 Â? 2 7+(5 5(*,21$/ 2)),&(6 Â?

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Pg4 GOA, FRIDAY, 11 FEBRUARY, 2011

GOA

Ponda police arrest one for theft cases in State Telaulim-Varca bridge to Accused confesses to links in 16 cases, including two temple thefts HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARCEL, FEB 10

With the arrest of one Sameer alias Suleman Shaik in connection with house-breaking thefts, Ponda Police has reportedly unearthed about 16 cases of house-breaking, dacoity, chain snatching and two temple thefts committed by the accused.

Sameer was arrested in Belgaum-Karnataka this week.

“This is just a tip of iceberg, as the accused along with other associates have committed several other cases in Goa and neighbouring states,” says police.

Presently, Ponda Police have arrested the main accused along with goldsmith Himanshu Kalikamaldhar from Vasco, to whom the stolen booty was sold, and blacksmith Mallesh Bhimshe Yelwar, who provided tool which was used in housebreaking thefts.

Ponda Police is on the lookout for Sulemans’s other associates in the crime.

It may be recalled that on January 24, 2011, one Sangita Naik from Parpatiwada-Bandore had lodged a police complaint stating that some persons effected entry into her house by breaking

Ponda police along with the accused.

the door latch and broke open the cupboard and decamped with gold ornaments worth Rs 80,000.

On the same day, similar complaint was lodged by one Nagesh Naik of Tisk-Ponda, where gold ornaments worth Rs 80,000 were stolen.

“During the course of investigation of these cases, it was revealed that culprits used silver

Photo by Amresh Parab

coloured Matiz car. We contacted various RTO offices to find out the car owner,” informed Ponda PI C L Patil.

“During this exercise, we came to know that one such car (GA-01-S-2039) was sold to one person in Gokak-Karnataka from Quepem,” added PI Patil.

“A police team headed by PSI Sachin Lokre was sent to Gokak.

The team collected intelligence

and found that the car was used

by Samir alias Suleman Shaik residing in posh area in Belgaum.

After camping for four days in Belgaum, the team finally nabbed the accused,” said PI Patil.

“During interrogation, the accused confessed that he along with his associates committed seven house-breaking thefts, four chain snatchings, one kidnapping, two dacoities at

Quepem and Maina-Curtorim,” informed PI Patil.

“The important disclosure is that the accused confessed of having committed temple breaking theft in Sateri Temple, Curchorem, and temple robbery at Sai Baba Temple at DurbhatPonda. A senior citizen was assaulted by the accused during this robbery,” he said.

Police informed that the goldsmith arrested has also confessed of purchasing the stolen booty from the accused.

“Goldsmith Himanshu was having such a good relation with the culprits that after any theft, goldsmith used to come to collect the stolen booty wherever he was called by the accused,” said police.

“Later, the goldsmith used to melt gold and silver and sell it to jewellers in Margao. He has admitted that in January, Suleman had sold silver crown of Sateri goddess of Curchorem and other silver articles and earrings,” added police.

“We have seized a silver Matiz car used by the accused and has also recovered 2 kg silver and 300 gms gold, all worth Rs 8 lakh,” said PI Patil.

CSJP urges for promotion of holistic health HERALD NEWS BUREAU PANJIM, FEB 10

The Caritas Goa and Council for Social Justice and Peace (CSJP) have urged the people to be motivated to promote holistic health and preventive health measures on the occasion of the World Day of the Sick on February 11.

In a press note, Caritas Goa Director Fr Valeriano Vaz and CSJP Executive Secretary Fr Maverick Fernandes has stated the World Day of the Sick was instituted by Pope John Paul II on May 13, 1992, and from February 11, 1993, has been celebrated every year, with Healing Ministry Week from Monday to Sunday, February 11 inclusive.

“In today’s world of ruthless competition in human enter-

prise, the all-important fact that the environment and the fragile eco-systems of planet earth sustain and promote all life is absurdly forgotten,” stated the press note.

“Our earth today faces major ecological problems of pollution of air, water, soil, soil erosion, deforestation, acid rain, depletion of the ozone layer.

All this destruction of nature – most of it irreversible is caused by humans, particularly those in ‘position of power ’ to achieve their self-centered goals.”

The mandate to human persons, individually and collectively, to exercise dominion over all of creation “is not an absolute power nor can one speak of a freedom to ‘use and

n “To maintain and promote holistic health individuals, families, institutions and communities must be convinced that holistic health measures have to be adopted.” misuse’ or to dispose of things as one pleases” (Pope John Paul II).”

“Society today cannot and should not dispense itself of its ethical responsibility to remedy this situation and restore as far as possible the affected health of all creation. An effective measure towards this

restoration and rehabilitation is the practice of Eco-spirituality which concerns about whole persons and all persons in their relationships to their environment.”

“One of the means to achieve this is to promote ‘holistic health’, which accepts the concept that there is an intricate, enduring bond between the spirit, mind and body... the spiritual, mental, psychological and physical elements.”

“In this light, the health and vitality of a person is determined both by his/her environment and the conscious and conscientious choices he/she makes to protect, sustain and promote his/her environment.”

“To maintain and promote holistic health individuals, fam-

ilies, institutions and communities must be convinced that holistic health measures have to be adopted.”

“The celebration gives us a loud and clear call to be at the service of all those who are in pain whether physical or mental or psychological or emotional and are suffering in their own homes, in hospitals, in care homes and other institutions.”

“We must also remember the professionals and care-takers who dedicate their energies and time to alleviate the sufferings of the sick. The terminally ill need our special attention, ideally through personal visits and all types of assistance,” states the press note.

The recently discovered Leviathan gas field, 135 km off the coast of Israel, is the world’s biggest deepwater gas find in a decade – with an estimated volume of 16 trillion cubic feet of gas – while the West Nile Delta gas field, discovered earlier this year, lies in Egyptian waters, 80 km northwest of Alexandria.

But on these two areas sits a unique and delicate marine ecosystem, whose rich biological communities host rare species of deep-sea sponges, worms, molluscs and cold water corals – some of which are thousands of years old.

The Levant Sea is protected by such laws as a Mediterraneanwide ban on destructive trawl fishing beyond the depth of 1,000

Oilfield Spells Potential Doom

for Marine

metres by the UN’s General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean, and encompasses two deepsea Fisheries Restricted Areas where other potentially harmful activities are also limited – in recognition of the sea bed’s value and fragility.

The Nile Delta area hosts a unique biological community which relies on gases seeping from the sea bed, rather than on sunlight like most life on Earth – and has been shortlisted for designation as a Specially Protected Area of Mediterranean Importance (SPAMI).

WWF is calling on the eastern Mediterranean states – particularly on Cyprus, Egypt, Israel

Ecosystem

and Lebanon – and on the European Union, to ensure that the highest environmental standards are set regarding current and prospective developments in deep-sea floor drilling for gas and oil in the eastern Mediterranean, including exploratory drilling and future commercial exploitation.

HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, FEB 10

The Telaulim-Varca bridge – one of the three dream bridges of PWD Minister, Churchill Alemao – will be inaugurated on February 26.

The PWD Minister told newsmen that work on the 74-meter long bridge is nearing completion and added that the bridge will be throw open for traffic later this month.

“Work on the bridge is almost completed. We intend to inaugurate the bridge on February 26”, Alemao told newsmen during an informal chat with newsmen in the city here on Thursday.

The Telaulim-Varca bridge was

Bail opposed in headless murder case HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, FEB 10

The Maina Curtorim police on Thursday has vehemently opposed the bail application moved by one of the accused persons Vivek Dhamakale in connection with the headless body murder case.

In its reply filed to the bail application, the Police submitted that investigations of the case is at a preliminary stage and that the police are yet to locate the absconding associates of the accused applicant.

The police further submitted that the accused and the eye witnesses are residing within a radius of two kilometers, adding that if the accused applicant is enlarge on bail, there is every possibility of the applicant directly or indirectly intimidating the witnesses which may hamper the case of the prosecution.

The police submitted that the test identification parade of the accused applicant is yet to be held.

Classical dance festival at Mardol from today HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, FEB 10

Natural World

be inaugurated on Feb 26

Kala Academy in association with West Zone Cultural Centre, Udaipur and Shree Mahalasa Saunsthan, Mardol will organise a 3-day classical dance festival on February 11, 12 and 13 at Shree Mahalsa temple premises, Mardol, with the participation of national level and upcoming talented artistes.

The festival will be inaugurated at the hands of Speaker and Chairman of Kala Academy Pratapsing Rane in the presence of Transport Minister Sudin Dhavlikar and president of Shree Mahalasa Devasthan Committee Vinod Kamat on February 11, at 7 pm.

Renowned artistes like Jayant Kastuar from New Delhi will stage Kathak dance recital and Dr Sandhya Purecha (Mumbai) will present Bharatnatyam dance recital. Young talented dancer Raminder Khurana from Mumbai will give an Odissi dance concert. Goa’s Jyoti Goswami will stage Bharatnatyam and students of Kala Academy as well as Nritya Sankul, Margao will stage Kathak and Bharatnatyam dance recitals at the festival.

Jayant Kastuar is one of the most renowned personalities in the world of Indian performing arts. Initially trained by Guru Indra Kumar Pattanaik, he later worked briefly with Uma Sharma performing lead roles in her

choreographic works in 1970s.

Subsequently, he came under the tutelage of the renowned master of Jaipur Gharana, Pt Durga Lal. Sandhya Purecha is one of the foremost exponents of Thanjavur style and a front ranking Bharatnatyam dancer. She has enriched Indian classical dance by her own unique talents. She has undergone training under the guidance of Guru Archarya Parvati Kumar.

Sandhya Purecha is the only dancer in India presenting the 324 shlokas of the Sanskrit text in an audio visual form. Her repertoire includes solo and group performances, cross cultural experimentation and ballets. She has also choreographed mythological, historical Sanskrit and contemporary ballets.

Raminder Khurana epitomizes elegance and sophistication by blending modern sensibilities with the ancient ethos of eastern India to create the highly lyrical dance art of Odissi. She has been trained under the expertise of Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra and Guru Natabar Maharana. She has also learnt Kathak from Guru Gopi Krishna and folk dance from Shrimati Indumati Lele.

Jyoti Goswami is an upcoming Bharatnatyam dancer holding a diploma in Bharatnatyam from the Faculty of Indian Music & Dance of Kala Academy.

Cultural organisations urged to promote Goa’s tradition HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, FEB 10

Chief Minister Digambar Kamat called upon members of cultural organisations to take further the Goa’s tradition by producing eminent personalities in the field of art and culture.

Kamat was speaking at the closing ceremony of CRSB West Zone Cultural meet organised

by Customs Central Excise and Service Tax at Dona Paula.

Kamat further said that Goa has produced eminent personalities like Lata Mangeshkar, Jitendra Abhisheki, Mogubai Kurdikar, Kishori Amonkar and many others and called upon the budding artistes to take inspirations from these personalities.

He further highlighted the significance of cultural meet for promotion of culture of the respective state develop artistic talent and strengthen national integration.

Former speaker and president Tiatr Academy of Goa Tomazino Cardozo congratulated the organisers for organizing the cultural meet in Goa. He said by holding such meet the cultural relations between States will strengthen and will give tremendous exposure to the artists.

Prizes were given to the winners of various competitions on the occasion.

Excise Commissioner M Suresh welcomed and P V M Suresh Babu proposed vote of thanks.

one of the three bridges proposed by the PWD Minister over River Sal since he took over the reigns of the PWD portfolio over three years ago.

While work on the AssolnaCavelossim is going in full swing and that the bridge will be throw open for traffic later this year or early 2012, work on the controversial Sinquetim-Benaulim bridge has come to a halt.

The contractor has stopped work on the Sinquetim-Benaulim bridge as the PWD is yet to receive the green signal from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests for the construction of the bridge.

Sources in the know informed that the PWD has engaged a

consultant to compile a report meeting the CRZ guidelines as sought by the Union Ministry.

Meanwhile, the PWD Minister had a meeting with police officials in the Margao police headquaters in connection with the traditional carnival parade in Navelim village on March 7.

Alemao told newsmen that the Navelim cultural centre would hold the traditional carnival in the village. Around 20 floats from the village are expected to participate in the parade, he said.

The Navelim MLA has asked for diversion of traffic on the NH-17 during the float parade on March 8, which has been accepted by the police officials.

Post-mortem ordered on Navelim seaman HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, FEB 10

The Sub-divisional Magistrate, Margao Johnson Fernandes has ordered post mortem examination on the body of deceased Randall Jason Fernandes, who died onboard the Passenger Cruise liner Costa Fortuna.

The dean of Goa Medical College has constituted a panel of doctors, Dr Edmund Rodrigues, Dr Andre Fernandes and Dr Sidharth Banaulikar to conduct the autopsy.

Randal’s body arrived in the state on Wednesday and the Sub divisional Magistrate, Johnson

has conducted the inquest Panchanama in the presence of the boy’s parents.

The SDM is conducting the inquiry after the parents of the 26-year resident of NavelimTelaulim petitioned to the Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat for a detailed probe, suspecting foul play in the death of their son.

The parents has refused to believe the theory that their son has committed suicide, saying that Randal was strong, healthy and was a very independent and upright person and was of a strong mind and body.

UPCOMING EVENTS Expo for women

PANJIM (HND): ‘Asturi’ an exhibition for women by women organised by Goa Chamber of Commerce & Industry - Women’s Wing, has got underway at Azad Maidan, Panjim and will continue till February 13. The exhibition is open from 10 am to 8 pm daily.

The exhibition is organized with an aim to provide a platform for women entrepreneurs to showcase their products and widen market opportunities.

The total number of stalls is around 50 and will feature a wide range of items like handicrafts, food items, apparels and other products made by these women belonging to various self help groups and other individuals.

This four day exhibition offers benefits to both budding women entrepreneurs as well as existing women entrepreneurs. Budding women entrepreneurs and those who want to setup businesses can learn and enrich themselves with the advice and experiences of successful women entrepreneurs. The specially created stalls are offered at subsidized rates exclusively for women to display their products manufactured or traded by them.

There will also be a fashion show on February 11, fancy dress for ladies on February 12, cookery and sweet dish competition on February 13 and talent competition for children on the same day. For more details please contact GCCI on 2424252 or email goachamber@gmail.com.

Aparant Maand exhibition

PANJIM (HND): GHRSSIDC will organise ‘Aparant Maand 2011’, an exhibition for Goan artisans to display their handicrafts at Kranti Maidan, Ponda, from February 11 to February 20. 110 stalls will be set up at Kranti Maidan, Ponda for supply and display of handicrafts. The exhibition will be inaugurated at the hands of Home Minister Ravi Naik.

Sports, prize distribution

MAYEM (HC): The Narayan Zantye School for Special Children, Vathadev-Bicholim, will organise sports and prize distribution function at Shri Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Maidan Bicholim on February 12 from 9 am to 12.30 pm.

Assistant Manager of State Bank of India Madhav Desai will be the chief guest, National Director, Special Olympic Bharat, Goa, Victor Vaz will be the guest of honour, while Bicholim Municipal Council Chairperson Anisha Vernekar and Deputy Chairperson Shashikant Alornekar who will be the special invitees.

Children’s park inaugural PANJIM (HND): Former India cricket captain Nariman Contractor will inaugurate a children’s park at Margao Cricket Club, on February 12 at 5pm The children’s park has been developed with special rubberised garden with impact absorbing properties of playtop and have been tested to both European and American market.

Director of Mine Safety - Goa Region Ashok Kumar Meghraj and MMC Councillor Pratima Coutinho will grace the occasion.

The park and equipment has been donated by former president of Margao Cricket Club and eminent businessman Dinesh Trikannad.

Meanwhile, the 2nd all Goa MCC Antakshari competition will also be held on February 12, at MCC grounds. Cash awards of Rs 5000, Rs 3000 and Rs 2000 plus trophies will be awarded to the first, second and third places respectively. For further details contact 9225908522.

POWER SHUTDOWN FEBRUARY 11 PERNEM: From 9 am to 2 pm. Areas affected are VP Allorna-Tallarna.

NEURA: From 9 am to 2 pm. Areas affected are Neura Panchayat area, Mandur Panchayat area, Surlabhatt, Pequeno, Alvares Saw mill and surrounding areas.

FEBRUARY 13 TIVIM SUB STATION: From 8 am to 5 pm. Areas affected are talukas of Bardez, Pernem, Bicholim and Tiswadi. However, restricted power supply will be available at Panjim city during the above period.

VASCO: From 9.30 am to 5 pm. Areas affected are entire Vasco city, Khariwada and area surrounding areas of Kadamba Bus Stand.

VERNA: From 8 am to 5 pm. Areas affected are HT and LT consumers within Verna Industrial estate such as IFB, Topline, Parle, FDC, PEZ, Vinca, Jordan, Lokmat, Herald, Alcina Packers, Marine Electricals, Bharat Petroleum etc; areas in Cortalim such as Toyota, Keserval, Velwaddo, Uddear, Raido, Selona, Nigel Shipyard, Kurpavaddo and entire village of Nagoa.

OHERALDO

GOA

Pg 5 GOA, FRIDAY, 11 FEBRUARY, 2011

Census work launched in State HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, FEB 10

The gigantic task to conduct the population enumeration for the Census of India 2011 was launched by enumerating Chief Minister Digambar Kamat and his family at his residence with this the enumeration was officially commenced in the State.

Census Operations Director A K Wasnik informed that field staff numbering 3564 has been trained to complete the task.

These operations will continue till midnight of February 28, and from March 1 to 5, revisional rounds for deletion or inclusion

will be held. This census operations is biggest exercise in the country.

South Collector G P Naik, assistant Director of Planning and Statistics R Gaonkar, District Magistrate and South deputy Collector Jhonson Fernandes, enumerator Nagu Velip and supervisor Manohar Borkar were amongst those present on the occasion.

Meanwhile, the census operations began in the Panjim city by enumerating the Chief Secretary Sanjay Srivastava and his family at his residence at Altinho.

CURCHOREM (HC): The enu-

St Alphonsa’s feast celebrated

Fr Thomas, Vicar General of Thamarassery Diocese, celebrates mass at Pilar Seminary.

HERALD CORRESPONDENT VALPOI, FEB 9

The Kerala Catholics of Goa recently celebrated the feast of St Alphonsa and St Sebastian at Pilar Seminary.

The feast mass was concelebrated by Fr Thomas, Vicar General of Thamarassery Diocese, along with Fr Sebastian, Fr Sunil and Fr Benny.

Fr Thomas gave an inspiring homily presenting the life of St Alphonsa and St Sebastian.

The liturgy was well organized and people felt the presence of the Holy Spirit during the Mass. A special band was brought from Kerala and they

sang devotional songs.

After the mass, statues of St Alphonsa and St Sebastian were taken in a procession along with the Holy relics, and then Unniappam was given to each and every one as an offering.

Nearly 1,000 Keralites took part in the celebration.

All the proceedings of the feast were managed by Fr Matthew and Fr Sebastian, appointed by the Archbishop of Goa, along with the Feast committee members, stated the press note issued by Sajan Sebastian, executive member of feast celebration committee from Honda-Sattari.

Buffalo taken into custody HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, FEB 10

The Colva police has taken into custody a He buffalo which was engaged in a bull fight at Sukhobhat-Seraulim last night.

Colva Police station incharge, PI Tushar Vernekar informed that the police has registered a case against two persons under the

Bible course at Pilar HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, FEB 10

The second session of the Bible course on ‘prophets’ will begin on February 20 at Pilar Theological College, Pilar. Every Sunday, from February 20 to March 20, the classes will begin at 9.30 am and end at 12.30 pm. Dr Max Gonsalves will be the resource person. Those who wish to attend the course should contact the Programme Director Fr Lino Florindo, to register their names. Interested may contact on 2218521 or 2219459.

Planet-Goa to launch two new sections HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, FEB 10

The Planet-Goa magazine, Goa’s latest magical media offering, has announced its plans to soon launch two new sections to the magazine. These will be in the areas of eco-tourism and medical tourism.

Both these sections are programmed to feature initiatives being taken on eco-tourism and medical tourism not only in and around Goa, but will also be covering such initiatives being taken by bodies across the country.

The sections are likely to be seen as early as the next issue itself in March.

While the team at Planet-Goa will be going out to find the right kind of content for these sections which would involve a fair amount of research and hunt for the same, in the initial days, the magazine would also be inviting all corporate and individuals doing whatever work in these spaces to come forward through their contributions.

For further details contact 2904182/83 or 9420689787.

Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. The buffalo was later released, while the Colva police has arrested one of the persons involved in organizing the bull fight. The Colva police are investigating.

meration of the Census commenced in Curchorem constituency on Wednesday.

The Census work started at the residence of Curchorem MLA Shyam Satardekar, who provided all the required information to Census facilitator of Quepem and Sanguem block Roshankumar Zha. Quepem Mamlatdar Sudin Natu, Anjali Prabhu Dessai and Curchorem Talathi Rupak Naik were present on the occasion.

MLA Satardekar has appealed the general public to co-operate and provide all the required information to the enumerator, which will be kept confidential.

“This information is very essential as the government frames schemes and policies based on this data for the welfare of the people,” informed Satardekar.

The enumeration has to be completed from February 9 to February 28.

Education helps shape child’s future: CM HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, FEB 10

Chief Minister Digambar Kamat said that education is a very important tool which helps shape the future of the children.

Kamat was speaking at the annual function of Sarswati Seva Samiti at Porvorim.

Speaking further, Kamat said education is most essential for overall development of children and advised the student community to strive hard with dedication to pursue excellence in education. He also advised the students to participate in extracurricular activities to develop the personality.

Secretary for Panchayat V K Jha said that apart from imparting quality education there is need to create work culture among the student so that they can be prepared to face the challenges in the new era.

Later, the chief minister released souvenir on the occasion

and distributed scholarship to

Meena Jha.

OHERALDO

Pg 6

www.oheraldo.in

O HERALD O Vol No CXI No: 042 Goa, Friday, 11 February, 2011

A travesty of justice

W

hy are upright judges in Goa getting suspended one after the other? We do not know. And why did one of them – Anuja Prabhudesai – get honourably reinstated after having to endure 10 long months of suspension?

We do not know that either. All we do know is that in many ways the Judiciary, which so often demands that other branches of the state apparatus should conduct themselves in a transparent manner, operates under a cloak of secrecy; accountable to no one but itself. How conducive is this for a democracy that is supposed to operate on the basis of a system of mutual checks and balances?

South Goa Additional Sessions Judge Desmond D’Costa was on Wednesday placed under suspension pending an inquiry against him. The reason(s) for D’Costa’s suspension are not known. Nor can they be known. The instructions have been issued by the High Court. Judge D’Costa will not comment. And even the usual ‘reliable sources’ say that it is a one-line order that does not mention any reason.

Thankfully, secrecy is not the strongpoint of Indians, whether in the Judiciary or elsewhere. Even the most ‘confidential’ information invariably gets leaked. In the absence of any ‘official’ information, one has no choice but to rely on these ‘reliable sources’.

Can a judge be suspended unless a complaint against him or her, prima facie, has some merit, charges are framed, these charges are formally communicated to the judge concerned and (s)he is asked to show cause why action should not be taken, and given an opportunity to be heard in the matter? This is natural justice. Should it not apply to the very Judiciary that imposes it on the rest of the country?

The legal fraternity in Goa believes that Judge D’Costa, who has an impeccable reputation throughout a career spanning nearly two decades, was suspended because of the “hasty” manner in which he passed an acquittal verdict in a high profile murder case involving alleged serial killer Mahanand Naik. The case was before the Principal Sessions Judge, who presided over most of the trial. The concluding part of the trial, however, came up before Judge D’Costa while he was holding charge when the Principal Judge was on leave. He acquitted the accused for want of evidence.

The Principal Sessions Judge, apparently, complained that he disposed off the case “hastily”, within 20 days.

If the judgment is faulty, then it will be overturned on appeal. If it is manifestly unsound, then the higher judiciary may pass strictures against the Judge, just as a Supreme Court Bench did recently, when it remarked that there seemed to be “something rotten” in the Allahabad High Court. But what is wrong if the judgment was merely delivered quickly?

Can ‘haste’ be a standalone problem?

Delays are the bane of the Indian judiciary. Cases can last lifetimes, or even longer. “Justice delayed is justice denied” is probably the most quoted legal maxim in this country. Reducing the mountainous backlog of cases has, time and again… and again, been named the No: 1 priority in India’s justice system by various Law Ministers and Chief Justices of India over the years.

If this one trial was conducted swiftly while all the rest were tardy, then there could possibly be some substance to such a complaint. But Judge D’Costa has always tried to conduct trials as speedily as possible. His record is testimony to this, in every court he has been posted to throughout his career. He is a judge who endeavours to live by his words, rather than merely mouth them.

And if he is to be suspended for that, there could be no greater travesty of the cause of justice.

Upright Judge crucified Dr Radhika Shrikant Nayak, Ponda I learnt with anguish of yet another suspension in the ranks of Goa’s Judiciary. Another upright Judge crucified on the altar of the whims and fancies of the ‘Gods of Justice’? Anuja first, Desmond a year after; who is next?

In Desmond’s case, the District Judge admits he complained in a ‘fit of anger’.

For having dispensed justice in the shortest possible time... Isn’t that expected of the judicial system? And what can one say about the actions of the complaining Judge...? It is indeed, yet another black

100 Years Ago

PRIMEIRO DIARIO NAS COLONIAS PORTUGEZAS

11 February 1911 School admission

Were ordered to admit the internal students and also the external students, children of masculine gender with age of 5 to 7 years in all the schools operating from Goa.

Fellow prisoner castigated

The prisoners of Disciplinary School from Coimbra had a brainwave to assuage their monotony of prisoner’s life by castigating severely a fellow prisoner so he could enjoy the luxury of hospital.

Minister gets heart attack

When the ex-Minister of Bulgaria Lazarus Payaoff was invited to one session in the Parliament to discuss the economic crisis, he collapsed with a cardiac arrest which kept him immobile only with an extended hand.

Warning to public

Dr Rodrigo Wolfgang Robusto warned the public in general that due to many irregularities taking place in his Cabinet which were brought to his notice, he will stop signing any further document unless they are bona-fide.

OPINION

The Evil lives within the Goans

Archbishop offered name and fame on a platter to Dr oscar rebello and gBA leaders, says JAmeS ferNANDeS

G

oenkarponn or Goanness is a quality inherited by a Goan, irrespective of caste or religion; a quality that is manifested, visible in their warmth and generosity towards neighbours and unknown Indians. Abundance of farm produce, poultry and fruits in most Goan households was a standing testimony that Goans were sincere, hardworking and did not shy away from any type of work.

Most Goans collected and carried animal manure and other organic wastes on their heads, for the house and for agriculture. Goans are not lazy people; the accusation that Goans are lazy is the greatest injustice heaped on them.

When migrants first came to Goa, Goans offered them food and shelter, little realising that these very same migrants would one day destroy their dreams, hopes and future, that they would rob them of their land, economic activities and, above all, their peace of mind. But is it fair to blame migrants for the culture, discipline and decency disappearing from the character of the Goans?

Should we hold migrants accountable for the Goan’s greed for easy money and for Goa becoming the most corrupt state in the nation? Should we blame migrants because we are losing our land to non-Goans, drug traffickers, flesh traders, money launderers and other antisocial elements? Should we hold migrants responsible because Goans sacrifice even God at the altar of ‘modko’?

Or should we be honest and accept the blame? If Goa is in a state of decay, it is because of the evil living within each and every Goan. And the refusal of the educated, the religious leaders, the self righteous, to speak against the evil deeds witnessed by them, is no less than a crime against humanity.

The evil characteristic of Goans is magnified when they keep voting for the very individuals who are responsible for their misery, suffering and helplessness.

They vote for the very individuals accountable for the decay and destruction of their beautiful land; for the very persons who sell their land and jobs to drug traffickers, money launderers, flesh traders, tax evaders and other anti-social elements.

The combined effect of this is catastrophic.

For, the elected representative makes it his mission to pamper his evil-minded electorate with money and subsidies, and permits them to indulge in il-

StrAight from the heArt legalities, irregularities, gambling, drinking and adopting ‘modko’ as their God. The evil-minded Goan, sadly, is unable to realise that the elected representative is systematically removing the support base from under Goan feet. To achieve these devilish goals, the elected representative permits discrimination, adulteration, vote banks and the rise of anti-social elements.

What is an anti-social element? Any person who illegally acquires false official documents, commits irregularities and illegalities, or builds a house or business premises without proper approvals, is an anti-social element.

What would you call an elected representative that pockets – partly or completely – the budget for development work? Who helps anti-social elements acquire ration cards, voting cards, electricity and water connections, and permits them to construct houses or business premises on encroached land?

Discrimination: Goa is the only state where the Constitution is exploited to assist migrants and harass locals. Law abiding Goans have to produce endless documents, but law-breaking migrants – claiming to be ‘aam admi’ – get approvals and ration/voting cards without any documents. All traditional businesses, like the sale of fish, vegetables and fruits, have been taken over by migrants.

Adulteration: In the last five years, adulteration/duplication has increased two to five times. Most food

A/Cs and all that Crap

Breakfast of Champions

T

uesday 1 February 2011 will go down in post-liberation Goan history as a turning point on our road to modernity. In the presence of Urban Development Minister Joaquim Alemao, Chief Minister Digambar Kamat threw open a Rs2-million air-conditioned Sulabh Sauchalaya in the Margao Municipal Garden.

Founder of Sulabh Sanitation and Social Reform Movement Dr Bindeshwar Pathak was present, along with Margao Municipal Council (MMC) Chairperson Sushila Naik and ward Municipal Councillor Rosy Pereira.

When newsmen asked the CM what message he was conveying to the people of the city by inaugurating the air-conditioned toilet, Kamat washed his hands and said that he only opened the toilet since the foundation stone was laid by the MMC. He then said that it was the coolest thing to happen to Goa since sliced bread and electric blankets.

When asked about the relevance of electric blankets in hot and humid Goa, he quipped that the Goa Medical College (GMC) Hospital was using them to cover premature babies in the absence of incubators. The GMC incubators, he said, had been moved to a poultry farm in distant Sattari, where they are used for hatching chicks belonging to a gentleman farmer who is more commonly addressed as ‘speaker sir’.

Then Kamat noticed his washed hands were dripping. So he

day in the history of Goan Judiciary.

Let civil society rise to the challenge of undoing this gross injustice. Let us join hands with the lawyers in their fight for justice. Let not another family (as did Anuja’s) have to grapple with depression, frustration, disillusionment and the haunting question of whether this is the reward for honesty and sincerity towards duty…!

Positives of earlier regime Sidonio Mendes, Chandor I have read the OPinionatED article “Senseless Portuguese bashing” by Joaquim Correia Afonso (Herald, Feb 7) with much interest and can say that all well-bred Goans will endorse his views. I know that those who will call others ‘of slavish mentality’ have not contributed anything towards the labour class, other than reciting grandmother tales.

The stiffness of Salazar’s regime was not confined to Portuguese ruled Goa, but to all its colonies. But a socially intended reform which was aimed at education included compulsory primary education for all children below 14 years of age. The Lei de Mundcarato (Mundkarial Law) was in debate then in the Legislative Council.

Injustice to Christian tribes James D’Silva, Margao The government has embarked on the exercise of enumerating public details through the census drive. The repetition is only to include the caste status of the population, which caused a debate in parliament. The shocking information is that the enumerators have been told not to pose the caste status question to the minority communities (read as Christians and Muslims) In Goa, we have the Christian Kunbi, Gawda, Chamar, the fisher folks (Kharvi) and toddy-tappers. They are all issued caste/OBC certificates by government.

Without enumerating this crucial detail (the very reason this whole exercise is being repeated) how can the population of these tribes be assessed here? I feel the respective association should take up this discriminating matter with the authorities.

and snack items, and well as goods sold in Goa are either adulterated or duplicate. Oil used for frying is adulterated. Not only adulterators, but mega-project builders, land sharks, destroyers of hills and mangroves, and other so-called developers have the blessings of MLAs and ministers.

Vote Banks: The miseries and poverty of people in the interiors, including Gawdas, Kunbis and those in traditional trades, would have disappeared if they were helped to build a house in or near Panjim or other towns; a home away from home. They would have been employed and happy. But the leaders, instead, permitted migrants to build illegal houses in open spaces, as well as capture the available jobs.

If thousands of people attended the Goa Bacho Abhiyan (GBA) rallies in Panjim and Margao in 2006 to demand the withdrawal of RP2011, it was because Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao instructed Fr Maverick Fernandes to ask all parish priests to mobilise for the rally. Archbishop Ferrao offered name and fame on a platter to Dr Oscar Rebello and other GBA leaders.

Archbishop Ferrao was the real reason why RP2011 was withdrawn.

The bold and courageous statements of speakers at the GBA rally ignited hope in the hearts of the thousands. For the first time, people saw an opportunity to throw away the shameless, corrupt and landselling MLAs and ministers. But once RP2011 was withdrawn the same GBA leaders who had thundered

about eliminating the 40 ‘chors’ turned dumb and voiceless.

In the 2007 assembly elections, instead of awakening Goans about their corrupt MLAs, GBA leaders went into hiding. Then they conferred legitimacy on the looters by joining the same ‘chor’ MLAs to prepare RP2021.

Leaders of different faiths betray their flocks and compromise their faith when they dine with evildoers and, at the very next moment, preach about the virtues of honesty, sacrifice and compassion. They should begin a serious crusade and refuse to accept money or material items from these rogues, for themselves or their places of worship.

Though I accuse Goans of being evil-minded, I believe firmly in their inner values; in their ‘Goenkarponn’. This belief makes me conclude that all true Goans would agree to the following, before making any additions or changes to RP2021.

(1) Other than residential homes on ancestral or tenanted land, the State Level Task Force should suspend all constructions, conduct detailed inquiries into approvals already given and applications received, and pass the information to a 2nd Task Force (2) Clear garbage, and demolish all illegal constructions identified by the 1st Task Force.

(3) Identify land all over Goa for future development, build the necessary infrastructure, and train the personnel to be employed in the proposed industries.

(4) Investigate into all approvals (including land allocation) for business and industry, and verify their credibility.

The GBA, Council for Social Justice and Peace, village, citizens and consumer forums, mining affected peoples, citizens against hill cutting and other NGOs do raise their voices against illegalities, but refuse to identify the source of the evil.

It is time they target the source of the evil. It is time they educate people that it is the MLAs and ministers who allow and enable every illegality, irregularity, food adulteration, duplicate goods, mining and CRZ violations. (The writer is the President of Goynche Niz Mogi (GNM). He can be contacted at gnm4july@yahoo.com.Website: www.loversofgoa.com)

stepped back in and inaugurated the two hand driers. In a jovial mood, he shook a leg and did a jig, inaugurating the music system.

He said that he hoped the authorities had selected some really shitty music, for people who were constipated. Otherwise, airconditioning costs would increase with more long-duration users.

When newsmen drew his attention to the sorry state of sanitation in the commercial capital, the CM directed Sulabh founder Dr Pathak to ensure that sanitation was not compromised in the toilet. “For better monitoring, I would suggest that a visiting committee be constituted to oversee the functioning and maintenance of the toilets,” he announced.

But since no self-respecting Goan son-of-the-soil was willing to join the committee, MMC Chief Officer Prasanna Acharya agreed to appoint an all-bhaile committee, to be called Sons-of-the-NightSoil Committee. It was also to take on a local NGO that was fighting the introduction of this latest technology, which called itself the Anti-Sulabh Sons of Luddite Expatriates, with the acronym ASSOLEs. When newsmen questioned Sulabh founder Dr Pathak on the objective and reasoning behind an air-conditioned toilet, he said that Goa is an international city, and people from all around the world visit the place. “We should maintain international standards to cater to the requirements of the visitors. With this in mind,

By Anthony Simoes

Sulabh has gone in for the air-conditioned toilet,” he added.

This would save on precious water, he went on, since foreigners can be given paper. Government offices would supply old computer printouts with multiple layers. The carbon paper in-between would ensure that the government gets a copy for the Crime Branch, for security purposes.

As an added bonus, Dr Pathak announced a new scheme. For every two non-functioning, non-air-conditioned public toilets handed over to his organisation, they would provide one free, air-conditioned Sulabh Souchalya. “That,” he said, “is the coolest one!”

But people of the pre-Liberation generation are not at all impressed by air-conditioned toilets. Their toilets were as cool as igloos, except that they were actually pig-loos. They were built facing westwards, so that the cool easterlies could caress their backsides before the pig made an entry. No fancy air-conditioners.

No fancy driers. And the only music went ‘oink-oink’!

Nevertheless, the job got done in a completely sanitary and eco-friendly manner. No overflowing septic tanks. No soak pits polluting underground springs, aquifers and wells. The additional bonus was top class manure for agriculture and horticulture. And, best of all, raw material for ‘Sorpotel’, ‘Vindalho’, ‘Chouriço’, ‘Cabidela’ and ‘Aadmas’.

Can modernity beat that?

Letters to the Editor Letter of the Day

Land grab tactics

Zino Carvalho, Davorlim

It is high time that all our forty MLAs and Goans rise up to the most urgent pressing issue concerning the Indian Navy’s “Land grab tactics” under the guise of security, to acquire some 1,08,372 square metres of Bimbel beach, along with the two St George islands, by invoking the “Urgency Clause” under Sec 17, of the Land Acquisition Act 1984. The said Act empowers the Central government to acquire land without the state government’s consent.

We respect the Indian Navy, who are the guardians of our sprawling coastline. But at the same time, they should not threaten the livelihood of Goans in the tourism sector, which is of an asset to us.

The government should convene a meeting of all MLAs on an urgent basis, and inform the Centre that the state government and its people do not wish to accede to the Indian Navy’s demand for land acquisition.

Movie buff regaled

Soap cakes pose risk

John Rebello, Goa/Bahrain

Antonio C Fernandes, Goa-Velha

I had the opportunity, last month, to see the Konkani film ‘O Maria’ directed

by Rajendra Talak on my vacation to Goa during the Grapewine festival and loved the movie immensely.

Kudos to the entire team, and its director for producing the movie. We hope for more. The other film ‘Tum kitem kortolo aslo?’ directed by Sharon Mazarello, is also a must for the present generation of young Goans. Long live Konkani, Long live Goa.

The harmful effects involved in the careless use of soap cakes for washing utensils, is a matter of concern. Most of these cakes contain benzene, slurry and other chemicals which are carcinogenic. Now due to scarcity of water, utensils are not washed properly and, as a result, traces of detergent are left behind, which finds their way into our body whenever we consume any liquid from the utensils. There is a need for healthconscious authorities to educate the general public on these dangers.

Insist on an NOC

Illogical change

Diogo A Rodrigues, Majorda

L Greed, UK

Rented sub-tenants, especially those from outside Goa are given BSNL landline phones without submitting the NOC from house-owners with whom the former have a written contract to stay.

Many a time, these contracted subtenants fail to leave the rented houses and the owners have to approach the courts, to evict them.

It is suggested that the BSNL authorities insist on an NOC from the house owners, before granting the sub-tenants, a landline connection.

I understand the reason for limiting visas to 3 months is to stop foreign nationals from running businesses in India particularly Goa. This will not work at all, as the foreigners who do this will get together and look after each other’s interest, in turns, while the other is away.

The change is illogical and will stop European pensioners from spending winter here and bringing revenue into the country; it will also affect small businesses like general stores, taxis, rickshaws, restaurants etc. India probably wants short term guests who come for 2-3 weeks. Well, the current

cost of air travel means that tourists will go elsewhere and stay longer and also make the air fare value for money. The current reduced tourist arrivals speak for itself.

Government really needs to think this over because once they go; it is very hard to get them back!

Suicide or murder?

Elvino Rodrigues, Navelim This refers to the report (Herald, 9 Feb) on the subject and parents have called for a detailed probe into Navelim youth Randall Jason Fernandes’s death on board the passenger cruise liner “Costa Fortuna”. They have appealed to CM Digambar Kamat for a detail probe.

I feel that since he worked on a ship, he assumes NRI status and Eduardo Faleiro, the commissioner for NRI affairs, should be approached.

Mr Faleiro must do justice to his government appointed post and unravel the mystery behind his death. It looks suspicious that the young man ever took such a drastic step, when it appeared that he was quite healthy and apparently had no problems in life.

Far from the truth A C Menezes, Chinchinim The Indian sub-continent was subjected to British imperialism for about 190 years (17571947) whereas Goa was under Portuguese colonial rule for 451 years (1510-1961).

Building an empire involved barbarism, savagery, brutality and cruelty. The Portuguese used the same methods during the first two and half centuries of their rule and their domain was confined to Ilhas (Tiswadi), Bardez and Salcete.

By the time the other seven talukas were annexed in the 1780s, the Portuguese had become less cruel.

The Portuguese could not be accused of being barbaric or savage during the later half of their rule.

The claim of descendents of Goans who became part of greater Goa only after the 1780s that they were victims of Portuguese inhumanity, and now surround themselves with halo of martyrdom, would appear to be a travesty of truth.

Paths of Wisdom Be Upholders of Justice

By Samir Khan Believers! Be upholders of justice, and bearers of witness to truth for the sake of Allah, even though it may either be against yourselves or against your parents and kinsmen, or the rich or the poor, for Allah is more concerned with their well-being than you are. Do not, then, follow your own desires lest you keep away from justice. If you twist or turn away from (the truth), know that Allah is well aware of all that you do.

(Holy -Qur’an – 4:135) Justice, like peace, is the hallmark of the Religion of Islam. The Islamic concept of justice is so wide and comprehensive that it addresses each and every sphere of life, leading man to sail the boat of life smoothly. It is so perfectly ingrained in the very foundations of social as well as spiritual life of the believers that we do not find it in any other system of life.

This verse of the Holy Qur’an enjoins the believers to be the upholders of justice. It lays emphasis on the fact that it is not enough for them to uphold justice themselves: they are expected to be its standard-bearers. They are supposed not merely to practise justice in their own dealings but to strive for its triumph.

They have to do all within their power to ensure that injustice is eradicated and replaced by equity and justice. A true believer is required to be the pillar supporting the establishment of right and justice.

This verse also emphasizes that whenever a believer has to bear testimony to some event, the testimony should be solely for the sake of God. His testimony should not be biased in favour of any of the parties concerned. He should not use any opportunity for personal aggrandizement, and he should not seek to please anyone but God.”

Printed and published by Vinayak Pai Bir for and on behalf of Herald Publications Pvt Ltd. Printed at Herald Publications Pvt Ltd, Plot No: L-135, Phase II, Verna Industrial Estate, Verna, Salcete, Goa. Published at PO Box 160, Rua Sao Tome, Panjim, Goa - 403001. Editor-in-chief: Mr R F Fernandes. Editor: Ashwin Tombat (Responsible under PRB Act). Regd Office: St Tome Road, Panjim, Goa. Tel: 2224202, 2228083, Fax: 2222475 (all Editorial); 2230535, Fax: 2225622 (Advertising); Margao: 2737689. Mumbai Office: 16-A, Bell Building, 2nd Floor, 19 Sir PM Road, Fort, Mumbai - 400001 (Tel: 22840702/22844908). RNI No: 43667/83.

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OHERALDO

Pg 7

INDIA

GOA, FRIDAY, 11 FEBRUARY, 2011

OPinionatEd 2G scam: Dotted line

leading to Karuna?

Cleaner Goa solution: Educate them

P

By Dr LExLEy PINTo PErEIrA

ride in what was once the city of Margao, the cultural and commercial capital of Goa and administrative headquarters of South Goa, has given way to revulsion. Unchecked squalor from cesspools of filth and mounds of putrefying garbage encouraged by fickle downpours and poor sanitation, disfigure the city and its environs.

Nearby villages follow suit, punctuating the once pristine landscape, with dotted mixes of recyclable material, plastic and perishable refuse. Unsurprisingly Margao and its hinterland host malaria, diarrhea, gastroenteritis, chikungunya, and like vector or insect borne diseases, with their ensuing morbidity and mortality. Observations from Margao probably extend to other parts of Goa. The citizenry faults the administrative hierarchy and neither individual nor legislative endeavours attempt to rectify the situation. Goans abroad comply as in reflex with mandatory practices of public hygiene there - why then do they morph at home, as bad examples for the locals?

An avenue to address the problem is setting up focused and unrelenting educational programs commencing at primary school, extending to tertiary education levels. Training from young, as early as pre-school, continuously re-enforcing into tertiary level and career paths will get the message ingrained in developing minds.

To enable the population to comply with the message of cleanliness and hygiene, constant visual and auditory communication should ubiquitously inform - on television and radio, in the dailies, at public and private health care facilities, local and regional administrative offices (the headquarters of the Talathi, Mamlatdar and village panchayat, exemplify the disgusting state of civic sense), public transport vehicles and stations, market places, shops, corporate offices and the like.

Village panchayats have to persuade residents to desist from burning refuse and build garbage bins and compost sites. Individual or collective houses can develop such sites which ultimately benefit all from the fertilizer effect.

Education targets the community. Accomplishing the goal calls for the legislature to introduce mechanisms to facilitate the process.

Suggested measures include installing irremovable garbage bins at regular sites in the city and villages, garbage trucks to clear collected trash and deposit it at previously identified landfill or compost sites. Make littering and spitting punishable offences with severe fines, establish a force of honest vigilantes to apprehend offenders, fine wrongdoers caught flaunting the law, and increase fine payments for recidivist offenders.

Citizens who are fined must be given due receipts and the current accepted practice of bribery and corruption must be sternly censured, even to the extent of dismissal. Clearly, an infrastructure to support these measures has to be instituted; they are not rocket science, exist in metro cities of India and elsewhere, are simple and straightforward.

Politicians are extensively celebrated in the dailies on their birthdays by corporate houses and persons paying astronomical tariffs – why not re-route these finances to the public coffers to aid in hygiene training and ‘health facilities for people in every nook and corner’ which Chief Minister Digambar Kamat put forward in his message on Goa’s golden jubilee of liberation?

The author is a Professor of Pharmacology and Head of the Department of Paraclinical Sciences at the St Augustine Campus of The University of the West Indies in Trinidad, currently at home in Goa.

AGENCIES NEW DELHI, FEB 10

The investigation into the 2G scam seems to be snaking its way to the front door of the DMK. The CBI is connecting the dots between former Telecom Minister A Raja and the companies he allegedly colluded with; the dotted line seems to suggest that the kickbacks paid to Mr Raja were routed into a TV channel owned by the first family of the DMK. The CBI believes that a 200crore cheque, which was a kickback in the 2G scam, was paid in 2009 to Kalaignar TV, owned

by M Karunanidhi's family. His

wife, M K Dayaluammal, owns 60 percent of Kalaignar TV; his daughter, Kanimozhi, owns another 20 percent.

The bribe was allegedly being paid by Shahid Balwa, a promoter of D B Realty and Swan Telecom, which was allegedly one of the two major beneficiaries of Mr Raja's spectrum largesse when he was minister.

Swan Telecom was granted its license for a little over 1500 crores and sold stake to Etisalat, a Dubai-based firm for nearly 4,200 crores.

Balwa was arrested by the CBI on Tuesday in Mumbai and was brought to Delhi so that the CBI

can interrogate him along with Mr Raja, who was arrested earlier this month.

A Delhi court today allowed the CBI to keep Mr Raja in its custody for another two days for extended questioning with Mr Balwa.

Along with Mr Balwa's Swan Telecom, real estate company Unitech has been shortlisted by the CBI as one of Mr Raja's partners in crime. Like Swan, Unitech was granted 2G licenses

by Mr Raja and then sold some of its equity to a foreign partner, Telenor, for a massive profit.

Sources say action will be taken soon against Unitech.

HC rejects bail plea of Binayak Sen PTI BILASPUR, FEB 10

The Chhattisgarh High Court today rejected the bail application of rights activist Binayak Sen, who has been sentenced to life imprisonment by a Sessions Court on charges of sedition and links with Naxalites.

While turning down 61-yearold Sen's plea for bail, a division bench of justices T P Sharma and R L Jhanwar also dismissed the bail petition of Kolkata businessman Piyush Guha, who has also been awarded life term in the case. The High Court had reserved its order on the bail pleas of Sen and Guha yesterday.

Sen has also challenged his conviction in the case.

Elina Sen, wife of the rights activist, said an appeal will be filed in the Supreme Court challenging the High Court's decision.

"I will be soon discussing the issue of filing the appeal with our lawyers," she said, claiming that the prosecution did not have concrete evidence against Sen. Sen, vice-president of People's Union of Civil Liberties, was convicted for sedition and sentenced to life imprisonment along with Naxal ideologue Narayan Sanyal and Guha for colluding with Naxals to establish a network to fight the state.

The Aarushi-Hemraj murder mystery took a dramatic twist as the names of four fresh witnesses mentioned in the CBI's closure report surfaced on Thursday.

The testimonies of the witnesses -- painter Shohrat, Dr Rohit Kochchar, Dr Rajiv Varshney and Sanjay Chouhan -- could be crucial in nailing the culprits in the case.

According to the CBI report, Shohrat has stated that Aarushi's father Dr Rajesh Talwar had asked him to paint a wooden partition separating his room with that of his daughter just three days after the murder.

Shohrat had been asked to paint the wooden partition in wall colour. A year ago, he had polished the same portion and was paid Rs 25,000, the report said.

CBI special Judge Preeti Singh mentioned in her order that it was an indication of the destruction of evidence by Dr Talwar.

The other witness, Dr Kochchar, could also be crucial.

He has been quoted in the CBI closure report as saying: "I reached Dr Rajesh Talwar's residence between 8:30 am-9 am

on the day of the murder. That's when my friend Dr Rajiv Varshney reached there and told me that the lock on the terrace door has blood stains."

"Similar stains from Dr Talwar's residence to the stairs as well as footprints appear to have been wiped. That's when the two of us went up to the terrace and saw blood stains on the handle of the terrace door," he is quoted as saying.

"We came down and informed Dr Talwar, who was standing at

Jaya Prada playing a song on her mobille phone for a mentally retarded boy on his request, during a visit to her Parliamentary constituency Rampur on Thursday.

Breaking new grounds, government today held for the first time unconditional talks with leaders of banned outfit ULFA and said it was "confident" of finding a "just and honourable solution" to the over three decade-old insurgency problem in Assam.

"As you are aware that they (ULFA) have offered unconditional talks with Government of India and Government of Assam to find out an honurable and just solution to the issues raised by them.

"I welcome them. I assured them that the Government of India and Government of Assam will engage them in sincere and meaningful talks and I am confident that we will find a just and honourable solution," Home Minister P Chidambaram said after ULFA leaders led by their 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa met him before entering into talks here.

"They called on me which is a courtesy call... These are very preliminary stages (of talks), you (media) should cooperate and they will feel confident which will help to find a solution through talks, he said.

An eight-member ULFA delegation led by Rajkhowa went

Reach grassroot level, Rahul to Cong PTI LUCKNOW, FEB 10

AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi today advised party members to reach grassroot level, understand problems of the people and redress their grievances.

The Congress leader made these remarks at a meeting with members of the party's student's wing NSUI during the "Lakshya 2011" programme held at a resort on the outskirts of the city here amid tight security.

Rahul, who is on two-day visit to his constituency Amethi, arrived here this morning and reached Anandi resort, about 25 km away, to attend the NSUI programme.

At the meeting, NSUI members

said, Rahul advised them to reach out to masses and rake up issues of development so that people can associate themselves with the party.

"There is a need to reach at grass root level and understand problems of the people. You all should fight for getting the problems redressed," Rahul is stated to have said so in the meet.

He also told youths to propagate central welfare schemes and ensure that its benefit reached the beneficiaries.

Rahul also interacted with the NSUI workers and heard their problems.

Media was kept away from the programme.

The Supreme Court today reserved its verdict on petitions challenging the appointment of former bureaucrat P J Thomas, who is facing a corruption case in a Kerala court, as Central Vigilance Commissioner.

A bench of Chief Justice S H Kapadia reserved their orders after hearing arguments from various sides, including those

by Prashant Bhushan, counsel for petitioner Centre for Public Interest Litigation, Thomas' counsel K K Venugopal and Attorney General G E Vahanvati.

During the hearing, the bench wanted to know if the the Leader of the Opposition can have a veto power in the process of CVC's appointment.

Leader of the Opposition is one of the three members of the high-level panel headed by the Prime Minister and also comprising Union Home Minister, for the CVC's appointment.

PTI NEW DELHI, FEB 10

AGENCIES NEW DELHI, FEB 10

the main door, about the blood stains and asked for the terrace keys. Dr Talwar climbed a few stairs and then came down immediately... didn't say a word about the keys and went back inside his flat," Dr Kochchar told the CBI. The fourth witness in the case, Sanjay Chouhan, has given graphic account of what happened in the Talwar household on the day of May 16.

In his statement to CBI, Chouhan said: "I reached Dr Talwar's residence on May 16, 2008 at 0735 hours. I saw Aarushi's pants were a little lower than her waist. Talwar couple was pacing from one room to another and they didn't seem to be upset. They were staying away from Aarushi's body."

"Police saw blood stains on terrace door and wanted to open it but there were no keys.

I saw blood on the stairs and it appeared that someone who was bleeding was dragged to the terrace. Blood stains from Talwar flat to terrace and not other way round. Talwar family kept stressing that 'why are you wasting time and not looking for Hemraj?" Chouhan says in the statement.

PTI NEW DELHI, FEB 10

Stop Hasan Ali from leaving country: SC

ULFA leaders 4 witnesses formed basis Govt,hold talks of charges against Talwar PTI NEW DELHI, FEB 10

SC reserves verdict on CVC posting

Rahul Gandhi handing over the possession of a house to a beneficiary during the inauguration of a housing scheme at Raipur Phulwari.

into a full session with senior officials led by Home Secretary G K Pillai for about an hour.

This is the first time that such unconditional talks are being held in ULFA's 31-year-old history.

The meeting was also attended by Assam Home Secretary N K Das, Additional Director General Police (Assam) Khagen Sharma, Assam Home Commissioner Jishnu Barua, Centre's interlocutor P C Haldar, Secretary (Internal Security) U K Bansal and Intelligence Bureau chief N Sandhu.

The Supreme Court today asked the government to ensure that Pune-based businessman Hasan Ali Khan, accused of stashing black money in foreign banks, does not leave the country.

This was conveyed by the court to Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium during the hearing of a petition filed by noted lawyer Ram Jethmalani and some former bureaucrats seeking its direction to the government to bring black money, said to be the tune of 1 trillion US dollars, back to the country.

"It's your duty to ensure that he is available to face prosecution," the court said when Subramanium informed it that Hasan Ali is in India and the government is taking all necessary steps against him.

During the hearing, Subramanium assured the court that the Centre would reveal the names of persons, who have stashed black money in foreign banks after registering a formal case against them.

APPOINTMENTS

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US, Pak at diplomatic odds in fatal shooting

AGENCIES WASHINGTON, FEB 10

US and Pakistani officials Wednesday offered dueling accounts of the events leading up to the arrest of an American who fatally shot two men in Lahore last month and whose continued detention is at the center of an increasingly tense diplomatic standoff between the two countries.

A Pakistani official, referring to what he said were the preliminary findings of his government's

investigation of the incident, said Raymond Allen Davis fired five shots at the Pakistani men from his vehicle and then got out to shoot two more at each of them as they lay on the ground in a busy intersection dur i ng midday traffic.

A US official disputed the account, saying that Davis fired five shots from the Glock handgun he was carrying, all of them from within his car at what both sides agree were probably would-be robbers.

As often-conflicting details continued to emerge about what happened on the afternoon of January 27, neither side budged on the core dispute between them -- whether Davis, a former US Special Operations sergeant who carried a US diplomatic passport -- is immune from prosecution by a Pakistani court.

The United States has demanded Davis's immediate release under international treaties guaranteeing immunity for diplomats. In retaliation for his continued detention, it has suspended high-level diplomatic contacts with Pakistan and warned that a planned exchange of visits this year by President Obama and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari are at risk, according to officials from both countries who spoke on the condition of anonymity about the sensitive matter.

Tri Valley students have 3 options PTI WASHINGTON, FEB 10

The US immigration authorities today said that the students of California-based Tri Valley University (TVU), which has been shut down on charges of massive visa fraud affecting hundreds of Indians, have three options which includes voluntary departure from the country or file for reinstatement of their visa status.

Students, mostly Indians, have been asked by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to contact it directly for the available option they have.

Performers practise during a preview of the Chingay Parade in downtown Singapore on Thursday. The annual Chingay Parade, which forms a part of the Chinese New Year celebrations in Singapore will be held on 11-12 of February.

Pakistan constructing new reactor

PTI WASHINGTON, FEB 10

Pakistan has started construction of its fourth nuke reactor at Khushab in Punjab province, signaling its ambitious effort to modernize the nuclear arsenal.

Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) said that the latest satellite imageries obtained by it shows that the reactor building is relatively early in its construction, but the footprint is that it is nearly of the same size as that of the second and third Khushab reactors.

US and other reports had indicated that China and Pakistan had recently concluded an agreement under which Beijing would construct the fourth reactor at Khushab.

"A new construction staging and storage area can be seen

Test fires nuke capable Hatf-7 PTI ISLAMABAD, FEB 10

Pakistan today test fired nuclearcapable Hatf-7 cruise missile with a range of 600 km that can hit India.

The test o f t h e i n d i g e nously developed missile was "part of a process of validating the system," said a statement issued by the InterServices Public Relations. The test of Hatf-7 or Babur cruise missile was witnessed by Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Chairman Gen Khalid Shamim Wynne,

who said the launch would "go a long way in consolidating Pakistan's strategic deterrence capability and further strengthening national security."

"Pakistan's resolve and commitment to continue its strategic programme will remain paramount," he said.

The test was "warmly appreciated by the President and Prime Minister," who congratulated the scientists and engineers on their success, the statement said.

south of the new construction.

The new construction is located several hundred meters south of second and third Khushab reactor compound," said a report authored by David Albright and Paul Brannan.

The Washington Post said, "the new reactor, if verified, would signal yet another step forward in Pakistan's ambitious effort to modernize and expand its nuclear arsenal."

Last month, the paper had reported that Pakistan's stockpile was estimated to have grown m o re t h a n 1 0 0 d e p l o y e d weapons.

Pakistan made its first nuclear reactor operational at the Khushab site in 1998 and began construction of a second reactor at the site after 2002.

In 2006, Pakistan began build-

ing a third reactor, adjacent to the second Khushab reactor.

"In first commercial satellite imagery from December 2009, vapor could be seen rising from some of the second reactor's cooling tower fan blades, indicating that the second reactor was at least at some stage of initial operation. Vapor can again be seen rising from some of the second reactor's cooling towers in the January 15, 2011 imagery, though none can be seen yet over the third reactor's cooling towers," ISIS said.

"Another reactor just hammers the point that Pakistan is determined to make a lot of plutonium for nuclear weapons, frankly far more than they need or is healthy for the region and the world," Albright was quoted as saying by The Post.

Strikes erupt in Egypt; protesters defiant AGENCIES CAIRO, FEB 10

Thousands of Egyptian workers went on strike Thursday to demand better compensation, adding pressure on a government staunchly resisting massive protests calling for the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak.

Workers in various sectors launched strikes nationwide, including employees in the petroleum, railway and telecommunication industries.

2,000 workers are on strike in the petroleum sector, said Hamdi Abdel-Aziz, a spokesman for the petroleum ministry.

The workers demanded better compensation and transparency in executive salaries, the spokesman said.

National Railway Council employees called for longer contracts, prompting a pledge to extend them from their leaders.

Some did not return to work Thursday, said Mostafa Qinawi, head of the Railway Council.

US student home from Egypt Employees of the steel industry

and the Suez Canal Port Authority also took to the streets to demand better salaries, staterun al-Ahram newspaper said.

Protests sparked fears that the Suez Canal -- a significant oil transport hub -- would be shut down and send oil prices skyrocketing.

But the finance minister said the nation will "do its utmost best" to ensure it remains open.

"All precautions are taken to prevent any sabotage from outside to the Suez Canal," Samir Hadwan told CNN's AC360. "The Suez Canal is safe and the Egyptian Army -- I don't talk on their behalf -- but I can assure you it will do whatever is in its power to keep that open."

In the port city of Alexandria, hundreds of street cleaners and administrative staff are on strike over what they say is a salary freeze, witnesses said. At least 1,000 engineers protested contracts and financial compensations, officials said.

Meanwhile, protests in Egypt entered their 17th day.

Death toll rises to 31 in attack on Pak army AGENCIES PESHAWAR, FEB 10

A teenager suicide bomber dressed in school uniform Thursday attacked army recruits at a parade ground in a northwestern Pakistani city, killing at least 31 soldiers, police said.

The deadly attack in Mardan, a main city some 60 kilometers northeast of Peshawar, the provincial capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, also injured 20 recruits.

Police sources said the attacker walked to the barrack called Punjab Regiment Center at around 8:15 a.m. local time when the recruits were busy in a routine training.

Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack and the group's spokesman Ihsanullah Ihsan warned more attacks to avenge the U.S. drone strikes and operation by security forces in tribal regions.

The police and the army are investigating as to how the bomber sneaked into the heavily guarded training area with boundary walls and guarded round the clock by the soldiers.

Sources said that the bomber may have taken advantage of the relaxed security for a school in the cantonment area and resembled as a student of the school.

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Modernise agri marketing: PM Food inflation at 7-wk low of 13.07% PTI NEW DELHI, FEB 10

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said the government will focus on modernising the agricultural marketing system and brining in private players to this sector in the 12th Five Year Plan beginning 2012.

"I have asked the Planning Commission and the Ministry of Agriculture to focus particularly on this aspect in the 12th Plan. Modernisation of (agricultural) marketing implies greater interaction and involvement of the private sector," Singh said while addressing a conference of US think-tank International Food and Policy Research Institute here.

Pointing out that India has not done as much as it should have to promote modernisation of agricultural marketing, Singh said: "We will work with state governments to ease whatever impediments may exist in this regard."

After the green revolution and the while revolution, the Prime Minister said, another major change is required in agricultural marketing to keep in pace with the economic growth and changing dietary

Sensex down 130 pts more PTI MUMBAI, FEB 10

The BSE benchmark Sensex fell for the third day today, dipping 130 points to 17,463.04, on concerns over corporate earnings against the backdrop of high inflation and rising interest rates.

Intra-day, it fell to nearly 8-month low of 17,362.59 as overall investor sentiment remained negative on reports that India's economic growth rate may slip next fiscal.

Besides, telecom counters suffered the most on widening CBI probe in 2G spectrum (radio waves) scam and sectoral regulator Trai's recommendations on spectrum pricing, which, if accepted, will end up hitting telcos to the tune of over Rs 16,000 crore.

habits.

"We now need a major revolution in agricultural marketing," Singh said, adding agriculture diversification in food required back-up support in terms of viable delivery and marketing chain because much of the produce is perishable.

He said such a change is required considering India still faces a big challenge from malnutrition despite achieving high economic growth. "...experience has shown that rapid growth in GDP in general and even agriculture in particular, though necessary, is not sufficient to produce desirable nutritional and health outcomes among the socially and economically disadvantaged groups," he said.

Stating that "malnutrition remains a serious problem in India and many developing countries", Singh said India

Aban Offshor, 530, 561.1, 512.9, 551.55 Abb Ltd., 612, 656.85, 595, 646.95 Abg Shipyard, 340, 340, 321.75, 325.6 Acc Limited, 932, 989, 922.2, 954.2 Adani Enterp, 581, 595, 570.15, 582.35 Aditya Birla, 731.1, 741.6, 721.05, 735.55 Allahabad Ba, 187, 191.5, 182.95, 188.9 Alstom Proje, 550, 550, 506, 527.05 Ambuja Cemen, 117, 120.2, 117, 117.55 Andhra Bank, 136, 141.5, 132.5, 137.9 Ashok Leylan, 49, 52.5, 48.15, 52.1 Asian Paints, 2460.05, 2514, 2455.1, 2483.75 Axis Bank Li, 1156.1, 1194.8, 1150, 1165.55 Bajaj Hindus, 71, 73, 68.35, 70.8 Bank Of Baro, 818, 835, 798.1, 816.2 Bank Of Indi, 402, 419.5, 392, 413.5 Beml Limited, 579.95, 615.25, 576, 589.2 Bharat Elect, 1649, 1660, 1612.05, 1631.6 Bharat Forge, 309, 318.5, 306.2, 309.55 Bharat Petro, 584.95, 592.75, 578.05, 585.55 Bharti Airte, 330, 331.4, 313.2, 322.6 Bhel, 2089.8, 2116.7, 2017.2, 2042.75 Bhushan Stee, 358, 370, 348, 364 Biocon Limit, 322.9, 322.9, 307.05, 312.95 Bombay Dyein, 330.05, 339.9, 301.1, 310.15

needs to address the issue of absorption of nutrition, health and hygiene.

He said the government is planning to focus on millets that have a high protein, fiber and mineral content and are extremely important foodgrain for their nutritive value and health benefits.

PTI NEW DELHI, FEB 10

Food inflation declined to a seven-week low of 13.07% in end-Jan, as prices of potatoes and pulses eased, even as consumers continue to feel the pinch of high rates of vegetables.

Food inflation, which snapped the three-week rising

Bagchi to head ICICI Securities PTI MUMBAI, FEB 10

In a major leadership change within the ICICI Group, Anup Bagchi has been appointed MD and CEO of ICICI Securities, effective May 1 this year.

He will be taking charge of the company from the incumbent, Madhabi Puri-Buch, who will be moving to another group entity, ICICI Bank.

Presently, Bagchi is the executive director of the company and his new appointment will be with effect from May 1, 2011, a press release stated.

Madhabi Puri-Buch will move to ICICI Bank, effective the same date and proceed on a sabbatical for personal reasons, to join her husband who is based overseas, the release said.

The ICICI Group is one of the country's top financial services providers with ICICI Bank the largest private sector bank.

Bosch Limite, 6004.4, 6060.4, 5990.05, 6000.05 Brigade Ente, 95, 95.1, 90.1, 92.15 Cairn India, 314, 316, 306, 314.1 Canara Bank, 530, 542.5, 523.45, 533.5 Central Bank, 142.9, 148, 137.15, 146.7 Century Text, 289, 301.95, 283, 299.95 Cesc Ltd, 271.8, 279.5, 263, 273.95 Chambal Fert, 68, 68.8, 66.5, 67.9 Chennai Petr, 195, 202.8, 195, 197.05 Cipla Ltd, 312, 315, 296.3, 310.7 Colgate Palm, 818, 824, 797, 819.05 Container Co, 1081.5, 1109.9, 1076, 1081.5 Crompton Gre, 252, 267.5, 252, 266.15 Cummins Indi, 630, 630, 587.1, 617.3 Dabur India, 90.85, 91.45, 89.5, 90.9 Deccan Chron, 75, 78.65, 72.05, 76.5 Dish Tv Indi, 56.5, 60.7, 56, 60.3 Diviâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Labor, 625, 631.6, 608.35, 629.95 Dlf Limited, 239.5, 249.55, 235.05, 245.9 Dr. reddyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, 1509, 1534, 1478, 1491.25 Edelweiss Ca, 35.9, 35.9, 34.3, 35.15 Educomp Solu, 402.1, 420, 386, 412.55 Eih Limited, 95, 95, 90.6, 91.15 Engineers In, 285, 289.95, 275, 279.7 Essar Oil Lt, 105, 106.4, 94.65, 103.95

ICICI Securities is a leading player in the investment banking space.

The bank's MD and CEO and chairperson, ICICI Securities, Chanda Kochhar, said, "Madhabi has been a member of our team for over 17 years, and has played a key role in many of our businesses and initiatives, from building ICICI as a retail brand to leading ICICI Securities. While she remains a valued member of our leadership team, we respect her decision to accord priority to her family and wish her all the very best."

Kochhar said that, "Anup has spent his whole career with the ICICI Group and has deep experience in capital markets and retail financial services."

Essar Shippi, 84.9, 88, 75.7, 78.65 Exide Indust, 123.8, 125.4, 114.55, 122.2 Federal Bank, 338.25, 360.85, 336, 349.8 Financial Te, 729.4, 746.8, 723.15, 739.6 Gail (india), 443.2, 456.95, 442.6, 452.05 Gammon India, 114.1, 114.8, 102.8, 108.3 Glaxosmithkl, 2196, 2224.95, 2163.9, 2210.55 Glenmark Pha, 287, 293.8, 275.15, 285.45 Gmr Infrastr, 37, 37, 30.25, 36.1 Godrej Indus, 155, 163.4, 155, 160.8 Grasim Indus, 2255, 2259.8, 2190, 2202.55 Great Offsho, 259.7, 266, 244, 250.6 Gtl Infra.Lt, 37.55, 37.9, 33.1, 36.35 Gujarat Mine, 105.5, 111.5, 101.5, 110.25 Gujarat N R, 50.6, 51, 48.7, 49.5 Gujarat Stat, 90.35, 94, 87.5, 92.3 Gvk Pow. & I, 24.35, 26.9, 24.25, 25.5 Hcl Technolo, 462, 478.7, 460.85, 469.75 Hdfc Bank Lt, 2016, 2049, 2000, 2015.85 Hdfc Ltd, 610.25, 618.4, 589.15, 595.85 Hero Honda M, 1443.1, 1486, 1432.7, 1449.3 Hindalco in, 219, 220.05, 211.8, 215.75 Hindustan Co, 32.35, 33.2, 31, 31.6 Hindustan Ma, 57.1, 60.15, 54.5, 55.65 Hindustan Pe, 339.1, 344, 336.15, 340.45

trend, fell by nearly 4 percentage points from 17.05 per cent in the week ended January 22.

It was 22.08% a year-ago.

The last time food inflation has come down to such a level was for the week ended December 11 when it stood at 12.13 per cent.

Experts said there would be further slide in inflation rates due to the expected record crop of wheat and pulses.

Government estimates sug-

MF FUNDA

gest overall foodgrain production for 2010-11 at 232.07 million tonnes, against 218.2 million tonnes last year.

Wheat production is estimated to touch an all-time high of 81.47 million tonnes in 2010-11 crop year.

Pulses and cotton production are also projected to set fresh records of 16.51 million tonnes and 33.9 million bales, respectively.

"In the coming weeks we could expect further modera-

tion in food prices, specially foodgrains. The expected record production of wheat and pulses will act as a factor in easing the food prices," Crisil chief economist D K Joshi said.

BIRLA SUN LIFE MUTUAL FUND has filed offer document with market regulator, The SEBI to launch Birla Sun Life Interval Income Fund-Quarterly Plan-Series IV to Series VIII and Birla Sun Life Interval Income Fund-Monthly Plan-Series III to Series V, an interval income scheme. The new fund offer price is Rs 10 a unit.

Plans: Monthly Plan-Series III to V: Term of 30 days and Quarterly Plan-Series IV to VIII: Term of 91 days Options: Growth and dividend option. Further the dividend option will have only payout facility.

Benchmark: Crisil Liquid Fund Index Loads: Nil Minimum Application Amount: Rs 5,000 and in multiples of Rs 10 thereafter.

Minimum Target Amount: Rs. 10 million Fund Manager: Kaustubh Gupta IDFC MUTUAL FUND today announced the launch of an infrastructure fund that aims to generate long-term capital growth through a diversified portfolio of predominantly equity and equity-related instruments.

IDFC Infrastructure Fund is an open-ended scheme.

The NFO opens for subscription on February 14 and closes on February 28.

"The fund has been launched at a time when we believe that valuations in this sector are very attractive and there may be huge investment appreciation ahead," IDFC MF Head Investments, Kenneth Andrade, told reporters here.

It will be benchmarked against the BSE 200 Index. The scheme will have up to 80-100 per cent exposure in equity and equity-related securities and 0-20 per cent in debt and money market instruments, he said.

The government has proposed Rs 50,000-crore infrastructure fund to support private sector investments in PPP projects.

Hindustan Un, 272.5, 277.85, 268.35, 272.65 Hindustan Zi, 1200.25, 1239.75, 1173, 1219.05 Housing Dev, 128.55, 131.95, 122.2, 126.75 Icici Bank L, 957.3, 974.75, 955, 959.85 Idea Cellula, 63.2, 70.8, 57.65, 64.7 Ifci Ltd, 48.9, 49.7, 47.5, 48.35 India Cement, 87.8, 91, 82.4, 89.8 India Infoli, 62.5, 68.5, 61.65, 65.6 Indiabulls F, 142.6, 144.4, 136.25, 138 Indiabulls R, 106.5, 114, 100.1, 110.9 Indian Bank, 200.05, 207.45, 198.55, 206.2 Indian Hotel, 81.2, 85.05, 76.05, 78.05 Indian Oil C, 313.8, 319.65, 307.1, 311.55 Indian Overs, 118.65, 119.8, 116.4, 117.6 Indus Dev Ba, 125.9, 131.35, 124.1, 128.5 Indusind Ban, 210, 224, 208.2, 216 Infosys Tech, 3105.65, 3114, 3041, 3053.2 Infra. dev., 125, 129.1, 123.6, 125.9 Ispat Indust, 21, 22.9, 20.65, 22.3 Itc Ltd, 154.2, 158.95, 154.2, 156.15 Ivrcl Infras, 63, 66.9, 61.15, 63.9 Jai Corp Lim, 133.2, 140, 125.8, 133.35 Jaiprakash A, 73.4, 76.8, 72.35, 76.25 Jet Airways, 442, 484, 415, 426.05 Jindal Saw L, 187.6, 191.5, 176.05, 182.4

Jindal Steel, 611.55, 627.9, 604.05, 613.9 Jsw Steel Li, 788, 844, 773, 833.7 Kotak Mahind, 355.05, 370.6, 347.15, 363 Lakshmi Mach, 2110, 2146.4, 2050, 2096.7 Lanco Infrat, 33, 40.85, 31.65, 39.7 Larsen & Tou, 1475.35, 1513, 1461, 1491.7 Lic Housing, 171.55, 173.7, 163.2, 167.7 Lupin Limite, 380, 398.3, 376, 392.7 Mahanagar Te, 41, 42.25, 38.75, 41.35 Mahindra & M, 655, 661.9, 642.4, 652.6 Maruti Suzuk, 1157.5, 1174.85, 1148.1, 1160 Max India Lt, 149.5, 150, 143.35, 145.2 Moser-baer (, 40.85, 43.5, 40.05, 41.35 Mrpl, 61, 62.45, 58.25, 59.3 Nagarjuna Co, 91.95, 94.75, 86, 89.85 Nagarjuna Fe, 25.5, 26.2, 25.05, 25.8 National Alu, 400.1, 407.8, 400.05, 401.9 Neyveli Lign, 96.5, 96.5, 91.55, 95 Ntpc Ltd, 171.95, 173.9, 170, 170.4 Oil And Natu, 274, 282.9, 272, 273.6 Omaxe Limite, 126.6, 132.6, 126.6, 130.95 Oriental Ban, 314.95, 326, 311.2, 322.95 Pantaloon Re, 248.7, 248.7, 228, 234.4 Parsvnath De, 32.85, 33, 26.2, 28.1 Petronet Lng, 125.6, 126.5, 115.85, 118.8

Power Fin Co, 264.9, 264.9, 247.05, 252.4 Power Grid C, 95.65, 97.25, 95.05, 95.4 Praj Industr, 65, 68.9, 63.2, 67.4 Punj Lloyd L, 67, 71.9, 62.8, 66.2 Punjab Natio, 999, 1008, 978.2, 983.95 Rajesh Expor, 129, 130.9, 104.4, 130.5 Ranbaxy Labs, 489.35, 507.7, 488, 499.1 Rashtriya Ch, 75.1, 78.15, 73.4, 76.95 Reliance Cap, 428, 458.9, 392.9, 420.7 Reliance Com, 97.9, 101.8, 93, 96.6 Reliance Ene, 1020, 1038, 1004, 1038 Reliance Ind, 490, 495, 461.75, 477 Reliance Ind, 912.5, 920.8, 885.1, 899.65 Reliance Pow, 115.05, 119.25, 111, 112.15 Rolta India, 133, 133.55, 128.05, 130.9 Satyam Compu, 57, 57.9, 54.2, 55.55 Sesa Goa Ltd, 294, 299.9, 287.25, 294.55 Shipping Cor, 110, 111.9, 108.1, 110.6 Siemens Ltd, 844.2, 851, 843.5, 847.3 Sintex Indus, 146, 152, 143.35, 149.9 State Bank O, 2578.1, 2585, 2476.3, 2494.1 Steel Author, 155.3, 163.65, 155.3, 160.65 Sterlite Ind, 158.5, 159.5, 152.1, 155.75 Sun Pharmace, 404.1, 424.75, 404.1, 417.15 Suzlon Energ, 45, 46.3, 42.8, 45.65

BOARD MEETINGS Aban Offshore GKB Ophthalmics Page Inds Pantaloon Retail Aditya Birla Nuv Great Eastern Sh Paramount Comm Aegis Logistics GSL Nova Patel Engg Gulf Oil Corp Pipavavship Hathway Cab Piramal Health HDIL Amtek Auto Amtek India Provogue India Apollo Hosp Punjab Chem Apollo Tyres HPCL Rama Vision IL&FS Invest Mgrs Indo Amines Autoline Inds Indswift Bajaj Corp Remi Securities Bayer Crop ITI Berger Paints JCT Best & Crompton Sai Inds Bharat Fert Jyoti Cosmetics Kingfisher Air Shree Renuka Sug CFL Capital Shyam Telecom Manipal Fin Swan Mills Max India Taparia Tools Tata Motors Dhanlaxmi Fab Dishman Pharma Morepen Lab Varun Shipping Emami Infrastructure MTNL NDTV Vishal Retail Gammon India Gammon Infra Nitin Fire Garware Offsh Source: Indiainfoline.com Tata Communi, 226.55, 226.55, 191.65, 195.65 Tata Consult, 1100, 1114.5, 1072, 1090.75 Tata Motors, 1076, 1116.9, 1073.6, 1102.5 Tata Power C, 1209.6, 1237, 1170.05, 1215.35 Tata Steel L, 599, 604.5, 581.15, 600.55 Tata Teleser, 14.5, 14.9, 14.3, 14.65 Tech Mahindr, 589.75, 589.95, 556.2, 561.45 The Ge Shpg., 277.7, 281, 270.25, 279 The Phoenix, 182.1, 185, 175.5, 179.3 Thermax Ltd, 590, 615, 575.1, 591.95 Titan Indust, 3080, 3179, 2943, 3084.55 Torrent Powe, 205, 207.5, 204, 206.25 Triveni Engg, 84, 87, 80.3, 82.9 Tv18 India L, 72, 74.4, 70.75, 73.05 Uco Bank, 96.95, 97.7, 92.45, 95.3 Ultratech Ce, 903, 923.9, 883.4, 917.3 Union Bank O, 317.25, 320.5, 308.55, 314.45 Unitech Ltd, 35.2, 37.5, 32.3, 36 United Phosp, 128.75, 135, 127.05, 132 Videocon Ind, 194.35, 195.9, 185.6, 192.5 Vijaya Bank, 76.1, 78.8, 74.3, 76.6 Voltas Ltd, 162.35, 168, 159.6, 165.6 Wipro Ltd, 424, 425.1, 415.05, 417.95 Yes Bank Lim, 235.15, 245.5, 234.05, 242.6 Zee Entertai, 115.9, 117.55, 107.5, 113.7

OHERALDO

Biz13:Layout 1 2/11/2011 12:37 AM Page 1

Pg13

BIZ

GOA, FRIDAY, 11 FEBRUARY, 2011

ADAG blames rivals, bear cartel for stock plunge PTI NEW DELHI, FEB 10

Hit hard by heavy plunge in its group stocks, Anil Ambani group today blamed 'corporate rivals' and a cartel of market manipulators for causing panic among investors and sought an immediate probe into the matter.

Seeking to assuage concerns of its over 11 million investors, the group also said it has been a victim of the illegal bear cartel that destroyed market value of a staggering over Rs 3,00,000 crore for the infrastructure sector in past few weeks.

Terming the infrastructure sector as "the highest priority for the country," the group MD Gautam Doshi said in a conference call that ADAG has sought immediate probe into the matter.

"We have written to SEBI, the stock exchanges, and intelligence agencies to immediately investigate these concerted efforts to destabilise the capital markets, and create panic amongst investors," he said.

The comments came a day after the group stocks fell by

up to 19 per cent, causing a market value loss of over Rs 11,000 crore in a single day.

The group stocks, however, today bounced back, defying the overall bearish sentiment in the broader market and surged by up to 11 per cent in early trade.

Reliance Infrastructure, which shed 25.14 per cent in yesterday's session, shot up by 10.97 per cent this morning.

Another major gainer from the Anil Ambani camp was Reliance Communications, which advanced by 7.22 per cent to an early peak of Rs 101.70, after hitting a record low of Rs 90. 80 yesterday.

Shares of Reliance Broadcast Network also went up by 5. 37 per cent, while Reliance Capital jumped by 10.51 per cent, Reliance MediaWorks by 9.31 per cent and Reliance Power by 5.3 per cent today.

Speaking about yesterday's sharp plunge, Doshi said: "A series of completely false and baseless rumors against our Group have been circulated yesterday by our corporate rivals and an illegal bear cartel."

"The market regulatory au-

Socomec UPS India plans new facility PTI CHENNAI, FEB 10

Socomec UPS India, 100 per cent subsidiary of France based UPS manufacturer Socomec, is holding talks on setting up a new facility for assembling its UPS systems in India, a top company official said here today.

"The time has come for us to set up an assembly unit in India..right now we are holding

discussions (on this matter)", Socomec UPS India Managing Director Jerome Rodriguez told reporters here.

Indian market was witnessing a "significant" growth this year and they were discussing whether to use their present facility at Gurgaon or to go in for a new facility for assembling the UPS. According to him for setting up the assembly unit, the company may require to make investments of Rs 30 crore which it had already made in the Gurgaon facility for manufacturing SwitchGears.

IOB Q3 net up 128% PANJIM (HBD) -- Indian Overseas Bank has been growing much above the banking system during the current year. As against the system’s growth of 10.08% in deposits, our growth is 18.69%. In advances, our growth is 25.93% as against the system’s growth of 14.47% (between March 26, 2010 to January 14, 2011) The bank has crossed business mix of Rs 2,25,000 crore by December 2010. Bank had crossed Rs 1,00,000 crore business in Dec 2006. The bank plans to reach business level of Rs 2,50,000 crore by March 2011.

The performance of the bank during Q3 was quite encouraging with Net Interest Margin (NIM) of 3.27% and operating profit for the 9 month period, Rs 1883.69 crore surpassing the operating profit of Rs 1844.62 crore for the full year during 2009-10.

The net profit for nine months ended December 31, 2010 is Rs 638.25 crore.

thorities are equipped with the most advanced electronic surveillance systems, and we are confident this deliberate pattern of price hammering and manipulation will quickly be exposed," he said.

Doshi also said the group companies, Reliance Infra and RNRL, as well as their statutory auditors, have not received any notice from auditing regulator ICAI with regard to the consent settlement reached by the two companies with Sebi.

However, he added that the ICAI had "simply asked for copies of audited Balance Sheets, which are already in the public domain, and have been circulated to over 1.5 million shareholders."

"ICAI has also desired to know why Reliance Infra has chosen to implement a policy of rotation of statutory auditors," Doshi said.

"It has been explained to ICAI that this policy, voluntarily adopted by Reliance Infra, is recommended by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. This policy is also entirely in line with international best practice," Doshi added.

Now I-T officials to join OECD PTI NEW DELHI, FEB 10

After deciding to deploy revenue service officers at eight overseas Income Tax units, the government will now depute IRS officers at the top world economic body OECD to improve global cooperation in tackling money laundering, tax crimes and bribery.

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee earlier this month approved the proposal for deputing the officials at the Paris-headquartered body as advisors. Indian tax officials will function in three broad areas of tax administration and tax crimes -- exchange of tax crime information, transfer pricing and the global forum for transparency and exchange of information for tax matters.

According to the Finance Ministry sources, the government wants these officers to liaise with tax authorities of other countries and subsequently gain expertise to effectively tackle the issue of blackmoney and stashing of illegal funds in tax haven nations.

FROM PAGE 1 Headless murder case Swift Dzire car at the time of incident.

A bag containing the chopper, koita and the knife was fished out from the waters under the bridge with the help and assistance of the Fire Services. “A team of Maina Curtorim police along with the accused went to the river near the bridge today. Since the waters were around 8-10 feet deep, the services of the fire brigade was requisitioned to fish out the bag”, Gaonkar said.

Replying to a question, he said that during investigation, Kalangutkar had allegedly disclosed that there were three occupants in the car, besides him, adding that the police are now on the look out for the remaining three persons.

Asked whether there’s any possibility of recovery of the head of the deceased, Gaonkar said police investigations are progressing in the right direction, adding that things will be clear within the next few days.

The Maina Curtorim police headed by Police Inspector Sidhant Shirodkar has so far arrested nine persons in connection with the cold blooded murder of Sultan Bellary, whose headless body was found abandoned on a roadside at Nessai in Sao Jose de Areal village on January 11.

Police investigations later revealed that the deceased was picked up by the accused persons, who came in two vehicles, a Maruti van and a Swift Dzire car before heading towards Margao.

The statement of the witnesses from Benaulim has been recorded before the Special Judicial Magistrate under Section 164 of the Criminal Penal Code (Cr P C).

Advocates boycott courts that the High court registrar recall the suspension order forthwith.

He warned that the advocates would not attend the court of the district judge till justice is done to the suspended judge.

“We have placed two demands, one that the district judge should explain the circumstances by which he had given the complaint or information to the High Court which resulted in the suspension of Judge D’Costa and that the registrar should revoke the suspension order”, Viegas told newsmen.

He said D’Costa is known all over Goa for his honesty and integrity and warned that the situation would be bad for the courts if the suspension is not revoked within the shortest possible time.

He wondered why the High Court is suspending only Goan judges when judges from Maharashtra, who do no understand local traditions, laws, language are having a field day in Goa. He also reiterated his demand for an independent High Court for Goa In the memorandum, the association has called upon the district judge to recall / explain the information given by him to the High Court and take corrective measures to reinstate D’ Costa to the post occupied by him.

HAL plans Rs 20,000 crore modernisation push PTI BANGALORE, FEB 10

Defence major Hindustan Aeronautics Limited today an-

nounced a Rs 20,000 crore plan for modernising its plants and hinted at the possibility of the company going public and

being listed on stock market.

HAL Director (Finance) D Shivamurthi said the company plans to spend Rs 20,000 crore

for modernising its facilities over the next ten years which would be funded through internal accruals.

Pg 14

SPORTS

GOA, Friday, 11 February, 2011

Goa suffer 6-wicket defeat

HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, FEB 10

Karnataka beat Goa by 6 wickets in the 1-day South Zone S Pillay

cricket at Malppuram on Thursday.

Goa were all out for 180 in 44.1 overs while Karnataka scored 184 for the loss of 4 wick-

ets in 33.2 overs.

Goa won the toss and elected to bat with major contributions coming from R V Keni (48 off 67 balls with 3 fours), Shadab Jakati (36 off 43 balls with 4 fours and 1 six) and Reagan Pinto (33 off 64 balls with 3 fours).

R Vinay Kumar of Karnataka was the most successful bowler claiming 4 wickets for 35 while S N Raju took 2 for 40.

G Satish’s 67 not out and M K Pandey’s 53 alongwith R V Uthappa’s 32 contributed for Karnataka’s 184.

S B Yadav was Goa’s lone main wicket-taker with 2 for 42 while Shadab Jakati and Amit Yadav

claimed 1 each.

Goa lost their first wicket with just 4 runs on the board and 2 runs later, they were 2 down.

Scores: Goa - V U Naik (2), S Asnodkar (1), R D Asnodkar (8), Reagan Pinto (33), A S Rathra (16), R V Keni (48), Shadab Jakati (36), Amit Yadav (13), S B Yadav (7), S Duri (2), H H Gadekar (not out 1). Extras: 13.

Total: 180. Fall of wickets 1-4, 2-6, 3-15, 4-49, 5-92, 6-148, 7-166, 8173, 9-178, 10-180.

Karnataka: G Satish (67 not out), R V Uthappa (32), S R Binny (13), M K Pandey (53), A AVerma 4, S N Raju 11 not out. Extras 4. total 184. fall: 1-46, 2-63, 3-159, 4-164.

Karnataka five points. Goa one point.

Bicholim RCC in semis HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARGAO, FEB 10

Bicholim RCC scored a 9-wicket win over Shiroda RCC to enter the semi-finals of Shubham Naik memorial inter-RCC U-14 cricket tournament organised by Shubham Naik Trust at Karai ground, Shiroda.

In another match, Vasco RCC scored a 87-run win over MCC RCC at Chicalim ground.

Brief score: Shiroda RCC, 56 all out in 15.2 overs. Rohit Naik (18), Somnath Panigrahi 5-8, Sukhdev Gad 2-23. Bicholim RCC 57 for 1 in 11 overs. Aslam Khan (22), Umang Gosavi (not out 9), Somnath Panigrahi (not out 5). Rohit Naik took 1 wicket.

Somnath Panigrahi of Bicholim RCC was the man-of-the-match.

Vasco RCC, 207 for 8 in 40 overs.

Sumeet Kedare (65), Sahil Khote (33), Aniket Naik (24). Anish Parab 4-16, Shreyas Naik 2-12, Omkar and Vijay took 1 wicket each beating MCC RCC 120 all out in 29.3 overs.

Navdeep Shirodkar (40), Prasad Raikar (24). Sumeet Kedare 5-24, Miher Pednekar 3-7. Sumeet Kedar was the man-of-the-match.

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Pg 15

SPORTS

GOA, Friday, 11 February, 2011

Vizag, Delhi, Secunderabad YMCAs win HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, FEB 10

Vishakapatnam YMCA began on a winning note at All-India interYMCA basketball tournament at Don Bosco’s Fr Benedict Furtado memorial indoor stadium here on Thursday.

Vishakapatnam YMCA got the better of Hyderabad YMCA with a facile 105-61 victory in their opening encounter. Visakapatnam clinched the lead early and there was no looking back, steadily building on it across the four quarters. They led 2512 at the end of the first quarter and kept adding to their surplus every subsequent quarter. Quarter II (28-17), quarter III (31-18) and quarter IV (21-14).

K Tarun Kumar was the pick of the Visakapatnam boys topscoring with 28 points, ably supported by V Srinivasa Rao (22).

Prem Kumar was Hyderabad’s lone ranger (25).

In another match, New Delhi YMCA, last year’s runners-up, were lucky to score a comefrom-behind win over a young and fighting YMCA’s College of Physical Education, Chennai.

Only a solitary point separated the two teams with the scoreline reading 60-59 in favour of Delhi.

Neeraj (15) and Saurabh (14) did the bulk of the scoring for Delhi while for Chennai, a stellar performance by Sridharan kept a packed stadium clapping in-

cessantly. Unfortunately, he got little support from others in the team and his herculean effort aggregating 25 points, both through long-ranged threepointers as well as speedy driveins, went abegging.

In the third encounter, YMCA Ernakulum put it across YMCA Secunderabad 71-50 in a bit of a see-saw game which saw the two teams level at one point before a late charge by the eventual winners. Ernakulum held their nerves in the home stretch and virtually demoralised the opponents by taking a huge eighteen-point lead in the last quarter.

Later, YMCA Fort Cochin defeated YMCA Kalyan in a low-

scoring match. The final scoreline read 48-39 with Rashif and Iqbal contributing 12 each for the winners while Harshal (16) and Omkar (14) were the chief contributors for Kalyan.

Earlier, Fr Paul D’Sousa, ViceProvincial of Konkan-Goa Salesians and Rector, Don Bosco, Panjim, declared the tournament open.

Betalbatim in Wilred finals HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARGAO, FEB 10

Betalbatim Sporting Club downed Chandor Club 2-0 to march into the finals of All-Goa 3rd Wilred Leisure Cup intervillage football tournament organised by Wilred Leisure Sports Club at Curtorim ground, on Thursday. All the goals came in the first half.

The highlight of the day was a brilliant brace by striker Denzil Rogtao.

Betalbatim broke the deadlock in the 10th minute when Denzil bulged the net giving no chance to the rival keeper.

Denzil scored the insurance goal in the 29th minute after he picked up a ball from his own half.

Betalbatim had scoring chances but heir for wards missed in ideal positions.

Denzil of Betalbatim and Ashward Fernandes of Chandor were adjudged best players.

Bhatikar win HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARGAO, FEB 10

Bhatikar Model High School, Margao scored a 8-wicket win over Mahila and Nutan High School to crown themselves champs in Salcete Taluka U-14 inter-school cricket tournament for D G Narvekar trophy at Dr Rajendra Prasad Stadium, here on Thursday.

Mahila Nutan were bundled out for 148 in 24.4 overs. Vedant Naik 44. Suryash Prabhudessai (27).

For Bhatikar, Rohit Naik was the chief wrecker claiming 5 for 14.

Later, Rohit delighted the crowd as he scored an unbeaten 59 runs to guide his school to victory.

Brief score: Mahila Nutan HS - 148 all out in 24.4 overs. Raj Nagjarkar (21), Vedant Naik (44), Suyash Prabhdesai (27). Saish Gaonkar 3-15, Rohit Naik 5-14, Heramb Parab 1-23. Bhatikar Model HS, 147 for 2 in 21.4 overs. Yogesh Yadav (20), Rohit Naik (not out 59), Sanket Morajkar (34). Siddhant Sagune 1-24 and Prathmesh Gaonkar 1-18.

Weightlifting HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARGAO, FEB 10

The Weightlifting Association of South Goa will organise their 1st South Goa weightlifting championship on February 13 at SAG multipurpose hall, Fatorda, Margao.

The competition will be held in eight weight group categories.

The South Goa competition will start at 3.30 p.m. and later at 6 p.m. a demonstration will be held.

GFA First Division: Raia SC v. St Rock's SC, Raia ground, 4 p.m.

GFA Second Division: Young Boys of Tonca v. Dempo SC (Juniors) Taleigao ground, 4 p.m.

GFA U-14: Vasco SC v. Salgaocar SC (Juniors), Tilak Maidan, Vasco; Curtorim Gymkhana v. Wilred Leisure SC, Curtorim ground. Kick off 4 p.m.

St Sebastian soccer semis: Pogo Boys Merces v. Mad Max Taleigao 7 pm. Interward semis St Sebastian v. St Agostinho SC 8.15 pm. Greenfield, St. Cruz.

All-India Inter-YMCA basketball: Poona YMCA v. Palakkad YMCA, 7 a.m.; Bombay YMCA ‘B’ v. Bareilly YMCA, 8.30 a.m.; YMCA College of P Ed. v. Fort Cochin, 10 a.m.; Hyderabad YMCA v. Calcutta YMCA, 11.30 a.m.; Coimbatore YMCA v.

Palakkad YMCA, 1 p.m.; Guntur YMCA v. Secunderabad YMCA, 3 p.m.; Bombay YMCA ‘A’ v. Ernakulam YMCA, 4.30 p.m.; Visakhapatnam YMCA v. Panjim YMCA, 6 p.m.; New Delhi YMCA v. Kalyan YMCA, 7.30 p.m.; Coimbatore YMCA v.

Poona YMCA, 9 p.m., Don Bosco indoor stadium, Panjim.

3rd Wilred Leisure Cup soccer semi-finals: Don Bosco Orator y, Fatorda v. Navelim Sporting Club, Curtorim ground, 4.20 p.m.

SM Taleigao down St Mathew in explosive 2nd division affair HERALD SPORTS REPORTER MAPUSA, FEB 10

In an explosive encounter, 10men Sao Minguel de Taleigao overcame St Mathew Sports Club, Azossim 3-1 in Second division at Dr Remigio Pinto ground, Taleigao on Thursday.

Taleigao led 2-1 at the breather.

Sao Minguel defender Daniel Noronha was sent off ten minutes from the end for a handball, which sparked outrage from Sao Minguel’s president, Anthoy Levino Pereira who was playing in the midfield and had to be restrained by teammates and coaching staff as he aggressively made his feelings clear to referee Anthony Vaz. “In the first half, when our player was brought down in the penalty box by the goalkeeper, the referee awarded a penalty and only booked the goalkeeper when he should have been sent off. In the second half, when our defender handled the ball outside the box, the referee directly showed a red card,” remarked Anthony, who is also a practicing referee.

In the 26th minute, Sao Minguel took the lead through Steven Baptiste who blasted into the back of the net after receiving a long ball from the defence.

Te n m i n u t e s l a t e r, S a o Minguel were awarded a penalty after the St Mathew goalkeeper, Celio Fernandes brought down his opponent. The goalkeeper received a yellow card.

Two minutes before the interval, St Mathew midfielder Dylan D’Cunha tricked his way past the defender and neatly lifted the ball into the top right hand corner.

Eleven minutes after the change of ends, Sao Minguel wrapped up the game when Victor Lobo superbly controlled the ball in the air and delicately placed the ball past the St Mathew custodian.

With ten minutes to go, Daniel Noronha handled the ball outside the box and was shown a straight red by the referee.

After the match, the protests of the Sao Minguel team were still being heard and the match officials had to lock themselves in their room.

St Mathew manager, Jesmon Alfonso was also angered that one of his players cards was misplaced in the confusion by the match officials. “I am extremely dissapointed, my player Schubert Pereira’s registration card has been misplaced,” remarked Jesmon.

Sirlim trounce Rossman Cruz Nagoa HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARGAO, FEB 10

Sirlim Sports Club trounced Rossman Cruz Nagoa Sports Club 30 in GFA’s U-16 League at Nagoa ground, on Thursday. Sirlim were leading 1-0 at half time.

Sirlim went into the lead

when striker Jonathon Cardozo’s snap shot beat the rival keeper hands down.

Jonathon doubled the lead soon after resumption with a stiff grounder.

Jerry Fernandes rounded off the tally late in the second half.

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S Pillay cricket: Goa suffer 6-wicket defeat Pg 14

GOA, FRIDAY, 11 FEBRUARY, 2011 www.oheraldo.in

In BrIef

To get Sachin out is an ambition: Khan

Contact us on: sports@herald-goa.com

Time we focus on preparation, not pressure: Dhoni l Says India will miss Praveen badly

After earning a surprise call to the World Cup squad, rookie Pakistan pacer Junaid Khan cannot stop thinking about bowling to Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar and getting him out.

The 21-year old left-arm pacer was drafted into the squad after fitness issues ruled talented Sohail Tanvir out of the tournament.

"Just getting a chance to play in the World Cup is a dream come true for me.

But if we get to play against India in the World Cup it would be a blast to bowl at Tendulkar and get him out. It is an ambition for me," Junaid said.

AGENCIES BANGALORE, FEB 10

Royals ask for Rs 120-cr damages IPL franchisee Rajasthan Royals has demanded Rs 120 crore from the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) as damages for their suspension from the Twenty20 league.

The Board had terminated the contract with the franchise alleging that it had breached the agreement by changing its shareholding pattern without the Board's consent.

Sachin Tendulkar, Yusuf Pathan and Sreesanth attend a training session at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore on Thursday.

Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Thursday chose to shift the focus from ‘pressure’ of playing the World Cup at home to ‘process and preparation’ of the team.

At his first press conference ahead of the World Cup, which starts Feb 19, Dhoni tried to play down the extraneous things that are getting talked about when the players should be concentrating on the mega event.

"A lot of hype is created around the World Cup but there are a lot of expectations from the Indian team in every series we play.

"We are supposed to win the World Cup, the atmosphere was the same in 2007, it won't be right to consider this as one of the final frontiers. It's one of the big tournaments, the team needs to do well and it's always the process and preparation that will help us achieve success, not thinking about what's coming and how big the tournament is," Dhoni said.

Dhoni said all the teams in the World Cup are quite dangerous.

"You cannot take any of the

teams lightly. I feel as a team it is always better to back your strength rather than thinking too much about the condition, and trying to get players that will suit the condition but do not really have the talent. So, I think most of the teams will go with their best bowling line."

"We want to win the World Cup as it might be Sachin's last.

We have talented youngsters who can change the course of the game and there are many players who have more than three-four years of international exposure."

Dhoni said he was satisfied with the World Cup schedule.

"It is very difficult to form a perfect schedule and format. A tournament schedule will be either too long or too short.

"I am quite happy with the schedule. It will give us time to recover from small niggles," Dhoni said on the second day of his team's preparatory camp for the 45-day World Cup that begins with a match between co-hosts India and Bangladesh.

The third co-host is Sri Lanka.

The schedule has been criticised, particularly by England's Kevin Pietersen who questioned

Churchill’s Kayne, Amaury eye Saturday Derby HERALD SPORTS REPORTER PANJIM, FEB 10

Many a times, Odafe Okolie has singlehandedly scripted Churchill Brother’s success story. The absence of the Nigerian ace due to a thigh injury can be detrimental for the Goan giants but the pressure of anxiety for the Churchill fans is far less eased with new recruits Kayne Vincent and Amaury Nunes coming good so far for the Varca-based outfit.

Churchill Brothers are preparing for the battle against arch- rivals Dempo and the onus is back on the Kiwi-Brazilian duo but Kayne Vincent, who had recorded a brace each against league leaders, East Bengal and Chirag United is relishing the challenge to take on the defending champions.

“We have to be ready for everything. It doesn't matter who we play. Dempo are always a tough opponent and they have got back all their players. They are at full strength and that makes them even more stronger. We have the capacity and the mood around here is very encouraging. Everybody is so eager to take on Dempo and that's a pleasant sign. For me, the East Bengal match has definitely helped my confidence. It has given me the freedom and the self belief. It has really worked out for me very nicely and I will give everything to maintain it,” expressed Kayne, the ex-Mumbai FC striker who is likely to be partnered by Jerry Boima Karpeh in the Churchill attack.

The advantage for Churchill Brothers lies in the mid-

filed with Brazilian playmaker Amaury Nunes providing an impression of his qualities within three matches and is yearning for his first match on Goan soil after savouring the atmosphere in Kolkata.

“The two matches in Kolkata had been terrific, it's really amazing with that huge gathering. We have been told some bad things about the crowd there, but our performance was wonderful. There was plenty of determination and support for each other or else it would have not been possible to come back undefeated from there and we have to carry it forward against Dempo which is also a top team and are strengthened by the return of their international players. I have a feeling that it will be a great match but we can gain on the little bit of advantage with the absence of Beto, who can make a big difference with his passing and deadly

free kicks,” said the former teammate of Brazilian World Cup players Adriano and Felipe Melo at Flamengo.

With the full second phase remaining, there is still a lot to play for Churchill Brothers as well as Dempo but Kayne feels that his team can go all the way to annex the title. “I am very serious about this. I believe in all the world that we can be champions, we are a very complete side, it's a big group and there's a lot of quality and class in our squad and there's competition for places which keep everyone on their toes. But we have to concentrate on the coming match against Dempo and winning the tie will be vital for the progress of our team and I want to contribute towards it,” stressed the New Zealand forward who has netted eight goals in the current campaign.

Amaury, who had to wait until January for his transfer also wants to begin his home debut on a winning note.

“It will be fantastic to get all the points, it will give us tremendous advantage in the coming matches, our team has a lot of talented youngsters and the management has big plans for this team. Thus, I want to be a part of it and it's very important for us to show that trust by performing well in every match. Saturday, is a big day for us and we have to be winners in that crucial encounter,” explained Amaury who has revealed about his desire to continue his trade in Goa for the next season.

‘Saligao’ Second Division League in Bardez? Who wins and who loses?

By ANTONIO BOTELHO

T

PANJIM, FEB 10

he brand new GFA’s Appeal Committee, in its first ruling on February 4, took the right stand on its jurisdiction that it had no powers to decide on the letter from Saligao Sporting asking for reducing the number of teams from Bardez Zone Second Division from nine to eight.

The verdict, only strengthens the belief that officials of so many affiliated clubs do not have either the time or inclination to study the provisions of the Statutes of the GFA. The GFA’s Executive Committee continues confused on the original issue - an Extraordinary General Body Meeting was called for, then cancelled without a reason being specified, then a resolution passed at its monthly January meeting to go ahead with a 9-team Bardez Zone Second Division League and finally this attempt was made to go round its own resolution by allowing an ineligible appeal to be made.

The purpose of this is to put in perspective the different threads in the skein of what is not really a single simple issue but a direct result of the infiltration of village politics and heavyweight politicians into football administration.

This “story” starts in 2001 when Saligao Sporting Club held elections and the incumbent Tony Remedios found himself dethroned by Patrick D’Souza.

Until 2003, Tony refused to hand over charge to Patrick, and despite interventions with and by the Registrar of Societies, the Sports Authority of Goa and the Goa Football Association the imbroglio could not be resolved.

Finally the GFA General Body at its adjourned meeting of 27 October 2002, decided that the committee headed by Patrick was “recognizable”.

Tony went to court, lost, appealed and lost again. In the

SPORTS

SM Taleigao down St Mathew in explosive 2nd division affair Pg 15

meantime Patrick fielded the why Saligao Sporting Club and zonal groupings have per force Saligao Sporting Club team in Saligao United Club are at daggers to be kept flexible without a the GFA’s Second Division drawn – rather why Tony Remedios hard and fast number. Be that League 2002-03. and Patrick D’Souza hate each as it may – the General Body Now comes the twist in the other’s guts and why the GFA approved the decision for an tail – an aspect that remains un- members get calls from politicians. eight-team level for the Second known to the vast majority of But what has all this to do Division and it became law. the football fraternity in Goa, with the current situation in the At the start of the 2009-10 and possibly to most of the com- Bardez Second Division League, Third Division Bardez Zone, the ponents of the present commit- one might ask? That is the sec- participating clubs are reported tees of the GFA. ond thread in the story. to have been told that based on Patrick was told by a decision of the Gentwo of Goan footeral Body of the GFA the ball’s leading adminhe six Bardez clubs led by Tony now demanding balance of Second Diistrators, including the exclusion of Saligao United Club from the vision teams during the the one who is fondly league, should logically be making Laximiprasad next season would be referred to as the the target of such a request; instead Laximiprasad is eight teams, that two “patriarch”, that be- a co-applicant! teams would be decause of the animosCertainly the GFA Executive Committee can always moted from the Second i t y h e a n d h i s conduct the Bardez Zone Second Division with nine Division to the Third Disupporters had cre- teams and explain the difficulties that arose to the vision and four teams ated with Saligao’s General Body later and decide who to punish. would be promoted to resident politico, his I cannot understand why the rivalry between two the Second Division group’s days in Sali- individuals of a single village – Saligao – backed by from the First Division. gao Sporting Club other clubs like Arpora over whom the politico holds This proposal was were numbered. sway, should be allowed to hold the GFA, the entire objected to by the Patrick was sub- Bardez (and Satari, Bicholim and Pernem) talukas at Bardez Zone Second Dirosa also given pre- ransom in terms of a football league competition v i s i o n t e a m s w h o cious advice as to which should almost have concluded by now. wanted that only one how to overcome the Does the GFA realize that a large number of players team be demoted. This situation. The advice could be students who might have matches clashing was acceded to by the was that another with their examinations if the league is delayed any GFA and all Bardez club be formed in longer? All for the sake of evening political scores? Zone Third Division Saligao – something clubs informed that easier said than done because At the July 2009 General Body only three teams would be proGFA rules then required a num- meeting of the GFA chaired by moted. A play-off match was ber of NOC’s and certificates for another politician with possibly held to decide the third placed a new club to be allowed to be no or little background of foot- team and Saligao United deregistered and Saligao already ball administration, it was re- feated United Club of Nerul. had two clubs, the other being solved or rather “ordered” that Then what I had anticipated Adarsh Yuwak Sangh. the Second Division League happened – Benny XI was dePatrick was also told to con- groupings should be a standard moted from the First Division stitute the third club whilst he eight teams. My objections at and being Mapusa-based rewas still the secretary of Saligao that time were turned down. turned to the Second Division Sporting Club. What this actually I was objecting because Goa Bardez Zone. So, now if three meant was that Patrick issued a has a League structure of Pro- teams were to be promoted from NOC on behalf of Saligao Sport- fessional League (1 unit), First Bardez Third Division to Bardez ing Club for the formation of his Division League (1 unit), Second Second Division there would be current club, Saligao United Club. Division League (4 zonal units) nine teams including in the Getting NOC’s from Adarsh and Third Division (multiple Bardez Zone Second Division. and the village Panchayat was zone units), and one can never Saligao United was informed easier, but an aspect perhaps not predict from which zone the by the GFA that because of Benny taken into account by the “men- team to be demoted from the XI’s demotion it would not be tors” was the work by the Patrick First Division to the Second Di- promoted to the Bardez Zone faction against the politico which vision will be, nor from which Second Division. Even if relucis supposed to have resulted in zonal group the team promoted tantly, Saligao United appeared his defeat in the next Legislative from the Second Division to the conformed to the situation.

Assembly elections!

First Division would be.

The last date for renewal of So, one now knows how and Hence, the Second Division affiliation for all clubs to the GFA

T

Illogical demand

annually is 31 May, and there is a convention that late entries are accepted up to 15 June with payment of a fine. Well after the extended date, Saligao United learnt that one of the eight teams - Laximiprasad Sports Club - had not renewed affiliation due to lack of a sponsor.

Saligao United is learnt to have confirmed the withdrawal with the club’s official who was then a member of the GFA Executive Committee, Jayprakash Poulekar.

Sometime in July 2010, Saligao United brought this development to the notice of the GFA. Savio Messias going by the logic that if Saligao United had been dropped from the Second Division because of Benny XI, it could also be re-admitted because of the non-participation of Laximiprasad Sports Club, and to meet the 8-team requirement of the GFA General Body, included Saligao United in the Bardez Second Division.

Whether the decision was right or wrong, it became a fait accompli, as in the meantime the Bardez Zone Third Division was completed – for the last few years in keeping with the player “loan” principle that a loanee can only go upwards not downwards, the lower division starts first.

What all this effectively meant was that there was no way Saligao United could participate in the Bardez Zone Third Division – and it was almost over, when at an Executive Committee meeting Poulekar insisted that Laximiprasad Sports Clb be reinstated in the Bardez Zone Second Division as he had found a new “sponsor” for the team.

Patrick alleges the “sponsorship” to have been arranged for

by Tony. At the meeting I was the only one who objected to the late inclusion of Poulekar’s team, and upon failing, asked that my dissent be recorded – something which the present President Shrinivas Dempo is well aware of, having that day been seated to my left.

the six-day gap in some of the matches his team plays.

The Indian captain said the team would badly miss ‘street-smart’ fast bowler Praveen Kumar who is nursing an elbow injury. Pacer from Kerala Shantakumaran Sreesanth has taken his place.

"It is very unfortunate that Praveen had to miss the World Cup. He featured consistently in the ODIs for us.

He is a street-smart cricketer and he will miss him a lot," Dhoni said.

"But you can't really restrict injuries from happening to players," he added.

Without mentioning the names, he also indicated that Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir and Sachin Tendulkar all have recovered from their injuries and will be totally fit by the time India play their tournamentopener against Bangladesh in Dhaka on February 19.

"A few players are suffering from slight niggles, which is always there but nothing serious.

Hopefully, nothing major happens to any player," the skipper said.

With four formidable and

We have plenty of match-winners, says Bhajji PTI NEW DELHI, FEB 10

three not-so-strong teams featuring in both the pools, many are of the view that the real excitement and competitiveness in the World Cup will start only from the quarterfinals but the India captain feels otherwise.

"For us the World Cup will start from game one and not quarter-finals. Many are saying that group matches will be boring but these small (teams) surprised in the 2007 World Cup. So wait and watch what they can do," Dhoni said.

The Indian team hit the nets and gym late Wednesday and will continue the practice till Feb 12 at the National Cricket Academy facility here.

India will play its first warmup match against Australia here.

I’ll have to play with pain: Ponting

MELBOURNE (Agencies) -- Australian captain Ricky Ponting has conceded that he would have to play through pain during the entire World Cup due to his finger injury.

"100 per cent to me is ... if I've got pain, so what?" Ponting told reporters before heading off to India.

"If it can function it's 100 per cent. That's the way I've always looked at those things. Most of the players play with some sort of pain at different times ... It does feel a lot better now," he said.

A game-changer in his own right, mercurial off-spinner Harbhajain Singh says India is a team full of match-winners and even lesstalked-about players such as Ashish Nehra would be seen turning around games in World Cup. "Good thing is, everyone in this team has won matches for us in recent times. So India is in business even with its last men," remarked Harbhajan.

Harbhajan cites the example of Ashish Nehra who remains most under-rated in the eyes of the critics.

"Ashish shares the new ball, bowls in middle overs and is economical even in slog overs.

He has picked up 59 wickets in the last two years in ODIs and it's no joke. His wicket of AB de Villiers in Johannesburg turned the tide in our favour. Yet nobody talks about him," he explained.