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SACHIN’S GOLDEN RUN: 50 x 100

Tendulkar became the first batsman in the 133-year history of Test Cricket to complete a half-century of hundreds, at the Centurion on Sunday

In total, he has 96 international centuries (50 in Tests and 46 in ODIs), the most by any batsman

POwER TO ALL by 2011, SAyS CM HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, DEC 19

Chief Minister Digambar Kamat today unveiled a volley of schemes and sops for Goans while ushering in the golden jubilee year of the State’s liberation.

Addressing an impressive gathering at the Campal parade ground after inspecting the parade, Kamat resolved that the State government will give electricity to each and every household in Goa and also ensure that everyone is literate by end of 2011.

In a series of resolutions and announcements, the chief minister also declared enhancement of pension for freedom fighters and financial assistance for police, fireand emergency and home guards.

“We resolve that all the households in the State will have electricity by end of 2011. Cur-

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NEW YEAR GOODIES 100 per cent literacy rate by 2011 Hike in pension for freedom fighters Financial assistance for police, firemen and home guards Scheme to provide shelter for homeless children Mining corridor to prevent dust pollution rently, we have more than 90 per cent houses which have the power connections, we are planning to have hundred per cent electricity percolation,” Kamat told the gathering.

He added “Wherever there are issues to get electricity in

the conventional form, the State will provide non-conventional electricity like solar power.

“There are many households in the State where the said form of energy would be provided.”

During the celebration of Goa Liberation Day, the chief minister also announced a scheme called ‘Teach one each one’ with an aim to attain 100 per cent literacy rate by the end of coming year.

Kamat also declared hike in the pension of freedom fighters from Rs 4,000 to Rs 5,000 each.

He also said that his government will ensure that at least one person from a freedom fighters family gets a job in coming few months.

The State government also declared a financial assistance of Rs 1 crore to the Police Welfare Society and Rs 10 lakhs each to the home guards and fire and (Continued on page 14)

Buffeted by staggering scams and controversies over suspected involvement of right wing elements in terrorism, the Congress today unveiled a fivepoint action plan to deal with corruption and counter attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)

by demanding a probe into “links” between RSS and its affiliates and terror.

A party plenary attended by over 15,000 delegates held against the backdrop of 2G spectrum, Adarsh and CWG (Commonwealth Games) scams heard Congress President Sonia Gandhi as well as her son Rahul

Australia 11 South Africa 6 Sri Lanka 9 Bangladesh 5 England 7 New Zealand 4

AT HOME! AWAY FROM HOME

He scored most of his runs away from West Indies 3 home - 7959, at an average of 56.85 Zimbabwe 3 in 96 Tests, and also the most Pakistan 2 centuries outside (28)

Focus shifts to Delhi CM unwavering, Mickky will have to wait for more time HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, DEC 19

After three days of hectic political activities, the scene will now shift to Delhi tomorrow with Chief Minister Digambar Kamat scheduled to meet the Congress high command to discuss the issue of inducting Benaulim legislator Mickky Pacheco in the cabinet.

Kamat is scheduled to attend the All India Congress Committee (AICC) plenary session, in Delhi, wherein he would discuss the issue with Sonia Gandhi.

“I am leaving for Delhi tomorrow and will most probably discuss the issue with the party high command,” Kamat told Herald in a telephonic conversation.

The NCP through its emissary Prakash Bhinsale yesterday had asked Kamat to drop Jose Philipe D’Souza to make way for Mickky.

When asked whether he would take the opportunity to meet the Nationalist Congress

Cong unveils five-point plan to fight corruption PTI NEW DELHI, DEC 19

COUNTRY COUNT (Tons Against Teams)

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Gandhi calling for strict and speedy action against corruption, including those involving politicians and bureaucrats in a “defined time-frame”.

In her presidential address on the opening day of the two-day conclave at Burari on the outskirts of Delhi, Sonia (Continued on page 14)

CENTRE-STAGE

Chief minister to leave for Delhi on Monday.

Likely to discuss issue with Sonia Gandhi. No meeting scheduled with Sharad Pawar.

Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar in Delhi to discuss the matter, Kamat only said, “Let us see, nothing is scheduled.” “…but if Mr Pawar calls me I will meet him,” he said.

Moreover, given the situation and mood in both camps, it looks like Mickky will have to wait for some time to get the ministership as the moves to get him a cabinet berth seem to have slowed down.

Some Congress ministers, who have come out in support of Jose and Nilkanth are also set to meet Mrs Gandhi in Delhi tomorrow.

Further, sources close to the chief minister have said that he isn’t keen on any change in the

cabinet at this juncture, especially when everything seems to be going well.

“Kamat will impress upon Pawar that any change could rock the boat at this stage,” sources said adding “Nonetheless, the decision would remain with Pawar as it is his prerogative whom to recommend for ministership.”

Kamat has been firm on his stand that he will take the action only after consulting his high command.

Meanwhile after failing to persuade the two ministers Jose and Nilkanth Halarnkar to resign, NCP General Secretary Prakash Bhinsale left for Mumbai on Sunday.

NCP’s Goa unit President Surendra Sirsat confirmed that both the ministers were yet to resign and it will take little more time for the induction of Pacheco.

After a politically hectic Saturday, Sunday saw a lull in activities with Chief Minister (Continued on page 14)

Russian Prez arrives today Agreements on fifth generation fighter aircraft that could augment this country’s military capabilities and expanding civil nuclear cooperation are among a dozen pacts that are likely to be signed between India and Russia during President Dmitry

Medvedev’s visit here.

Medvedev is arriving in the national capital tomorrow night and is due to have talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday after which the two sides are likely to initial the agreements. — (PTI)

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GOA CIVIC FORUM Deep slumber ADELMO FERNANDES, VASCO

Pg2 GOA, MONDAY, 20 DECEMBER, 2010

Regional Plans for Sattari, Ponda getting final touch HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, DEC 19

After notifying the Regional Plans (RP) for Canacona and Pernem talukas, Sattari and Ponda would be now the next two talukas that will have RP 2021 notified.

Sources in the Town and Country Planning (TCP) department stated that the planners are giving final touches to the plans of these two talukas, which would be notified anytime from now.

The plans for Sanguem, Quepem and Bicholim talukas are also getting ready, which will make up for almost half of state’s talukas, ready with the regional plans.

Chief Minister Digamber Kamat had recently stated that two more talukas would be notified refusing to name them. He had also said that by 2011 all the talukas would be covered under RP Sources stated that Sattari taluka, which is having a good forest cover and critical from planning point of view, has been taken for notification.

Ponda taluka, which also has a vast green cover, will be notified in the second phase.

“The gigantic exercise to plan the future development of these talukas is almost completed. All the suggestions put forth after draft RP was kept for scrutiny, which are now being con-

sidered,” a senior TCP official said.

The third stage will have plans of Sanguem, Quepem and Bicholim talukas, which has a mix of forest and mining in it.

First ever regional plans for two talukas Canacona and Pernem were released in the last week of November, when state was hosting International film festival of India, 2010.

RP2021 for both the talukas has earned mixed reaction. While some claim it as a ghost of RP 2010, many feel that it was a genuinely frank exercise to save Goa’s land for posterity.

The conglomeration of forums headed by Pilern Citizens Forum has

already raised banner of protest against RPs claiming it as an attempt to give backdoor entry for the hotel industry.

They had raised doubts over several aspects in the plan including ecotourism hubs, micro industrial hubs and others, which according to them were carved out to benefit few.

Both the plans have come after, what activists claimed ‘unjustifiable delays’ on the part of state government.

Kamat has come in full support of the plans stating that the government will announce plans for two talukas each month.

Even in his address during the Goa liberation Day parade at Campal today

morning, Kamat appealed people to understand the plan before criticizing it.

“The plan is ready. Now it is the responsibility of every Goan to implement it. We cannot say that we will keep on cutting hills and filling fields and blame the state government for not protecting Goa,” the chief minister said in his speech.

He had appealed people not to oppose the regional plan for the sake of it. “Whenever we oppose, we should clarify what exactly we want,” Kamat said adding that we should decide whether we want democracy or anarchy.

Calangute Gram Sabha NCP Tivim Block backs Nilkant demands posting of PI HERALD CORRESPONDENT CALANGUTE, DEC 19

This goat has been dozing off on a daily basis at this traffic shed oblivious to the heavy traffic that passes by, at this busy intersection near Vasco. At least, the shed is being put to good use by the goat.

Harmful plastic fumes SHEINA SARDESSAI, FATORDA

During my recent visit to Goa, I was astonished to see piling garbage and litter all over the state, and the hazardous fumes of burning plastic, which rendered the air. Cattle sans owners, roamed the streets with gay abandon.

The alarming increase in migrants have skewed the culture and practices of the state as they are seen chewing and unscrupulously spitting tobacco on public walls, streets, garden benches and beaches.

Do the people of Goa realise the health implications of spitting, burning of plastic and other dangers to the health of humans? Fumes from plastic can be very harmful to the lungs and the environment. The effects of disposing hazardous garbage in the neighbourhood will have a disastrous effect.

What is the current government doing to curb them? A particular secretary of Goa-based National Organisation for Tobacco Eradication (NOTE) seems to be interested in only catching celebrities with cigarettes on posters, to demand an apology from them!

Why does the organisation turn a blind eye to the real Goan health hazards, happening right under its nose?

Calangute Gram Sabha on Sunday demanded immediate posting of Police Inspector at Calangute Police station.

On the occasion of Goa Liberation Day, an extraordinary Gram Sabha under the chairmanship of Alex Fernandes was held at Calangute Panchayat office.

The Gram Sabha members were unanimous in demanding immediate posting of a Police Inspector at Calangute Police station which has been vacant for over one month now.

The members also highlighted that the tourist season is in full swing and there may be law and order problems at a future date.

When the members raised the issue, Joseph Sequeira brought it to the notice of Gram

Sabha members that when such burning issues crop up, no villager or Gram Sabha member come forward to air their grievances.

Sequeira gave weightage to the demand of immediate posting of Police Inspector at Calangute Police station.

The Gram Sabha members deliberated on various issues concerning the Calangute village, especially the garbage and cleanliness.

The members brought it to the notice of the chairman that garbage bins are overflowing with garbage and called for immediate attention of the chairman. Replying to the members, Fernandes said the garbage is being lifted on regular basis, but promised to take suitable action in the matter.

Another issue hotly deliberated at the meeting was the

drainages along the road, etc.

Alex Fernandes brought it to the notice of the members that the matter is pending for want of approval from the PWD. L a x m a n Po ro b Pa l y e ka r brought it to notice of the chairman and members that he has proposed cross drains opposite the village panchayat, Saligao border up to Dongorpur, St Alex Church road junction, besides two cross drains near St Alex Church to take care of stagnant water during monsoon.

Sequeira also highlighted the sorry state of the drainage along the Calangute-Baga road, which is adding to congestion of traffic along the busy route.

Earlier, Secretary Subodh Prabhu read the minutes of the previous meeting, while Alex Fernandes welcomed the members and later proposed the vote of thanks.

Choked up drainages MARCOS ALEMAO, BY EMAIL

The PWD Minister is doing a tremendous job in constructing road side drainages in cities as well as in the villages. The road side storm water drainage system is very essential for smooth water flow during monsoon. However, municipalities or the village panchayats fail to maintain them properly. The drains are not cleaned properly, every year. They are congested with dirt and shrubs that block the free flow of water.

The drainages constructed in municipal areas are blocked with empty bottles, plastic and dirt. What is the point of constructing the drainages, if they are not cleaned properly?

Dangerous trees

MENINO SANTANA FERNANDES, SAO JOSE DE AREAL

Chief Minister Digambar Kamat inspects the guard of honour on the occasion of Goa Liberation Day, at Parade Grounds, Campal-Panjim.

Photo by Rozario Estibeiro

Shirodkar hails Cong for helping Goa in time of need HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, DEC 19

The Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president Subash Shirodkar today hailed the All India Congress Committee for supporting Goa in times of need.

Addressing the function to mark the 125th anniversary of the AICC, in New Delhi, Shirodkar expressed his gratitude towards the party.

Speaking to Herald from Delhi, Shirodkar said for the first time in the history a GPCC president was given a chance to address AICC anniversary.

“It is because the occasion coincided with the beginning of 50 years of celebration of Goa’s liberation,” he said.

“I expressed my gratitude to the Congress party for giving us

Recently, the Bombay High Court at Goa passed an order setting aside the order passed by Compounding and Appellate Authority (Conservator of Forests) who directed my neighbour S P Gaonkar to cut 3 coconut trees bent towards my house and property that endangered my family and was an obstruction. The above named was directed to fasten two other coconut trees slightly bent towards my house and property with a strong rope, and pull towards his property failing which, they would have to be removed or cut down. Based on photographs and inspection reports from RFO & SDFO under Section 12A of the Goa Preservation of Trees (Amendment) Act, 2008 and subsection (3) which says “ Whoever fails to comply with any directions issued under sub-section (1) within a period as specified in the said order, the Tree Officer or the Deputy Collector appointed by the Government in this behalf, shall take all reasonable steps to cut, or remove such tree or any portion thereof which causes obstructions or nuisance or is likely to endanger life or property of any person to remove the same at the cost and charges of the owner…”

The public prosecutor was present in the High Court room at the appointed time but left the court room just before the hearing. During the hearing, a question arose whether Section 12A of the said Act was as the same import of the Section 133 CrPc, and got to do only with the public nuisance? Due to the public prosecutor’s absence, Justice Britto was not apprised of whether Section 12A of the Act only concerned public nuisance and not private nuisance.

I have already lodged a written complaint against the said public prosecutor. The authorities should justify the contents of Section 12A of the act, in light of my argument.

liberation. The Congress and the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru gave us liberation with quick action,” Shirodkar said.

He added, thereafter whenever there was any request the party was kind enough to consider them.

“For example when we asked for opinion poll it was given to us, we asked for Konkani to be made official language it was done, we asked for statehood it was accepted,” he said adding “… Besides whenever we have asked for financial backing that has also been given like the Rs 300 cr assistance for National Games, Rs 200 cr for golden jubilee celebrations and nearly Rs 5,000 cr for the development of National Highways.”

One held for stealing handicrafts Verna Police on Saturday arrested a 32-year-old man on charges of stealing goods worth Rs 30,000 from a handicrafts shop at Utorda Beach.

According to Verna Police PI Jivba Dalvi, accused Joseph Mascarenhas entered in the shop and allegedly assaulted salesman Altaf Ahmed and stole handicrafts goods worth Rs 30,000 and fled from the site in his Maruti Esteem car (GA-08-U1222).

PI Dalvi further informed that the accused assaulted complaint the salesman by trespassing in the shop and fled away with the valuables from the shop.

“Accused has been arrested under Sections 394 and 452 of IPC and police is investigating the case,” added PI Dalvi.

HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, DEC 19

MMC Ward NO 1 Councillor Arthur D’Silva seen with the households after distributing free water tanks to the affected residents.

Photo by Santosh Mirajkar

election promise made to the electorate during the Civic polls.

He has requested the authorities to conduct a detailed survey and testing of all the drinking water wells in and around the Sonsodo dump yard to ensure that the people are not exposed to any health hazard. “The Margao Municipal may have set in motion the process to set up a treatment plant at Sonsodo, but the authorities

HERALD CORRESPONDENT PORVORIM, DEC 19

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Tivim Block, on Sunday expressed full support to Tivim MLA and Tourism Minister Nilkant Halarnkar.

Addressing a gathering during a meeting at Salkar Hall, Colvale, ZP member Diana Braganza stated that Halarnkar is an honest person and loyal member of NCP. “He has carried out a lot of developmental works in Tivim constituency and is a social worker in the true sense of the term,” added Braganza.

“If he is asked to resign from the post of minister, people of Tivim will be forced to come on the streets and the government will have to face the consequences,” warned Braganza.

Former ZP member Freddy Fernandes said Tivim was a neglected constituency for years altogether. “It is only after Halarnkar was elected MLA of Tivim constituency, development of the village took place. Halarnkar is a sincere social worker who toiled hard for the progress of the constituency and the upliftment of the down trodden.”

“People of Tivim constituency will not keep quiet if he is asked to step down from the post

Photo by Anil Shankhwalker

of minister,” stated Fernandes.

Tivim Sarpanch Arjun Aroskar stated that the panchayat is getting good support from Halarnkar, due to which the panchayat is able to carry out developmental work in the village.

“Halarnkar has shown keen interest in development of the village and has also done a lot of work to strength the party. Tivim people will not hesitate to come on the street if he is forced to submit his resignation from the post of minister for no fault of his,” said Aroskar.

An aged woman, Indu Harakapure, while speaking literary cried on the dais and said Halarnkar is a leader of the masses and has been striving for the betterment of the common people.

“NCP should consider the service rendered by Halarnkar for the party as well to the people of Tivim and should not insist for his resignation,” said Harkapure.

The meeting was attended by ZP member Diana Braganza, former ZP member Freddy Fernandes, Covale Sarpanch Asha Chodanker, Tivim Sarpanch Arjun Aroskar, Assnora Sarpanch Pradeep Pednekar, Nadora Sarpanch Abhimanyu Gawas and Pirna Sarpanch Namrata Chodankar and about 1,500 people from Colvale and surrounding villages.

Supporters want Jose Philip to continue as minister

HERALD REPORTER VASCO, DEC 19

D’Silva fulfills poll pledge, distributes water tanks Thanks to the newly-elected ward Councillor Arthur D’Silva, residents staying in the vicinity of the Sonsodo garbge dump yard have received tanks for storing drinking water.

Around 50 households were distributed free water tanks by D’Silva as part of his election promise made to the people in the just concluded Municipal polls.

D’Silva said that the drinking water wells around the Sonsodo dump yard have been left contaminated due to pollution of underground water. “These households had been using barrels for water storage over the years since the waters from the wells have been rendered unfit for consumption,” he said.

The ward Councilor said that he had promised the people that he would provide them with water tanks if elected, adding that he has fulfilled one of his

ZP member Diana Braganza addresses the gathering at Colvale.

should carry out a comprehensive study of the contamination of underground water in the locality”, D’Silva demanded.

Incidentally, with the Civic body unable to provide the much-needed manpower and machinery, D’Silva has deployed his own manpower and grasscutting machines to clean up the ward before the Christmas festival.

MMC Councilor Lavina D’Souza addresses the solidarity meeting, which largely attended by women supporters of Revenue Minister Jose Philip D’Souza.

Photo by M Prabhav HERALD REPORTER VASCO, DEC 19

Surprised over Goa State NCP Coordinator Dr Praful Hede’s decision in asking Revenue Minister Jose Philip D’Souza to resign from the cabinet, a large number of supporters on Sunday resolved that D’Souza should be allowed to continue as minister.

In a solidarity meeting called

by NCP Vasco Block workers and a large number of D’Souza’s supporters, it was unanimously resolved that D’Souza should be allowed to continue as the minister as he has delivered as per the expectations of the people.

Nearly 32 women groups have condemned the act in which D’Souza has been asked to resign without even asking him to present his point of view.

D’Souza and Councilors Neny D’Souza and Pascaole D’Souza did not attend the meeting, but a larger number of women supporters along with four councilors from Mormugao Municipal Council attended the meeting.

Most of the speakers at the meeting criticized Dr Hede for his decision in asking D’Souza to resign. The speakers also criticized the party for adopting two different sets of rule for Mickky Pacheco and other leaders.

Former MMC chairperson Kritesh Gaonkar moved a resolution to support D’Souza to continue as the minister consid-

ering his performance and clean image, which was seconded by Councilor Premanand Nanoskar, while a large number of supporters and NCP Vasco Block office bearers unanimously supported the resolution.

Goankar stated that it is conspiracy against D’Souza to sabotage his political carrier.

Few supporters threatened

that there would a mass resignation from the party if their leader is not taken back in the cabinet.

Other who spoke at the meeting are Councilors Lavina D’Souza, Fiola Rego, Premanand Nanoskar, Prashant Bandekar, GSL union leader Kishor Shet, Sandeep Shetye, Damini Tari and others.

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Pg3 GOA, MONDAY, 20 DECEMBER, 2010

Churchill plays highway tunes on Liberation Day HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, DEC 19

PWD Minister Churchill Alemao on Sunday used the Liberation Day celebration platform to drum up support for the NH-17 project and asserted that the Congress would sweep the coming Assembly polls.

Addressing the gathering at the Fatorda sports complex after hoisting the National Tricolour, Alemao sought the support and cooperation of the people to usher in the economic prosperity of the state.

He said the PWD is in the process of finalizing the NH-17 alignment and exuded confidence that the number of structures going for demolition on the route would be less than 300. “The government has no plan to harass the people. We understand the problems of the people. That’s we have resolved to pay market value for the land losers, besides rehabilitation on alternate land”, Alemao said.

He pointed out that the initial survey carried out by the central

agency had listed around 2900 houses for demolition along the NH-17 and NH-4 route. “But, I and my Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat convinced the Union Minister of Surface Transport Kamal Nath that the highway cannot be build over the houses of the people. Now, only 120 houses will go for demolition along the NH-4 route as against 679”, he added.

Underlining the need for development of the state through planning, Alemao took a dig at some people trying to misguide the population on the development front. “These same people had criticized me when I had signed the Tillari project and laid the foundation stone of the Margao fly over. Now, the people are enjoying the fruits of development”, he added.

Saying that the government is working for the common man, Alemao said that people of Goa have realized that only the Congress can fulfill their aspirations.

He said this was evident by the elections to the Zilla Panchayat

Dismissing reports that he is planning to change his Assembly constituency in the coming Assembly polls, Urban Development Minister Joaquim Alemao on Sunday asserted that he would seek re-election to the Goa Legislative Assembly only from Cuncolim constituency.

“People of Sanguem have requested me to contest from the constituency. But, I want to make it categorically clear that I will contest the coming polls o n l y f ro m C u n c o l i m c o n stituency,” he said, while addressing a function near the Cuncolim Municipal Council to mark the golden jubilee year of Goa’s Liberation.

Alemao’s categorical statement assumes significance and comes against the backdrop of intense speculations that he might vacate the seat for his son Yuri – who had been taken active interest in Cuncolim.

The Urban Development Minister took the opportunity to convey a message to the Cuncolim Municipal rulers to tone up the administration to cater to the needs of the citizens. “I have given the Civic body manpower and other facilities. The time has come to streamline

HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, DEC 19

The accused arrested in the women shooting case at Guddi has been remanded to one day police custody.

PWD Minister Churchill Alemao along with MLAs Reginaldo Lourenco and Damu Naik and the government servants who were felicitated on Liberation Day at Fatorda.

Photo by Santosh Mirajkar

and Municipal bodies, and asserted that the Congress would sweep the coming Assembly polls.

Alemao paid rich tributes to the freedom fighters for their sacrifices to liberate the state from the Portuguese regime.

“We cannot forget the sacrifices

Joaquim ‘not changing constituency for polls’ HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, DEC 19

Shooting accused remanded to police custody

the administration and ensure that the people are not made to run from pillar to post”, he said.

Alemao cautioned that he would not entertain any complaints from the citizens on the The Urban Development Minister said that plans are afoot to get in central funds to the tune of Rs 50 crore for the development of Cuncolim Town.

“We are appointing a consultant to guide the Civic body to get the central funds and to implement the projects”, he said, adding that the consultant along with Civic officials would visit the wards to ascertain from the people the projects required at the ward level.

He said project under the central scheme are underway in Bicholim town and added that projects under the scheme would soon become a reality in Cuncolim as well.

On the employment front, the Urban Development Minister said he would continue his mission to provide at least one job to one family in the constituency. While paying tributes to the freedom fighters, Alemao further said that the government is committed to provide jobs to the children of the freedom fighters.

made by the freedom fighters to liberate Goa from the Portuguese”, he added.

On the occasion, government servants were felicitated for dedicated services.

MLAs Reginaldo Lourenco and Damu Naik, MMC Chairper-

son Sushila Naik, South Goa Zilla Chairperson Maria Rebello, District Collector G P Naik, District Police Chief Allan De Sa, Margao Municipal Councilors, freedom fighters were amongst those present for the flag hoisting ceremony.

Religious scholars discuss ethical issues in science HERALD NEWS BUREAU PANJIM, DEC 19

Scholars at Rachol Seminary, on the third day of the International Conference on Science and Faith, debated and discussed various ethical, sociological and other issues that crop up as science and technology advance in the modern world.

Dr Theodore Mascarenhas, a Pilar priest, representing the Pontifical Council for Culture explained how the Catholic Church is not against Science and Technology, but in fact encourages and promotes it as long as it takes care of the integral development of human beings.

“God is the beginning and end of everything,” he insisted and reminded that “progress and development has to be accompanied by solidarity and concern, especially towards the marginalized in our world.”

“God and man are partners

in creation and human progress,” he added.

Dr Astrid Lobo Gajiwalla, a medical practitioner for the Tata Cancer Hospital Mumbai, delivered an explanation of Oncofertility.

In a paper entitled ‘Rising from the Ashes: The Ethical Dilemmas of Oncofertility,’ she demonstrated how medical research has helped cancer patients to remain fertile, but also indicated ethical problems that arise from the endeavours in Oncofertility.

Dr Sarita Nazareth from Goa University speaking on genetic engineering insisted that all research in this rapidly expanding field should keep central the dignity of each and every human being.

“A new cultural climate is developing and taking hold. This gives crimes against life a new and if possible, even more sinister character, giving rise to further grave concerns,” she warned.

The police had on Saturday evening arrested Anthony Travasso for allegedly firing two rounds from his 12-bore gun leaving a woman and her niece injured.

Maina Curtorim PI Sidhant Shirodkar said that the two women are recovering in the hospital and are out of danger.

The Margao police are investigating.

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GOA, MONDAY, 20 DECEMBER, 2010

Accused wanted by US Embassy arrested

S h O rT TA K E S Ex- NRI gets State award

HERALD CORRESPONDENT CALANGUTE, DEC 19

Chief Minister Digambar Kamat presenting the State award to Alexander Fernandes at Campal ground, Panjim on Sunday.

PANJIM(HND): Alexander Fernandes, ex-NRI from Kuwait was honoured by Goa Government for social services rendered to the community, on the occasion of Liberation Day at Campal ground, here on Sunday. The award, comprising of cash, shawl and certificate was presented by Chief Minister Digambar Kamat at the State level function. Alexander was the president of Colva United Center, Kuwait, treasurer of Goan Welfare Society Kuwait and executive member of Kuwait NRI Forum.

He worked at the grassroot level amongst the large Goan community in Kuwait and was associated with varied community causes for over 34 years besides being involved in Konkani movement in Kuwait. After his retirement from his banking career Alexander is now associated with many community issues and services in Goa and presently is the president of Lions Club of Colva. Recently Alexander was given an award by Goa AIDS Control Society on world AIDS Day for his humanitarian services and contribution through Lions Club of Colva.

Programme on HIV-AIDS

CURCHOREM(HC): The Community Resource Foundation in collaboration with ITI, Borda-Margao, recently organised a sensitization programme on HIV-AIDS to the ITI students. The objective of the programme was to sensitize the youth on various issues of HIV-AIDS so that they can cerate awareness about HIV-AIDS. Resource person for the programme was Community Resource Foundation Project Manager Sanjay G Naik. Various issues related to HIV-AIDS like safe sex, Goan scenario, routes of transmission, etc were discussed in the programme. Principal M R Allabaksh inaugurated the programme in the presence of resource person Sanjay Naik and Coordinator Maria Carvalho.

Rudreshwar panel formed

Anjuna Police on Saturday arrested a Kerala native, wanted by the US Embassy, on charges of kidnapping and forgery.

According to PI Manjunath Dessai, accused Ranjit Verghese had married a US national eight years ago. However, as days went by, due to some misunderstanding, Verghese came to India along with his son without the knowledge of his wife by forging documents.

A red alert was then sounded in the US on a complaint lodged

by Verghese’s wife, who later learnt that Verghese is in India.

She arrived in India and went to his native place Kerala in search of her husband and child.

However, she could not find him there and was told that Verghese was in Goa. PI Dessai further informed

40 families demand BPL status HERALD CORRESPONDENT VALPOI, DEC 19

About 40 families from Gholwada-Poriem-Sattari met Sattari Mamlatdar Satish Desai and complained that their names were not included in the Below Poverty Line (BPL) list.

The aggrieved families claimed that they had fulfilled all conditions and criteria to be included in the BPL list.

Desai gave a patient hearing to the residents and assured to look into the matter.

Nigerian held HERALD CORRESPONDENT CALANGUTE, DEC 19

PANJIM (HND): Mahavishnu Devasthan Gavona and Rudreshwar Pratistan Chorao formed a new association Rudreshwar Pratistan Goa. Parampujjya Annamaharaj, and Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, MLA Pandurang Madkaikar, Convenor Rudresh Chodankar were present on the occasion. The newly constructed Dipastambha of Mavavishnu temple was also inauguared at Gavona, Chorao. Many devotees had darshan of Param Pujjya Maharaj.

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A Nigerian national arrested on Saturday on charges of possession drugs worth Rs 1.28 lakh at Calangute.

According to Calangute Police, the raid was conducted at the residence of Anthony Chiki Okio (31) at about 8.15 am and he was found in possession of 12 gms of Cocaine and 68 gms of Charas, all valued at Rs 1.28 lakh. Cash of Rs 7,500 was also recovered from him.

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nAccording to PI Manjunath Dessai, accused Ranjit Verghese had married a US national eight years ago. However, as days went by, due to some misunderstanding, Verghese came to India along with his son without the knowledge of his wife by forging documents. that Verghese’s wife rushed to Goa only to learn that Verghese is residing at Anjuna. She filed a police complaint stating that her son has been kidnapped by Verghese.

Anjuna Police team, led by PSI Anant Gaonkar, rounded up Verghese and sought to know the whereabouts of his son.

However, Verghese initially did not disclose the whereabouts of his son. PSI Gaonkar tried to explain the seriousness of the matter and convinced

Director of Tillari Irrigation Project and Chairman of Pirna Urban Co-operative Credit Society Naresh Sawal has called upon the farmers to learn latest techniques in farming.

He was addressing the gathering after inaugurating the three-day training camp on agriculture at Nanora-Bicholim on Wednesday.

Latambarcem Sarpanch Shymal Harmalkar, engineer H D Patil, Zonal Agricultural Officer Pradeep Malik, V D Deshmukh and chief co-ordinator of Adarsh Pani Watap Sanstha Bablo Tulaskar were present on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, Patil called upon the farmers to take benefits of different agricultural schemes to bring out green revolution.

Ganpat Raikar compered the function, while V D Deshmukh proposed the vote of thanks.

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Villagers of Mayem resolved to make the agitation of Mayem village more intense to get freedom to their village from the slavery of Portuguese, which has been continued in the form of custodian of evacuee property since liberation.

V illagers here staged a ‘dharna’ on Sunday in front of Mayem Panchayat office in protest against the lackadaisical attitude of the State government in getting solved the question of custodian of evacuee property since the last several years.

The agitation was spearheaded under the leadership of local MLA Anant Shet. Dada Arlekar, Chandrashekhar Naik, Premenand Mhambre, Vinayak Lamgaonkar, Harichandra Chari, Suhasini Kinalkar, Yeshwant Karbotkar, Shankar Chodankar, Yeshwant Ghatwal, Dnyneshwar Gaonkar, Ramchandra Garde,

HERALD CORRESPONDENT MAYEM, DEC 18

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HERALD CORRESPONDENT MAYEM, DEC 19

Farmers should learn latest techniques in farming: Sawal

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Verghese to speak the truth.

Verghese then led Anjuna Police team to his friend’s place in Anjuna where his son was kept in safe custody of his friend.

Anjuna Police arrested Verghese and later handed over the child to his wife.

Verghese has been given 14 days remand, while the US Embassy has been informed of the arrest as a red alert has been sounded against him. PSI Anant Gaonkar is investigating the case under the guidance of PI Dessai.

Evacuee property: Mayem locals to intensify agitation

BJP President Laxmikant Parsekar offers lemon water to the agitators.

Photo by Vishant Vaze

Narayan Jalmi and a large number of villagers from Mayem took part in the agitation.

The agitators staged the ‘dharna’ after the flag hoisting ceremony.

Later, Goa Pradesh BJP President Laxmikant Parsekar visited the agitators and assured to fight the agitation with the help of all the 14 BJP MLAs. Parsekar

was accompanied by BJP General Secretary Govind Parvatkar.

“This is the beginning of the agitation and the villagers will fight until they get justice,” said MLA Shet.

Late Sunday evening, the agitation was called off, after Parsekar offered lemon water to Dada Arlekar, MLA Shet, Yeshwant Karbatkar and others.

UPcOMiNg EVENTS Portuguese classes

PANJIM(HNB): The Xavier Centre of Historical Research, (www.xchr.in) at Alto Porvorim will organize a Portuguese Basic Course from January 3 to March 20, 2011, from 6 pm to 8 pm on Monday, Wednesday, Friday. For details contact 2417772.

Contacto Goa episode

Naresh Sawal inaugurates the three-day workshop at Nanoda-Bicholim.

Photo by Vishant Vaze

PANJIM (HND): The 66th episode of Contacto Goa on Kerala will be broadcast on RTP International – India, Portugal on December 21 between 1 pm and 6.30 pm in India between 8.45 am and 2.15 pm in Portugal; on December 22, it will be broadcast in India at 6.50 am and in Portugal at 2.20 am. This episode was directed by Nalini Elvino de Sousa, photographed by Jude Fernandes and Nuno Oliveira and edited by Nuno Oliveira.

Timetable for other countries will be available on website www.rtp.pt. Viewers are advised to reconfirm exact timings on the website. Further episodes will continue to be broadcast every 15 days on Tuesdays at the same time. The Contacto team can be contacted by email at contactogoa@yahoo.co.in or nalini_portugal@yahoo.com. Comments are welcome.

Kavlekar opens work on new bridge at Quepem HERALD CORRESPONDENT QUEPEM, DEC 19

Quepem MLA and GIDC Chairman Chandrakant Kavlekar recently inaugurated the construction work of the new bridge over Kushawati River at Quepem.

On the occasion, Quepem Municipal Council (QMC) Chairperson Manuel Colaso, Deputy Chairperson Dayesh Naik, Councilors Philu D’Costa, Camilo Simoes, Suchita Shirvoikar, Amol Kanekar, Milagrina Fernandes, Caitani Fernandes, QMC Chief officer Prashant Shirodkar, Executive Engineer Parkar, AE Rosario Pereira and others were present.

Speaking on the occasion, MLA Kavlekar said the existing bridge has become old and narrow, due to which it becomes difficult for the traffic and pedestrians to pass over it.

He further informed that the construction work of the bridge is in compliance of the assurance

Quepem MLA Chandrakant Kavlekar commencing the bridge work over Kushawati River.

Photo by John Fernandes

given to the public at the time of the last election.

He informed that the work has been delayed as initially the tender was issued at Rs 5 crore, at which no bidder came forward to bid for the work and the tender had to be reissued

at a revised estimated cost of Rs 8.5 crore.

The foundation for the bridge was laid on the eve of last assembly election, March 2007, by the then chief minister Pratapsingh Rane in the presence of Chandrakant Kavlekar.

One ends life at Mapusa HERALD CORRESPONDENT PORVORIM, DEC 19

A native of Tamil Nadu but residing at Kharaswada-Mapusa committed suicide by consuming gas.

According to Mapusa police, two brothers, Vinod N Shetty (18) and Suman Shetty (21) were residing in a rented house at Kharaswada and were in the business of readymade garments.

On Friday night, Suman had gone out of the town and Vinod was alone at home. Sometime at night, Vinod reportedly removed the regulator of the LPG cylinder and put the gas pipe in his mouth.

On Saturday morning, neighbours phoned Suman to inform him that the smell of LPG was present in his house and that the door was locked from the inside.

Suman rushed to Kharaswada and since the door was locked from the inside, he removed the roof tiles and entered the house.

He found Vinod dead with a gas pipe in his mouth.

Acting on information, Mapusa police rushed to the site and sent the body for an autopsy at GMC at Bambolim.

Torch rallies mark Goa’s golden jubilee celebrations in Canacona HERALD CORRESPONDENT CANACONA, DEC 19

Residents of Canacona carried out torch rallies at four different locations to commemorate the eve of Goa Liberation’s Golden j u b i l e e y e a r o n S a t u rd a y evening.

At Agonda, the rally was flagged off by Sarpanch Milagrinha Fernandes at Government High School.

A second torch rally was held at Polem-Maxem, while third took place at Poinguinim which winded up at Martyr’s plaque in Poinguinim Bazaar.

The main rally participated by five different institutions was held at Martyr’s Memorial, Chaudi, where Canacona MLA Vinjay Poi Khot and Canacona Municipal Council (CMC) Chairperson Ratnakar Dhuri were present among few freedom fighters.

On the northern front, students of Shri Mallikarjun Vidyalaya first began the rally at KTC bus stand, who were joined by St Teresa of Jesus High School students near Chaudi school.

Students of Shri Katiyani Baneshwari Vidyalaya led another torch rally, while students of GHS Shristhal and Shree Mallikarjun College of Arts & Commerce led rally from the southern end.

All the rallies later culminated

Agonda Sarpanch Milagrinha Fernandes lights the torch to launch the rally at Agonda.

Photo by Kathy Pereira

at Martyr’s Memorial near ADEI office Chaudi.

Canacona ML A Vijay Poi

Khot along with CMC Chairperson Ratnakar Dhuri and Councilor Simon Rebello gar-

landed the martyr’s memorial paying homage to the freedom martyrs.

Speaking on the occasion, Poi Khot said drugs is the main atrocity which is taking strong roots in the liberated Goa and drugs menace in the State and terrorism and the nation’s porous borders had to be weeded out.

“Even our Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuar y borders are g u a r d e d b e t t e r, b u t t h e countr y ’s borders are so porous that anyone and everyone can easily sneak in the country,” said Poi Khot.

Convenor of Torch Rally in Canacona Kamlakar Mhalshi said: “In reality, Canacona taluka as a whole and few more pockets (other villages) in the State achieved Liberation on 18th itself, but, Panjim and other main areas attained liberation on 19th, now rightly observed the State’s liberation day.

Torch rally in Vasco

HERALD REPORTER VASCO, DEC 19

As part of golden jubilee celebrations of Goa’s Liberation day, Mormugao Rashtrwadi Nagari Samit (MRNS) carried out a huge torch rally with the participation of school students, residents of Vasco

and NCC cadets in Vasco on Saturday evening.

Addressing the rally, MRNS Convenor Rajendra Arlekar said as part of golden jubilee celebrations of Liberation Day, the MRNS will organise different cultural events and n a t i o n a l i n t e g r a t e d p ro -

grammes for the whole year and one such event is the torch rally in Vasco on the eve of Liberation Day. Earlier, the rally commenced at Hutatma Chowk, Vasco, and after taking round of the city from Dr T B Cunha’s statue, gathered near MMC building.

OHERALDO

Pg 5

GOA

GOA, MONDAY, 20 DECEMBER, 2010

Will Tillari end water woes of North Goa? HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, DEC 19

Will there be an end to water woes in North Goa? The Tillari Irrigation Project, which is slated to be completed by the end of 2011 could be an answer.

“Once the project is completed North Goa will not face any water shortage,” a senior officer associated with the project said.

Until six months back certain parts of Bardez taluka faced acute water shortage.

Things are little better now after new water treatment plant was commissioned some five months back.

Water availability through Tillari project is 111.46 million cubic metre, however, currently, PWD is only able to draw 60

MLD for want of adequate water treatment facility.

Started in December 1987, the project covers 71 villages in three talukas of Pernem, Bicholim and Bardez.

The project covers 14521 hectares of area under irrigation in three talukas.

About 806 hectares of area is already brought under cultivation and motivational programmes are being undertaken to make them utilize water for irrigation.

“Thirty water societies involving farmers have been formed,” said the officer when raised the question whether huge investment in the project can be justified as agriculture in Goa is declining.

“With assurance of continu-

ous supply of water for irrigation, people will not give up farming,” he said adding that water supply will be maintained except during four months of monsoon.

Currently, canal is closed for maintenance and will be reopened on December 23.

The initial estimated cost of the project was Rs 412 crore but it escalated to Rs 1612 crore as the project got delayed during last 23 years.

First, water was released in 2001 to Pernem taluka where as on completion of the left bank canal in 2007, more water is being released in the taluka.

Currently, Tillari caters to some parts of Bardez, officials said.

Lukotshav at Canacona in January HERALD CORRESPONDENT CANACONA, DEC 19

A horde of competitions will take place in the Lukotshav-2010 at Canacona on January 7 and 8, 2011.

Addressing a press conference, Poinguinim ML A Ramesh Tawadkar informed that this year's annual Lukotshav will be organized by Adarsh Yuwa Sangh, Gaondongrim-Cotigao, in association with Balram Graham V ikas Saunstha, AmonePoinguinim and Directorate of Arts and Culture, Goa Government.

The Lukotshav-2010 will be held at Moshifund-Amone in Poinguinim, at the same place where the eco-tourism park is taking birth at Canacona, the first of its kind the entire state of Goa.

God is deeper than Darwin, claims American Scholar HERALD NEWS BUREAU PANJIM, DEC 19

Scholars gathered at the Rachol Seminary for the International Conference on Science and Faith debated at length on the role of Science and Religion in our day to day world.

Beginning the day with a prayer dance "Where do you stay, Oh God?" conducted by the Mater Dei Sisters, the delegates quickly moved over to very intricate but real issues for modern man.

Fr Allan Tavares, a Pilar priest, explained the role of acoustics in worship.

"Faith becoming tangibly acoustic is part of a process of the Word becoming flesh and a powerful engagement between Science and Religion" he said.

Fr Tavares, who has written a doctoral dissertation on "Acoustics in Worship", called upon priests and those responsible for looking after churches to look back at the older Churches and imitate their excellent acoustic system.

Dr Augustine Pamplany, a scholar from Kerala, spoke about the vast advances made in Neuro-sciences and desired that this science would help us go to God.

Fr Lino Florindo and Fr Allan Tavares at Rachol.

Dr Victor Ferrao, Professor at Rachol Seminary, outlined 'Contemporar y Cosmology and Catholic Creation Theology' and cautioned that when "ignorance operates as knowledge, it is disastrous for any society."

"Science that is based on mere speculation has to be separated from that which is based on empirical evidence. A real understanding of Cosmology brings us closer to God and makes us understand his design for humanity and the world," said Dr Ferrao.

Pune-based scholar Dr Kuruvilla Pandikattu, SJ, brought the house alive with a lecture on questions about the 'End of the Universe and the Destiny of Humanity'.

"The God who creates us out of love, sustains and fulfils us in love," he explained.

Dr Craig Baron, Professor at St John's University, New York, underlined that God is deeper than Darwin.

"The laws and processes of nature are also important because they have both been es-

Old unidentified anchor netted off Calangute coast

An old anchor netted by a trawler from Khariwado-Vasco off the Calangute coast.

Photo by M Prabhav HERALD REPORTER VASCO, DEC 19

When the 20-member crew on the Khariwado-based trawler 'Simple Simon' found their nets heavy off the Calangute coast

on Wednesday afternoon, they had assumed it was a bumper catch of fish.

Instead, the catch turned out to be an old unidentified anchor.

The anchor, which weighs almost around 500 kilos, damaged the mast and the edge of the trawler, while the fishermen were pulling up the net.

According to some elderly fishermen from Khariwado, the 15-foot-long cast iron anchor was mainly used by big sail boats that were used by the Portuguese during their regime in the State.

"The anchor was netted off Calangute coast when my trawler was out at sea for fishing," trawler owner and President of All Goa Fishing Trawlers Association Simon Pereira told Herald.

"Such types of anchors are rarely used today. Senior fishermen from Khariwado have estimated that this anchor must be over a century old," said Pereira.

NGO seeks burial land for those who don’t believe in religion

HERALD CORRESPONDENT PORVORIM, DEC 19

Asha Family Responsibilities and Rights Association (AFRRA) has urged Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) to acquire a piece of land or plot for burial ground for the people, who do not follow or believe in religion.

Speaking to Herald, AFRRA Convenor Rui Da Gama stated that religion is a matter of faith and belief in God does not constitute religion.

“There are people in India who believe in God, but do not follow any particular religion as such. As per Section 51(h) of Goa Municipalities Act 1968, it is obligatory for every municipal council to have a separate burial ground for the people who do not believe in religion,” stated Da Gama. “It is for this reason, AFRRA in its letter urged MMC to provide a burial ground for such people as per the provisions of the Act,” said Da Gama.

“MMC has sought guidance from the Director of Municipal Council, Panjim, who advised

nThere are people in India who believe in God, but do not follow any particular religion as such. As per Section 51(h) of Goa Municipalities Act 1968, it is obligatory for every municipal council to have a separate burial ground for the people who do not believe in religion.

-- Rui Da Gama them that ‘as per Municipality Act acquiring and managing, changing and regulating places for the disposal of the dead is the obligatory duty of the council’. However, instead of taking steps to procure land for separate burial ground, MMC has informed AFRRA that municipality does not have a place for burial ground or the funds for the acquisition of land,” added Da Gama.

“MMC on the contrary has advised AFRRA to acquire the land for the purpose through government,” said Da Gama.

Da Gama further said MMC has also informed AFRRA that the burial ground at Dattawadi-

Mapusa can be used as burial ground for all categories of people. But MMC has installed a marble stone plate in the wall at the entrance of this burial ground as ‘Smashan Bhumi of Harijan Samaj’.

“In view this, AFRRA has conveyed to MMC that if the burial ground at Dattawadi can be used for the people of all categories, then MMC should remove the marble stone plate or re-inscribe it as ‘burial ground for all human beings’ or else the MMC should acquire separate land for the people who do not believe in religion,” said Da Gama.

tablished by the Creator," he said.

The third day of the conference on Sunday will begin with a talk on the 'Catholic Church and Science and Technology' by Fr Theodore Mascarenhas SFX. The Session will be moderated by Fr Simao Fernandes.

There will be a special feminine emphasis with three women speakers taking up the stand.

Dr May A Webber from the United States will present a special paper on the Catholic Church and embryonic stem cell research. The discussion will be moderated by Dr Silvano Sapeco.

Dr Sarita Nazareth from the Goa University will present a paper on 'The Developments in Genetic Engineering and Christian Response', which will be moderated by Dr Francis Colaco.

A paper 'Rising from the Ashes: the Ethical Dilemmas of Ocofertility' will be presented

by Dr Astrid Lobo Gajiwalla from Mumbai and Fr Donato Rodrigues will moderate the discussion.

Mahatma’s dream on people’s power being suppressed: Gokhani HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, DEC 19

The granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi Usha Gokhani on Sunday expressed her sadness that the dream of the Mahatma on power to the people through the Panchayat Raj institutions is being suppressed and called for uniting the people to oppose land acquisition and stop pollution of agricultural land.

She has also promised to take up the problems at the all India level.

She was interacting with a delegation of activists that called on her and highlighted the problems relating to the gram sabha and farmers. The activists drew her attention that gram sabha resolutions were being overruled by politicians and unwanted projects were forced on the people while grabbing land

of the poor. They also pointed out how farmers have lost their land due to destruction by mining and land acquisition.

“She expressed sadness that the dream of the mahatma

about power to the people through gram sabha (real democracy) was being suppressed and the poor farmers or land losers should be supported by people uniting to op-

Slogans mark golden jubilee celebrations in Margao

Konkani novel released HERALD CORRESPONDENT CURCHOREM, DEC 19

Konkani novel ‘Zuvarichin Paizana’ written by Konkani writer Ashok Kamat was recently released at a special function jointly organised by Konkani Kala Sahitya Kendra Curchorem and Kamat Publications at Curchorem.

Dr Budkule said the novel ‘Zuvarichin Paizana’ not only expresses internal emotions of a person, but draws the graph of the life of three generations.

Adv Uday Bhembre said Ashok Kamat is not only a Konkani drama writer, but also a successful Konkani novel writer. In his speech, Ashok Kamat said spontaneous response from readers to his earlier Konkani novel ‘Ghanaghai Niyatiche’ inspired him to write the second novel.

Earlier, the function started with a discussion session on Konkani language. Konkani writer Damodar Mauzo spoke on the progress of Konkani novels from 2001 to 2010.

Adv Bhembre pointed out that three are several issues in the society which can be the subjects of the novels.

Dinesh Manerkar compered the programme, while Archana Kamat proposed the vote of thanks.

Social activists protesting near the Margao Municipal garden on Sunday on the destruction of Goa over the last 50 years.

Photo by Savio Dias HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, DEC 19

“Panchayats in wonderland, bureaucrats in slumber-land and politicians in Switzerland (Swiss banks),” were amongst the host of slogans raised by social activists at the Margao Municipal garden on Sunday coinciding with the golden jubilee celebrations of Goa’s Liberation.

President of the Goenchea Xetkarancho Ekvott, Dilip Hegde said the protest meet was aimed at conveying the message that Golden Goa has been converted into a gutter Goa by the rulers over the years. “We want to show that once golden Goa has been converted into a gutter Goa. Illegal mining is rampant

in the state. The builders lobby is bulldozing its way and the Panchayat institutions are starved of powers,” he said.

The activists pointed out that Goa has been drastically destroyed over the last 50 years since its liberation from the Portuguese regime.

“Mining has destroyed the Western Ghats and water which is essential for the people for drinking, farming an d o t h e r activities of our life,” remarked activist Sidharth Karapurkar.

“Fifty-years ago, we had pig toilets, which they called dirty.

But, today, the septic tanks are overflowing and the cities and villages are flooded with raw

Adv Ramakant Khalap has said that Goa has failed in the implementation of land reforms and suggested that Portuguese laws applicable to Goa should be re-enacted. He also said that there should be a cut off date for land reforms.

Chairman Law Commission of Goa, Khalap, was speaking at a symposium on ‘Goa a Vision far Prosperity’ on preserving resources from legal point. He also highlighted the need to bring reforms in Panchayat Raj and Municipal elections.

The symposium was organised by Gomantak and Gomantak Times and Department of Information and Publicity in Panjim on Saturday.

Chief Secretary Sanjay K Srivastava said that progress of the state should not be viewed from limited angle of material development but it should be viewed from other angles like happiness and well being of people. Alluding to State’s high literacy of 82 percent he underscored ample scope in IT related areas and stressed the need to have IT and software units in the State.

Speaking further Chief Secretar y said, Goa’s mining,

tourism sector are doing well.

However, with the changing requirements Goa should be developed as a knowledge centre.

Vice President Smart Link Network Nitin Cuncolienkar said that India is second fastest growing developing country in the world. He complimented the CM for the Regional Plan which he said is one of the best and no other state has prepared such a plan. He stressed the need for formation of Goa maritime Board and nationalization of inland water ways. President, TTAG, Gaurish Dhond, Stressed the need to develop backwater and heritage tourism.

Director, Manipal Academy of Health and Education Pandurang Nadkarni said that Goa has high literacy rate but quality of education needs to be enhanced.

He suggested that new courses should be introduces and more Arts and Commerce Colleges should be discouraged.

Earlier Director of Information and Publicity Menino Peres, lauded the initiative by Sakal and Gomantak Publications for organising symposium on this vital subject. Executive Editor, Suresh Naik, gave introduction on the seminar . Keshav Nadkarni compered the function. Asst News Editor Gomantak Times, Ashley Rosario, proposed the vote of Thanks.

The old fish market at Mapusa has been demolished.

Photo by Anil Shankhwalker HERALD CORRESPONDENT PORVORIM, DEC 19

The old fish market at Mapusa has been demolished completely and the fish vendors are operating from the temporary shed, which has been built alongside the market.

However, there is no sign about laying the foundation stone for the new fish market, which will be built by Goa State Development Agency.

When contacted, Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) Chairperson Sudhir Kandolkar informed that no date has been fixed yet to lay the foundation stone of the new fish market.

“Since the Christmas festival is around the corner, the foundation stone may be laid only in January 2011,” said Kandolkar.

It may be recalled that initially, MMC had decided to lay the foundation stone of the new fish market at the hands of Minister for Urban Development Joaquim Alemao on September 13.

Accordingly, the name plate

BSNL launches mobile schemes HERALD NEWS BUREAU PANJIM, DEC 19

BSNL has launched Goa-centered special mobile schemes to commemorate the Goa Liberation's Golden Jubilee year.

Beginning with Sunday (December 19), three pre-paid mobile schemes will be launched under Goa Student Plan 99, Goa Mahavidhayala Plan 99 and Goa Fishermen & Tour Operators Plan 75.

Besides, Goa BSNL has also launched a promotional scheme allowing "15 days unlimited free download at 2 Mbps" and waiver of installation charges to the new broad customers who register between December 19, and

March 18, 2011, another exclusive scheme for Goans on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee Celebration of Goa Liberation Day. The eligibility for the Goa student plan 99 is XI and XII Std, and a minimum of Rs 99 worth monthly recharge. Under this scheme, 100 minutes free talk time to BNSL to BSNL and BSNL to others will be provided, besides 500 SMS and other calls will be charged at 49 paise.

The Goa Mahavidhyalaya Plan 99 has a Close User Group (CUG) facility, where college students studying beyond first year and college staff of any particular

sewage,” he added.

The activists pointed out that agriculture is doomed as the fields are acquired for unwanted projects like National highway, Mopa airport.

Saying that the excessive capitalistic lobby is forcing projects in Goa, the activists said these projects would profit only five per cent of the population, giving rise to unequal wealth distribution and poverty.

They also raised concerns about security of the citizens.

“Five years back, people had kept our doors and windows open. Sadly, today we have our doors and grills strong enough to keep away the unwanted”, they said.

Foundation stone for Mapusa fish market yet a reality!

Land reforms in Goa has failed, says Khalap HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, DEC 19

pose land acquisition and also unite to stop pollution of agricultural land. She said that this problem will be taken at all India level”, informed social activist Sidharth Karapurkar.

college can speak within the group without any call charges.

A minimum number of 25 customers is the requirement from a particular college to enabling it to be a CUG, and other calls charges are 49 paise/min. With 99 monthly recharge voucher, Rs 49 worth of talktime is offered. In the Fishermen and Tour Operators plan 75, a monthly recharge voucher of Rs 75 carries Rs 50 worth of talk time with calls at 50 paise and 60 paise for intra-circle and inter-circle respectively. The plans are offered only through BSNL departmental outlets (CSCs) and other details can be obtained through the same sources, according to BSNL sources.

incorporating the names of Mapusa MLA and the councilors to be installed at the site of foun-

dation stone was made spending about Rs 17,000. Invitation cards spending about Rs 10,000 were also printed.

But since Minister Alemao had gone out of Goa, the function of laying foundation stone could not be held. Thereafter, due to code of conduct imposed in view of Valpoi byelection and municipal elections, it was not possible to lay the foundation stone. Now after municipal elections, the new council has taken the charge of MMC and it has already handed over the fish market to Goa State Development Agency.

The GSUDA has tendered the construction work of the new market to N B Kinlekar Construction Company, but the fate of laying the foundation stone of the new fish market costing Rs 7.77 crore still hangs in the balance.

OHERALDO

OPINION

Pg6

www.oheraldo.in

O HERALD O

The gift of love

Vol No CX No: 317 Goa, Monday, 20 December, 2010

T

Reality bites the NCP

he Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) High Command is obviously a good deal smarter than its so-called Goa Coordinator Praful Hede. After the latter dramatically directed that both its ministers submit their resignations from the cabinet to the party – which both Revenue Minister Jose Philip D’Souza and Tourism Minister Nilkanth Halarnkar flatly refused to do – it seems the party high command has understood that taking on a two-thirds majority in its legislature party is just too much for it to contend with. It has now taken corrective action, by cleverly scaling down its demand. Now, the high command has sent a letter formally asking Chief Minister Digambar Kamat to drop one of the party’s two ministers from the cabinet to make way for Benaulim MLA Francisco alias Mickky Pacheco.

NCP Goa observer Prakash Bhinsale, who rushed from Mumbai after the crisis hit the party, and party state unit President Surendra Sirsat, together met Chief Minister Digambar Kamat and submitted the letter from the NCP high command And though Mr Sirsat refused to confirm the name of the minister to be dropped, the party’s everso-reliable sources have confirmed that the one facing the axe is Jose Philip D’Souza. This is old-school manipulative politics; divide to rule. By making it clear that both are not going to be dropped, the party hopes to reduce the ranks of the rebels, from two to one, and thereby put itself in a comfortable majority.

But the chief minister is no political newbie. He has bought time, on the usual plea of having to consult his own high command. He is somewhat constrained in this aspect, taking into account the fact that his cabinet does not support the re-induction of Mr Pacheco. In any case, even if the Congress High Command decides to give in to its coalition partner, it is not going to happen overnight.

Mickky’s supporters may therefore have to spend a few more evenings waiting outside the gates of the Cabo Raj Bhawan for his swearing-in.

In the meanwhile, the extreme option – of calling a party ‘convention’ and announcing a split in the NCP – still remains open to Mr D’Souza and Mr Halarnkar. But for this, the two – who are facing a party inquiry after their a confidential meeting at Goa Pradesh Congress Committee General Secretary Vijay Sardesai’s residence on Wednesday evening in Margao – will have to stick together. That they were huddled together in a meeting after Mr Sirsat and Mr Bhinsale submitted the letter to the chief minister shows that they have not completely abandoned that option yet. But whether they will still act unitedly, now that the Sword of Damocles has lifted from one of their heads, remains to be seen.

Revenue Minister Jose Philip D’Souza maintains that he has not received any notice in this matter, and therefore he will not quit. He has done nothing wrong, he says, and alleges that the whole drama is just a conspiracy to finish the party in Goa. In this regard, he has pointedly stated that it is “people within us” who are responsible for this conspiracy, pointing the finger firmly at his collegues in the party. He has also, for the record, stated categorically, that he has “full faith in the NCP high command” and that he is confident that it will not do injustice to anyone. He has also rubbished reports about his planning to join the Congress.

Politicians generally play their cards close to their chests, but this is a peculiar case. Just a few months ago, following the tragic suicide of his ‘companion’ Nadia Torrado and an Enforcement Directorate-led money laundering investigation haunting him, Mr Pacheco was a complete political untouchable for the NCP. Now he is being considered indispensible. What has brought about this sudden sea change?

That is the real mystery that needs to be inquired into.

Goans are fed up Averthanus L D’Souza, Dona Paula The government of Goa continues to pull the wool over the eyes of the Goan citizens.

The latest official notification issued by the chief town planner dated 24 Nov, 2010 is not at all surprising. The government explicitly excluded itself from the purview of the Regional plan 2021.

By doing this, it once again asserts that it is above the law, and is not bound by the rules, which is of its own making. This makes the entire process of democratic planning, meaningless. It is clear to the citizens that whatever they may contribute to the planning process; the government will only proceed, according to the wishes of vested interests which have a control over the formulation of policies.

The deliberate obfuscation of the Regional plan is clearly evident in the fact that the government has created areas which are outside the ambit of the Regional plan. Nowhere in the draft report of the task force, is there any indication that there should be such areas which fall outside the scope of the RP. Since the government appointed the SLC, according to its logic, yet another State Level Committee should

Smile with Smitha

C

The cross is a shining example of God’s love, that we must emulate, says iBonio d’souZa

ertainly, there is no word in the English language more familiar than the word “love”. And yet, in spite of our familiarity with the word, it is one of the most misunderstood words. In a sense, it is an ambiguous term. We often confuse when we grapple with the meaning of love and when we attempt to define it. Perhaps, a great deal of the confusion results from the fact that many people feel that love can be defined in one category, in one pattern, and in one type.

But in order to understand love, its meaning, its many sides, and its qualities, we must understand that there are stages of love.

Utilitarian love: The first stage in the development of love is what may be referred to as utilitarian love. This is love at the lowest level.

Here one loves another for his usefulness to him.

The individual loves that person that he can use.

A great deal of friendship is based on this. It is a meaningless pseudo-friendship, based on the idea of using the object of love. There are some people who never get beyond the stage of utilitarian love. They see other people as mere steps by which they climb to achieve their personal ends and ambitions, and the minute they discover that they can’t use those persons they disassociate themselves, and lose the affection that they once had for them. What is wrong with this kind of love is, it is based on true selfishness, for in reality, the person who engages in utilitarian love is merely loving himself through somebody else.

Secondly, it ends up in depersonalising persons.

Using a person as a means, results in depersonalisation and the person becomes an object. This is utilitarian love. The other error is that it depicts conditional love, whereas love is always unconditional.

Romantic Love: Now there is another type of love which is real love - a genuine, meaningful, profound love. It is a kind of yearning of the soul for the realm of the divine. We see it as romantic love, and there is something beautiful about it.

Romantic love rises above utilitarian love that has a degree of altruism, for a person who is really in love in a romantic love, will die for the object of his love. He/she will do anything to satisfy the object of that love. We have read all about it in the great works of poet Shakespeare, Edgar Allan Poe, and in all of the beauties of literature, throughout history.

Yet, this form of love is not the highest love.

It is basically selfish. You love your lover because

Hues of a kind there is something about that person that attracts you. It may be the way she or he looks, talks; her glowing femininity, intellectual qualities or other physical qualities. This is that romantic love. It’s a selfish love.

Mother’s Love: There another type of love, and that is a mother’s love. When we experience it in life, it gives us something that we never forget, for there is nothing more beautiful than the loving care, the tender concern, and the tireless patience of a real mother. This is a great love, and life would be ugly without it. Mother’s love brings sunshine into dark places. There is something about it that never quite gives up.

The child may wonder to some strange and dark far country, but there’s always that mother who’s there waiting. No matter what the mistake is, no matter how low the child sinks, if it’s a real mother, she still loves him. How beautiful it is,

Ring in the new

Wise Counsel

E

ach year as we enter the month of December, we often wonder how quickly the year has passed and what we did or did not accomplish. While reflecting on the past year, we need to take time to remember and to give thanks for the great things as well as the not so great things that happened to us. And to build on all of the positive things that we accomplished this past year and carry that positive momentum into the New Year.

As the curtains come down on 2010 in the days to come, it has dawned on me that I should let my friends know how grateful I am, to have them in my life, and how much they all mean to me.

To begin with, I thank them for being there for me through some of the most difficult times in my life. We all have ups and downs in our lives and when we have friends who go out of their way to make us feel better and comfortable, we should thank God for all the blessings he brings into our lives. I personally have so many genuine friends for showing tolerance towards me and supporting me when I was overwhelmed in life. My friends are with me always,

be constituted to review the recommendations made by this SLC. Goans are truly fed-up with the antics of the dishonest and insincere government.

Hawking on beaches

and how much has not been glowingly written about it?

Friendship, phileo (Greek: brotherly) love: This level of love is a sort of intimate affection between personal friends. This is friendship. In a sense, it moves a little higher, not because the love itself is deeper, not because the person who is participating in the love is any more genuine of concern, but because its scope is broader. Friendship becomes one of the most beautiful things in the all the world. In friendship, which is not based on sex, which is not based on physical attraction, one has risen to another level of love where they stand side by side and become united, because of a common interest in something beyond themselves. In friendship the individuals sit side by side absorbed in some great concern and some great cause and some great issue beyond themselves, something they like to do together.

not just when it is convenient for them, and helped me come out of many a crisis, or problem, without hassles.

Today, I look back on it all and I think how active God has been in my life. I sincerely want to thank him and realise that all this could have been much worse, had it not been for my friends. God picked me up nevertheless, and I have moved on, thanks to the support of my friends and loved ones. It’s amazing how God works, isn’t it? He has brought some wonderful people into my life. They are true blessings; sent by God himself to me. They seem to appear just at the right time and say the right things and help in the right ways. And for that, I am grateful beyond words!

I wonder what I would do without my friends. But it is said that God plants his little angels showing us how much he cares and loves us.

At the end of it all, as we approach the end of the year I have been thinking of all that we have experienced through the year that is coming to an end. Whether good or bad, an experience can only be positive and strengthening. For everything that goes

Letter of the Day

The credibility gap

S Kamat, Alto Betim

Our tourism minister’s plans to issue licenses to hawkers, is a step in the wrong direction. Most of Goa’s hawkers are all non-Goans, Those present on the beach, block our pathways, obstruct free movement, and carry out business without paying tax.

If hawking becomes legal, our beaches will be out of control. Goans must vehemently oppose the cheap attitude of our tourism minister. Tourism must benefit locals, whereas in Goa, it is the outsiders who reap benefits. Our Goan ministers are totally corrupt and are ready to sell Goa to the highest bidder.

Dr R K Pachauri spoke in Goa this week. But the organisations that he represents like the TERI and the UN body on Climate Change, that won the Nobel Prize, have been under a cloud, after it was found that they were fudging data on climate change parameters to suit their objectives. Thus, there surely was a credibility gap between what Dr Pachauri said and what the audience believed.

This was also witnessed when Barkha Dutt and Veer Sanghvi were seen kowtowing to the likes of corporate and public relations agents like Radia purportedly ‘leading one along’ (one did not know who was leading whom) and the other ‘massaging a source’ with hints of fixing ministries, corporate matters and cabinet posts.

Whenever these journalists appear in media or you read them in print, wouldn’t you carry a larger pinch of salt? This is the kind of malaise that has been affecting public life today and there needs to be a change to be initiated, that originates from those who are holding public and/or high office. It is the compliance with objectives set out in their charter and maintenance of consistency, with broad societal objectives.

Michael Vaz, Merces The bus fare to Pune by Volvo bus is normally around Rs 500 to Rs 600. Yesterday I had gone to book the ticket to Pune for

Smitha Bhandare Kamat

2 Jan. The fare has now been hiked to Rs 2000; a four-fold rise. A lot of tourists flock to Goa to enjoy the New Year and the common man is made to suffer.

Why is there no government control on bus fares? Does this not amount to looting the public? We do not see such a mess in the state owned transport systems. Why should it then be supported in the private sector?

A lot of Goan youngsters are employed or study professional courses in places like Pune, Mumbai and Bangalore, and travel to these destinations, on a regular basis.

Why is the government so insensitive to their demands? The authorities should step in and put an end to this rot.

Of liberation and identity Arwin Mesquita, UAE I request Goans to do a little research and find out the facts of what actually happened in 1961. Was Goa liberated, invaded or conquered? Why were promises made to preserve Goa’s identity? Why are these promises not honoured till date? Were we not fooled and brainwashed into believing that we were liberated, and like ‘ignorants’, we celebrated ‘Goa’s Liberation Day’? Why are our freedom fighters not demanding safeguards today via special status and

By arlette azavedo wrong, there are things that go right, but we don’t seem to linger on those. We tend to remember the bad, and shrug off the good.

We all can get better and better. Life has its fair share of both sides - joy, pain, love, anger, suffering, compassion, and even redemption. It wouldn’t be worth living otherwise. There are people that leave you, and you breathe a sigh of relief, and you wonder why you ever came in contact with them.

So, here’s to the good things that happened this year, to my family, friends, and to the spirit of good people everywhere.

Let the New Year which unfolds be filled with the things that are truly good—with the comfort of warmth in our relationships, with the strength to help those who need our help and the humility and openness to accept help from others. Let us go forward with great hope that all things can be possible, with the guidance of Jesus Christ, our saviour.

Wishing each and everyone a Happy 2011 and may the New Year bring us all good health, a better world and the joy of being together and for each other, the whole world over.

Letters to the Editor

James Moraes, Cuncolim

Bus fare at Rs 2,000!!

Humanitarian Love: Yet again, there is a higher love that is humanitarian. It’s higher because it gets a little broad and more inclusive. The individual rises to the point that he loves humanity.

He rises to the point of saying that within in every man there is a divine spark, something sacred, so that all humanity must be loved. Yet, this love can’t be the highest point, because it being impersonal, and has a danger point. The great Russian novelist, Dostoyevsky, said in one of his novels, “I love humanity in general so much that I don’t love anybody in particular.” It’s so easy to love an abstraction called humanity, and not love individual human beings. How many rich people give huge donations to the poor on humanitarian grounds and yet deny their own employees basic wages and rights? There is always this danger in humanitarian love – that it will not quite get there.

Agape, the Love of God: And now, a love that is highest and purest than all of the levels we have examined. It’s agape love (derived from the Greek word “agape”). This word represents divine, unconditional, self-sacrificing, active, volitional and thoughtful love. Why is agape love the highest? The Bible says: “God is Love”. Love is one of the primary characteristics of God. Likewise, God has endowed us with the capacity for love. This capacity for love is one the ways in which we are “created in the image of God”. When we rise to agape, to Christian love, it is higher than all other levels of love. It becomes the love of God operating in the human heart. The greatness of this love is that you love every man, not for your sake, but for his sake. And you love every man because God loves him. And so it becomes all inclusive. The person may be ugly or beautiful or tall or short, rich or poor. The only test for us to know whether we have real genuine love is that we love our enemy, for if we fail to love our enemy there is no way for us to fit into the category of Christian love. You test it by your ability to love your enemy.

Jesus Christ was a great motivator of love. He was great. He made love the centre of his life.

What does the cross signify? It is a significance of God’s shining love in our presence. It radiates through the cross on which the Prince of Glory died. This is our legacy and we must continue with love in our hearts and eventually change the lives of those who surround us. In this manner, we can help convert this world from old to new.

God’s kingdom will thus be a reality.

other means, to preserve Goa’s identity?

We must immediately demand what is rightfully ours i.e. measures to protect our land, environment, demographics, language, culture and identity.

Incorrect remarks Priyank K S, Bangalore Goa’s PWD minister recently commented that Karwar and Joida must be made part of the state of Goa. Such remarks will only spoil the harmony between Konkani and Kannada speakers.

Konkani speakers are spread across the state of Karnataka, and are peace loving people.

Their contribution to Kannada literature has been immense. Any attempts to disrupt such harmony and peaceful co-existence must be strictly discouraged.

Government of Karnataka must come out with a strong response to the minister’s comment.

Whither golden glow?

Ayres Sequeira, Salvador do Mundo Goa has celebrated 50 years of liberation.

Not many are happy about it. Goa has not progressed in the right direction. We cry hoarse of corruption, bribery, land grab-

bing, and malfunctioning of our government. It is unfortunate that Goa was labelled as the rape capital of India. This has tarnished our hospitality. Goa has now become a hideout for criminals, cheats, and anti social elements.

The so called freedom fighters only muse over their prestige and are silent on major isues. Instead of fighting for a better Goa, they pursue self interests. In the present circumstances that we find ourselves today, I wonder where is the golden glow of liberation?

Stray animals Carmo Costa-Viegas, Assolna A pressing problem Goa faces, is that of stray animals. Stray animals are those without owners. The government is responsible for all animals because they can spread communicable diseases and are a public nuisance.

Animal owners should register the animals with the panchayats so that the unregistered ones can be impounded by government authorities.

Animal officers and our wildlife activists are excellent examples and should be nominated to monitor proper enforcement of the registration. This will reduce road accidents and prevent squatting or roaming around by the bovines. The spread of communicable diseases could also be contained, as a result.

At crossroads Allwyn George, Carmona Goan parents who await to secure admission of their children to primary schools ,are again at crossroads, with a option of choosing either Konkani or English medium.

Parents aspiring for a better future for their children, will opt for English schools, but what of those who cannot go to English schools, because of the high cost of fees, etc?

The right to education is guaranteed under our Constitution. We do not need free computers but free English medium education is a must, and should be made available to all. This outstanding issue has long been neglected by NGOs and PTAs. The ministers in power, responsible for

forcing the parents to go through this trauma, are not bothered, as they are busy trying to secure party tickets for their loved ones,

Carols and confessions Stephen Dias, Dona Paula I appreciate what Adelmo Fernandes has stated in his middle (Herald, 18 Dec) entitled “Christmas Musings.”

However, Adelmo has missed out in giving information of confessions and Holy Communion during Christmas and Sundays.

He has not mentioned of carol singing and which was sung with enthusiasm and in numbers. That glamour is totally lost. Carol singing is confined to visiting a few homes just for the sake of collecting money. The attendance at confessionals has reduced. Communionis received without going to the confessional.

Photo identity Nelson Lopes, Chinchinim The government directive in Goa makes it compulsory for seeking photo identity by hotels, lodges and rented premises. The purpose of this directive should serve as a deterrent to criminals, terrorists, and other anti social elements.

Goa is fast becoming a safe haven for all shady characters both Indian and international, because they can disperse easily into our cosmopolitan surroundings.

Nevertheless, care should be taken to scrutinise fake identities that are easily manipulated to beat the system. The sense of concern for security, must override all narrow considerations.

Reality of liberation Reo Cunha, Moira Goa celebrated 50 years of independence yesterday. Looking back, it looks like Goans are slaves of many a malaise.

There is corruption, murder, rapes, robbery, land scam. We have evils like drugs and prostitution. Our freedom fighters, some of whom are bogus, but their kin benefited. Goa has become a home to non Goans and real Goans have migrated. This is the reality of Goa’s liberation.

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Pg7

OHERALDO

INDIA

Sonia, Rahul rap ministers for ignoring partymen PTI NEW DELHI, DEC 19

Both Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi today pulled up Central Ministers for "not paying heed" to Congress workers from states where the party was not in power and "demoralising" them.

"Many party workers in nonCongress states have complained to me that our ministers at the Centre do not fully appreciate their concerns. They make a valid point," the 64-yearold Congress President said addressing the party plenary being attended by several Union Ministers and chief Ministers among others.

"Such neglect is demoralising for our workers who function in a hostile environment," she said.

In a similar vein, Rahul said wherever he went, he received complaints that Ministers and Chief Ministers did not give time to party workers.

Wondering as to how the party could connect with the common man if the leaders failed to connect even with partymen, he asked the Ministers and Chief Ministers to spare some time for ordinary workers.

The remarks of the Congress President as also Rahul were lustily cheered by the delegates

Congress President Sonia Gandhi receives a huge garland at the 83rd Plenary Session of the Congress party in New Delhi on Sunday.

who clapped repeatedly.

To rejuvenate the party, it was the primary responsibility of those in office to be sensitive to the voices coming from the party organisation and ranks, she said.

"Party workers must be seriously heard and listened to. We must not forget that it is the ordinary worker who is our ear on the ground, our hand on the pulse of the common man," Gandhi said.

On corruption, Rahul said severe punishment should be given to the corrupt.

"Whatever the Congress President has said on the issue, has given us inspiration to fight corruption. We require accountability...severe punishment should be given to the corrupt," he said at the Congress Plenary while participating in the debate on the political resolution.

Digvijay likens RSS to Nazis UNI NEW DELHI, DEC 19

A man dressed as Santa Claus rides a horse cart as he takes part in an event during pre­Christmas celebrations in Bhopal.

India commands respect for democracy: Advani PTI CHENNAI, DEC 19

Senior BJP leader L K Advani today said India commands respect in the world community because of its vibrant democracy which was brought to almost the "brink of extinction" during emergency.

"If one reason India commands such respect, it's because of democracy. But many people don't know that the ruling party (Congress) once brought it to the brink of extinction and total annihilation, not by error but by purpose," he said at the release of a book written by veteran parliamentarian Era Sezhiyan.

Democracy was the "intangible achievement," of India he said but took on the Congress, which under then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had declared emergency in June 1975.

Advani said though India and China have emerged as major economies, it was the former's democracy which earned it more respect.

"Till about 25 years back, India was not viewed with much respect. Today the situation has changed and India and China are emerging powers. Both are respected for their economic conditions but on democracy, India is respected, not China," he said.

Delhi women tryst with boozing UNI NEW DELHI, DEC 19

The fair sex of Delhi is not far behind men when it comes to raising a toast, a recent survey says.

Forty per cent women in the age group of 34-44 admitted of having whisky every week in the survey conducted by Community against drunken driving (CADD).

The survey also highlighted that alcohol consumption in the national capital is cutting across the economic and gender barriers.

As many as 1,000 people were questioned by CADD in pubs across the city.

According to the survey, the initiation average age of drinking has come down to almost 13-and-half as 37.3 per cent women and 43.2 men between the age group of 15-24 said yes to having their first drink before

turning 15.

Interestingly, the study surfaced the extravagant nature of the people when it comes to spending for drinks as over 64.9 per cent men and 65.5 per cent women in the age group of 1524 spending above Rs 1,000 a week on alcohol.

Also, 67 per cent of youth in the age group of 15-19 said alcohol was a part of their every celebration from birthday parties to night outs.

Lashing out at the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh, Congress leader Digvijay Singh today likened the Hindu outfit to the Nazis in Germany. ''The RSS in the garb of its nationalist ideology is targetting Muslims the same way Nazis targetted Jews in the 1930s,'' Singh said, in his address at the 83rd Congress plenary at Burari here.

Addressing the Plenary session, Mr Singh, who is at the centre of a controversy for his statement on slain Maharashtra p o l i c e AT S c h i e f H e m a n t Karkare receiving threats to his life from Hindu terrorists, raised a question as to ''why all people involved in various bombings like Malegaon, Mecca Masjid, Samjhauta Express had links with the Hindu group''.

Singh said earlier, the BJP used to state that not all Muslims were terrorists but wondered why was it that all people involved in various blasts were Muslims. ''Now was the time to ask the question that why all people involved in various bombings like Malegaon, Mecca Masjid, Samjhauta Express had links with the Hindu group,'' he said.

He said the Congress had demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into RSS activist Sunil Joshi’s murder who

''is the same person involved in many terror acts''. ''I know (Joshi) because I am from MP. His name has come up during the investigations of the Samjhauta Express blast, Malegaon blast, Mecca Masjid blast, Ajmer Sharif blast, Why is it that all the accused in these terror acts have links with the RSS,'' he said.

Geelani under house arrest, Omar freed UNI SRINAGAR, DEC 19

Chairman of the moderate Hurriyat Conference (HC) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and five of his supporters were released today while senior separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani remained under house arrest in Srinagar.

Five out of 30 supporters of Mirwaiz, who were arrested from historic Mirwaiz Manzil on Thursday night, were released.

A spokesman of the moderate HC Shahidul Islam said Mirwaiz, who was put under house arrest on Thursday night, was released early this morning.

Security forces deployed outside his Nigeen house were withdrawn, he said.

He said more than 30 Hurriyat supporters were arrested from Mirwaiz Manzil alongwith Mirwaiz on Thursday night.

GOA, MONDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2010

Yechury calls Left forces to revitalise party PTI HYDERABAD, DEC 19

Communist Party of India (Marxist) politburo member Sitaram Yechury has called upon the Left forces to defeat the attacks by "reactionary forces" and revitalise the Left in the country.

"The reactionary forces comprising Congress, Trinamool Congress, corporate media, Maoists, non-government organisations and the right wing have launched a concerted attack to politically isolate, marginalise and weaken the Left.

"We have to not only withstand those attacks but also defeat them as there is no other force that can fight the economic policies that are over-burdening the people in many ways," Sitaram Yechury said while addressing the extended meeting of the CPM Andhra Pradesh committee here today.

Defeating the attempts of the reactionary forces was the big challenge facing the Left in general and the CPM in particular, he said.

Yechury said Rs 1.20 lakh crore was being collected by the Centre as tax on petroleum products.

"The abnormal rise in prices of petroleum products is because of the high taxes. This has in turn resulted in escalation of prices of essential commodities by 20 per cent on an average in the last one year, making life miserable for the common man," he added.

HERALD

careers & education-colour_Layout 1 12/19/2010 8:28 PM Page 1

Pg 10

The Heart of Christmas

There Is Joy In Forgiving And Giving

OHERALDO

CAREERS & EDUCATION

GOA, Monday, 20 December 2010

By Devika Martins St.Xavier’s College, Mapusa

C

hristmas isn’t Christmas, till it happens in your heart. Somewhere, deep inside you, is where Christmas really starts….

Christmas is just around the corner and everyone waits for this exciting festive season. Children love it the most since it’s a time of great joy, happiness and being merry. But what is Christmas all about? What does Christmas really mean? Here’s a short story that teaches us the true meaning of Christmas.

‘A man walked into a gift store to do his Christmas shopping. Shopping carts and last minute shoppers jammed the aisles. Hurriedly, he filled his shopping cart with items and proceeded to the long checkout lines. He picked the shortest but it looked as if it would mean at least a 20 minute wait.

In front of him were two small children- a boy of about 5 years old and a younger girl. The boy wore a ragged coat. Enormously large, tattered tennis shoes jutted far out in front of his much too short jeans. He clutched several dollar bills in his grimy hands. The

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girl’s clothing resembled her brother’s. Her head was a matted mass of curly hair. Reminders of an evening meal showed on her small face. She carried a beautiful pair of shiny, silver house slippers.

As the Christmas music sounded in the store’s stereo system, the girl hummed along, off-key but happily.

When they finally approached the checkout register, the girl carefully placed the shoes on the counter. She treated them as though

they were a treasure.

The clerk rang up the bill. “That would be $6.00,” she said. The boy laid his crumpled dollars atop the stand while he searched his pockets.

He finally came up with $3.00. “I guess we will have to put them back,” he bravely said. “We will come back some other time, maybe tomorrow.” With that statement, a soft sob broke from the little girl.

“But Jesus would have loved these shoes,” she cried. “Well, we’ll go home and work some more. Don’t

cry. We’ll come back,” he said.

Quickly the man handed $3.00 to the cashier. These children had waited in line for a long time. And, after all, it was Christmas. Suddenly a pair of arms came around the man and a small voice said, “Thank you Mister”.

“What did you mean when you said that Jesus would like the shoes?” the man asked.

The boy answered, “Our mother is sick and going to heaven. Father said she might go before Christmas to be with Jesus”. The girl spoke, “My Sunday school teacher said the streets in heaven are shiny gold, just like these shoes”. “Won’t mother be beautiful, walking on those streets to match these shoes?”

The man’s eyes flooded as he looked into her tear streaked face.

“Yes”, he answered, “I am sure she will”.

Silently he thanked God for using those children to remind him of the true spirit of giving.

This is exactly what Christmas is about- ‘giving’. ‘Tis the season’!! We have to give to those in need, the less fortunate ones in this world. If we do this, we show them by our actions, that they are loved. That someone in this universe cares about them. Remember that it’s better to give than receive.

Workplace Etiquette Revisited: Technology Edition

long with office politics and water cooler gossip, workplace etiquette has been around since the invention of jobs. These guidelines might be unspoken or, thanks to the diligent Type A person in the office, they might be typed up, laminated and taped to the break room fridge. As technology becomes even more engrained in all fields of work, we thought it was time to revise some workplace rules and add new ones to prevent you from making an on-the-job faux pas.

1. Putting your cell phone on vibrate only works if it’s in your pocket.

Thank you for not wanting to disturb the office with your “Theme From Love Story” ringtone, but setting the phone to vibrate and then leaving it on your desk isn’t helpful either.

Everybody can hear the buzz as the phone dances across the desk. Set it to silent or put it in your pocket.

2. Don’t use your BlackBerry or iPhone in the restroom. Talking on your phone in a bathroom is a common sense no-no.

The person on the other end of the phone doesn’t want to hear toilet flushes and the echo of your voice bouncing around the tiled room. Trying to be sly by responding to text messages or e-mails on your smart phone is no better. The tapping of the keystrokes can easily be heard, and now everybody in the restroom is grossed out. Who wants to shake hands with the person whose phone is covered in bathroom germs?

3. Don’t blog about your coworkers. Everybody’s got a blog these days and, no matter the topic, there’s sure to be an audience for it. Even if it’s locked so only a few people can view it, you can’t stop readers from copying and pasting your entries elsewhere. A rant about a coworker who smells like a gym sock and has greasy hair can find its way to the wrong person. Keep your workplace com-

plaints to the journal you keep tucked away under your mattress.

4. Take your headphones out during a conversation. Portable MP3 players have made the workday a little better. Even the most stressful day can be improved by clicking over to some classic Hall and Oates. You know to keep the volume low so that everyone in a 10 foot radius doesn’t also hear the sweet, moustachioed grooves, but don’t forget to take the headphones out of your ears when someone’s talking to you. The other person can’t tell whether or not you’ve hit the pause button and may think you’re not giving your complete attention.

Note: If you’re approaching someone who has their headphones in, knock on their desk or do something to let them know you’re there. Standing quietly behind them, waiting until they sense your presence is just plain creepy.

5. Use wireless earpieces with care. Thanks to wireless earpieces (that are so tiny passersby) don’t even notice them, we can talk on the phone without having to sit at a desk or even hold the phone. So while you’re walking around, talking into your microscopic gadget, people are trying to figure out how to answer a seemingly random question from you — until they realize you’re not

talking to them at all. If you stay out of walkways or at least lower your voice a little, you can save a lot of awkward exchanges where you’re talking into your earpiece and mouthing to a coworker, “I’m on the phone.”

6. Let colleagues know if you’ll be working from home If you’re lucky enough to have the option to work from home, tell your co-workers or anyone else you interact with daily that you’ll be out the next day. If it’s a last-minute decision, send an e-mail or make a quick call.

When you don’t show up, people are left wondering whether or not you’re coming in, if they can call you or if they’ll be disturbing you on your day off. A little courtesy can make everyone’s life easier.

7. Ask before you upload pictures of co-workers to social networking sites By now everybody knows social networking profiles can get you into plenty of trouble. Don’t forget that your profile can get other people in trouble, too.

You might not have made friends with your boss online, but if you upload pictures of you and a colleague enjoying a day on the beach with the caption, “Playing hooky!” you don’t know if the boss or the boss’s assistant can see those images. Check with the people in your pictures to avoid any drama.

8. Don’t rely on technology to communicate all your needs E-mails, voice mails and even text messages save a lot of time, often eliminating the need for a meeting or a conference call.

However, they can’t always replace actual conversations, either in person or over the phone. If you shoot someone an e-mail and assume they got it although you never heard back, pick up the phone or walk over to their office to make sure you’re on the same page. E-mails and voice mails can get lost or accidentally deleted, leaving you with expectations that will never be met.

By Caetano de Abreu

I

t is that time of the year when joy abounds in cascading plenitude. However, in retrospect I pitch to quote John Lennon’s - “So this is Christmas and what have you done, another year is over and new one had begun.” It is not salient to perform for the self. But the real joy is in giving and not coveting, a fact that seems to be the periodic dilemma that people face in this selfish world of ours where receiving, rather than giving, has affected our lives like an endemic.

Christmas is the day when Jesus Christ was born with all the attributes befitting that august child in a forlorn manger who saw agony in his flock and no contentment to erase the worrying wrinkles covering their weather-beaten faces. Christ the Child was born to a poor but angelic maiden; the Child who made God’s love visible and meaningful to mankind; the Child who punished the Pharisees and Temple Priests for not adhering to the laws of humanity; the Child sent by the Almighty as the Redeemer to preach the message of love, hope, and peace; the Child who spread the goodwill amongst men; the Child who was later crucified for expressing the truth; the Child who forgave the cruelty of his tormentors; the Child who gave us His Com-

se lea e R ss + Pre Plus

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mandment: “Love one another as I love thee”.

There are many essentials which Jesus Christ gave to the world, to help them live in perfect joy and harmony. However, are we still living with those concepts of love and brotherhood or are we unduly satisfying ourselves and not just coveting, but snatching what is not ours?

Can we loosen our purse strings to aid our fellowmen, or are we still selfish in our purpose to live only for ourselves?

There are many lessons to be learnt and be practical and futuristic to make life less severe of our fellow human being and there is no season like Christmas to soothe our nerves and be positive in our approach towards mankind for it holds the recipe of our inner success

which can be attributed to the sincerity of our hearts.

Yule time is for forgiving and giving. We may have come across many ill-wills which are wrenching our hearts and keeping it in fire demanding retaliation, but the birth of Christ Child makes us ponder and wait for the anger to subside and think of new ways to console our own selves with token of love and understanding which can arise only during the Christmas season. During this Season we must contemplate in the Act of giving and not receiving for that is the joy emanated during this Season to go the year round with no question of regrets. We must devise various methods to sedate the plight of the downtrodden and terminally ill patients perhaps with monetary gifts but

most of all with words of encouragement and kindness.

There are many kindred souls in this world who are sacrificing their meagre income to practice what they preach - like the poor vegetable vendor at Central Market in Taiwan’s Taitung County who has donated so far about 1.5 crore towards various charitable causes or like the HIV positive women from Tamil Nadu who are struggling to come to terms with their diseases, but are yet doing their bit to society by enlisting the Positive Women Network (PWN) to succour those afflicted by that dreaded sickness.

Christmas is not only the time for frivolities, but rather it should be that time when we conscientiously learn and practise the lessons in the acts of kindness, like bestowing unused things to the needy children and in doing so not only see the glow in their eyes, but as a consequence also allow it to brighten our spirits and make the world acknowledge that coming of Christ does really have a very deep meaning and as such, is worth celebrating. It is worth knowing that our job in this transient world is to help and give others what is needful to them but not useful to us. This practice is not new but very old in heart and should be cherished as such.

Master of Investment and Portfolio Management

nvestment industry is growing very fast in India. Therefore the types of investments also varied now days. India Investments has been the major propelling force towards India’s attainment of self-sustained growth from 1991. As India opened its markets for FDI (Foreign Direct Investments) in 1991, FDI are driving the growth in investment industry India along with domestic investment funds.

Mutual funds, Derivatives, Real estate, Debt securities, Commodity Markets are many option available now days in Indian investment industry. Investment industry in India is growing by seven to nine percent per year in India. This newly emerged Rs. 500 billion worth investment industry needs skilled work forced in huge numbers in coming days.

Keeping this requirement of investment industry in mind, ICFAI University, Sikkim has in-

troduced MIPM (Master of Investment and Portfolio Management) Program. MIPM Program’s duration is of two years. The program has been developed in the context of the present and future needs of the Investment Industry and Investment and Portfolio management Profession in India. The core body of knowledge of the program includes current and evolving concepts, techniques and applications, and also providing the flavor of the frontiers of knowledge about investment industry in India and world.

This program has three focus areas.E-I-C (Economy, Industry and Companies) Frame work is 360-degree analysis of economy, industry and companies to determine the values, equity, and derivatives. This E-I-C frame gives way to students to get real industry experiences. And give latest knowledge about investment industry in India and world.

The MIPM Program is divided

into four parts. Each parts consists of three subjects. The students are required to study and complete all the groups in a sequential manner. In first part subjects like Financial Accounting, Statistics, Corporate Finance are included. In second part analytic subjects like Economic Analysis Industry Analysis, Company Analysis are included in course.

In third part subjects like Equity Instruments: Analysis & Valuation, Bond Instruments, Derivative Instruments are included. In last part Portfolio Management, Management of Funds and Case Studies these subject are studied by student.

Student with Bachelor’s Degree in any discipline is eligible for MIPM Course. Students who have pursued their degree program in Non-English Medium are advised to undergo proper preparatory courses in Business English so that they can cope with the MIPM program

Students who successfully complete MIPM Program will be eligible for Membership of the Council for Portfolio Management and Research. But students needs fulfill criteria requisite for membership of Council for Portfolio Management and Research.

Student who fulfills criteria of Council for Portfolio Management and Research can use the designation of “Certified Portfolio Manager” (CPM) in investment industry.

Objective of MIPM course is to prepare students for challenging careers in the world of Investment and Portfolio Management. Interested student who wanted join MIPM course can contact IFEN Panjim Branch.

IFEN Panjim Branch is located in Patto Plaza, third floor, Kamat Tower, Phone: 2437211/2437050 or also can visit the website www.iusikkim.edu.in for more information of the program.

in design and development of training programs providing better skill levels, which are leveraged to effect better placements for all students.

Duration: 5 months Qualification: Min. HSC and above For Corporate Training Basic Corporate Security Training Advanced Corporate Security Training Security Guard Skill Enhancement Training Security Guard Skill Enhance-

ment and Arms combat Training Short Terms Courses 8 week full time course in Security Management for Ex-Servicemen – Army, Navy & Air force (JCO’s & NCO’s), daily 6 hours from Monday to Friday Career Opportunity and Placement Assistance: ASTM will provide all the necessary assistance to help students make a successful career upon completing the program by facilitating the placement of successful candidates in reputed security companies across India, through a team of dedicated placement professionals that take care of both industrial training and final placements.

For more details, log on to or call 91 22 26552219, 902 9767 670. for media queries, please call Ms. Urmi Wadhawan, Kreate PR, 9892180534.

work, learning on the run, handling the pressure of deadlines and not knowing what your working day will be like from one day to the next.

Holier Than Thou Thou refers to anyone unfortunate enough to work on the business side, in television, or in Public Relations. In fact, thou probably includes any human not currently filing from a war zone or writing a blistering exposé of corporate malfeasance.

Think of the worst snobs you know. Journalists and the lonely few still publishing worthy books are much worse than that.

American author David Eisenhower once said, “Journalists are an interesting bunch, but nowhere near as interesting as they think they are.” How high is your moral superiority quotient? It needs to be very high to survive in this crowd.

Faster! Faster!

The daily deadlines for newspapers are beginning to look positively leisured and calm compared to the exigencies of

online media. Television news upped the deadline ante years ago and radio and wire reporters have always had to write faster than they think, but now even “in-depth analysis” is done in 25 words—or 25 seconds—or less. If you like to reflect before putting pen to paper and you don’t work well under pressure, even book publishing may be a bit too revved up for you these days.

Those Who Can, Do… …Those who can’t, go into journalism and publishing. Chroniclers are by definition the ones who stand on the sidelines of life and observe. With the passage of time what they chronicle becomes history, but they are not the actual players. Sooner or later everyone in this industry, even the publisher, has to come to grips with the fact that he or she is not the one who matters in the story or book or show. Sportswriters usually can’t play the games they cover; finance writers typically can’t make killings in the market. (to be continued)

Managing SEcuRiTy The Institute of Advanced Security Training & Management Pvt. Ltd. (ASTM), Mumbai, introduces first of its kind certificate & advanced courses in security management for students as well as for professionals from the field. The institute offers a 360 degree, comprehensive approach to training related to security management with highly experienced and qualified instructors and industry oriented content. The added advantage is the expertise of Zicom Electronic Security Systems Ltd., the leader in electronic security solutions in India.

The training programs offered

by ASTM are customized to meet the security needs of dif-

ferent industries and marketing verticals like Airports, Power Plants, Heavy Industries, Hotels, Malls, Multiplexes, Banks, IT Offices, BPOs, and Government Offices etc.

An overview of the courses: Certificate Course in Security Management The Certificate Course in Security Management Program has been designed by combining innovation with academic excellence. Once students complete the program, they would be completely equipped to handle business activities in the security service sector. They will be provided the necessary assistance to make a successful career on completing the program. ASTM also has an extensive experience

The Power and Prestige of Press Journalism -VIII

W

ho could blame people who are trying their best to launch a journalism career when a list of opportunities awaits them? So what’s so great about being Journalists? There are positive and negative aspects of being Journalists or Media Persons.

POSITIVE: The Power of the Press The pay may be lousy, the hours may be long, but even the cub reporter for a small local paper can break very big stories. And this is still a fairly honourable crowd. You’ll usually get the credit you deserve for your scoop. Move on up to a bigger job at a more recognized publication and captains of industry and PR people earning three times your salary will actively seek to curry favour. Most journalists and publishers won’t openly admit it, but their jobs are ego trips. The power you wield can be immense.

Work with Words Sometimes it’s tedious. Some-

times it’s repetitive. But you won’t find a lot of jobs out there that allow this much creative expression and diversity, with money as compensation. Working with words—or words with pictures—is stimulating. Even

in these jobs tend to be nonconformist and even downright eccentric at times. They’re sceptical and tough, but they’re also honest and fair, for the most part. No one minces words or pretties them up for the greater corporate benefit. Of course, earnest beginners and senior

By Maria de Lima Pereira management are regularly tempted to try, working with people who work but as their efforts are usually with words is stimulating. “This met with gleeful derision and will sound a little corny,” says scorn, they invariably wish they one editor, “but I really think hadn’t. my job is exciting. I’ve been Perks and Advantages doing it for a long time, and I 1. The opportunity to influstill think it’s really cool to be ence other people’s way of on top of the news all the time.” thinking. The biggest privilege Say What You Mean and Mean that journalists have, is the opWhat You Say portunity to be a catalyst of soIf you’ve been told ever since cial change. How? Since they first grade that you have a prob- are given the opportunity to get lem with authority, you’re too their thoughts printed, they opinionated, too blunt, and too have the chance to influence a outspoken; this is the career for lot of people who will be reading you. With the possible exception it. This may sound petty to some of sales and promotion, people but real journalists consider this

as a very big opportunity to change the society that is why they are doing everything to be responsible for their writing.

2. Getting a dose of fame.

The computer keyboard these days is indeed a mighty weapon to be successful. People, who, given the privilege to hold it and use it are considered lucky because they have the chance to gain popularity for writing stories that could create an impact to the society. Once this impact has been acknowledged by prominent people in government and in the society in gen-

eral, he or she will get a dose of fame right away. What makes it all worthwhile is the by-line.

Everyone else may only get to be famous for 15 minutes, but reporters get their name and, increasingly, their faces out there all the time. Now a number of them have graduate degrees in journalism or communications. But the profession is one of a dwindling number to embrace people with a well-rounded, liberal arts degree. Glamour quotient: very high. Work quotient: even higher.

3. Experiencing things one

has never experienced before.

A career in journalism opens the doors and windows to a different worlds a person has never experience before. These may include travelling to the most beautiful places for free and meeting people from all walks of life. These may also include getting special treatments from people from different sectors of the society.

4 . E x p e r i e n c e f re e d o m through writing. People in other fields are restricted to do the things other than their job requires. In journalism, while there are minor restrictions, this doesn’t affect the fact that they have better chances of relishing their freedom since they can always write about things without the fear of being questioned in doing so.

NEGATIVE: So what’s to hate about being Journalists?

Sheer Hard Work While it can be glamorous or prestigious, in reality it is hard

OHERALDO

11

GOA, MONDAY, 20 DECEMBER, 2010

Hu Jintao firmly in-charge of Tibet issue: WikiLeaks PTI BERLIN, DEC 19

True democracy prevails in China’s Communist Party Politburo which is more keen on consensus than decrees on all issues except for the Dalai Lama and Tibet, the subject on which President Hu Jintao is “firmly in charge”, a US diplomatic cable released

by WikiLeaks says.

The cable released by WikiLeaks and published by German magazine ‘Der Spiegel’ says US diplomatic sources in Beijing believe “true democracy” prevails in the Politburo of the ruling Communist party, within the little-known group of top apparatchiks consisting of 24 men and one woman.

No one outside China’s ruling cadre knows who at the top of China’s power structure decides what and why. No one knows who thinks what, who is allied with

whom and who really has influence. Public debates are rare, the magazine quoted the cable as saying.

Hardly any decisions, no matter how sensitive they might be, are decreed by head of state Hu Jintao or head of government Wen Jiabao.

Decisions instead tend to be taken collectively by top Communist party functionaries. When vital policy issues, such as relations with Taiwan or North Korea, are up for decision, all 25 Politburo members are involved.

Lesser issues are resolved by the nine-member standing committee, it said.

The committee, though, does not decide by vote, according to cables sent from US diplomats back to Washington. Instead, issues are weighed up and discussed for as long as it takes to arrive at a consensus.

In the decision making process, to be

sure, Hu Jintao’s “views carry the greatest weight,” US diplomats quote a source with access to the inner power circle as saying.

“It is a consensus system,” the source said, “in which members can exercise veto power.”

It is a system that ensures that none of the Communist party functionaries becomes too powerful.

But, US diplomats have been told, that doesn’t apply to one particularly touchy issue: that of the Dalai Lama and Tibet. On that subject, China’s president and Communist party general secretary Hu Jintao “is firmly in charge.”

In Hu’s eyes, the Dalai Lama is a traitor and a separatist. Those who would prefer a milder approach on the India-based exiled Tibetan leader risk their careers, US diplomats have been told.

WikiLeaks ‘to stay Next Chinese leader strong’ despite blow ‘redder than reds’!

AGENCIES LONDON, DEC 19

PTI BERLIN, DEC 19

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange said the website will stay strong despite another blow to its funding and the publication on Sunday of new details of the sex crime allegations against him.

The Australian began his third full day under “mansion arrest” at a friend’s house while he fights extradition to Sweden, vowing that the whistleblowing website would continue to publish more secret US diplomatic cables.

Assange on Saturday denounced Bank of America, the largest US bank, for becoming the latest institution to halt financial transactions for WikiLeaks after MasterCard, PayPal, Visa Europe and others.

The bank said its decision was “based upon our reasonable belief that WikiLeaks may be engaged in activities that are, among other things, inconsistent with our internal policies for processing payments”.

“It’s a new type of business

Leaked US diplomatic cables portray the anointed Chinese leader Xi Jinping as incorruptible, disinterested in extra marital affairs and a Communist hardliner who is “redder than reds”.

Der Spiegel, the German magazine which reproduced the cables leaked by whistleblower website WikiLeaks, says money seems unimportant to Xi as he apparently has enough. He likes the US and was at one time fascinated by the mysteries of Buddhism and Asian martial arts.

On October 18, the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party appointed 57-yearold Xi Jinping vice-president of the powerful Central Military Commission. This makes it all but certain that he will succeed Hu Jintao as Communist Party leader and Chinese president in 2012, Der Spiegel said.

The US embassy in Beijing has remarkably precise information about China’s future leader.

Xi is “extremely ambitious”, and

McCarthyism in the US to deprive this organisation of the funds that it needs to survive, to deprive me personally of the funds that my lawyers need to protect me against extradition to the US or to Sweden,” Assange said.

The term was coined to describe the anti-communist pursuits of former US senator Joseph McCarthy from the late 1940s to the 1950s.

Assange is staying at Ellingham Hall, the mansion in eastern England of journalist friend Vaughan Smith, as part of the conditions of bail, which he was granted by London’s High Court on Thursday.

a good man, according to a US source.

He also has a privileged upbringing.

Xi is the son of former guerrilla fighter and later deputy prime minister Xi Zhongxun. Xi is a “princeling”, one of an influential class of sons and daughters of loyal functionaries that steadily rise up the Communist Party hierarchy under their parents' influence.

During Mao Zedong’s cultural revolution, Xi’s father was purged and young Xi sent to the countryside.

In the early 1970s, Xi and many princelings were permitted to return to Beijing. But while many of his young contemporaries set about enjoying their newfound freedom, “he chose to survive by becoming redder than red”, the US embassy’s source says.

Xi realised that he could only become a career politician if he temporarily removed himself from Beijing’s power clique and gathered experience in rural areas, US cables say.

Traffic makes its way slowly down The Mall away from Buckingham Palace during heavy snow showers in central London, Britain, on Saturday. Christmas travellers are facing severe disruption as heavy snow falls across many parts of Britain.

Ferry capsize kills 37 in Bangladesh PTI DHAKA, DEC 19

At least 37 people, all of them women and children, were killed when a boat packed with passengers capsized after a headon collision with a sand-laden cargo vessel in a river in northeastern Bangladesh, officials said on Sunday.

The mishap occurred Saturday night in Alipur area of Sunamganj district, 296 kilometers northeast of the capital Dhaka.

“The boat carrying around 100 people capsized in the tributary of the Surma River at around 9 pm yesterday,” a police official told PTI. Quoting local villagers and government leaders, he said several of passengers swam ashore safely after the collision.

Fire service rescuers and policemen were also sent to the remote accident scene, 40 kilometres from the district headquarters.

But, local media reports said a number of people were still

Parliament session to elect Nepal PM adjourned PTI KATHMANDU, DEC 19

Nepal’s special session of parliament to elect a new prime minister was adjourned on Sunday after a brief meeting, amid a political deadlock among the ruling alliance and the main Opposition Maoists.

The Special Session of the Parliament, which just lasted for less than 10 minutes, was adjourned after Speaker Subash Nemwang announced the next House sitting for December 23.

Earlier today, the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) of the parliament decided to hold the next House session on December 23, the Nepal news online said.

Acting on a request from 187 Maoist lawmakers, President Ram Baran Yadav last week called a session of Parliament from Sunday in a bid to break the political deadlock over failure of lawmakers to elect a new leader despite 16 rounds of polls since Madhav Kumar Nepal quit on June 30.

During the brief session today,

Nemwang read out the letter from the President’s office.

The Speaker also informed the lawmakers that the House will discuss two proposals of the Unified CPN (Maoist) on December 23 and 24, including one seeking a fresh process for electing the prime minister and scrapping the candidature of Nepali Congress leader Ram Chandra Poudyal, the sole candidate for the top post, the report said.

The Special Session of the Parliament, which just lasted for less than 10 minutes, was adjourned after Speaker Subash Nemwang announced the next House sitting for December 23.

Maoist party Vice Chairman Baburam Bhattarai said the parties have reached an understanding to hold discussions for consensus.

“We will try to forge consensus by December 23,” Bhattarai was quoted as saying by the

Kantipur online.

Nepal’s ruling alliance on Saturday had decided to oppose the Maoists’ plan to table a motion to begin a fresh process to elect the Prime Minister.

CPN-Maoist, which ended its decade-long civil war in 2006, is the single largest party with 238 seats, while Nepali Congress (NC) has 114 members in the House.

The CPN-UML, the third largest party with a strength of 109 and the Madhesi alliance with the combined strength of some 80 lawmakers and other smaller parties have called for a national government.

The deadlock over the election of the prime minister comes amid a landmark Supreme Court ruling that lawmakers in parliament cannot choose to remain neutral or abstain from casting their votes in the run-off poll.

In a series of run-off polls since June 30, the UCPN (Maoist) and CPN (UML) lawmakers have chosen not to vote for a prime minister while Madhesi parties opted to stay neutral.

S Korea not scrapping drill despite threat, concerns Reuters

YEONPYEONG, South Korea, DEC 19

People watch Christmas decoration at the Taipei International Flora Exposition, on Sunday in Taipei, Taiwan.

Venezuela slams US as discord over envoy deepens Reuters

CARACAS, DEC 19

Venezuela slammed US plans to appoint an ambassador rejected

by Caracas, saying that Washington’s statements on the matter were consistent with its policy of aggression against the South American country.

The latest dispute came a day after Venezuelan lawmakers voted to let socialist President Hugo Chavez bypass parliament and rule by decree for 18 months. That move was denounced by opposition rivals and the US State Department as autocratic.

The row over newly nominated US envoy Larry Palmer has simmered since August, when Chavez said he would not be allowed to take up his post because the diplomat had criticized the former soldier’s leftist government.

Last week, a senior US State Department official, Arturo Valenzuela, said Palmer’s confirmation by the US Senate was expected in the coming days, according to media reports.

“The Venezuelan government rejects the most recent statements... noting that they ratify the historic line of interventionism and aggression against the Venezuelan people, their institutions and democracy,” it said in a statement on Saturday.

“On repeated occasions we have made it known to the US

government that, because of the gravity of Palmer's actions, it is impossible for us to accept him,” it said.

The United States’ insistence on naming the ambassador amounted to “a new provocation and demonstration of the hypocrisy of the elite that governs that country,” it added.

Palmer triggered outrage in the Chavez administration when he told a US senator that morale was low in the Venezuelan military and that there were clear ties between members of the country’s government and FARC rebels in neighboring Colombia.

His comments came at a particularly sensitive time after Bogota accused Caracas of sheltering the leftist guerrillas on Venezuelan soil. Chavez denied the allegations and briefly cut diplomatic ties with Colombia over the row.

In a televised speech yesterday, Chavez said Valenzuela believed he was “the king of Latin America”, and that the diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks had revealed the United States’ nefarious intentions around the world.

“Wherever you see a North American ambassador, you see a conspirator, an intriguer, a spy, and all those who work with him,” Chavez said. “So raise a coffee from me and toast Senor Palmer. Bye Bye!” he added, saluting the camera.

Jihadi ‘joker’ turns TV host AGENCIES SYDNEY, DEC 19

The first person charged and acquitted under Australia’s anti-terrorism laws, Zaky Mallah, has now become a television host.

The 27-year-old, once deemed at risk of becoming a suicide bomber, said the first people he rang to tell of his idea to become the “next Jerry Springer” was the spy agency ASIO. “They were laughing,” the Sydney Morning Herald quoted him as saying.

The first time Mallah made a video, in 2003, he was arrested under newly introduced anti-terrorism laws.

His show ‘The Zaky Mallah Show’, he said, is a mix of Dr Phil, Jerry Springer and Beauty and the Beast.

The latest episode, recorded at Parramatta Leagues Club, has been posted on YouTube and his site www.mds.ucoz.com.

“I’ve become more entertaining, a clown … What terror suspect has turned himself around and created his own TV show?”

Mallah made a jihad-style video after he was refused a passport to travel to Lebanon. He told a police officer he wanted to take foreign affairs and ASIO officers hostage, killing them and himself in protest. He served two years in jail for the threats but was cleared of other charges.

South Korea said on Sunday bad weather was delaying the start of a live-fire exercise that prompted North Korean threats of war, adding that it had no plans to scrap the drills despite international calls for restraint.

The UN Security Council is expected to convene an emergency session today on the escalating tension between North and South Korea in the hope of issuing some kind of statement to help ease the tension in the region.

North Korea has called the artillery fire drill by the South, on Yeonpyeong island which was attacked last month, a suicidal war move that would trigger a full-out conflict on the Korean peninsula and said it would strike back in self-defense.

Analysts were sceptical the North would carry out the threat it issued on Friday, which rattled financial markets, but it added to the already tense situation in the peninsula which has been described as “extremely precarious” and a “tinderbox” by US and Chinese officials.

Weather conditions worsened on the normally sleepy, idyllic island of fishermen, forcing the military to push back a planned one-day live-fire drill past the weekend. It had been scheduled for some time between December 18 and 21.

“There is no plan to cancel the exercise. The factor we’re looking at is the weather condition,” a Defence Ministry official said on the condition of anonymity.

South Korean marines plan to test artillery firing from the island targeting its territorial waters to its southwest, the

same type of exercise that North Korea last month called an attack and returned fire, killing four people.

China, the main backer of the isolated North Korea, again urged the rival Koreas to open talks and avoid steps that could inflame tensions on the penin-

sula, extending its effort to contain a confrontation on its doorstep.

“China resolutely opposes any actions that could inflame tensions and exacerbate the situation, and asks that both sides of the peninsula exercise calm and restraint and open up dia-

logue and contacts,” Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said on Sunday.

Yang spoke to his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov but did not blame either the North or the South directly, maintaining China’s policy of avoiding becoming embroiled in the bit-

South Korean marines based on Yeonpyeong Island, South Korea, board a truck on Sunday amid rising inter-Korean tensions ahead of the South's live-fire drill this week.

Over 3 in 10 UK varsities training Islamic terrorists?

AGENCIES LONDON, DEC 19

Chiefs of the British intelligence ser vice M15 have already warned 39 universities in the country that they have a serious problem with Islamic ‘‘violent extremism”.

They have expressed alarm over the fact that 14 out of these 39 institutions have chosen not to seek government grants to help them deal with the issue.

Their hopes of getting tough and positive action now lie with Professor Malcolm Grant, the

Provost of University College London, who, with a small team of academics, has been commissioned by UK Universities to address the troubling situation.

Professor Grant’s report for UK Universities, the advisory body for the country’s 133 universities, will be published early in the New Year, the Daily Express reports.

Grant is seen as the ideal person to write new guidelines on dealing with student radicalisation not just because of his academic brilliance but because

one of his former students, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, tried to blow up a jet over Detroit last Christmas Day. Inquiries, however, suggest that his report may not deliver the much-needed wake-up call to chancellors and vice chancellors.

Sources fear it is likely to be a wordy academic discourse which tries to balance the need for freedom of speech and academic freedom - while also tackling extremism, a stance which some argue is a recipe for fencesitting.

Cynics say the report will not suggest a foolproof system of spotting the dark side of students, and that graduates of terror will be not be easier to spot, and that the system will remain largely as it is without the reform desperately needed.

Professor Anthony Glees, director of security studies at Buckinghamshire University, said: “It is a very serious issue which could require new laws and definitely tougher procedures so this committee would be ideal for the job.”

ter rift between its neighbours.

Russia also said the two Koreas must begin dialogue to try to resolve all issues of dispute.

Ambassador to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin said the Security Council will meet on Sunday in the hope of delivering a message to the two rival States.

“We are seriously concerned about possible further escalation of tensions on the Korean peninsula,” Vitaly Churkin said, adding that the situation there “directly affects the national security interests of the Russian Federation,” he told reporters at the Russian UN mission in New York.

In Pyongyang, Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico, on a private mission to cool tensions, said on Saturday he had urged his hosts to exercise restraint, calling the tense situation a “tinderbox”.

“There’s enormous potential for miscalculation.”

The US State Department said last week that South Korea had every right to conduct the exercises, but indicated that it, too, was worried.

“We trust that South Korea will be very cautious in terms of what it does, but that said, let’s put the responsibility squarely where it lies,” a State Department spokesman said.

North Korea continued with blistering assault on the South and the United States on Saturday, blaming Seoul for conspiring with Washington to bring hostility against a neighbour.

The North's foreign ministry spokesman said in a statement: “We will be sure to settle scores with the US for the extreme situation on the Korean peninsula.”

He added: “Our military does not speak empty words.”

Sacking ‘un-Islamic’, say ex-Iran FM TEHRAN (Agencies): Iran’s form e r f o re i g n m i n i s t e r Manouchehr Mottaki has hit out at his dismissal this week by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as “un-Islamic and offensive”.

“Sacking a minister while (he is) on a mission is un-Islamic, undiplomatic, offensive and outside the practices of politics,” Mottaki was quoted as saying by Mehr news agency on Sunday.

Ahmadinejad announced his decision to oust Mottaki on Monday while the 57-year-old career diplomat was on an official visit to Senegal.

OHERALDO

Biz12_SUNDAY-Pg-12 12/19/2010 8:59 PM Page 1

BIZ

Pg12

GOA, MONDAY, 20 DECEMBER, 2010

Record car sales mark 2010 for Indian auto sector

PTI NEW DELHI, DEC 19

Record sales made 2010 a special year for automakers in India, which also saw the iconic Maruti 800 take a bow from big cities, Hero split with Honda and demand for the promising Nano sputter following a string of accidents.

For a country whose economy has been expanding at near 9 per cent rate, it was not surprising that automobile sales broke all records between July and October to average a growth of 30 per cent.

Such was the appeal of the country and the appetite of the Indian motorist that Bugatti launched its Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport, which at Rs 16 crore became the costliest car in India, while other niche marques Aston Martin and Spyker Cars said they too would drive in soon.

The year will most definitely be remembered for the end of the 26 year partnership of Hero Honda, the world's largest two wheeler maker. BM Munjal promoted Hero Group

Mutual Fund Scheme Name A

decided to buy out Japanese Honda's 26 per cent stake for an undisclosed sum, while inking a new licensing pact that will give it access to Honda's technology for few more years with royalty remaining at the same level as before.

The split was reminiscent of the break-up of a RenaultMahindra & Mahindra joint venture to make sedan Logan in April, when the Indian firm bought out the 49 per cent stake of the French auto major in Mahindra Renault Pvt Ltd. If there was one event that had a tinge of nostalgia that was the phase out of India's first people's car Maruti 800, which bid adieu to 13 big cities due to strict emission norms (Bharat Stage IV) that kicked-in in April. Smaller cities upgraded to Bharat-III norms.

Another icon, the Ambassador, faced testing times when its maker Hindustan Motors approached the Board for Industrial and Financial Reconstruction in May due to mounting losses.

As for the budget-friendly

Key to abbreviations: R Price: Repurchase Price; S Price: Sale Price; (D): Dividend; (G): Growth NAVs (Rs)

A

AIG India Equity Fund ­ Regular Plan (D) India Equity Fund ­ Regular Plan (G) Infrastructure and Eco R Fund ­ Regular Plan (D) Infrastructure and Eco RFund ­ Regular Plan (G) Axis Equity Fund (D) Equity Fund (G) Tax Saver Fund (D) Tax Saver Fund (G)

12.64 12.64 9.54 9.54 11.55 11.55 11.59 12.66

B

Baroda Pioneer ELSS 96 Growth Fund (D) Growth Fund (G) Infrastructure Fund (D) Infrastructure Fund (G) PSU Equity Fund (D) PSU Equity Fund (G) Bharti AXA Equity Fund ­ Eco Plan (Bonus) Equity Fund ­ Eco Plan (D) Equity Fund ­ Eco Plan (G) Equity Fund ­ Eco Plan (QD) Equity Fund ­ Retail Plan (Bonus) Equity Fund ­ Retail Plan (D) Equity Fund ­ Retail Plan (G) Equity Fund ­ Retail Plan (QD) Focused Infrastructure Fund (D) Focused Infrastructure Fund (G) Focused Infrastructure Fund (QD) Tax Advantage Fund ­ Eco Plan (D) Tax Advantage Fund ­ Eco Plan (G) Tax Advantage Fund ­ Retail Plan (D) Tax Advantage Fund ­ Retail Plan (G)

18.54 13.05 18.54 12.32 18.44 12.99 18.44 12.25 10.41 10.41 10.41 13.01 23.91 12.98 23.81

Birla Sun Life Advantage Fund (D) Advantage Fund (G) Basic Industries Fund (D) Basic Industries Fund (G) Buy India Fund (D) Buy India Fund (G) Dividend Yield Plus (D) Dividend Yield Plus (G) Equity Fund (D) Equity Fund (G) India GenNext Fund (D) India GenNext Fund (G) India Opportunities Fund ­ Plan A (D) India Opportunities Fund ­ Plan B (G) India Reforms Fund (D) India Reforms Fund (G) Infrastructure Fund ­ Plan A (D) Infrastructure Fund ­ Plan A (G) Infrastructure Fund ­ Plan B (D) Infrastructure Fund ­ Plan B (G) Long Term Advantage Fund (D) Long Term Advantage Fund (G) Midcap Fund ­ Plan A (D) Midcap Fund ­ Plan A (G) Midcap Fund ­ Plan B (D) Midcap Fund ­ Plan B (G) MNC Fund (D) MNC Fund (G) New Millennium (D) New Millennium (G) Pure Value Fund (D) Pure Value Fund (G) Small and Midcap Fund (D) Small and Midcap Fund (G) Special Situations Fund (D) Special Situations Fund (G) Tax Plan (D) Tax Plan (G) Tax Relief 96 (D) Tax Relief 96 (G) Top 100 Fund (D) Top 100 Fund (G)

91.12 168.19 29.58 107.25 24.94 43.78 15.00 87.86 74.41 281.68 15.07 24.85 19.52 57.33 10.75 10.75 13.13 17.88 12.83 13.37 13.77 14.91 25.72 116.34 14.68 14.68 84.92 210.15 13.98 21.40 16.40 17.50 12.69 12.69 10.59 10.59 48.13 14.28 88.72 11.97 15.52 23.78

27.56 31.30 55.57 10.18 10.18 9.30 9.30

C

Canara Robeco Emerging Equities (Bonus) Emerging Equities (D) Emerging Equities (G) Equity Diversified (Bonus) Equity Diversified (D) Equity Diversified (G) Equity Tax Saver (D) Equity Tax Saver (G) F.O.R.C.E Fund ­ Retail Plan (D) F.O.R.C.E Fund ­ Retail Plan (G) Infrastructure (D) Infrastructure (G)

Nano, the most talked about car since its unveiling two years ago, its ride was not as easy as its rise to popularity. Incidents of brand new cars catching fire and dwindling sales made many pundits wonder if the Nano can live up to its promise of becoming the transport of choice of the masses.

While Tata Motors had to tell customers that it would provide safety measures free of cost to prevent incidents of fire, other major carmakers like Maruti Suzuki India and Honda Siel Cars India also recalled their popular models, 'A-Star' and 'City' respectively, to rectify manufacturing defects.

There was also a flurry of new launches, with the likes of Renault and Ford joining the bandwagon to cash in on the sales boom. The Indian automart is inching towards the two million units a year mark.

Some of the new models that hit the roads during the year includes Maruti Suzuki Eeco, Ford Figo, Volkswagen Polo and Vento and Nissan

19.29 15.90 23.04 25.55 25.51 56.09 21.94 26.64 12.88 13.82 18.27 22.94

Large Cap+ Fund (D) 10.46 Large Cap+ Fund (G) 10.46 Multicap (D) 15.18 Multicap (G) 16.36 DWS Alpha Equity Fund ­ Regular Plan (D) 18.03 Alpha Equity Fund ­ Regular Plan (G) 82.84 Alpha Equity Fund ­ Wealth Plan (D) 14.42 Alpha Equity Fund ­ Wealth Plan (G) 17.25 Investment Opportunity Fund ­ Regular Plan (D) 27.43 Investment Opportunity Fund ­ Regular Plan (G) 39.59 Investment Opportunity Fund ­ Wealth Plan (D) 13.71 Investment Opportunity Fund ­ Wealth Plan (G) 17.92 Tax Saving Fund (D) 13.56 Tax Saving Fund (G) 14.50 DSP BlackRock Equity Fund ­ Regular Plan (D) 53.87 Equity Fund ­ Regular Plan (G) 17.04 Focus 25 Fund (D) 10.91 Focus 25 Fund (G) 10.91 India T.I.G.E.R. Fund ­ Regular Plan (D) 18.91 India T.I.G.E.R. Fund ­ Regular Plan (G) 49.27 Micro Cap Fund ­ Regular Plan (D) 10.03 Micro Cap Fund ­ Regular Plan (G) 16.52 Opportunities Fund ­ Regular Plan (D) 31.77 Opportunities Fund ­ Regular Plan (G) 91.12 Small and Mid Cap Fund (D) 16.74 Small and Mid Cap Fund (G) 18.26 Tax Saver Fund (D) 13.41 Tax Saver Fund (G) 18.01 Technology.Com ­ Regular Plan (D) 24.87 Technology.Com ­ Regular Plan (G) 34.07 Top 100 Equity Fund ­ Regular Plan (D) 22.09 Top 100 Equity Fund ­ Regular Plan (G) 104.11

E

Edelweiss Absolute Return Equity Fund (D) Absolute Return Equity Fund (G) Diversified Growth Equity Top 100 Fund ­A (D) Diversified Growth Equity Top 100 Fund ­A (G) Diversified Growth Equity Top 100 Fund ­B (D) ELSS Fund (D) ELSS Fund (G) Nifty Enhancer Fund ­ Plan A (D) Nifty Enhancer Fund ­ Plan A (G) Nifty Enhancer Fund ­ plan B (D) Nifty Enhancer Fund ­ Plan B (G) Nifty Enhancer Fund ­ Plan C (D) Escorts Growth Plan (D) Growth Plan (G) High Yield Equity Plan (Bonus) High Yield Equity Plan (D) High Yield Equity Plan (G) Infrastructure Fund (D) Infrastructure Fund (G) Leading Sectors Fund (D) Leading Sectors Fund (G) Power and Energy Fund (D) Power and Energy Fund (G) Tax Plan (D) Tax Plan (G)

11.36 11.36 14.76 14.76 15.02 20.05 20.05 12.30 13.50 13.57 13.40 11.94 12.95 78.29 15.01 12.37 14.98 8.42 8.41 11.55 11.55 12.22 17.07 10.68 49.70

F

Fidelity Equity Fund (D) Equity Fund (G) India Growth Fund (D) India Growth Fund (G) India Special Situations Fund (D) India Special Situations Fund (G) India Value Fund (D) India Value Fund (G) International Opportunities Fund (D) International Opportunities Fund (G) Tax Advantage Fund (D) Tax Advantage Fund (G) BNP Paribas China­India Fund (D) China­India Fund (G) Dividend Yield Fund (D) Dividend Yield Fund (G) Equity Fund (D) Equity Fund (G) Future Leaders Fund (D) Future Leaders Fund (G) Opportunities Fund (D) Opportunities Fund (G) Sustainable Development Fund (D) Sustainable Development Fund (G) Tax Advantage Plan (ELSS) (D) Tax Advantage Plan (ELSS) (G) Franklin Asian Equity Fund (D) Asian Equity Fund (G) Build India Fund (D) Build India Fund (G) FMCG Fund (D)

23.45 37.06 12.90 12.90 17.52 19.32 11.71 11.71 14.19 14.19 20.64 22.99 9.21 9.22 11.32 18.37 12.06 35.64 9.97 10.01 10.27 19.75 12.04 13.22 11.54 14.49 10.95 10.95 12.10 12.66 41.79

Micra.

Renault said it will launch five new models by 2013 and Ford upstaged it by announcing that it would launch eight new models in India by 2015 to cash in on the burgeoning market.

While global players were busy making inroads into India, homegrown major Mahindra & Mahindra stepped up its international expansion plans when it inched closer to acquire South Korean sports utility vehicle maker SsangYong Motor for about Rs 2,105 crore. Although, it had to prolong its planned US entry following legal battle with its erstwhile exclusive distributor Global Vehicles.

Earlier in the year, M&M had acquired 55.2 per cent stake in REVA Electric Car Company by a combination of equity purchase from Reva's promoters and a fresh infusion of over Rs 45 crore. It also announced to invest about Rs 8,600 crore in the next five years for various purposes in the domestic market.

FMCG Fund (G) India Bluechip Fund (D) India Bluechip Fund (G) India Flexi Cap Fund (D) India Flexi Cap Fund (G) India High Growth Companies Fund (D) India High Growth Companies Fund (G) India Opportunities Fund (D) India Opportunities Fund (G) India Prima Fund (D) India Prima Fund (G) India Prima Plus Fund (D) India Prima Plus Fund (G) India Smaller Companies Fund (D) India Smaller Companies Fund (G) India Tax Shield (D) India Tax Shield (G) Infotech Fund (D) Infotech Fund (G) Pharma Fund (D) Pharma Fund (G) Templeton India Equity Income Fund (D) Templeton India Equity Income Fund (G) Templeton India Growth Fund (D) Templeton India Growth Fund (G)

66.59 44.94 224.51 17.11 33.79 12.67 13.23 14.95 33.11 44.78 287.40 30.33 225.93 13.83 14.93 35.52 216.04 21.58 69.67 34.05 64.34 16.17 21.74 59.65 126.78

H

HDFC Capital Builder Fund (D) Capital Builder Fund (G) Core & Satellite Fund (D) Core & Satellite Fund (G) Equity Fund (D) Equity Fund (G) Growth Fund (D) Growth Fund (G) Infrastructure Fund (D) Infrastructure Fund (G) Long Term Advantage Fund (D) Long Term Advantage Fund (G) Long Term Equity Fund (D) Long Term Equity Fund (G) Mid­Cap Opportunities Fund (D) Mid­Cap Opportunities Fund (G) Premier Multi­Cap Fund (D) Premier Multi­Cap Fund (G) Tax Saver (D) Tax Saver (G) Top 200 Fund (D) Top 200 Fund (G) HSBC Dynamic Fund (D) Dynamic Fund (G) Equity Fund (D) Equity Fund (G) India Opportunities Fund (D) India Opportunities Fund (G) Midcap Equity Fund (D) Midcap Equity Fund (G) Progressive Themes Fund (D) Progressive Themes Fund (G) Tax Saver Equity Fund (D) Tax Saver Equity Fund (G) Unique Opportunities Fund (D) Unique Opportunities Fund (G)

28.19 116.38 24.40 42.92 53.94 293.48 35.82 91.48 12.67 12.67 42.74 146.01 14.05 16.98 15.93 15.93 17.10 30.16 68.84 245.04 52.38 221.62 10.92 10.92 27.39 108.91 17.21 36.52 12.39 23.18 11.42 13.42 14.36 15.56 11.98 11.98

I

ICICI Pru Banking & Fin Services Fund ­ Retail Plan (D) Banking & Fin Services Fund ­ Retail Plan (G) Discovery Fund (D) Discovery Fund (G) Dynamic Plan (D) Dynamic Plan (G) Emerging S.T.A.R. Fund (D) Emerging S.T.A.R. Fund (G) Equity Opportunities Fund (D) Equity Opportunities Fund (G) FMCG Fund (D) FMCG Fund (G) Focused Bluechip Equity Fund (D) Focused Bluechip Equity Fund (G) Fusion Fund (D) Fusion Fund (G) Fusion Fund Series ­ III Retail Plan (D) Fusion Fund Series ­ III Retail Plan (G) Growth Plan (D) Growth Plan (G) Indo Asia Equity Fund ­ Retail Plan (D) Indo Asia Equity Fund ­ Retail Plan (G) Infrastructure Fund ­ Retail Plan (D) Infrastructure Fund ­ Retail Plan (G) Power (D) Power (G) R.I.G.H.T. Fund (D) R.I.G.H.T. Fund (G) Services Industries Fund (D) Services Industries Fund (G) Target Returns Fund ­ Retail Plan (D) Target Returns Fund ­ Retail Plan (G) Tax Plan (D) Tax Plan (G) Technology Fund (D) Technology Fund (G)

18.35 18.81 21.61 49.86 19.55 109.40 17.29 34.73 12.04 13.42 36.62 64.04 16.84 16.84 14.69 15.58 13.26 13.26 19.09 140.88 11.16 11.16 12.59 31.27 17.81 119.98 12.32 12.32 13.56 18.03 14.73 14.73 21.92 147.00 19.57 19.57

Also in the budget car space, Renault-Nissan and Bajaj Auto agreed to take forward their USD 2,500 ultra-low-cost (ULC) car project, with the Indian firm agreeing to contract manufacture for the Franco-Japanese alliance ending months of speculations over the future of the project. The ULC is now likely to hit the market by 2012.

The beginning of the year was a memorable one for the Indian auto industry with the 10th Auto Expo at the National Capital in January. The expo attracted over 20 lakh visitors and 25 new models were unveiled. The then Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers Director General Dilip Chenoy stated the expo was "possibly be the largest in terms of footfalls", and perhaps the third biggest after Frankfurt and Shanghai in terms of participants.

The platform provided by the expo was exploited to the hilt by many carmakers. General Motors launched its small car Beat and said it will de-

IDFC Classic Equity Fund ­ Plan A (D) Classic Equity Fund ­ Plan A (G) Equity Fund ­ Plan A (D) Equity Fund ­ Plan A (G) Equity Fund ­ Plan B (D) Equity Fund ­ Plan B (G) Imperial Equity Fund ­ Plan A (D) Imperial Equity Fund ­ Plan A (G) India GDP Growth Fund (D) India GDP Growth Fund (G) Premier Equity Fund ­ Plan A (D) Premier Equity Fund ­ Plan A (G) Small & Midcap Equity Fund (D) Small & Midcap Equity Fund (G) Strategic Sector (50­50) Equity Fund ­ Plan A (D) Strategic Sector (50­50) Equity Fund ­ Plan A (G) Tax Advantage (ELSS) Fund (D) Tax Advantage (ELSS) Fund (G) Tax Saver (ELSS) Fund (D) Tax Saver (ELSS) Fund (G) ING C.U.B. Fund (Bonus) C.U.B. Fund (D) C.U.B. Fund (G) Contra Fund (B) Contra Fund (D) Contra Fund (G) Core Equity Fund (D) Core Equity Fund (G) Dividend Yield Fund (D) Dividend Yield Fund (G) Midcap Fund (D) Midcap Fund (G) OptiMix Multi Manager Equity Fund ­ Plan A (D) OptiMix Multi Manager Equity Fund ­ Plan A (G) OptiMix Retireinvest Fund ­ Series I (D) OptiMix Retireinvest Fund ­ Series I (G) Tax Saving Fund (Bonus) Tax Saving Fund (D) Tax Saving Fund (G) JM Agri & Infra Fund (D) Agri & Infra Fund (G) Basic Fund (D) Basic Fund (G) Contra Fund (D) Contra Fund (G) Emerging Leaders Fund (D) Emerging Leaders Fund (G) Equity Fund (D) Equity Fund (G) Financial Services Sector Fund (D) Financial Services Sector Fund (G) HI FI Fund (D) HI FI Fund (G) Large Cap Fund (D) Large Cap Fund (G) Mid Cap Fund (D) Mid Cap Fund (G) Multi Strategy Fund (D) Multi Strategy Fund (G) Small & Mid­Cap Fund ­ Regular Plan (D) Small & Mid­Cap Fund ­ Regular Plan (G) Tax Gain Fund (D) Tax Gain Fund (G) Telecom Sector Fund (D) Telecom Sector Fund (G) JP Morgan India Tax Advantage Fund (D) India Tax Advantage Fund (G) India Equity Fund (D) India Equity Fund (G) India Smaller Companies Fund (D) India Smaller Companies Fund (G)

15.87 21.94 13.93 16.98 11.72 13.96 16.76 20.28 15.10 17.49 27.29 33.67 15.37 18.63 15.27 15.43 16.63 20.77 15.35 15.35 18.32 13.38 18.32 16.80 14.33 16.80 21.45 40.55 22.01 24.20 17.40 21.90 11.13 11.13 13.03 13.03 31.66 15.60 31.62 2.74 2.74 11.37 16.28 5.94 5.94 8.55 8.53 15.81 38.83 10.54 10.54 5.49 5.49 15.01 20.41 17.70 25.83 14.50 15.59 5.74 5.74 7.45 7.45 7.99 7.99 15.69 19.38 13.05 14.06 8.12 8.12

K

Kotak 30 (D) 30 (G) Contra (D) Contra (G) Emerging Equity Scheme (D) Emerging Equity Scheme (G) Lifestyle Fund (D) Lifestyle Fund (G) Midcap Fund (D) Midcap Fund (G) Select Focus Fund (D) Select Focus Fund (G) Tax Saver (D) Tax Saver (G)

33.95 107.65 18.09 22.45 12.45 12.45 12.38 14.30 18.59 26.73 11.22 12.43 11.96 19.54

L

L&T Contra Fund (D) Contra Fund (G) Global Advantage Fund (D) Global Advantage Fund (G) Growth Fund (D) Growth Fund (G) Hedged Equity Fund (D) Hedged Equity Fund (G) Infrastructure Fund (D)

10.89 10.91 7.69 11.09 19.51 41.31 10.38 14.62 7.74

velop a small car wholly-designed at its Bangalore centre.

Honda and Toyota showcased their small cars, specifically meant for the Indian market with the latter launching the sedan version of the car, Etios in December. Czech carmaker Skoda too announced to launch a small car in 2012.

Italian auto maker Fiat also planned to develop a small car, specifically for the Indian market.

As the year moved ahead, enthused by new launches and easy financing options, the sector clocked an average of 30 per cent sales growth. From July to October, the industry witnessed records being consecutively broken in total vehicles sold in the country.

Interestingly, despite being a party to the record sales car market leader Maruti Suzuki found it difficult to maintain its over 50 per cent market share consistently due to very strong competition in the price sensitive small car segment.

During the year, Maruti Suzuki India announced fresh investments of Rs 6,125 crore

Infrastructure Fund (G) Midcap Fund (D) Midcap Fund (G) Multi­Cap Fund (D) Multi­Cap Fund (G) Opportunities Fund (D) Opportunities Fund (G) Small Cap Fund (D) Small Cap Fund (G) Tax Advantage Fund ­ Series I (D) Tax Advantage Fund ­ Series I (G) Tax Saver Fund (D) Tax Saver Fund (G) LIC Infrastructure Fund Series 1 (D) Infrastructure Fund Series 1 (G) MF Equity Fund (D) MF Equity Fund (G) MF Growth Fund (D) MF Growth Fund (G) MF India Vision Fund (D) MF India Vision Fund (G) MF Opportunities Fund (D) MF Opportunities Fund (G) MF Tax Plan (D) MF Tax Plan (G) MF Top 100 Fund (D) MF Top 100 Fund (G)

7.74 24.64 42.70 15.72 19.72 18.22 46.26 5.43 5.43 16.19 22.03 15.82 17.03 9.94 9.94 11.15 28.29 12.22 13.78 9.74 9.74 11.40 20.03 11.16 31.17 8.78 8.78

M

Mirae Asset Emerging Bluechip Fund (D) Emerging Bluechip Fund (G) Global Commodity Stock Fund ­ Regular Plan (D) Global Commodity Stock Fund ­ Regular Plan (G) India Opportunities Fund ­ Regular Plan (D) India Opportunities Fund ­ Regular Plan (G) Morgan Stanley A.C.E. Fund (Across Capitalisations Equity) (D) A.C.E. Fund (Across Capitalisations Equity) (G) Growth Fund (D) Growth Fund (G)

10.94 10.94 12.85 12.85 14.23 16.99 14.95 15.88 20.67 67.70

P

Pramerica Dynamic Fund (D) Dynamic Fund (G) Equity Fund (D) Equity Fund (G) Principal Dividend Yield Fund (D) Dividend Yield Fund (G) Emerging Bluechip Fund (D) Emerging Bluechip Fund (G) Growth Fund (D) Growth Fund (G) Large Cap Fund (D) Large Cap Fund (G) Personal Tax Saver Fund PNB Long Term Eq Fund ­ 3 Year Plan PNB Long Term Equity Fund ­ 3 Year Plan Services Industries Fund (D) Services Industries Fund (G) Tax Savings Fund

10.02 10.02 10.03 10.03 18.47 25.03 24.91 32.68 25.53 56.35 20.65 30.14 102.94 11.78 11.78 13.80 15.56 81.76

Q

Quantum Long­Term Equity Fund (D) Long­Term Equity Fund (G) Tax Saving Fund (D) Tax Saving Fund (G)

R

23.62 23.42 23.37 23.38

Reliance Banking Fund (Bonus) 108.31 Banking Fund (D) 43.22 Banking Fund (G) 108.30 Diversified Pow Sector Fund ­ Retail Plan (Bonus) 80.74 Diversified Power Sector Fund ­ Retail Plan (D) 47.66 Diversified Power Sector Fund ­ Retail Plan (G) 80.74 Equity Advantage Fund ­ Retail Plan (B) 13.57 Equity Advantage Fund ­ Retail Plan (D) 13.57 Equity Advantage Fund ­ Retail Plan (G) 13.57 Equity Opportunities Fund ­ Retail Plan (Bonus) 37.05 Equity Opportunities Fund ­ Retail Plan (D) 26.17 Equity Opportunities Fund ­ Retail Plan (G) 37.05 Growth Fund ­ Retail Plan (Bonus) 80.60 Growth Fund ­ Retail Plan (D) 59.57 Growth Fund ­ Retail Plan (G) 485.93 Infrastructure Fund ­ Retail Plan (Bonus) 10.47 Infrastructure Fund ­ Retail Plan (D) 10.47 Infrastructure Fund ­ Retail Plan (G) 10.47 Long Term Equity Fund (D) 16.39 Long Term Equity Fund (G) 16.39 Media & Entertainment Fund (Bonus) 29.95 Media & Entertainment Fund (D) 21.53 Media & Entertainment Fund (G) 29.95 Natural Resources Fund (Bonus) 10.89 Natural Resources Fund (D) 10.89 Natural Resources Fund (G) 10.89 NRI Equity Fund (Bonus) 41.79 NRI Equity Fund (D) 24.87 NRI Equity Fund (G) 41.79

till 2013, which includes setting up of new plants and a research centre. By 2013, the company aims to have a total production capacity of 17.5 lakh units annually up from over 12 lakh units per year at present.

Ashok Leyland also said it will invest Rs 3,000 crore in the next three years on various projects, including its light commercial vehicle joint venture with Japanese automaker Nissan after scaling back planned capex to Rs 2,000 crore last year from an initially announced Rs 3,200 crore.

Meanwhile, Tata Motors said it will invest about Rs 10,000 crore in the next 2-3 years on product development, facility modernisation and other capex purposes. The company has decided to assemble Land Rover vehicles in India from next year.

On the two-wheelers front, super premium bike makers warmed up to the Indian market with iconic US cult bike maker Harley Davidson announcing to set up an assembly line in India, its only second

Pharma Fund (Bonus) Pharma Fund (D) Pharma Fund (G) Quant Plus Fund ­ Retail Plan (B) Quant Plus Fund ­ Retail Plan (D) Quant Plus Fund ­ Retail Plan (G) Regular Savings Fund ­ Equity Option (D) Regular Savings Fund ­ Equity Option (G) Small Cap Fund (Bonus) Small Cap Fund (D) Small Cap Fund (G) Religare AGILE Fund (D) AGILE Fund (G) AGILE Tax Fund (D) AGILE Tax Fund (G) Banking Fund ­ Regular Plan (D) Banking Fund ­ Regular Plan (G) Business Leaders Fund (D) Business Leaders Fund (G) Contra Fund (D) Contra Fund (G) Equity Fund (D) Equity Fund (G) Growth Fund (D) Growth Fund (G) Infrastructure Fund (D) Infrastructure Fund (G) Mid Cap Fund (D) Mid Cap Fund (G) Mid N Small Cap Fund (D) Mid N Small Cap Fund (G) PSU Equity Fund (D) PSU Equity Fund (G) Tax Plan (D) Tax Plan (G)

55.30 41.25 55.30 14.43 14.43 14.43 25.25 32.39 9.97 9.97 9.97 7.13 7.11 8.03 8.03 16.33 20.95 11.96 13.05 12.91 16.69 13.16 13.16 13.55 13.56 8.67 8.67 12.19 14.72 14.88 14.89 10.41 11.55 15.08 18.21

S

Sahara Banking and Financial Services Fund (D) Banking and Financial Services Fund (G) Growth Fund (D) Growth Fund (G) Infrastructure ­ Fixed Pricing Option (D) Infrastructure ­ Fixed Pricing Option (G) Infrastructure ­Variable Pricing Option (D) Infrastructure ­Variable Pricing Option (G) Midcap Fund (Bonus) Midcap Fund (D) Midcap Fund (G) Midcap Fund (Growth Auto Payout) Power & Natural Resources Fund (D) Power & Natural Resources Fund (G) Star Value Fund (D) Star Value Fund (G) Super 20 Fund (D) Super 20 Fund (G) Tax Gain (D) Tax Gain (G) Wealth Plus ­ Variable Pricing Option (D) Wealth Plus ­ Variable Pricing Option (G) Wealth Plus Fund ­ Fixed Pricing Option (D) Wealth Plus Fund ­ Fixed Pricing Option (G) SBI Blue Chip Fund (D) Blue Chip Fund (G) Infrastructure Fund ­ Series I (D) Infrastructure Fund ­ Series I (G) Magnum Comma Fund (D) Magnum Comma Fund (G) Magnum Contra Fund (D) Magnum Contra Fund (G) Magnum Emerging Businesses Fund (D) Magnum Emerging Businesses Fund (G) Magnum Equity Fund (D) Magnum Equity Fund (G) Magnum IT Fund Magnum Midcap Fund (D) Magnum Midcap Fund (G) Magnum Multicap Fund (D) Magnum Multicap Fund (G) Magnum Multiplier Plus (D) Magnum Multiplier Plus (G) Magnum NRI ­ Flexiasset Plan (D) Magnum NRI ­ Flexiasset Plan (G) Magnum Pharma Fund (D) Magnum Pharma Fund (G) Magnum Tax Gain Scheme (D) Magnum Tax Gain Scheme (G) One India Fund (D) One India Fund (G) PSU Fund (D) PSU Fund (G) Shinsei Industry Leaders Fund (D) Industry Leaders Fund (G) Sundaram Capex Opportunities Fund (D) Capex Opportunities Fund (G) Equity Multiplier Fund (D) Equity Multiplier Fund (G) Financial Services Opportunities ­ Retail Plan (D) Financial Services Opportunities ­ Retail Plan (G) Growth Fund ­ Regular Plan (D)

15.97 31.64 24.35 83.88 12.05 16.48 12.53 17.05 32.21 17.25 32.21 32.21 11.68 13.69 11.11 12.10 11.92 11.92 17.27 38.74 19.47 23.32 18.60 22.46 12.11 15.50 10.37 10.37 17.10 25.31 23.73 59.52 17.74 39.98 33.84 44.85 23.98 18.45 24.06 14.46 19.03 54.69 86.46 30.53 30.42 37.75 45.67 43.26 63.47 11.63 11.62 10.32 10.32 12.34 12.34 13.06 24.99 11.83 14.50 16.54 20.81 13.27

such facility outside the home.

Another player BMW had planned to introduce its premium range of motorcycles in the Indian market by the end of 2010, which are likely to be priced Rs 18 lakh onwards.

They were encouraged by the good response to the existing players like Honda and Suzuki, which sell premium bikes and launched more new models such as VFR1200F (Honda) , priced at Rs 17.5 lakh and 'GSX-R1000' (Suzuki) at Rs 12.75 lakh during the year.

With the two-wheeler market booming, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter said it will set up its second plant in Rajasthan at an investment of about Rs 500 crore, while TVS Motor Company said it will invest Rs 200 crore by April next year to increase its production capacity to 28 lakh units.

BOARD MEETINGS Golden Sec Shree Renuka Sug Astra Micro Source: Indiainfoline.com

Growth Fund ­ Regular Plan (G) India Leadership Fund ­ Regular Plan (D) India Leadership Fund ­ Regular Plan (G) Media & Entertainment Opportunities ­ Retail (D) Media & Entertainment Opportunities ­ Retail (G) PSU Opportunities Fund (D) PSU Opportunities Fund (G) Rural India Fund (D) Rural India Fund (G) Select Focus ­ Retail Plan (D) Select Focus ­ Retail Plan (G) Select Midcap ­ Regular Plan (D) Select Midcap ­ Regular Plan (G) Select Small Cap Fund (D) Select Small Cap Fund (G) Select Thematic Energy Opportunities Funds (D) Select Thematic Energy Opportunities Funds (G) Tax Saver (OE) (D) Tax Saver (OE) (G)

99.33 13.76 44.86 11.72 14.85 11.68 11.68 14.48 15.90 10.22 94.43 17.82 157.26 12.55 13.47 8.51 8.51 12.45 46.46

T

Tata Capital Builder Fund (D) Capital Builder Fund (G) Contra Fund (D) Contra Fund (G) Dividend Yield Fund (D) Dividend Yield Fund (G) Equity Management Fund (D) Equity Management Fund (G) Equity Opportunities Fund ­ Plan A (D) Equity Opportunities Fund ­ Plan B (G) Equity P/E Fund (G) Equity P/E Fund ­ Trigger Option A 5% (D) Equity P/E Fund ­ Trigger Option B 10% (D) Growing Eco Infrastructure Fund ­ Plan A (D) Growing Eco Infrastructure Fund ­ Plan A (G) Growing Eco Infrastructure Fund ­ Plan B (D) Growing Eco Infrastructure Fund ­ Plan B (G) Growth Fund (Bonus) Growth Fund (D) Growth Fund (G) Infrastructure Fund (D) Infrastructure Fund (G) Infrastructure Tax Saving Fund (D) Infrastructure Tax Saving Fund (G) Pure Equity Fund (D) Pure Equity Fund (G) Select Equity Fund (D) Select Equity Fund (G) Service Industries Fund (D) Service Industries Fund (G) Tax Advantage Fund ­ 1 (D) Tax Advantage Fund ­ 1 (G) Tax Saving Fund Taurus Bonanza Fund (D) Bonanza Fund (G) Discovery Fund (D) Discovery Fund (G) Ethical Fund (Bonus) Ethical Fund (D) Ethical Fund (G) Infrastructure Fund (D) Infrastructure Fund (G) Star Share (D) Star Share (G) Tax Shield (D) Tax Shield (G)

14.49 15.52 16.16 18.37 22.09 34.10 13.12 15.18 21.87 83.41 49.35 38.99 38.83 12.33 12.33 12.63 12.63 41.18 18.13 45.32 23.31 35.38 16.25 17.17 38.97 103.57 44.18 68.33 18.77 25.17 17.11 17.11 48.76 45.26 44.96 16.57 16.56 24.33 16.43 24.34 13.84 14.76 41.95 59.58 22.41 37.78

U

UTI Banking Sector Fund (D) Banking Sector Fund (G) Contra Fund (D) Contra Fund (G) Dividend Yield Fund (D) Dividend Yield Fund (G) Energy Fund (D) Energy Fund (G) Equity Fund (D) Equity Fund (G) Equity Tax Savings Plan (D) Equity Tax Savings Plan (G) Infrastructure Advantage Fund ­ Series I (G) Infrastructure Fund (D) Infrastructure Fund (G) Leadership Equity Fund (D) Leadership Equity Fund (G) Long Term Advantage Fund (D) Long Term Advantage Fund (G) Long Term Advantage Fund ­ Series II (D) Master Plus Unit Scheme (G) Mastershare (D) Mid Cap Fund (D) Mid Cap Fund (G) Services Industries Fund (D) Services Industries Fund (G) Top 100 Fund (D) Top 100 Fund (G) Transportation and Logistics Fund (D) Transportation and Logistics Fund (G) Wealth Builder Fund ­ Series II ­ Retail Plan (D) Wealth Builder Fund ­ Series II ­ Retail Plan (G)

25.83 44.46 13.48 14.60 16.03 33.44 13.04 11.51 50.38 57.00 17.90 42.09 9.14 20.23 35.51 15.21 16.40 13.47 13.47 14.85 88.13 30.10 22.27 32.67 26.53 61.70 23.16 29.81 15.60 28.57 16.01 19.91

OHERALDO

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BIZ

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GOA, MONDAY, 20 DECEMBER, 2010

‘More equity needed in AI’

December duties

December is indeed a crucial month in the tax calendar. For companies and individuals this month is when, an instalment of advance tax is due. News from the tax department is that 50% of their budget of 4.30 lakh crore has already been reached. Corporate tax has grown more that 22% while individual income tax has grown by 10%. There is still a final instalment of advance tax to be paid. Tax Commissioners at all places were busy calling up individual big tax payers to find out how much would they pay by way of advance tax. At most stations across the country, tax budgets have already been reached. Probably the Finance Minister may raise the barrier for Direct taxes from 4.30 to 4.50 lakh crore, should there be a deficit in indirect taxation.

This is also time when the tax department is busy finalising the assessments for AY 200809. Last minute clarifications are being called for and Assessing officers and their Commissioner sit even on holidays to look at some of the bigger cases. Why are assessments kept till the end? All government departments work at the last minute and the Income tax department is no exception to this rule. In many cases these last minute assessments tend to be deleted in appeal, but this is another story!

TAX ACCOUNTING December is the month when employees are asked to give their tax calculations for the purposes of tax deduction from their salaries.

Salary earners decide on how much to invest from their salaries to save tax. This is time when they would tell the HR department of their investments to be taken into account filing calculating the tax payable. One of the better avenues of saving is the Public Provident Fund. This is a 15 year scheme open for individuals. Recently by a notification, Government has stopped Hindu Undivided Families from investing in this scheme. The maximum allowed to be invested is Rs. 70,000 each year.

The amount invested in a PPF account is deductible under Section 80C where the maximum permissible deduction is Rs 1 lakh. Some may consider interest of 8% on these deposits low. But one has to remember that looked at the fact that this interest is free of tax, the real rate works to around 11%. Of course there are many other avenues of investment open under Section 80C, such as investments in certain mutual funds and other saving modes.

A NEW DEDUCTION 80CCF In the last budget, the Finance Minster had introduced a new section 80CCF, whereby investments in specified Infrastructure bonds were eligible for deduction up to Re. 20,000.

Recently L&T Infra has come into the market with such bonds. These bonds have a 10 year duration, where the coupon or interest rate is 7.75% on a buyback after 7 years and 7.5% where the buyback is after 5 years. For those who are in the 30% tax bracket the additional deduction of Re. 20,000 would be welcome.

MAT CREDIT One of the ongoing issues that has recently been resolved by the Supreme Court relates to the question of MAT credit. Minimum Alternate Tax is paid by companies that do not have taxable profits, but only book profits. These companies are required to pay MAT or minimum alternate tax. The difference between the tax paid as MAT and tax payable under

Retail sector to witness growth PTI MUMBAI, DEC 19

The retail sector is expected to continue its growth on the back of economic recovery and the number of malls is likely to touch 280 from the present 190 by end 2012, a global real estate services firm said.

"India has added around five million sq ft of retail space in 2010 and approximately 15 million sq ft of space is lined-up to get operational in 2011-2012," CB Richard Ellis said.

While the National Capital Region (NCR) has significant vacant retail space, another four million sq ft is lined-up for 2011 in Delhi and its suburbs.

Mumbai, NCR and Bangalore will lead the retail space accumulation in the country with an almost 70 per cent share in future supply, it said.

The rents have depreciated by an average of 30-40% and are heading towards stability.

normal provisions is a credit that is allowed to be carried forward and set off in the year when tax becomes payable under normal provisions. An issue of interpretation between several corporate and the tax department related to whether this credit could be considered as advance tax – that is whether the credit was available to be set off before the computing of interest u/s 234B and C. Recently the Supreme in CIT v. Tulysian NEC, has clarified that MAT credit was to be taken into account and given credit for before arriving at income on which interest under section 234 B & C is to be levied. Hopefully this decision of the Supreme Court will settle yet another long standing dispute and bring to close several cases where additional tax was being levied since MAT credits were not been considered for the purposes of interest under 234 B & C. BUSINESS INCOME OR CAPITAL GAINS One of the perennial conflicts between the taxpayer and the taxman is the issue of income from shares – should this be taxed as business income or capital gains.

Broadly when shares are held as a source of investment, their sale is treated as income from capital gains while in the case of a broker or dealer is shares, the sale is considered as business income. Taxpayers look at minimising their tax liabilities, often attempt to treat these transactions as business or capital gains depending upon the amount of tax payable. Decisions by Courts based on various circumstances have been varied. Recently the Delhi High Court has in CIT v. PNB Finance & Industries held that even where the object of the company was to do business in shares, shares could be held as capital assets.

In this case on the basis of the company being in the business of share trading the Assessing officer held that the income from shares was business and not capital gains – capital gains attract lower tax as compared with business income. But the Appellate commissioner took the view that the income was long term capital gains. The Tribunal as later the High Court also upheld this decision. The Delhi High Court held that there can be no presumption that the acquisition of an asset by a dealer of a particular commodity is an acquisition for the purpose of his business. A dealer may acquire a commodity as a capital asset. The question is one of intention to be gathered from the evidence of conduct and dealings by the acquirer of the commodity. Based on this reasoning, the Court held that although the company was a dealer in shares, the particular sale was capital gains based on the fact that these shares were held as investment. The Court based its decision on a Circular dated 15th June 2007 where the CBDT emphasized that assesses can have two portfolios one for their investments as also another a trading portfolio – thus income could be both business and capital gains.

This could be an ideal method of planning whereby an individual could allocate his shares in a manner where his incomes from shares are allocated between business income and capital gains. Tax requires both knowledge and planning – this keeps tax consultants in business!

(The author of the article is a retired Chief Commissioner of Income Tax. The views expressed by him are personal.)

Cinemax to invest Rs 100 cr PTI MUMBAI, DEC 19

Multiplex chain operator, Cinemax India Ltd plans to invest Rs 100 crore and double its screens to 200 by 2013, a top company official said here "We are investing Rs 100 crore in the next three years period. We plans more than 200 screens launching in PAN India by 2013," Cinemax India's CEO, Sunil Punjabi told PTI on the sidelines of a conference to celebrate its 13th Anniversary here. The company is investing Rs 45-50 crore in the next six months period to add 30 screens.

"The project will be financed through internal accruals and debt initially. We may also raise capital after a year, either through QIP or a follow-on issue or other fund-raising instruments," Punjabi said.

The company is in the process of phased expansion

via new setups and strategic acquisitions, Punjabi said.

Cinemax is one of the largest exhibition theatre chains in India operating 33 properties with 105 screens in 18 cities.

The company is targeting the turnover of Rs 240 crore in FY 11 and Rs 380 crore in FY 12. The company has registered a turnover of Rs 180 crore in FY 10.

"We are growing into tier-II and tier-III towns. Our Delhi multiplex with the gaming zone will be up in March 2011," Punjabi said.

From a growth perspective, the company is focusing more into markets where traditionally cinema consumption has been fairly high.

One of the largest owners of multiplex properties in India, Cinemax also has a strong relationship base with both Indian and foreign film distributors, Punjabi said.

PTI NEW DELHI, DEC 19

With a mounting debt burden, Air India would require additional equity even after the government infuses Rs 1,200 crore in the next few weeks, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel has said.

"Further equity infusion is required. The Committee of Secretaries had also recommended an infusion of Rs 5,000 crore," he said when asked whether more equity infusion would be required after the govt grants the ailing national carrier Rs 1,200 crore in the next few weeks. The govt had infused Rs 800 crore as additional equity in Air India in the last financial year, primarily to help in reducing its huge debt burden.

Sources said the airline had asked the government for Rs 2,000 crore in the next financial year as additional equity, which has been approved by the Civil

Scams spoil midcap, small cap party PTI NEW DELHI, DEC 19

Small cap stocks can sometimes surprise by yielding large returns to investors. But 2010 brought no such luck as increments were true to their name and mid-caps too took a hit on reports of stock price manipulation in some companies.

A review from December 31, 2009 to December 16, 2010 suggests that the mid-cap index and small cap index witnessed a growth of 12.65 per cent and 9.88 per cent, respectively, while the Bombay Stock Exchange barometer Sensex outperformed with a gain of 13.74 per cent during the period.

Mid-cap and small cap saw a robust performance till November with both the indices hitting a 52-week high on November 11, but the game changed near the end of the year with a string of scams hammering the sector.

The mid-cap and small cap indices track the performance of companies with market capitalisation that are a fifth or tenth of that of blue chip firms.

A dip of 12.32 per cent and 19.20 per cent in the mid-cap and small cap index from Nov 11 to Dec 16, was primarily re-

Evok eyes Rs 400 cr Rev in India PTI MUMBAI, DEC 19

Home interior destination store, Evok, is eyeing a Rs 400 crore revenue in the next three years by increasing its footprint across the country, a top company official said.

"We are presently limited to the northern region but now are planning to increase our presence in the western and southern regions and expect to garner a revenue of about Rs 400 crore by 2013-14," COO, D K Jairath, said.

Evok is a brand of Hindware Home Retail, a 100 per cent subsidiary of HSIL, a leading sanitary ware products manufacturer with a 40 per cent market share, that forayed into the Indian home retail market in 2008. In the west, Jairath said, the company will roll-out Mega Home Stores in Mumbai and Pune, which will be operational by next month.

MBSL plans up to $600 m Capex PTI MUMBAI, DEC 19

Leading solar photovoltaic company, Moser Baer Solar (MBSL), has planned a capital expenditure of USD 500-600 million over the next three to four years for expanding its manufacturing capacity of crystalline cells and crystalline silicon modules in India, a senior company official said.

"Considering the huge potential in the solar power sector, both in the global as well as Indian markets, we have planned a capex of USD 500600 million over the next three to four years for expanding our manufacturing capacity of crystalline cells and crystalline modules," Moser Baer India's Group CFO, Yogesh Mathur,

told PTI here.

The company plans to raise the funds through a combination of debt, equity and internal accruals.

Currently, the production capacity of the company includes 90 MW of crystalline cells, 100 MW crystalline modules and 50 MW of thin films.

With the launch of the National Solar Mission (NMS), the Indian solar photovoltaic (PV) market is poised to grow to 700 MW in the next fiscal as against the 150 MW capacity in FY 11, he said.

"In the initial phase, we plan to double our capacity of silicon modules. Later we plan to expand the capacity of our thin film module to around 150 MW by 2012-13," Mathur said.

Thin film modules are best suited for meeting the solar power demand of the Indian market, he added.

The company is also looking at setting up manufacturing plants in Chennai. "We have 100 acres of land there. If we run out of space or cannot expand our capacity in Greater Noida, we will set up our plants in Chennai," he said.

Apart from manufacturing, the company would also provide EPC solutions by setting up large-scale solar farms in India.

The launch of NSM and other policy initiatives taken by several State Governments have set the stage for large-scale production of grid-connected solar power in India, he said.

"To achieve this, solar farms need to be set up to look into several technical as well as infrastructural aspects. Currently, we are a leader in providing EPC solutions. Therefore, we will not only manufacture modules and thin films but also setup solar farms and other turnkey solutions," he said.

The company also has plans to go public in the coming years, Mathur said.

"We plan to come out with an IPO in the coming years. But this will depend on the policy initiatives of the Government and further traction and advancement of implementation of solar projects, which will take shape in the next few quarters. In this situation, we will need capital for our expan-

sponsible for offsetting the gains in the rest of the year.

"Until November, the small cap and mid-cap stocks were giving fairly good returns to the investors. But, a string of scams and stocks rigging issues hit the sector badly which saw wary investors booking profit in order to thwart losses. "....next year will be crucial for these sectors. To bring back the jolted confidence of investors in the small and medium firms it is important that the scams and negativity get over from the market," Geojit BNP Paribas Research Head Alex Matthews said.

In terms of valuation, the market capitalisation (m-cap) of small cap index surged by 29,302.73 crore to 3.26 lakh crore from 2.96 lakh crore as on December 31,2009. Similarly, the valuation of mid-cap firms grew by 1.19 lakh crore to 10.57 lakh crore as on December 16, 2010 from 9.39 lakh crore as on 31 st December last year.

While the Sensex saw its market worth swelling by 3.64 lakh crore from 26.47 lakh crore (last year) to 30.11 lakh crore as on December 16.

Going was good in the midcap and small cap stocks but

the experts feel that the reports of stock price manipulations in few companies spoiled the mood of the entire sector.

"Share prices of many small and mid-cap companies had crashed in the last few days in anticipation of a crackdown by regulators on stock market operators named in the purported IB report, which had a serious dent on the entire sector," Unicon Financial Services CEO Gajendra Nagpal said.

Negativity surrounded the market with investors getting caught in the trap of number of scams, including the controversial 2G, bribery-to-loan scam, stock rigging issue.

To name a few, companies like LIC Housing Finance, Indian Bank, Money Matters Financial Services received severe drubbing from the bribery-to-loan scam.

News of stock price rigging was another dampener for these smaller companies. Ruchi Soya, K S Oils, IRB Infrastructure, Karuturi Global were badly hit by the price manipulation news.

Besides, shares of realty player Unitech and consumer durables major Videocon were beaten down as they were named in the CAG report for

various discrepancies in their 2G licence applications.

However, in a sharp contrast, the small-cap index gave a return of as much as 115 per cent, while the mid-cap index had gained nearly 100 per cent last year.

Besides, the 30-share benchmark index, Sensex gave a return of 75.3 per cent to investors in 2009.

Analysts also feel that interest of foreign institutional investors who firmly believe in the India growth story, is restricted to the blue chip stocks.

"Foreign institutional investors turned cautious after the sub-prime crisis way back in 2008. The buying sentiment was weak during the year and the trend is likely to continue next year, as these big investors prefer mostly investing in frontline stocks," CNI Research CMD Kishore P Ostwal said.

But they also insist that the new year will see the small stocks with fair valuations will grab investors' attention.

"Once the turbulence in the market would be over, the coming year should see smart performance by the quality stocks in the sector," Nagpal said.

Govt raises Rs 40k cr via disinvestment in 2010 PTI NEW DELHI, DEC 19

Having begun 2010 with a wide gap between its income and expenditure, the government diluted its stake in nine state-owned companies, including Coal India, to raise Rs 40,000 crore that helped cut borrowings.

The amount is the most raised in a year since the government began the programme of diluting minority stake or privatising vast swathes of public sector companies in 1991-92.

The year started with the follow-on public offer (FPO) of NTPC, in which the government diluted its 5 per cent stake and mopped up Rs 8,480 crore. This was followed by the FPO of Rural Electrification Corporation in the month of March.

The government offloaded 5 per cent of its stake in the company and raised Rs 882 crore, while REC issued fresh equity of 15 per cent.

In the same month, the government diluted 8.38 per cent of its stake in NMDC through FPO and mopped up Rs 9,930 crore.

The fiscal year 2010-11 started with the initial public offer of Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN) in the month of May. While the revenue mop up figure of Rs 40,000 crore is for the 12 months ending December 31, the government has targeted raising Rs 40,000 crore through disinvestment in the financial year 2010-11 running from April-March.

In his Budget for 2010-11, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee projected a fiscal deficit of 5.5 per cent for the 2010-11 fiscal, down from 6.8 per cent for the previous fiscal.

In January 2010, the Centre's overall expenditure stood at over Rs 7.83 lakh crore, while receipts were way below at around Rs 4.34 lakh crore, leading to a deficit of nearly Rs 3.5 lakh crore.

The stake dilution was part of concerted efforts to raise funds to boost government finances.

As planned, the government diluted 10 per cent of its stake in SJVN and mopped up Rs 1,062 crore.

SJVN was followed by the follow-on public offer of Engineers India, where the response was even better. The FPO of Engineers India was subscribed 13.10 times and the government kitty increased by Rs 960 crore by offloading 10 per cent in the company.

With a gap of nearly two months came the country's largest IPO - that of Coal India.

And since then the disinvestment programme has only gathered momentum.

Coal India IPO opened on October 18 and closed on October 13 and the response was overwhelming with the retail segment subscribed 2.21 times and institutional quota around 25 times.

The company, in which the government diluted 10 per cent stake, gave Rs 15,199 crore to the exchequer. It was listed on November 4.

Three companies -- Power Grid, Manganese Ore India Limited (MOIL) and Shipping Corporation -- that followed Coal India IPO were also lapped up by investors.

The Power Grid FPO was open between November 11 and November 12. Riding high on the good response from Coal India, the issue was subscribed 14.79 times, with the

retail quota getting 3.72 times oversubscription.

The issue managed to raise Rs 7,442 crore, with half of the amount going to the government kitty.

The MOIL India IPO, in which the government diluted 10 per cent stake and state governments of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra 5 per cent each, was listed on December 15.

The issue also got great response from all categories of investors and was subscribed phenomenal 55.95 times.

The IPO helped raise Rs 1,237 crore, with half the amount going to the Centre's kitty.

The FPO of Shipping Corporation, which was opened between November 30 and December 3, also attracted all categories of investors. The issue was subscribed 4.63 times, with the retail segment getting 6.28 times subscription.

Shipping Corporation issue mopped up Rs 1,164 crore fro the market, half of which went to the government.

For next year, the disinvestment programme prospect looks even better.

According to Disinvestment Secretary Sumit Bose, the government is likely to dilute its stake in 4 companies-Hindustan Copper, SAIL, ONGC and IOC--in the first quarter of next year.

While Hindustan Copper, SAIL and ONGC has got Cabinet nod for disinvestment, IOC proposal is likely to be given green signal by the government anytime soon.

And if these issues hit the market in the first quarter of next year, the target of Rs 40,000 crore is expected to surpassed.

Aviation Ministry.

Noting that Air India's actual debt burden was about Rs 18,000 crore, Patel said that "when they buy planes, definitely their debt will go up. The problem is with its working capital, which has to be raised to Rs 7,000-8,000 crore."

So, the additional debt of about Rs 10,000 crore, needs to be addressed, he said in reply to questions. The national carrier's debt on account of fleet acquisition is about Rs 20,000 crore.

Air India has also suggested that the govt provide sovereign guarantee to back the loans it has taken so far, primarily to fund its fleet expansion. Such a guarantee would help the airline restructure its debts.

The RBI recently asked the national carrier to provide a letter of support from the government due to a poor debt-equity ratio of the company.

CMIE sees real GDP growth at 9.2% PTI MUMBAI, DEC 19

India's real GDP growth in fiscal 2010-11 is likely to be at 9.2%, a leading think-tank said.

"We expect a 9.2 per cent growth in real GDP in fiscal 2010-11," the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) said. In FY 10, real GDP grew by 7.4 per cent.

According to the think-tank, all the three broad sectors of the economy -- industrial, services and agricultural and allied sectors -- are expected to fare well.

"The industrial sector (including construction) is projected to grow by 9.4 per cent in fiscal 2010-11, better than the 9.2 per cent growth in 2009-10," the CMIE said.

On the services sector, it said that the sector is projected to expand by 10 per cent this fiscal as compared to 8.6 per cent in FY 10. "The trade and transport segment will lead this growth," CMIE said.

With an impressive growth in the commodities sector, trade activities are projected to grow by a robust 10.5 per cent in 2010-11, as against a 7.3 per cent rise estimated in 2009-10 and a 6.3 per cent growth achieved in 2008-09, it said.

The agricultural and allied sector is projected to grow by 5.1 per cent and foodgrain production is projected to rise by 5.2 per cent, as compared to an estimated seven per cent decline in FY 10, the think-tank said.

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GOA, MONDAY, 20 DECEMBER, 2010

Oppn subverting Constitution by stalling proceedings: Mukherjee PTI NEW DELHI, DEC 19

Making a scathing attack on the opposition led by BJP, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today accused them of subverting the Constitution by stalling Parliament repeatedly over the 2G spectrum issue.

He also rejected the opposition demand for a JPC probe into the alleged irregularities in the 2G spectrum allocations contending that the government had handed over the case to CBI last year “where as the BJP raised the issue only in 2010”.

“You (BJP) are asking for a JPC in 2010...The CBI has been probing the 2G spectrum case since 2009. The CBI filed an FIR in the matter in October 2009,” Mukherjee said while moving the political resolution at the ongoing 83rd Congress plenary at Burari on the fringes of the national capital.

He contended that a joint parliamentary committee cannot probe any case but only make recommendation to the government.

Ruling out setting up a JPC, he said the oldest watchdog body of the country -- the public accounts committee – has been examining the 2G spectrum issue and simultaneous investigations were being carried out by the CBI, a one-man commission set up by the Telecom Ministry, Income Tax officials and the Enforcement Directorate.

“What will a JPC do? There is no rational explanation,” he said and accused the opposition of subverting the Constitution by forcing repeated adjournments of parliamentary proceedings.

“Congress men and women will rise against any attempt to subvert the parliamentary system," Mukherjee said.

In an oblique reference to Karnataka, he said the BJP had

debarred members of a state assembly who were preparing to vote against the chief minister.

On the other hand, Mukherjee said Congress had changed chief ministers and cabinet ministers even if there was a “shadow of doubt against them”.

Launching a broadside against the opposition, Mukherjee said a person who had resigned following allegations of fraud during the NDA rule had been reinstated though a probe against him was yet to clear his name in the alleged scam.

Mukherjee said the people of the country had renewed their mandate in favour of the Congress in 2009 which was larger than the one in 2004.

“Those political parties who were with us in alliance gained or retained their strength. Those who deserted us, lost. People want the Congress to lead,” he said.

Mukherjee listed threat to internal security, rise of communal forces, growing regional aspirations, politics of confrontation and terror acts aided and abetted from across the border as major challenges before the country.

Iran moves to cut food and fuel subsidies AGENCIES

TEHRAN, DEC 19

Iran has spent $100bn a year on subsidising basic commodities for decades, according to official estimates, and economists and officials have long warned this is unsustainable.

Announcing the cuts at the weekend, Mahmoud AhmadiNejad, president, tried to offer assurances to the poor, whom the regime sees as a key source of support.

In a televised address, he said the cuts would reduce wasteful consumption, save the state money and reduce the unfairness whereby richer people, who spend more, benefit most from subsidised prices.

There was some uncertainty about the impact of the cuts, with inflation already at 10 per cent. Official statements said the price of flour would be 40 times higher, petrol would cost between four and seven times more, gas five times more, and electricity and water about three times more.

The regular and riot police were out in force after the announcement, patrolling the streets of the capital, Tehran.

But, unlike in 2007, when riots erupted after cheap fuel rationing was introduced, there

Leak in engine puts off satellite launch PTI CHENNAI, DEC 19

In the second setback to the country's space programme this year, the launch of India's latest communication satellite GSAT5P tomorrow from the spaceport of Sriharikota, was deferred today after a leak in the Russian cryogenic engine on board the launch vehicle.

The mission was postponed postponed after the launch authorisation board did not give the go-ahead after a leak in one of the valves of the cryogenic engine stage was identified during the pre-countdown checks, Indian Space Research Organisation said.

The homegrown GSLV-FO6 was scheduled to blast off at 4.01 pm from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh, about 100 km from Chennai, in a 19-minute mission to put in orbit the 2310-kg satellite, intended to augment the country's communication services.

ISRO said the revised schedule for the launch would be firmed up after ascertaining the cause of the leak.

This is the second setback for ISRO after India's prestigious mission of flight testing its

maiden homegrown cryogenic engine on board GSLV-D3 failed in April this year, when the rocket deviated from its flight path.

It was the first time that India had used the indigenously built cryogenic engine, crucial to put more than two tonne class satellites in the Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit, in the failed mission.

In the GSLV-FO6, the cryogenic upper stage was procured from Russia as was the case in the first five flights of GSLV since 2001.

GSAT-5P carries 24 C-band and 12 extended C-band transponders. It was intended to augment communication services currently provided by the Indian National Satellite System (INSAT), boosting TV, telephone and telemedicine services.

The satellite, developed by ISRO Satellite Centre, Bangalore, is the fifth in the GSAT series. It has a designed mission life of 12 years.

Four predecessors of GSAT-5P were launched on board GSLV and three of them GSAT-1, GSAT2 and GSAT-3 (EDUSAT) reached the orbit successfully.

Despite all odds, Yeddyurappa was able to PTI BANGALORE, Dec 19

Allegations of corruption and and scam cast a long shadow over Karnataka during the entire year with dissidents joining the Opposition giving sleepless nights to B S Yeddyurappa, though the chief minister succeeded in retaining his chair but not without some drama.

The year will also be remembered for the country's worst air disaster in a decade when an Air India Boeing overshot Mangalore airport's tabletop runway and burst into flames on May 22, killing 158 people.

On the political front, it was charges and counter charges galore as the ruling government and Opposition crossed swords over various scams. Opposition JDS, with all vindictiveness, levelled charges against the first BJP government in the south, embarrassing the party leadership.

The opposition parties tried to put the Yeddyurappa government in the docks over illegal denotification of land by him favouring his own family members, compounding the problems of the chief minister who was facing a rebellion from a section of his own partymen.

The simmering discontent among Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rebels against the “dicta -

torial” attitude of Yeddyurappa reached its peak in October when 16 legislators, including five independents, withdrew their support to the government on the ground that they did not want to be part of the “corrupt regime”.

Yeddyurappa, however, managed to save his government from the brink of collapse by getting the rebels disqualified from their assembly membership by Speaker K G Bopaiah.

The disqualified legislators are now engaged in a legal battle challenging the action after the State High Court upheld the Speaker's decision.

Amid intense political activities, Yeddyurappa was forced to take the floor test twice in four days but emerged victori ous both times.

After he won the first trial of strength on October 11 by a voice vote amid pandemonium, Governor H R Bhardwaj rejected the outcome and recommended President's Rule. In a sudden turn of events, Bhardwaj asked Yeddyurappa to take the second floor test on October 14, after the Centre did not act on his recommendation.

Though the BJP government managed to survive its internal revolt, it had to face a series of land scams and corruption charges in the wake of the JDS releasing documents to the media to substantiate its claim.

China warns of arms race in Asia AGENCIES BEIJING, DEC 19

China is warning that it will be forced to stoke up a dangerously escalating arms race in Asia in response to Japanese plans to build a missile-defence system designed to protect the country from North Korean attacks.

Japan unveiled a sweeping update of its national defence polices on December 17, 2010 Photo: REUTERS

By Praveen Swami, Diplomatic Editor 4:37PM GMT 19 Dec 2010 said last week that it planned to purchase Patriot PAC3 interceptors, which are meant to shoot down incoming short and medium-range ballistic missiles, and to step up work on Aegis – a US-led sea-based system to protect ships and troops from ballistic missile attack.

Beijing fears that these acquisitions, though targeted at North Korea’s rogue nuclear programme, will threaten the balance of power. “Japan’s new military investments are going to transform the military balance in the region,” a Chinese diplomat said. “ will have no choice but to respond by enhancing its own capabilities.”

Jiang Yu, China’s foreign ministry spokesperson, described Japan’s plans as “irresponsible”.

Experts fear that other countries will respond as well as China. India, for example, could grow its own missile arsenal in response to a Chinese move and Pakistan would soon follow.

“China depends heavily on both conventional and nuclear-

armed ballistic missiles to offset the technological weaknesses of its armed forces,” said Ashley Tellis, a US strategic expert, “so a more robust Japanese missile defence system is a real threat to its clout.”

Japan is the second Chinese adversary to invest in US missile defence systems. In January, the US administration said anti-ballistic missile defence equipment would form part of an $6.4 billion (£4.1 billion) arms sale to Taiwan.

China, unlike the other four original nuclear-weapons states, has been rapidly expanding its much-smaller nuclear arsenal – by over 25 per cent in the last five years, Pentagon estimates claim.

Much of the expansion has been driven by fears that new US ballistic missile defences could undermine the deterrent value of Beijing’s nuclear forces.

Experts estimate that China deploys some 130 land-based nuclear-capable ballistic missiles, each capable of delivering a single warhead. Missiles like the medium-range Dong Feng-3A and DF-4 are in the processes of being replaced the more modern DF 21.

The new DF-41 missile that China is developing is expected to be capable of carrying multiple independently-targeted warheads, which are also hard to intercept.

China is simultaneously expanding its fleet of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines, which can lurk underwater for extended periods of time and are almost undetectable.

The allegations of illegal denotification of land favouring his family members including sons and son-in-law and allotment of lands to them triggered demands for his ouster.

Karnataka witnessed a caste war for the first time in its postindependent political history with a section of seers of Lingayat mutts rallying around Yeddyurappa to save his chair

after the BJP high command made a near unanimous resolve to axe him over charges of corruption.

The BJP high command was virtually left with no option and allowed Yeddyurappa to continue in power after he threatened to pull down the government in the wake of his own castemen throwing their lot behind him.

FrOM page 1 Power to all by 2011

emergency services departments.

Kamat during his half an hour long speech also announced a scheme providing shelter for the homeless children.

The chief minister said that the State will initiate a process to have an arbitration centre along with a convention centre, which will give a platform to performing artists in the State.

Admitting that the dust pollution due to mining activity is bothering the locals, Kamat said that mining corridors would be constructed which will shift the ore laden trucks from the main roads.

“The plans will come out very soon,” he said.

The chief minister has appealed the people to support government in their project to expand the existing national highway. He said that the highway expansion would be done without affecting the common people.

“We will see that minimum number of houses is demolished.

Even if we have to acquire land or houses for the expansion, we will be paying them as per the market price,” Kamat said adding that the government is working out a land acquisition policy based on the Haryana and Uttar Pradesh models.

He also urged people to help the government in preserving the environment. “We have already notified Regional Plan 2021 for Pernem and Canacona taluka’s and very soon the rest of the talukas would be covered. But it’s not just the duty of the government but the common man also needs to help us in protecting our environment,” Kamat observed.

Earlier, ushering in the golden jubilee year of the State’s liberation, Kamat paid tributes to Ram Manohar Lohia, Bahusaheb Bandodkar and all those freedom fighters who laid their lives for the liberation of Goa as well as played great role in its progress.

The celebration which was marked by cultural programmes by the school children across the State was witnessed by legislative assembly speaker Pratapsingh Rane, Chairperson of Bal Bhavan Vijayadevi Rane, leader of opposition Manohar Parrikar, Bharatiya Janata Party Member of Parliament Shripad Naik, Transport Minister Ramkrishna Dhawalikar and other political party legislators .

During the celebration, Kamat awarded the Chief Minister’s Police (gold) medal for meritorious service to Superintendent of Police (SP) Vishram Borkar, SP Tony Fernandes, Deputy Superintendent of Police (crime branch) Chandrakant Salgaonkar and Chandrashekhar Bicholkar.

Home Guards namely Sarita Naik, Sudhakar Gaonkar (Margao), Mulla Muzawar (Ponda) and Vijay Mandrekar (Mapusa) were also awarded for their bravery.

Apart from these awards, the awards for best anganwadi worker, best farmer, best information technology man, best social worker, disabled awards and fire service medals were also given .

Focus shifts to Delhi

Digambar Kamat and other ministers busy celebrating Goa Liberation Day. On the NCP front too, there was not much activity.

Sources stated that Praful Patel had spoken to Kamat on Saturday night over phone but what transpired in the conversation is not known.

AICC Goa desk in-charge B K Hariprasad when contacted by Herald only said “A decision on dropping would be done only after Congress President Sonia Gandhi gives the nod.”

Cong unveils five-point

Gandhi unveiled a five-point action plan to battle corruption by fast-tracking all cases against public servants including politicians “like us”.

She called for taking forward the proposal of State-funding of elections, legislative and clear procedures to ensure transparency in public procurement and shedding of discretionary powers by chief ministers and all ministers, including at the Centre, especially in land allotments as they “breed corruption”.

An open competitive system of exploiting natural resources was also needed, she said.

Sonia Gandhi having laid the roadmap to battle corruption, the government headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is expected to follow up by taking executive action.

The conclave was also being held against the backdrop of the controversy surrounding Rahul Gandhi’s remarks to US Ambassador Timothy Roemer Hindu radicalism posed a bigger threat than terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba.

Rahul Gandhi confined his speech to corruption without touching on the issue communalism and terror.

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GOA, MONDAY, 20 DECEMBER, 2010

Wen vows to stand by Pak in dealing with all challenges PTI ISLAMABAD, DEC 19

Voicing opposition to “dual standards” in dealing with terrorism, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Sunday said the menace must not be linked to any particular countr y or religion, as he pledged to stand by ‘all-weather’ friend Pakistan in confronting all challenges.

“Let’s stand together with a new confidence and begin a new era of progress and prosperity by jointly confronting all challenges,” Wen said during his address to a specially convened joint sitting of the two houses of Pakistan’s Parliament.

Noting that terrorism must not be linked to any country or religion, he said: “There should be no dual standards in this regard.” He also called for efforts to address the “real reasons” behind terrorism.

“China’s stance is clear and consistent. China, while standing along with Pakistan and the international community, is making sincere efforts to promote cooperation in this regard,” Wen said before winding up his 3-day visit.

He reiterated that Pakistan and China are “all-weather strategic partners and share the sorrows and joys of each other as close brothers”, as members

Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao following their meeting in Islamabad, Pakistan.

of the Senate and National Assembly thumped their desks.

Both countries had reached this stage in their ties after passing through difficult phases, he said.

He said people in Pakistan say that a good neighbour is a blessing, while “we in China say it is better to have a good neighbour than a relative who lives far away”.

Wen expressed the belief that the Pakistani people will be able to surmount all the difficulties they are currently facing and assured that “the Chinese government and people will firmly

stand by you to face all challenges together”.

Wen, the first Chinese leader and sixth foreign dignitary to address a joint sitting of Pakistan's Parliament, began his speech by greeting the parliamentarians with an “As salamo-alaikum” (Peace be upon you).

He was also cheered when he said in Urdu, “Pak-China dosti zindabad” (Long live Pak-China friendship).

China will continue to enhance interaction with Pakistan in all spheres, he said.

Though Pakistan is passing

through a difficult phase as it is facing many challenges and problems, the government and people are “united and moving forward to safeguard the solidarity, prosperity and sovereignty of the country,” Wen noted.

He said it was the joint strategic vision of China and Pakistan to have an all-weather strategic partnership and this is “in conformity with the national interests of the peoples of the two countries. It would help promote peace, stability and prosperity of the region.”

Wen also pledged that bilateral ties will get “more deeper, closer and stronger”.

He described the friendship between the two countries as a pine tree that remains evergreen despite the harshest winters and as a strong horse whose worth is known only when it accomplishes a long journey.

Wen assured Pakistan that China would assist it in rebuilding infrastructure damaged during this year’s unprecedented floods. “China will fulfil all promises made to Pakistan in this regard,” he said.

China also supports Pakistan’s economic sovereignty and is keen to see it make progress in all spheres through enhanced trade and business, he added.

Pak Army will ‘possibly’ succeed in tackling Taliban: Mullen AGENCIES KABUL, DEC 19

Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, remains positive that the Pakistani military will ‘very possibly’ succeed in shutting down Taliban hideouts on its soil to prevent terrorists from moving back and forth across the porous border with

Afghanistan.

“I certainly think it is very possible that the Pakistani military will achieve the goal,” the Daily Times quoted Mullen, as saying.

He acknowledged that fixing this problem was critical to making progress in the war on terror, adding that he was encouraged by what Pakistan had already done to go after terrorists on its side of the border.

Admiral Mullen was talking to reporters in the Afghan capital alongside Karl Eikenberry, the US Ambassador to Afghanistan, who said the existence of terrorist sanctu-

aries in Pakistan “makes delivery of peace and stability here in Afghanistan very difficult”.

Mullen also defended the country’s recent Afghan war review against critics, telling a press conference in Kabul that the United States was “getting there” in combating a nine-year Taliban terrorism, albeit “slowly and unevenly”.

“I can tell you this, the review just conducted was thoroughly, even brutally, honest,” Admiral Mullen said. “Others will no doubt, and have taken a more jaundiced view of our situation.”

Pakistani song about dating ‘burqa-woman’ draws flak PTI ISLAMABAD, DEC 19

A song that delves into the “will-she”, “won’t she” suspense of dating a burqa-clad woman is rubbing a lot of Pakistanis the wrong way.

T h e v i d e o o f “ B u rq a Woman”, the song by stand-up comic Saad Haroon set to the melody of the classic Roy Orbison hit “Pretty Woman”, features a burqa-wearing woman who eventually does end the suspense by texting her “yes” to her “sweetu” without of course unveiling herself!

Though many have liked the video posted on Youtube for what it was intended to be a social satire some have objected to the description of the burqa-clad women as “desi penguins” and see it as an attack on Islamic values.

Haroon, who is tickled by the many hate comments and finds them funnier than his goofy parody, said the song is

actually an introduction to a television show that is about to air very soon.

“It is a new show that has been filmed in New York, London, Dubai and all over Pakistan. It is over 20 stand-up comedians talking about life and comedy over 13 episodes!

So we are very excited about it and it will hopefully be on air soon,” Haroon told a local magazine.

But soon after Haroon uploaded the song on Youtube, a person using the name ziatabarak posted: “This is not funny! Shame on you”.

Another comment read, “You are extremely unfunny!”

Soon enough, Haroon was accused of mocking Islam and its beliefs. “... what right does anyone have to mock a religion and its beliefs... these women (are burqa-clad) by their own will.

It’s not like they have guns to their heads...,” posted another

viewer.

A few bowled for Haroon too.

“He isn’t making fun of Islamic values, he’s making fun of hypocrisy. It’s aimed at the outward modesty of a hypothetical burqa-wearing female who is outwardly modest but doesn’t see anything wrong with a little bit of fun texting when out of the public eye...

“Are you honestly telling me you don’t know any girls like this whether they wear burqas or not.”

“Why can’t you see it as just that? Instead of an attack on the values of the Ummah?” went one comment.

Another comment in Haroon’s favour read: “This was so funny, I had tears running down my face... Your belief system should not crumble just because someone sees humour in their own beliefs...

Thanks for this brilliant bit of social satire!”

Ivory Coast’s Gbagbo tells UN to leave; Ban refuses Reuters

ABIDJAN/UNITED NATIONS, DEC 19

Ivory Coast’s incumbent leader Laurent Gbagbo ordered UN and French troops to leave the country, but UN chief Ban Kimoon rejected the demand, saying his blue helmets would Laurent Gbagbo Ban Ki-moon not budge. peacekeeping Both the United Nations and the former colonial power, force had no intention of pulling France, have urged Gbagbo to out of Ivory Coast, the world's concede defeat in a November top cocoa producer.

“The Secretary-General (Ban 28 poll, which was meant to heal the wounds of the West Ki-moon) is aware of statements African state's 2002-03 civil war by Gbagbo’s spokesperson callbut has instead reopened them. ing for the withdrawal of the Spokeswoman Jacqueline UN Operation in Cote d’Ivoire Oble read a statement on state (UNOCI),” Haq said.

“UNOCI will fulfill its mandate television on Saturday saying the government wanted the and will continue to monitor UNOCI and LICORNE missions and document any human rights forces to leave Ivory Coast, “and violations, incitement to hatred is opposed to any renewal of and violence, or attacks on UN peacekeepers,” Haq said in a their mandate.”

“UNOCI has interfered seri- statement.

Ban has said that Gbagbo must ously in the internal affairs of step down and hand power to Ivory Coast,” she said.

Ban responded with his own opposition leader Alassane Ouats t a t e m e n t i s s u e d b y U N tara, who the United Nations says spokesman Farhan Haq, who won the run-off election.

The country has been in turmade clear that the UNOCI-

moil since Gbagbo claimed victory in the election with backing from the pro-Gbagbo Constitutional Council, the nation’s highest legal body, rejecting as fraudulent results showing that he had lost by nearly 8 percentage points to Ouattara.

Almost all world leaders have also recognised Ouattara’s victory and demanded that Gbagbo step down.

The UN mission includes some 10,000 soldiers and police, and is supported by the French LICORNE force. Hundreds of peacekeepers have been deployed to defend Ouattara’s makeshift headquarters in Abidjan’s lagoon-side Golf Hotel.

At least 20 people were killed in clashes between pro-Ouattara marchers and security forces.

Former rebels supporting Ouattara also briefly exchanged fire with government soldiers.

Several Western diplomats in New York told Reuters that Gbago had no legal authority to order UN and French peacekeepers out of the country since he lost the election.

Philippines fire kills 15, many nursing students AGENCIES MANILA, DEC 19

A fire rapidly swept through a budget hotel in the northern Philippines early Sunday, burning to death 15 people — several crammed in bathrooms where they fled in panic — and injuring 12 others. Many of the victims were nursing students in town to take a licensing exam, officials said.

Some firefighters, moved by the sight of the badly burned bodies in the upper floors of the five-story hotel, were moved to tears and prayed before retrieving the remains, fire investigator Daniel Abana said. The fire raged for eight hours and gutted the Bed and Breakfast Pension House in Cagayan province’s capital of Tuguegarao city.

The students who survived the fire went on to take the exam on Sunday, including one who showed up in slippers and sleeping clothes.

Relatives grieved at a morgue where remains of victims, 14 burned beyond recognition, were brought. Some fainted as body bags were brought into a funeral parlour.

“Their families spent fortunes to send these children to school only to see them end that way,” Abana said.

Commandos to guard Indian Mission in Yemen PTI NEW DELHI, DEC 19

India has decided to send over 100 specially trained commandos to protect its mission in Yemen amid rising threats from terror groups including banned al-Qaeda in that country.

The deployment of Indian securitymen in the southwest Asian country comes at a time when the government has ordered “maximum security” for Indian Missions and other assets in Afghanistan in the wake of a heightened threat from Taliban and other Pakistan-based terror groups which could carry out a wave of attacks, including car bomb blasts.

The Indian Embassy in Yemen

and its Chancery are located in the southern part of the country at ‘Sana A’.

The elite contingent, drawn from paramilitary force Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), will be deployed soon at the Embassy after necessary clearances from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), official sources said.

The personnel have been trained in VIP, mobile and static security duties and would also deliver technical support responsibilities, they said.

An assessment report on the present security situation in context of the Embassy and the deployment of the commandos has already been forwarded to the Ministry of Home Affairs,

Lanka lifts ban on UN war crime panel visit Reuters

COLOMBO, DEC 19

Sri Lanka said on Sunday it would allow the United Nations to send a representative to a locally appointed war crimes panel, reversing an earlier ban on international involvement, but analysts said the move would do little to add credibility to the commission.

Analysts described the government statement as a small, and ineffectual, concession to demands

by Western governments and human rights groups for an international probe into the military’s May 2009 crushing defeat of the Tamil Tiger separatists after a quartercentury of civil war.

The island nation had rejected a three-member UN panel by Ban Ki-moon to look into possible war crimes in the 25-year war and ruled out visas for members of the panel if they wanted to visit Sri Lanka for any investigations.

But a statement by the foreign ministry said the government would now welcome UN involve-

ment in the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC), a local panel appointed

by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to probe the end of the war and which has been criticised by human rights groups as lacking independence.

“In the event of the panel of the Secretary-General wishing to present representations to the commission, the Ministry of External Affairs will make the arrangements that are necessary to enable the panel to do so,” the Ministry said in a statement.

“This position has already been conveyed through diplomatic channels, to the United Nations in New York,” the ministry added, without giving any details.

Analysts described the government statement as a small, and ineffectual, concession to demands by Western governments and human rights groups for an international probe into the military’s May 2009 crushing defeat of the Tamil Tiger separatists after a quarter-century of civil war.

Sri Lanka’s failure to set up an independent probe into the alleged war crimes has already cost the island nation 150 million dollar worth trade concession from the European Union annually. Economists also said it is hampering foreign investment.

aPPoINtmeNts

the sources said.

The almost 40000-personnel strong SSB guards the IndoNepal and Indo-Bhutan borders and is a vital intelligence gathering force at these ‘open’ borders.

A decision was taken on the deployment of Indian guards to Yemen after a need was felt to protect the Embassy from any possible terror or militant strike, they said.

The contingent has also been trained in vehicle driving, unarmed combat and providing proximate security to the officials and staff of the Indian Em-

aPPoINtmeNts

bassy.

The Yemeni government has been fighting against Houthi rebels in the North of the country since 2004 and the fighting, which originated in Saada, has spread to the neighbouring areas of al-Jawf, Amran, and Hajja.

aPPoINtmeNts

Pg 16 ALLAN NATIONAL MOTOCROSS KING

SPORTS Anjuna Gym win HERALD SPORTS REPORTER MAPUSA, DEC 19

A good display from Anjuna Gymkhana ensured they took all three points defeating ABC Arambol 10-1 in GFA’s U-16 league at Tembi ground, Anjuna on Sunday.

Anjuna led 2-0 at the breather.

Rama Parsekar and Sahil Shirodkar bagged three goals each, while Satguru Talkatkar netted a brace. Nitesh Salgaonkar and Viraj Salgaonkar scored one each.

Austin scored a consolation goal for ABC. ABC‘s afternoon worsened when Lobo was sent off ten minutes from the end.

By this stage Anjuna had already punted in eight goals and were home and dry.

At Poriat ground, Goa United Sports Academy overcame FC Sanquelim 14-0. Dale Nunes, Aniket Sandeep and Alsiter Fernandes were all credited with three goals each. Ashwin D’Souza and Alwin D’souza scored a brace each and Agnelo Fernandes also got his name on the scoresheet for Goa United.

GOA, Monday, 20 December, 2010

l Goan

rider records grand double, creates history

HERALD SPORTS REPORTER PANJIM, DEC 19

Goa’s ace rider, Allan Sequeira rode majestically in both motos at TVS Sports and Tourism Goa Gold Cup FMSCI’s final event organised by Goa Motorsports Association and Gomes Sports Academy at Gomes Race Track, Annavaddo, Candolim on Sunday.

Allan, in the process, rewrote Goa’s sports history becoming the first and only Goan to annex the National Motocross title and record a double crown as he had last Sunday won the National Supercross title in Pune.

Such a feat is unparalleled in the history of Indian motorsports.

It was US’ trained Revat Dhillon who had promised to give the competitors a ride for their money, but it proved to be false as it was Allan, who cleverly outpaced and outclassed the Delhi stuntman in both motos.

It was only in the first moto that Revat looked like challenging Allan, being a close second until the last but one round, when Vishal Bargujee took over with Allan clear in the lead.

Allan did not have a perfect start in the second, being sixth at the end of the first round. It was Goa’s Javed Shaikh who took an impressive lead in the second moto and looked like he would emerge winner, going by the furious pace he set up.

At the start of the third round, Allan managed to climb up to the second behind Javed and it was a neck-to-neck fight until the penultimate round, when Allan took the inner of the curve as Javed moved to the outer side and threafter it was Allan all the way.

Allan Sequeira proudly displays the trophies alongwith his sons, Ashley Gomes, Cheryl at Candolim.

Photo: Jovito Lopes

Fans and supporters of Allan Sequeira make a happy picture after the Goan ace rider was crowned Nat Motocross champ at Candolim on Sunday.

Photo: Jovito Lopes

It was surprising that Javed had some indecent exchange of words with Allan when the later raced to the front at the sharp curve. But worse still was Javed’s indecent gesture aimed at Allan’s supporters from Margao and Navelim who were waving flags and rooting for their icon, when the rider realized that Allan had overtaken him finally.

It was unfortunate that Javed, who had good support from the crowd had a fall in the first moto and could not complete it.

Allan remarked.

Allan congratulated Ashley Gomes for holding the event in a professional manner and for giving him a chance to prove his mettle. “Organising such events and that too in a highly efficient manner is no small job.

It entails lot of hard work and sacrifice and this fact alone needs to be appreciated from Ashley,” said Allan.

Having set a new double record, which will be pretty hard to emulate, Allan was awarded

Prez, PM, Sonia, Lata salute Sachin PTI NEW DELHI, DEC 19

Allan won the third and final leg and tallied a solid 103 points to emerge overall National champ.

His only competitor for the title was Jatin Jain of Nagpur, but the rider had a nasty fall at the practice session yesterday and had to undergo a major surgery on the knee. Jatin finished with 66 points to finish overall second. Maninder Singh and Badal Doshi tallied 63 points each overall.

Allan was a picture of confidence today. He rode majestically and stamped his class as

he did the jumps with aplomb.

“It’s a pity that Jatin got injured.

I had prepared for the event systematically and rigorously. This was the best race of mine technically. It was a great event and I dedicate it to Goa and Goans.

My fans and supporters thronged in very large numbers from Margao as well as Navelim.

My entire family members were also present. My mother made it to the event for the first time ever. She has been my big support alongwith my wife Cheryl,”

Rs 72,000 by Standley Sequeira and Queine Sequeira, both from UK, so as to enable Allan to buy a new two-wheeler since he is riding on a borrowed bike. It was presented by Jayant Naik and Ashley Gomes.

Results: MX 2 – 1st Allan Sequeira 37 points; 2nd Maninder Singh 28 points. 3rd Vishal Barguje 28 points.

Group C (Indian amateurs): 1st Vishal Barguje 20 points; 2nd Amrut Dudhane 17 points;

3rd Sumit Yeware 15 points.

Overall national champion: Allan Sequeira 103 points.

Ashley Gomes,GMSA and GSA president gave away the medals and trophies.

Stunts were performed by TVS national champ Santosh, Stefan Trudsan of Sweden and Revat Dhillon which kept the large Sunday crowd on their toes.

Floor Fillers with Miss Goa 2010 Sparsha Deshpande provided high energy entertainment.

Robinson tops Goa River Marathon

President Pratibha Patil, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, BJP boss Nitin Gadkari and melody queen Lata Mangeshkar tonight hailed Sachin Tendulkar for being the first man to notch 50 Test tons, calling his feat ‘amazing, remarkable and historic’.

Robinson Kwenot, Sidappa Chandrapa, Ravindra Khade.

HERALD REPORTER VASCO, DEC 19

Robinson Kwenot from Kenya emerged winner at the first ‘Goa River Half Marathon’ clocking 1.08.15 while Indian Railways Sidappa Chandrapa (1:09:29) from Mumbai and Ravindra Khade (1:10:01) from Kholapur took the 2nd and 3rd places respectively in the 21km event organised by Vasco Sports Club in collaboration with Goa Shipyard from Baina Beach, here.

The event was a roaring success with the runners dubbing it as one the best marathons.

“Though I am a full marathon runner and may best timing in half marathon is 1.06, I took it a little longer time today,” said Robinson who added that he was delighted to take the top honours.

Robinson maintained his lead throughout with Sidappa Chandrapa close on his heels all the time.

Ravindra Khade, who finished

Photo M Prabhav

third said: “This is my first major event and I have finished third which is very satisfactory.”

Nearly 400 participated in half marathon, both young and old with Bollywood actor Gul Panag finishing the race within two hours.

The Goan athletes who excelled were Clemente Francisco, Sharnifa D’Costa who secured the third place in open women’s category. Among Goans she came first.

Actor Gul Panag doing the half marathon on Sunday.

Photo M Prabhav

Results: Men: Robinson Kwenot, Sidappa Chandrappa, Ravindra Khade.

Women’s open: Vijaymala Patil (1:25:55), Sudha Mani (1:25:56), Sharnifa D’Costa (1:44:02).

Veterans men: Srinath B (1:30:55), Kenneth Skea (1:35:22), Vasudevan (1:40:35).

Veterans women: Corina B (2:01:27), Nayantara Lima Leitao (2:10:42), Jaya Kulkarni (2:25:21).

Men Goa: Clemente Francisco

(1:15:51). Women Goa: Sharnifa D’Costa (1:43:27).

The winners in main event men and women open were awarded Rs 60,000 each and trophies, the runner-up Rs 40,000 and trophies and the third prize winner Rs 25,000.

GSL Chief Managing Director, Vineet Bakshi along with NRB chairman Narayan (Nana) Bandekar, Rajaram Bandekar, South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha, Gul Panag distributed the prizes.

Young, old join Vasco charity walk

Nana Bandekar flagging off the charity walk at Baian Beach on Sunday.

HERALD REPORTER VASCO, DEC 19

Nearly 2000 boys and girls, men and women braved the chill and participated in 5km charity walk/fun run organised by Vasco Sports Club from Baina Beach here on Sunday.

Young and old, including an 86-year-old resident from Sada and a 70-year old lady from Old Goa rubbed shoulders as they happily participated inn the

Dempo Jrs top

MARGAO (HC) --Dempo Sports Club Juniors prevailed over Corps of Signals 5-4 via the tiebreaker to win the Festival Football Cup organised by Curtorim Gymkhana at Curtorim ground on Saturday. The teams were tied 1-1at full time.

Dempo shot into the lead in the 30th minute through Roy Colaco. Crossing over, Corps of Signals neutralised the lead through Budi Bahadur.

Dempo had the last laugh in the tie-breaker. Milagres Rodrigues, panch and ex-sarpanch of Curtorim was the chief guest. Caetano Rebello was the guest of honour.

sporting extravaganza.

Undoubtedly, the theme ‘Run for Green Goa’ generated an overwhelming response with participants carrying banners “Run for Green Goa”, while some creative massages were printed on T-shirts. The organisers distributed saplings to the runners.

It was a carnival-like atmosphere with DJs and bands, including a traditional Goan brass band, enlivening the event.

Photo: M Prabhav

“Thank you Goa for showing an overwhelming response. We would make an effort that this event would gain in stature in the years to come,” said Vasco Club president, Nitin Bandekar.

“It’s been fun running in Goa, the event had passionate runners and such an event would certainly boost the talent in India,” said celebrity runner Gul Panag who congratulated Vasco Club for their wonderful thought.

Goa Shipyard Limited’s Chief Managing Director Vice-Admiral Vineet Bakshi assured that they would be glad to associate with the event in future also, since they were the title sponsors.

Nitin Bandekar welcomed.

Rakesh Unni proposed the vote of thanks.

Earlier, GSL Managing Director Vineet Bakshi flagged off the half marathon.Thecharitywalkwasflagged off by Narayan (Nana) Bandekar.

Schools badminton camp probables HERALD SPORTS DESK

PANJIM (HSD) -- The DSYA has shortlisted the following probables to attend the pre-National badminton U-14, U-17 and U-19 boys and girls coaching camp to select the State team for the 56th National School Games in Chandigarh from January 7 to 12.

U-14 girls: Pranjal Chimulkar, Riya Kossambe, Anura Prabhudessai, Malati Dani (A J de Almeida, Ponda), Emilia Silveira (Presentation Convent, Margao).

U-14 boys: Dhruv Angle (Manovikas, Margao), Tejan Fallary, Sainath Kamat (Bhatikar, Margao),

Pranav Silimkhan (Mustifund, Panjim), Varad Karekar (IVBD, Ponda).

U-17 girls: Astha Gupta, Diksha Sardesai (Rosary, Mira Mar), Dalreen Fernandes (Bhatikar, Margao), Hetal Kenaudekar (Deepvihar, Vasco), Deepika Vasudeva (Manovikas, Margao).

U-17 boys:Ashish Narvekar (Holy Family, Porvorim), Saish Salelkar (Mahila Nutan, Margao), Shashank Desai (Mustifund, Panjim), Rudra Sanvordekar (Loyola, Margao), Anand Kandolkar (People’s, Panjim).

U-19 girls: Kaushya Sirsat (Chogule, Margao), Riddhi Naik

(St Xaviers, Mapusa), Radhika Gujar (GVM’s Ponda), Alisha Volvoikar (DMS, Mapusa).

U-19 boys: Krishnaraj Gauns, Chirag Narvekar (St Xavier, Mapusa), Nagesh Naik (DMS, Map u s a ) , R a u n a k Ve r n e k a r (Government, Margao), Sharmad Mahajan (GVM’s, Ponda).

Participants will have to attend the camp at Multipurpose hall, Fatorda, Margao from December 20 to January 2 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. They may report to P D Naik Desai, APEO at 2.30 p.m. with full kit.

GFA U-16: Colmorod R a t w a d d o S C v. Ro s s man Cruz Nagoa SC, Rosary ground; St Domn i c S a v i o S C v. C l u b e Athletico de Parra, Calvim ground. Kick off 4 p.m.

GFA U-14: Dunes SC v.

St Christopher SC Morjim ground; Jawahar Club v.

Fr Agnel Youth Center, Pilar ground. Kick off 4 p.m.

G FA 2 n d d i v i s i o n : M u n d i v e l S C v. C A C Cansaulim, Tilak Maidan, Vasco, 4 p.m.

1st All-Goa Invitational Lalit Suri Football Cup-2010: The Lalit ( W h i t e ) , C a n a c o n a v.

Bachelor Boys of Salcete, Raia, 3 p.m; Don Bosco Fatorda v. Milbern-Ambelim, 4.30 p.m. Canacona.

Guardian Angel High School and Guardian Angel Primary and Preprimar y school, Curchorem: Annual sports d a y, Figueiredo ground, Curchorem, 3 p.m.

2nd L outulim Panchayat Cup soccer: UC Utorda v. Fr Agnel SC, Paroda, Montir ground, 4 pm.

Pg 17

SPORTS

Inter Milan win world title

ment -- although UEFA's representatives had eight South Americans and one European champions Inter Milan won African in their starting line-up. the Club World Cup and brought some Mazembe, from Democratic Repubrelief to beleaguered coach Rafael Benlic of Congo, were the first team from itez when they brushed aside Africa's outside Europe and South America to TP Mazembe 3-0 in the final on Saturreach the final since the tournament day. was started in its current format in First-half goals from Goran Pan2005. dev and Samuel Eto'o and a late Pandev sent Inter on their way when strike by substitute Jonathan Biabihe ran onto a fine pass by Eto'o to slip any gave the Italian team their third the ball past goalkeeper Muteba Kidiworld title after they won the foraba and open the scoring in the 13th mer Intercontinental Cup in 1964 minute. and 1965.

Four minutes later, Cameroon striker Benitez, under fire before the tourEto'o broke through on his own to nament, used the victory as a platform steer the second past Kidiaba, who to ask for full support from the club had kept clean sheets for the African and signings to strengthen an aging champions in their previous two squad. Inter were 13 points off the matches. pace in Serie A before the weekend's Biabiany beat the offside trap to matches. reach a long pass out of defence and It was the fourth time in a row a Inter Milan's players celebrate with the trophy after beating round Kidiaba for the third in the 85th European team has won the tourna- TP Mazembe at Zayed Sports City on Saturday minute.

AGENCIES MILAN, DEC 19

Barca crush derby rivals Espanyol AGENCIES BARCELONA, DEC 19

Leaders Barcelona scored five goals away at their city rivals Espanyol for the first time as they made light of a potentially tricky city derby on Saturday.

Pedro and David Villa scored two apiece and Xavi added the other as Barcelona won 5-1 to make it 10 wins in a row in all competitions and extend their unbeaten run to 22.

Espanyol's Pablo Osvaldo had briefly threatened something of a comeback making it 3-1 in the 63rd, when he became the first player to beat Victor Valdes in seven games, but the ever-hungry Barca snuffed out their revival with two more goals.

LA LIGA Espanyol ..............1 Villarreal ..............3 Levante ................1 Deportivo ............1 Real Sociedad ......1 Earlier, Villarreal broke clear in third with a 3-1 victory over Real Mallorca, climbing on to 33 points, five ahead of Valencia and Espanyol.

Valencia moved above Espanyol on goal difference into fourth place after Aritz Aduriz pounced on an error to net a last-minute goal for a 2-1 win at Real Sociedad in the late game.

At Cornella-El Prat, Espanyol fans

Barcelona ..............5 Mallorca ..................1 Athletic Bilbao ......2 Sporting Gijon ......1 Valencia ..................2 gave Barca's Andres Iniesta a standing ovation before kickoff and later when he was substituted, in recognition of the Spain midfielder's gesture after scoring the winning goal in the World Cup final.

Earlier, a superb finish from striker Nilmar topped off Villarreal's win at home to Mallorca.

The Brazilian raced through onto Borja Valero's pass in the 51st minute and, under pres-

sure, lobbed visiting goalkeeper Dudu Aouate to score his 10th goal of the season.

Villarreal's neat possession football is reminiscent of Barca's and one such passage of play ended with Santi Cazorla volleying home in the 11th minute.

Jonathan de Guzman equalised against the run of play with a spectacular shot in the 28th minute, but it was a rare sight of goal for the visitors and Italy's Giuseppe Rossi restored Villarreal's advantage from the penalty spot in the 35th.

In other games, Athletic Bilbao climbed to sixth on 25 points after a 2-1 away at Levante and Deportivo Coruna drew 1-1 at home with Sporting Gijon.

Lazio, Napoli win; Milan lose

SERIE A Lazio ....................3 Parma ..................0 Catania ................1 Chievo ..................1 Bari ......................1 Napoli ..................1 Cesena ................1 AC Milan ..............0 AGENCIES MILAN, DEC 19

Lazio and Napoli surged three points behind leaders AC Milan after both sides triumphed in a day of high late drama in Serie

Udinese ..................2 Bologna ..................0 Brescia ..................0 Juventus ................1 Palermo ..................1 Lecce ......................0 Cagliari ..................0 Roma ......................1 A’s last Sunday of action before the mid-season break.

Milan lost 1-0 at home to AS Roma, in fifth place, after striker Marco Borriello burst his former club's bubble and put his new side

back in the title picture at a freezing San Siro on Saturday.

Fourth-placed Juventus could have joined Lazio and Napoli on 33 points had they not been pegged back late on in a 1-1 draw at Chievo.

Serie A top scorer Edinson Cavani rifled in from 25 metres in injury time to give Napoli a 1-0 home win over lowly Lecce and spark wild scenes of celebration at the San Paolo where the victory had looked like it would never come.

Last term’s relegation candidates Lazio overcame Udinese 3-2 at home to continue their fairytale season thanks to Cristian Zapata’s own goal two min-

Felipe Neri re-elected CRCC chief

The new executive committee of CRCC with Felipe Neri Rodrigues, Constancio Fernandes, Valentino Baretto, Cyril Leitao, Maurcio Afonso, Felix Baretto, Joseph Dias, Seby Soares among others.

HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARGAO, DEC 19

Water Resources Minister Fel i p e N e r i Ro d r i g u e s w a s elected president of Clube Recreativo e Cultural de Chinchinim for the consecutive third term defeating Chalton Savio Furtado by 56 votes at the general election at the club premises, Chinchinim on Sunday. The score was 98-42 in favour of Neri.

It was a cakewalk for Felipe Neri at the meeting attended by 144 members.

Filipe Neri’s panel made a clean sweep wresting all the posts. Incidentally Chalton suffered another defeat losing the election to the post of executive member.

The election of vice-president Cyril Leitao was on the expected lines. He defeated Sanny D’Costa after polling 76 votes.

Esmeraldo Gomes beat Martins Franco Berne for the post of chairman of General Assembly. The score was 98-42 in favour of Gomes.

The other elected members: General secretary Constancio Fernandes (unopposed), assistant general secretary Benny D’Costa (unopposed). Treasurer Valentino Baretto (unopposed).

Assistant secretary Agnelo Xavier.

Former India captain and coach of Dempo Sports Club, Mauricio Afonso polled the highest number of votes for the post of executive committee member (131), followed by former Dempo defender Felix Baretto (125), Inacio Cardozo (113), Seby Soares (107), Nevile Gomes (104), Anthelm Fernandes (100), Joseph Anthony Dias

(89).

General assembly vice-chairman Lawrence Cardozo, Menino Rebello (secretary), A

P Viegas (assistant secretary).

Audit council Simon Fernandes (president), Neville Gomes (secretary).

utes from time.

The hosts had taken an early lead through the excellent Hernanes before Udinese equalised just after the break thanks to Alexis Sanchez’s header.

Defender Giuseppe Biava hooked in after a corner soon afterwards for Lazio but German Denis levelled again with a stunning header from the edge of the area which wrong-footed goalkeeper Fernando Muslera.

GOA, Monday, 20 December, 2010

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SPORTS

ALLAN NATIONAL MOTOCROSS KING Pg 16

Pg18

Inter Milan win world title Pg 17

GOA,MONDAY, 20 DECEMBER, 2010

Sachin completes historic Test ton Contact us on: sports@herald-goa.com

www.oheraldo.in

India stare at defeat, still trail by 30 runs

PTI CENTURION, DEC 19

It was a century that the entire nation was eagerly awaiting from Sachin Tendulkar and he ensured that Indians had a ‘Super Sunday’ as he completed a historic 50th Test century against South Africa at the Centurion today.

The moment Sachin found a gap through the extra cover region to push a Dale Steyn delivery for a single, the entire stadium stood up to salute one of the true legends of the game.

It is Sachin's 175th Test match --- most by any player in the history of the game. It took him four Test matches to reach the milestone after having scored his 49th against Australia in October this year.

He played 197 deliveries and 258 minutes to reach the milestone. He hit 12 boundaries and a big six over long-off with leftarm spinner Paul Harris being the sufferer. This is his seventh century in the year 2010.

Tendulkar (107 not out)

played a sublime chanceless innings and shared a 172-run stand for the seventh wicket with Dhoni (90) to lead a spirited fightback by India before the visitors slumped to 454 for eight when stumps were drawn early due to rain.

With an entire final day remaining, India's chances of saving the match depends on Tendulkar and how the elements play a role in the high-profile series opener. But it appears almost imposible for India to save the game with just two wickets remaining.

Tendulkar and Dhoni, who joined forces when an innings defeat was staring on India at 277 for six just before lunch, were never in discomfort while facing the South African bowlers throughout their innings. They denied any success to the South African bowlers for more than three hours while adding runs at a brisk pace.

Dhoni perished to a rising delivery from Steyn. The Indian

captain was caught in an awkward position and fended it to Boucher, who took a neat catch, diving to his right.

Once the big partnership between Tendulkar and Dhoni was broken with the latter falling victim to Steyn, India lost Harbhajan Singh who could score just one run from two balls just before rain interruption.

Earlier, Tendulkar and Dhoni denied the South Africans any success in the post-lunch session

India 1st innings: 136 South Africa 1st innings: 620-4 declared India second innings: (overnight 190-2) Gautam Gambhir lbw b Steyn 80, Virender Sehwag c Smith b Harris 63, Rahul Dravid c Boucher b Morkel 43, Ishant Sharma c Amla b Steyn 23, Sachin Tendulkar batting 107, VVS Laxman c De Villiers b Tsotsobe 8, Suresh Raina c Harris b Kallis 5, M S Dhoni c Boucher b Steyn 90, Harbhajan Singh c Kallis b Harris 1, S Sreesanth batting 3. Extras: 31. Total: 454 for 8. Fall of wickets: 1-137, 2-170, 3-214, 4-242, 5-256, 6-277, 7-449, 8-450. Bowling: Steyn 27.2-5-103-3, Morkel 28-5-91-1, Tsotsobe 24-3-98-1, Harris 30-588-2, Kallis 13-3-56-1.

Aussies level series

Australia first innings 268 (M Johnson 62, M Hussey 61, B Haddin 53).

England first innings 187 (I Bell 53, A Strauss 52; M Johnson 6-38).

AFP Australia second innings 309 (WatPERTH, DEC 19 son 95, Hussey 116; C Tremlett 5-87). A resurgent Australia levelled the Ashes with England second innings (overnight 81-5): A Strauss c Ponting b Johnson 15, A Cook lbw Harris 13, J Trott c Haddin b Johnson 31, K Pietersen c Watson b Hilfenhaus 3, P Collingwood c Smith b Harris 11, J Anderson b Harris 3, I Bell lbw Harris 16, M Prior c Hussey b Harris 10, G Swann b Johnson 9, C Tremlett not out 1, S Finn c Smith b Harris 2. Extras: 9. Total: 123 all out. Fall of wickets: 1-23, 2-37, 3-55, 4-81, 5-81, 6-94, 7-111, 8-114, 9-120. Bowling: Hilfenhaus 10-4-16-1, Harris 111-47-6, Johnson 12-3-44-3, Siddle 4-1-8-0.

a comprehensive 267-run victory on the fourth day of the third Test against England at the WACA Ground today.

Set 391 to win, England resumed at 81-5 and offered little resistance, lasting just 10 overs and less than hour in the opening session, as bustling seamer Ryan Harris ran through the tail to finish with a career-best 6-47 in his fourth Test, dismissing the tourists for 123.

Such a result seemed unfathomable when Australia made just 268 on the first day after

being sent in to bat, and even less so when England cruised to 78-0 early on the second day.

However, recalled fast bowler Mitchell Johnson's stunning four wickets in 27 balls on day two as part of his first innings haul of 6-38 turned the series on its head and another century from the rejuvenated Mike Hussey (116) in Australia's second innings sealed England's fate.

Having been beaten by an innings in Adelaide in the second Test, it was Australia's first win in six Tests, when an England victory would have guaranteed the tourists retained the Ashes.

as India reached 394 for six at the tea break.

The duo, who added 117 runs from 28.1 overs, were in no trouble facing the South African bowlers as they scored at a brisked pace and reducing the deficit to 90 runs.

Tendulkar, who came in at the fall of nightwatchman Ishant Sharma at 214 for three in the morning session stood rock solid while Dhoni was even more aggressive than his senior partner at one stage.

Earlier, India lost the wickets Rahul Dravid (43), VVS Laxman (8) and Suresh Raina (5) and nightwatchman Ishant Sharma (23) in the morning session and trailed by 207 runs as they reached 277 for six at lunch.

Dravid 3rd to score 12000 Test runs

Dravid today became only the third player in history to score 12,000 Test runs when he reach 43 during the first match

against South Africa here.

He is third in the all-time list behind top-placed Indian icon Sachin (14,422) and Aus-

tralian captain Ponting (12,333).

Dravid, who is playing in his 148th Test, has scored 31 centuries and 59 half centuries and averages 53.31.