1 Nov,2010 HERALD PUBLICATIONS PVT LTD

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India: Shahrukh craze catches up in China Pg 11 The only freedom which deserves the name is that of pursuing our own good in our own way, so long as we do not attempt to deprive others of theirs or impede their efforts to obtain it — John Stuart Mill

IN BRIEF RBI may up key rates on Nov 2 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is likely to make the sixth increase in key policy rates this year, as it seeks to get a firmer grip on inflation. RBI Governor D Subbarao will announce the second-quarter monetary policy review on Tuesday in Mumbai after meeting bankers. The Central Bank might increase both the repo and reverse repo rates by 25 basis points each to 6.25 per cent and 5.25 per cent, respectively, said economists.— Agencies (Report on pg 13)

Shah leaves for Mumbai Ex-Gujarat Minister Amit Shah left for Mumbai on Sunday morning following a Supreme Court directive asking him to be out of the State till November 15, when the CBI’s plea seeking cancellation of his bail will be heard. Sources close to Shah said he left for Mumbai by a morning flight. The former minister of state for home, an accused in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case, was granted bail by the Gujarat High Court on Friday. – (PTI)

11,485 appear for online CAT Around 11,485 candidates on Sunday appeared for the online Common Admission Test (CAT) 2010, the highest so far since the start of the exam on October 27, with the organisation conducting it claiming that the sessions ended “successfully”. The first edition of the online CAT exam was marred by technical glitches last year. “11,485 candidates registered for the CAT today and both sessions have concluded successfully,” Prometric India said. – (PTI)

Business: Siemens unveils expansion plans in Goa Pg 12

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VOTES SEALED, EYES ON RESULTS TODAY 72.62% cast ballot

MARAMARI IN MARGAO

Pernem tops polling Margao has lowest turnout

HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, OCT 31

The elections to 11 municipal councils in the State received encouraging response with 72.62 per cent voters exercising their franchise. According to the election officials the polling process was peaceful in all barring some minor incidents in Mapusa, Margao and Vasco. With the votes sealed, all eyes are now on counting of votes which will be held on Monday. Pernem Municipal Council witnessed highest percentage of voting with 88.03 per cent voters turning up for the polling today. On the other hand Margao Municipal Council witnessed lowest turnout today with only 57.76 per cent voters exercising their right to elect the new council. State Election Commissioner Dr M Modassir claimed that the electioneering remained peaceful and there was no untoward incident reported throughout the day. He said that the polling was more in the areas where the number of voters are less. “Only one person was arrested at Sada in Mormugao Municipal Council area for disturbing the election process,” the Commissioner said adding minor incidents of law and order issues were also reported from areas of Margao, Vasco and Mapusa. For majority of the councils, he said, the percentage was hovering around 70 per cent. “Perhaps this is an example that we can boast for rest of the country that without any violence we have been able to complete the election process with (Continued on page 10)

HOw THEY POLLED

MMC Chairperson Savio Coutinho making a point while PSI Kapil Nayak looks on near Agricultural Office, Margao.

Police take guard at Moti Dongor after polling, following clashes between two groups. Photos by Santosh Mirajkar

Digambar workers, Savio’s men clash

Three assaulted at Moti Dongor

HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, OCT 31

Supporters of Chief Minister Digambar Kamat and Margao Municipal Chairperson Savio Coutinho clashed outside a polling booth in Ward No 16 of the Margao municipal area. Complaints and cross complaints were filed with the Margao police by both the groups, even as a supporter of the Coutinho — one Asif was referred to Hospicio with a bleeding nose for medical examination. The no hold barred contest between Savio’s wife and Goa Pradesh Youth Congress vicepresident Pratima and Sandra Fernandes gave anxious moments for the men-in-uniform, especially at the polling booth housed at the Margao agricul-

tural office, Calconda. The Coutinhos charged the police and other officials for acting as mere spectators to flagrant violations of the Election Code. At one stage, a visibly agitated Savio told a police officer that the men-in-uniform should not go to the extent of sabotaging the prospects of a candidate just to satisf y their political masters. Another close supporter of the Coutinhos termed the electoral battle in Ward No 16 as a battle between the Youth Congress and the Chief Minister. In the run up to the polls, GYPC President Sankalp Amonkar had thrown his weight behind Pratima, while the Chief Minister is believed to back Sandra to the hilt. Her status as the Youth (Continued on page 10)

HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, OCT 31

Tension rent the air at migrant-inhabited Moti Dongor following clashes between two groups, forcing police to send additional reinforcements to the hillock to avert major law and order problem. Three persons from one group were brought for medical treatment to the Hospicio hospital after they complained of burning sensation in their eyes after a liquid substance was sprayed on them by the rival group. The trio told newsmen that they were assaulted by Bashir Sheikh and others, close supporters of Chief Minister Digambar Kamat. An uneasy calm prevailed atop Moti Dongor area following the

incident and the police made their presence felt in a big way to prevent further trouble. Margao PI Santosh Desai and couple of PSIs, besides armed policemen rushed to Moti Dongor after the incident. The residents complained to PI Desai about the assault by the rival group and demanded immediate action against Bashir and others. Moti Dongor was the cynosure of all eyes since early morning with the opposition slamming poll officials for not manning the entire hillock to keep the anti-social elements at bay. In fact, Abdul Matin Carol, whose sister Carol Hajira Bi is contesting from Ward No 19, alleged that though entire Moti (Continued on page 10)

Deshmukh, Shinde, Rane in Adarsh flat row?

Municipality Bicholim Quepem Curchorem Pernem Valpoi Sanguem Mapusa Canacona Margao Cuncolim Vasco

Percentage 78.39 72.05 71.89 88.03 82.49 77.08 67.07 78.06 57.76 66.34 59.13

MORE REPORTS & PHOTOS ON PAGE 2

‘No using teachers for roll revision’ HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, OCT 31

Education Minister Babush Monserrate has said a strict ‘no’ to frequent use of teachers for duties like electoral roll revision or enumeration. “Why can’t the staff from other departments like PWD be used for the purpose? Why only teachers have to volunteer for such jobs?” Monserrate questioned. Talking to Herald after Taleigao gram sabha on Sunday morning, the minister said that he will raise the issue with the State Cabinet and will pass appropriate resolution for the same. “We need to understand that teachers too have their

families. They too have their own life. They can’t be on the field day in and day out,” Monserrate said adding that they will not be allowed to ruin their festival season. He has already written to the Election Commission asking them not to use teachers for electoral roll revision. “I don’t mind teachers being asked to do extra duties but using them so often is not correct. There are other government servants, who could be utilised,” he said. The work of electoral revision will begin in the State from November 1 onwards which will have staff pulled in from Education Department mainly doing the job.

Ex-Uccasaim sarpanch assaulted HERALD CORRESPONDENT PORVORIM, OCT 31

Former Uccasaim-Paliem-Punola sarpanch Baban alias Kanoba Nagvekar was allegedly assaulted after the gram sabha meeting on Sunday. According to Mapusa Police, after the gram sabha got over, there was some quarrel between Kanoba Nagvekar and a person, which resulted in the fight between them.

PTI MUMBAI, OCT 31

The Housing Society controversy which has sucked in Chief Minister Ashok Chavan widened as it appeared to reach the doors of his three predecessors Vilasrao Deshmukh, Sushilkumar Shinde and Narayan Rane—who are said to have links with some beneficiaries of the project. But Deshmukh, Shinde and Rane today denied allegations against them saying they did not recommend anyone for allotment of a flat in the Adarsh Housing Society. Maharashtra Water Resources Minister Ajit Pawar, who is nephew of NCP supremo Sharad Pawar, also denied having recommended anybody for membership in the housing society in Mumbai. Deshmukh said he did approve the letter of intent (LoI) of 20 people who wanted to become members of the society. But he did so after a recommendation was allegedly made by Chavan, the then State Revenue Minister. “The list had come for my approval only for counter signature and you do it in good faith,” he said. Deshmukh’s statement comes in the wake of reports that three of his aides own flats in the society. “I had not recommended anybody’s case. There is nobody in the society who can claim to be my relative or near and dear one...This appears to be a conspiracy to defame me,” Deshmukh told PTI. Shinde said he has never recommended anyone for being allotted a flat in the 31-storey building which is said to have meant for Kargil War heroes and widows. Responding to allegations in media that he had a flat in a benami name; Shinde said “It is not in my name. I have never recommended anyone.”

Minor incidents in Mapusa, Vasco One arrested at Sada in Mormugao for disturbing election process

Aakash kandils (decorative lanterns) of different shapes and sizes displayed at one of the shops in the Panjim Municipal Market. Diwali which is popularly known as the festival of lights will be celebrated across the State on November 5. Photo by Rozario Estibeiro

New twist to IT Habitat tale Babush wants park under Taleigao VP purview HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, OCT 31

In what is seen as a total U-turn on the opposition to Rajiv Gandhi IT Habitat at Dona Paula, Taleigao legislator Babush Monserrate today said that people will allow the park only if it comes under purview of Taleigao gram panchayat. “The then IT Minister Dayanand Narvekar had created the habitat like some SEZ. Panchayat would have earned Rs 2 crore as licence fee and Rs 50 lakh annually on housing, if it was under panchayat purview,” Monserrate told Taleigao Gram Sabha on Sunday. He said that government should withdraw the notification and issue fresh one, which brings this project under pan-

Government must issue a fresh notification to bring IT Habitat under panchayat. I still maintain that the project will come up only if it benefits Taleigao people. – Babush Monserrate chayat rights. “I am going to ask Chief Minister Digambar Kamat to withdraw the notification and make panchayat the licencing authority to it,” the Education Minister said. Monserrate stated that Taleigao people will not allow IT Park to use their infrastructure, when they are not gaining

anything from it. “I still stand by my words that IT Habitat will come up only if it’s benefiting Taleigao people. Or else we will not allow it,” he added. Monserrate was responding to the question raised by one Anand Madgaonkar during the gram sabha on the current status of the IT Habitat.

The park spread over 3 lakh square metres of land which was inaugurated by UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi with much fanfare at Dona Paula, currently stands abandoned after massive agitation by people led by Monserrate. The minister had termed the project as an attempt to grab land at throw away prices and hand it over for real estate development. He had led a morcha in December 2007. The then IT minister Narvekar, propagating for the park, had crossed swords against Monserrate. Goa Pradesh Youth Congress Committee had also organised a morcha in Taleigao, which was violently pushed back by Monserrate’s supporters.

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