29 JAN,2011 HERALD

O HERALD O

Visit us at: www.oheraldo.in

The Voice of Goa — Since 1900 panjim, saturday, january 29, 2011 postal reg. no. Goa 101 priCE rs. 3.00

Goa’s Heartbeat: Bonham doesn’t regret fashion mistakes Pg 4

Goa: Drug dealers carry cops on their bikes — Agnelo Pg 3

(air surcharge rs 2.00) pages 16+4

Sports: Dhoni’s team still atop, says Sachin Pg 16

cipriano: killed bY khaki

bloW bY bloW

• January 7, 2011 – Panjim police arrests Cipriano.

• January 8, 2011 – Sub Divisional Magistrate releases him on bail.

• January 9, 2011 – Cipriano succumbs to his injuries. SDM initiates inquiry • January 13, 2011 – SPCA takes suo moto cognizance of news reports on Cipriano in Herald.

• January 14, 2011 – Goa Police appoints DySP Boussette D’Silva ask to probe into police lapses.

• Januar y 24, 2011 – D’Silva submits interim report to North Goa SP and DIG. • January 25, 2011 – Panjim PI Sandesh Chodankar, PSI Radesh Ramnathkar and head constable Sandip Shirvaikar suspended.

• January 28, 2011 – Panjim JMFC starts criminal proceedings. SDM Sabaji Shetye and GMCH forensic chief Dr Silvano Sapeco testify and state that Cipriano died in police custody.

SDM Sabaji Shetye to JMFC: Cipriano died in police custody TEAM HERALD PANJIM, JAN 28

A forensic expert and a sub divisional magistrate delivered a telling blow to those in the Goa Police, trying to cover up the gruesome custodial death of Cipriano Fernandes. The Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Sabaji Shetye told the judicial magistrate first class (JMFC) that “Cipriano’s death occurred in custody”.

No less potent was the deposition of Dr Silvano Sapeco, head of the Forensic Department of the Goa Medical College, who in clear and simple terms said that he was killed due to an injury by a sharp blunt object on the middle and left portion of his skull which caused an internal swelling of the brain.

These injuries, the SDM remarked, were “fatal” and the cause of his death.

In a very strong and clear deposition in court, Sheyte said “In my opinion, Cipriano’s death occurred in custody which was

revealed during my course of inquiry as per the deposition of forensic doctors who stated that injuries on Cipriano were inflicted while in police custody.”

the head) and injury 7 (left portion).”

He died due to surface injuries with a blunt force object on the skull, elbow, joint, right

WhY ‘death in custodY’ If injuries to a person are caused in police custody which are a cause of his death even if he dies after being released on bail and/or during medical treatment, it is legally termed as ‘death in custody’.

Shetye, it is now learnt, relied on Dr Sapeco’s findings, which were made clear to the court by the forensic expert himself.

The forensic chief and a team of forensic doctors had conducted post-mortem on Cipriano’s body.

This is what he told the court: “The cause of Cipriano’s death is due to sequelae of concussive head injury sustained as a result of cumulative effect of injury no. 6 (middle portion of

aspect of skull and left hand.

- A few other injuries were three days old Shetye said that his inquiry is yet to come to a conclusion even as it has recorded statements of around 30 witnesses so far.

The JMFC under Section 176(1) (A) had taken cognizance of the case after a human rights activist Jowett D Souza approached it after the Agasaim police station refused to register

The CM is backing the wrong horse Your police has gone out of hand: mauvin tells ravi SuJAy GuPTA PANJIM, JAN 28

Chief Minister Digambar Kamat’s steadfast reluctance to upset Home Minister Ravi Naik’s apple cart, is bound to have a severe backlash on the fortunes of the party. Notwithstanding the pressure built by party MLAs, to change his portfolio, including an open admonishment of the chief minister by Cortalim MLA, Mauvin Godinho at the last Congress legislature party (CLP) meeting in the presence of General Secretary Hari Prasad, the chief minister wants “status quo” till the next assembly elections.

His personal logic, insiders

point out, is not to upset the caste arithmetic which according to him, could swing votes in as many as nine or 10 constituencies. Kamat feels that if Ravi Naik is “hurt”, the Bhandari votes in the Ponda and neighbouring Bicholim talukas could

the inside storY move away from the Congress towards the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). And to take his argument further, there is no guarantee that Ravi will not do business with the BJP in the next elections and wean away the Bhandari (which forms more than 95% of the Hindu votes)

community. To further his argument the chief minister’s camp feels that the two ministers dropped from the Digambar team, Dayanand Narvekar and Pandurang Madkaikar, were not from the upper castes. With Ravi added to the list, the tag of being forward caste-friendly might affect the government.

Unfortunately, this logic, in the ultimate analysis, does not pass muster. The Ponda, Bicholim and Sattari talukas are well policed and protected by the Dhavlikar brothers, Vishwajeet Rane and Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) chief Subhash Shirodkar, who can get (Continued on page 10)

his complaint dated 15.01. 2011 as an FIR (first information report), stating that police officers of Panjim police were responsible for his death On Friday this court initiated criminal proceedings in the case which could pave the way for the arrest of the suspended police officers as well others on duty. Continuing the case trial, the JMFC will record statements of the suspended Police Inspector Sandesh Chodankar and the deceased’s family members on Saturday.

Cipriano’s family has refused to take over Cipriano’s body till the SDM discloses his report after completion of the inquiry.

herald eXclusiVe

l

I saw him getting tortured, dragged and beaten: Georgina Nunes

— Page 2

“Unless all culprits involving in arresting and torturing my cousin are behind bars, I will not be satisfied. The driver of the Bolero jeep (Ryan) should be arrested and interrogated as he will expose lot of things as he was driving the vehicle in which Cipriano was brought from Porvorim to Panjim police station. Also, Cipriano’s shoes and bundle of money of around Rs 45,000 are missing.”

— Cosme Fernandes, cousin

cVc refuses to quit HERALD CORRESPONDENT NEW DELHI, JAN 28

Central Vigilance Commissioner P J Thomas has dug his heels refusing to resign from the post even as the government and the Congress were groping in dark on how to wriggle out of the huge embarrassment on his appointment ignoring the corruption case of palmolein import pending against him.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh reportedly pulled up Law Minister M Veerappa Moily for floating reports, after meeting him on Thursday, that the CVC is being asked to resign. His reb u ke c a m e a f t e r T h o m a s protested that any such resignation would amount to acceptance of taint that is too painful for him, coming at the end of his career as a bureaucrat.

Sources denied any proposal made to Thomas in this regard

and also denied any kind of offer for rehabilitation in another form if he obliged with the resignation. Such reports had surfaced in November also and were promptly denied, they said The government is keeping its fingers crossed, hoping that a face-saver may come from the Supreme Court by quashing his appointment as irregular. Its embarrassment, however, may continue for long as the court is not expected to conclude hearing on the public interest litigation (PIL) so fast to pass the judgement. The next hearing is on February 3.

Congress leaders egging on the government to request President Pratibha Patil to at least suspend Thomas, as done early this month in case of Prasar Bharti Chief Executive Officer B S Lalli, were told that it is not (Continued on page 10)

Will the killers be arrested for homicide l

l

In a charge for cognizable offence of a serious nature as homicide, the charges have to be registered in the police station, paving the way for their arrest for investigations. This is likely to happen after DySP Boussette D’Silva gives his final report and SDM Shetye his inquiry report.

The court can also order the police to arrest them.

in the line of fire • Police Inspector Sandesh Chodankar – suspended - could be charged with vicarious liability (where the servant acts through the master). As head of the force at the police station, he was the master.

• Police Sub-Inspector Radesh Ramnathkar – suspended.

• Head constable Sandip Shirvaikar – suspended.

• Police Sub-Inspector Vijay Chodankar – duty officer on January 8, 8 am to January 9, 8 am – still not suspended.

OHERALDO

Pg2 GOA, SATURDAY, 29 JANUARY, 2011

GOA

A little over a month later, the people of Panjim will vote for change. For a corporation which will hopefully get over a shortage of a scarce commodity-leadership.

Starting today, Herald launches a comprehensive coverage of the CCP elections at all levels. We begin with the smallest level of governance, the wards. On Saturdays and Sundays, your newspaper brings you up, close and personal with two wards each. As always your responses, comments and criticisms are eagerly expected.

Where is our corporator?

BY SHWETA KAMAT

MALA: Before they cast their votes, the people from ward number 23 at Mala have a tough task ahead. Finding their corporator Rudresh Chodankar.

While it may be a little late now, Chodankar would do well to hear what the people want for one last time before he heads back to them to ask for votes. It’s a pity though because the ward is nothing but a beautiful page from history. This is where Panjim originally began and every turn in every road has gorgeous vestiges of the past. Cobbled streets, old cottages with thatched roofs and sleepy court yards.

But there are cracks in the pretty picture . The homes are in a state of disrepair, the walls and tiles need some care and the homes need a facelift.

The owners rightly want the CCP to give them tax rebates so that the savings can go in to maintaining their houses since the world comes to Panjim to see a slice of history etched on these streets.

They photograph the streets, the homes and the restaurants.

That brings us back to the missing corporator “It’s very difficult to get to meet Chodankar. He is never acces-

sible to us. We have been pleading before the corporation to give tax rebates to all those houses in conservation zone.

Our corporator hasn’t taken this up” a local from Mala said.

Locals also feel that if the rebate is not given the land equivalent to that of FAR of the houses should be granted instead.

ward. The ward lacks proper garbage collection despite the fact that Chodankar belongs to the ruling lobby of corporators. Also drains are clogged.

Moreover, this ward takes all the water that rushes down from the Altinho hill. Flooding during monsoons is a normal affair here, like the adjoining ward 24.

Flooded in the rains, flood of work later

BY SHWETA KAMAT

MAHALAKSHMI TEMPLE: This is the other side of Panjim, tourists come to. The Panjim of temples and a spring. The Panjim of hills and hill slopes, caressing Altinho and winding down the slope in from of the Mahalakshmi temple.

In the larger scheme of things, there are just 900 voters who

plains that a proposal to build a retaining wall has been lying with the Corporation of the City of Panjim (CCP) for the past two years.

But the ward has other patrons. Panjim MLA Manohar Parrikar has apparently spent about Rs 1 crore from funds allocated to him while the corporation has spent Rs 18 lakh.

BATTLE FOR PANJIM: WARD 23, 24 Garbage has been yet another issuing hunting the

Clearly Panjim’s past is crying out for a better future.

Areas covered and interesting places: Mala The ward is a walk through history Total number of voters: 1067 Sitting Corporator: Rudresh Chodankar 2006 result: Winner: Rudresh Chodankar. Runner Up: John Fernandes. Margin: 40 votes I DID THIS: (Even Herald found it difficult to speak to Rudresh Chodankar. But this is a gist of what he claimed to have done) n Constructed retaining walls n Constructed pavements NO YOU DIDN’T: (Promises unfulfilled according to locals) Drains not cleaned n No tax rebate for houses in conservation zone n Poor garbage collection n Lack of retaining walls MISSING IN ACTION: Corporator Rudresh Chodankar’s house.

will elect a corporator from this ward 24, most of whom appear completely content. But that is because the monsoons are over.

The happiness quotient of this ward fluctuates with the monsoons. That is the time when the rain waters pour down from the Mahalakshmi temple down the slopes and enters and floods homes.

“The water and the mud from the slopes all come down making it very difficult for us. Our homes get affected. If a retaining wall behind the Mahalakshmi temple is rebuilt, the problem gets solved”.

This is where politics comes in. Diksha Mayenkar, the sitting corporator com-

A clear stronghold of the BJP, this ward will see a straight contest between the sitting corporator Mayenkar and Manda Shetye. Shetye the challenger will be the candidate of Education Minister Babush MonserWATCH YOUR WARD Areas Covered and Places of Interest: Mahalaxmi temple, Sai Baba temple, the Boca de Vaca spring and the slope upto the Altinho Hill.

Number of voters (approx) 900 Sitting Corporator and party/panel affiliation: Diksha Mayenkar (BJP) 2006 result: Winner: Diksha

Photos by Sachin Ambadoskar MahalakshmiTemple.

rate.

Politics will easily be the order of the day.

While there will be issues to be sorted out in the temples

and other tourist places which dot the area, not many are talking about them.

The wall behind the Mahalakshmi temple can wait.

Mayenkar: 337 votes; Runner up:Manda Shetye: 243 votes

n

I DID THIS: DIKSHA MAYENKAR n Constructions of drains n Staircase for Sai Baba temple n Construction of ten retaining walls n Beautification of temple n Steps to Boca De Vaca

n

n

n

Hot mixing of roads WARD MATHEMATICS Around Rs 1.50 crore work has been undertaken by the ward.

Rs 1.32 crore where raised through different government departments like tourism, PWD and irrigation.

Rs 18 lakh were provided

by CCP.

I saw him getting tortured, dragged and beaten: Georgina In a harrowing tale, Georgina Nunes, who first complained against Cipriano and travelled in the Bolero sued by the police to bring Cipriano to the Panjim police station from Porvorim, tells all to the State Police complaints Authority in her deposition on January 25. This report is from the second and more important part of her deposition, in possession of the Herald. For the purpose of clarity, some parts of the statement have been slightly re-written.

By Vibha Verma

“Soon after the vehicle restarted its journey to Panjim I heard that some noise and commotion ‘daddam dudump zaunk laglem fatlean’ was going on in the rear seat where Cipriano and the two policemen were seated. I could not see what was going on because the driver of the vehicle told me not to look behind” “Constable Shirvaikar di-

Couple arrested for possessing drugs HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JAN 28

A Nigerian man and his Mizoram woman were arrested late on Thursday night with illegal possession of cocktail of narcotics at Assagao.

A team of Anti Narcotics Cell (ANC) caught Felix Ohimain Evborkhai (44) and Lalliansangi (47) re-handed in an act of trying to sell drugs amounting to Rs 31.54 lakh near Badem Chapel.

While Felix was caught with 3.340 kgs of Charas (Rs 3.34lakh), his wife was arrested with 450 gms Heroine (Rs 27-lakh) and 6.7gms liquid LSD (Rs 1.20lakh).

The couple, temporarily residing at Chapora was on police scanner since December 2010.

The ANC have seized weighing scale machine, passport, two mobile phones and en Enfield Bullet GA-08-J-6384 from the possession of the couple.

Police officials said that the pair is arrested under Narcotics and Drugs Psy chotropic Substances Act and that investigation is on to gather more details.

rected the driver to drive to Panjim police station. After that I heard Cipriano telling them to leave his hair which I presume the policemen were pulling at that time and saying ‘sodai re paem podtam, moje kens dukta’.

Leave my hair and I beg you for God sake my hair are paining,” According to Georgina, on reaching the Panjim bus stand a panicky Cipriano began reciting prayers. “I heard Cipriano screaming in pain ‘Saiba tum

maka pau’, ‘Alla Akbar’ and ‘Om Namah Sivam’.”

“I also remember that later on when Cipriano said ‘Om Nama Shivam’ Shirvaikar telling him ‘tuzo on nama shivam kadtam bhair.” she added.

Soon af ter the vehicle reached Old Patto Bridge, Georgina saw Cipriano’s left leg stretched till the brakes to which the driver, identified as Ryan threatened him break his legs if he didn’t take it off the brakes

In a development that has raised many an eyebrow in political circles, election officials are believed to be inquiring into a complaint on the nationality of former tourism minister, Mickky Pacheco.

The development drew sharp reaction from the Benaulim MLA Mickky Pacheco, who said it is a shame that the government has ordered a probe on a person, who has thrice been sworn in as the minister of the State.

Officials in the Salcete Mamlatdar office confirmed having received a complaint from a citizen to inquire into the nationality of the Benaulim MLA. The complaint, sources said, has been forwarded to the talathi

HERALD EXCLUSIVE of the vehicle.

Cipriano obeyed but his leg once again slid through the gap.

The driver pushed back Cipri-

Pawar told me stick to earlier decision, says Sirsat

Demand Jose’s exit for Mickky’s entry changed its stance and NYC: save mand sent a letter to the Speaker to State Nationalist Congress Party Nilkant and Jose as chief Khariwada remove President Surendra Sirsat said whip and leader of the NCP legthe party’s national supremo islature party, respectively, and houses Sharad Pawar had instructed him assign both the posts to HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JAN 28

to stick to the earlier decision of dropping Jose Philip D’Souza and inducting Mickky Pacheco into Kamat’s Cabinet. Sirsat returned from the national capital on Thursday after meeting Pawar.

Answering reporters’ queries on his meeting with Pawar, Sirsat said he apprised the former on the recent political happenings within the NCP in the State. “I am told by him to adhere to the earlier stand of dropping Jose for Mickky. This decision had subsequently changed and the high command had demanded for resignation of both Jose and Nilkant Halarnkar.”

He maintained the Congress in the State has never said it will not induct Mickky, but has only asked for time.

Mickky’s entry was stalled by group of 10 legislators led by PWD Minister Churchill Alemao after which the NCP High Com-

HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JAN 28

The State Nationalist Youth Congress on Friday urged Chief Minister Digambar Kamat to save the 363 houses situated at Khariwada in Vasco from demolition as ordered by the High Court of Bombay at Goa on a petition filed by the Mormugao Port Trust.

Addressing a press conference on Friday, President NYC Tanveer Khatib impressed upon the Government to be sympathetic towards these dwellings where traditional fishermen reside.

Thirty of the houses have obtained a stay order, he informed.

Khatib said the act of MPT was unwarranted and in total violation of its earlier agreement of providing rehabilitation to these houses and then doing a volte-face by calling for demolition.

He observed, “The NYC at this juncture requests the Government’s intervention in the matter by getting a stay order on the demolition and if need be pass a legislation as was done in the case of Cidade de Goa.”

Poll officials probing Mickky’s nationality HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JAN 28

JUSTICE FOR CIPRIANO

and a preliminary report from the talathi is awaited.

It is learnt that notices will be issued to the MLA once the talathi submits his report on the memo.

An agitated Pacheco lashed out at the government for unnecessary meting out harassment to him, saying that this only goes to show that the ruling dispensation in Goa and Delhi is jittery over his rise in the political ladder.

“It is a shame that the government is once again trying to probe into his nationality. I was sworn in as the Minister on three occasions and now the authorities are trying to find our my nationality”, Pacheco said adding that certain persons are now upset over his political

moves in the state.

This is not the first time that Pacheco’s nationality has come to the fore following complaints lodged by his opponents.

Incidentally, an official of the Electoral Office told Herald that an inquiry conducted into the nationality of the Benaulim MLA some eight months back showed no evidence that he is a foreign national.

In fact, the official pointed out that even the US embassy was approached by the government to get a first hand information on Pacheco’s nationality status, adding that despite reminders, the embassy has not got back to the authorities on the matter.

Pacheco.

It is learnt, Sirsat, who has held the post of speaker in the past, has written to the Speaker stating the legislature party was subordinate to the original political party and hence the original party’s decision of demand for a change was final.

When questioned whether he had written the letter to the Speaker, Sirsat did not deny the same.

Sirsat said Pawar had also instructed him to strengthen State NCP in all constituencies irrespective of whether it would tie up with the Congress or not for the next coming Assembly elections.

However, when questioned whether he had raised the issue of drug nexus in the State with his national supremo, Sirsat said he was called to specifically discuss the political scenario and as such he stuck to the same.

ano’s leg but it once again fell on the brakes on reaching the Old Secretariat.

The policemen then threat-

NYC launches social campaign HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JAN 28

State Nationalist Youth Congress, in association with NRBKaleidoscope, launched, what it claims, a unique social campaign titled ‘Stand Firm’ to impress upon the youth brigade to fight against various social evils.

Though the campaign was officially launched on Friday, it will start in the right-earnest in March across all colleges and cover topics like drugs, ragging, garbage problem, conservation of water, anti-plastic propaganda, AIDS/HIV, traffic menace, corruption, dowry, etc.

President of NYC, which is the youth wing of the Nationalist Congress Party, Tanveer Khatib, said everyone talks about these evils, but no one had gone deeper to bring about a real change. We plan to handle these issues in a very innovative manner and involve village people in it, he stated.

Khatib observed, “Looking at the way things are presently in the State we have decided to something about them. Taking the problem of drugs we plan to create awareness in the coastal belt and may organise road shows, open forums and other forms of discussions.”

ened him showing the ‘lathi’ but Cipriano failed to respond to any orders. They then reached the police station.

Another scene of police brutality!

The Bolero reached the Panjim police station wherein Cipriano was asked to get off the car which he did not react. “…I continued sitting inside the vehicle, the driver and the police men got down and started pulling out Cipriano form the vehicle.

While doing so I then lifted Cipriano’s leg which was on the left brake of the vehicle and placed it on the driver seat in order to make it easy for them to remove Cipriano,” she said.

“While lifting the leg of Cipriano, I turned back and saw him with his eyes and mouth closed.

I then thought that Cipriano might be pretending to show he was unconscious. I saw Shirvaikar and the other constable dragging Ciprianos body to a

room attached to PI Sadesh Chodankars cabin.

Seated in the ‘visitor’s room’ of the police station, Georgina saw Shirvaikar pulling out a ‘khaki colour belt’ and getting in the room where Cipriano was lodged.

“After that I heard sounds of blows given with belt inside that room. The driver then came near me and told me to go home,” It was 10.30 PM. Ciprianos ordeal had only just begun.

UGDP demands arrest of cops in Cipriano death HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JAN 28

The United Goans Democratic Party has demanded the immediate arrest of the policemen responsible for the arrest, assault and who were the last in charge of Cipriano.

UGDP Secretary General Adv Anacleto Viegas said the news that three policemen are placed under suspension is tomfoolery and termed it as a plain eyewash.

He also demanded the arrest of the woman who hobnobbed with the police to arrest Cypriano.

“Least these crimes by the men in uniform are not repeated. The belligerence of the

guardian of the law must be nipped in the bud, UGDP has been in the forefront to demand the rule of law prevail in the State as in the past some of its activists and leaders have been mercilessly beaten by the guardian of law”, he said.

Adv Viegas said the reliance of or the long wait for medical report is sheer nonsense.

“The Supreme Court has time and again held that medical evidence is never the last word in a crime. That injuries were found on late Cipriano and death resulted after his arrest is sufficient to arrest the assailants in a cognizable offence.

The investigation and interrogation must follow the initial arrest. The attempt to protect the criminals is so obvious, that UGDP will no more stand the silly explanations. Whether Cypriano was sick or otherwise is a moot question as his death was a sequence to his arrest and assault”, he said.

Saying that a criminal is a criminal and must be dealt with in accordance with law, he demanded the arrest and detention of the woman and the policemen for interrogation and investigation of the most dastardly crime by the upholders of the law.

Support BJP to save Goa, appeals Parrikar

87 govt staff served notice for not attending Republic Day function HERALD CORRESPONDENT CANACONA, JAN 28

About 87 government servants at Government office complex in Canacona have been served with a show-cause notice, after they were accused of failing on attend the Republic Day flag hoisting ceremony at the complex.

According to reliable sources, Canacona Mamlatdar and Magistrate Chandrakant Shetkar issued the show cause notice on Thursday seeking explanation from the staff for remaining absent for the nation’s 62nd Republic Day celebrations at the government office complex.

Sources further informed that a day before Republic Day, Canacona mamlatdar issued a circular

asking all the staff to remain present for the unfurling of national flag by WRD Minister Philip Neri Rodrigues at 8.45 am on Wednesday.

Accordingly, an attendance register was kept on the day for the staff to sign and those who did not signed the register on Wednesday are issued with show-cause notice, informed an official.

Sources further informed that some staff reportedly maintained that they had attended the flag hoisting ceremony somewhere else in t h e S t a t e . H o w e v e r, t h e Canacona Mamlatdar is not ready to accept the explanation and reportedly asked to produce a certificate of such attendance from the concerned authorities.

Opposition Leader Manohar Parrikar felicitates Nagesh Karmali at Mayem.

HERALD CORRESPONDENT MAYEM, JAN 28

Opposition Leader Manohar Parrikar has appealed to villagers to support BJP wholeheartedly to save Goa from the rule of Congress party, which is bent upon selling the State either to the mine owners or to corrupt people.

He was addressing the gathering after inaugurating a programme which was organised

by BJP Mayem unit to felicitate about 70 freedom fighters, living and dead.

MP Shripad Naik, Bicholim MLA Rajesh Patnekar, Sarpanch Nilkanth Nagvekar and Kalidas Kavlekar were present.

Speaking further, Parrikar al-

leged that no file from the government department moves forward unless a 15% commission is fixed. He said while some villagers are facing acute poverty, the ministers are enjoying on the commission.

“Real freedom fighters have no status in the nation, while terrorists are treated as guests of the nation and this is the extreme peak of indicating that the State is heading towards downfall,” he added.

Speaking on the occasion, North Goa MP Shripad Naik said even after 50 years of liberation, Mayem villagers are still living in slavery and misery and this is the worst state of any democratic nation.

Photo by Vishant Vaze

“Many martyrs from Mayem village have lost their lives during the liberation movement, but after liberation their families got nothing but insults and slavery and this was only because of some of the elements existing in the State government which are still petting Portuguese rule and hence a time has now come to dethrone such elements,” he stated.

In his speech, freedom fighter Nagesh Karmali said the State government can solve the issue of evacuee property of Mayem in a simple manner, but some people in the government do not want to sort out the issue, as they are not caring people.

OHERALDO

GOA

Pg3 GOA, SATURDAY, 29 JANUARY, 2011

Drug dealers carry policemen on their motorcycles: Agnelo Senior police officers support prostitution rackets, says Calangute MLA

The Calangute MLA Agnelo Fernandes, belongs to a select group of Congress MLAs who are rulers in opposition. In a preAssembly session interview Fernandes speaks to Herald about his constituency which he says is swamped by dance bars, prostitutes and drug dealers. The second interview of this series with Mauvin Godinho, the outspoken spokesperson of the Congress legislature Party, will appear in the Sunday edition Herald: The AICC general Secretary in charge of Goa said that the drug problem is not unique to Goa and that he had not received any report from the state about the rampant use of drugs.

Agnelo: I have no comment on that remark. The home minister says action is being taken against drug dealers and they have caught many. I’m sure he is doing his best. But let me also tell you that policemen and drug dealers are seen riding together on the same motorcycle. I have mentioned this to the DGP on several occasions. These dealers are well known. Calangute has also become a den for prostitution with several bars and restaurants serving as fronts for prostitution rackets.

Herald: But you are the MLA of that area and surely can prevent this?

Agnelo: I cannot. These activities have to be blessed by senior people in the police force. I have witnessed with my own eyes a police vehicle with a light on top stop near a girl standing in front of one of the new dance bars, pick her up and go away.

I noted the registration number and later discovered it was a police vehicle. So, to answer your question, no I do not have any control. There have been times when I have asked the police to take action and raid restaurants which are just fronts for prostitution rackets and have seen constables come and negotiate with the owners and

RULERS IN OPPOSITION-1

move away

Herald: Can you elaborate?

Agnelo: Last week, I was in front of a new bar and restaurant on the Calangute Candolim route, on the way to the Taj hotels, which is nothing but a prostitution den. I asked the Calangute PI to raid the place.

A little later some constables came and I saw them speaking to the owners and their employees. The police then moved away. A little later the PI told me that there were no girls inside the restaurant and everything was ok. I was shocked, since I was standing just outside

Photo by Sachin Ambadoskar

Govt bent on selling Goa, says Parrikar HERALD CORRESPONDENT PORVORIM, JAN 28

Claiming that people are not against the proposed national highway but against the present alignment, Opposition Leader Manohar Parrikar accused the State government of being "bent on selling Goa at wholesale rates."

Parrikar was speaking at a meeting convened by National Highway Diversion Action committee (NHDAC) at Mapusa Taxi stand on Friday evening.

“Development does not mean demolition of houses, churches and temples, but it should be done after taking the people into confidence. The existence alignment if modified, then there will not be any objections

from the people for the highway,” stated Parrikar.

“But the State government is not prepared to accept the suggestions of the people, but is bent to sell Goa at wholesale rate,” charged Parrikar.

Parrikar further stated that the PWD minister is not in a position to solve the water problems of the people, as people are still starving for potable water.

“Heavy vehicles still cannot ply on the Zuari Bridge. Further, the government cannot start the District Hospital at Mapusa though it was completed 3 years ago. Government has proved its incompetence practically in every field of activity,” claimed Parrikar.

“Such an incompetent government should not make haste in giving its consent to the national highway project without studying and discussing the matter with the people. The existing NH-17 and 4 are not the highways in real sense of the term,” he said.

“They are in fact the state ways connecting the two towns and villages. Hence, the government should give serious thought to the issue and decide about the highway after taking the views of the people into consideration,” added Parrikar.

Christopher Fonseca said Goa is being used as a corridor for the construction of National Highway.

“Goa is neither the starting

point nor the destination. The highway only passes through Goa and hence it can be built without demolition of the houses by modifying the alignment,” stated Fonseca.

“Goans are not against the development or the highway, but it should be done in a proper way without destroying the environment and ecology of Goa,” added Fonseca.

In his speech, Claude Alvares stated that the State government, which cannot keep the existing roads clean, is planning widening of the roads.

GOA CITIZENS WELFARE TRUST

VENUE: IAM CAMPUS,

BY THE POOLSIDE, WOODBOURNE COUNTRY CLUB BEHIND TATA MOTORS, OFF NH 17, NUVEM DATE: JANUARY 29, 2011 TIME: 7.00 PM ONWARDS CONTACT: 9822843852, 9673116207

“ The people of Goa has launched many agitations and made them successful. If the government does not change the alignment of the national highway, then the people will come down on the streets at Panjim and demand resignation of the ministers. The government should not test the patience of the people,” warned Alvares.

the place and seeing what was going on. The constable later called me and confided that the PI had instructed him to report that he found nothing unusual in the restaurant. This is the state of affairs in my constituency. That’s why I have stopped recommending police officers to my constituency because after they join, they do their own thing.

Herald: Isn’t that the direct failure of the state machinery of which you are a part of?

Agnelo: I do not wish to play politics here. The future of the young generation is at stake. I have seen so many young people get completely wasted as they get hooked on drugs. The rampant rise in prostitution is alarming. People from outside

the state come and apply for bar and restaurant licences and then turn them into dance bars and pick up points for prostitutes. This cannot happen without police protection. And these bars are owned and managed by people from outside the state and have different gangs to support them. This criminalization is going unchecked.

Herald: If that is the case, you cannot hold anyone else accountable but your own government.

Agnelo: I have raised this issue in the Assembly again and again and will raise it again. I’m not going against the party but speaking as a people’s representative. Anybody turning a blind eye to the drug and prostitution menace must be involved in it.

OHERALDO

Pg4 GOA, SATURDAY, 29 JANUARY, 2011

AMCHI SHAXTI

Shaxtikars perplexed as Crosses, shrines face the axe Displaced Colva fishermen left Govt not to act in haste: CM high and dry HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JAN 28

Shaxtikars keep their fingers crossed over the fate of Crosses and religious shrines dotting alongside the roads across the taluka as per the Supreme Court order.

As many as 42 religious structures -- overwhelming number being crosses and portion of shrines – have been cleared for either removal or relocation based on the orders of the Apex court.

While all eyes are focused on the government and the Cabinet to come out with a clear-cut policy on the fate of these religious structures, given its sensitive nature, authorities in private hope that the management of the religious bodies would volunteer and relocate the places of worship beyond the road widening area.

Information reveals that when the exercise was first taken up by the revenue authorities, a whopping 193 religious structures were identified for either removal or relocation. However, a re-survey carried out following

a hue and cry raised in the state saw the number of these religious structures coming down to 42 in Salcete taluka.

Says Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Margao Johnson Fernandes: “Around 42 religious structures, mostly comprising of Crosses and Shrines form part of the list submitted to the government as per the directions.

This list was submitted to the government in August 2010. We are awaiting necessary instructions on how to go about with these structures”.

Officials in the know said the revenue authorities had initially included in the list even religious structures standing in private properties, inflating the list of structures for removal or relocation.

Sources said the list may come down further in the event of expansion of the national highway 17 passing through the taluka with bypasses proposed at many places along the route.

SDM Johnson says he had an interaction with the representatives of the places of worship

sometime in August last to explore the possibility of working out an amicable solution to the sensitive issue. “In some cases, our pleas evoked positive response from the representatives.

While others wanted the government to work out a plan for rehabilitation or relocation of the religious structures”, he

added.

The Holy Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima at Sirlim and the monument of St Francis Xavier at Pirnim-Verna are amongst the structures figuring in the final list. As far as the Our Lady of Fatima Shrine is concerned, the authorities were told by the people that the government had al-

Commenting on the subject, the Chief Minister said this is a sensitive issue and the government will not act in haste as it involves the sentiments of the people.

He said the government will work out a policy on the existing structures dotting the roadsides, whether to remove, relocate or rehabilitate the structures.

The administration is engaged in the process of categorizing the structures, whether the structures stand on private land or government land or on roadside, adding “once that process is complete, the government will act on the report before placing

lotted them land admeasuring 200 square meters at the time of land acquisition, but the authorities have now argued that the land in question falls within the setback area.

Says SDM Johnson: “During

the matter at the all party meeting for a decision”.

“My government is very clear on this issue. We will not hurt the religious sentiments of the people, irrespective of their religious denomination”, Kamat said.

The Chief Minister, however, maintained that the authorities will strictly comply with the Supreme Court directives on new religious structures coming up along the roadsides. “The court directives are very clear. It speaks of holding the government official responsible for any negligence. The authorities are monitoring the situation”, he added.

the interaction, the people have made a request to the authorities to allot land admeasuring 1000 square meters or to align the highway to protect the religious structure. We are examining all aspects”.

River Sal chokes; politicians least interested

The contaminated River Sal. HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JAN 28

Once the lifeline of Salcete, the River Sal is urgently craving for

Photo by Santosh Mirajkar

attention as decay has set in due to utter neglect by the authorities.

Gone are the days when the

Forum knocks HC doors With the government authorities showing least concern to save River Sal from destruction, the Navelim Civic and Consumer Forum have now knocked the doors of the judiciary to direct the government authorities to immediately put an action plan in place.

The Forum has brought to the notice of the high court the widespread ecological damage and pollution caused to the river and the adjoining Salpem Lake at Navelim.

The NGO has maintained that the river pollution is caused by large scale construction, reckless development in the village along the coast and Margao city, besides discharge of untreated sewage waters, solid waste and other non-biodegradable waste in the river and its tributaries.

Citing the case of rampant pollution of the Salpem Lake, the petitioners pointed out that the lake is linked to the river via a channel. “Over the last eight years, the lake has been left polluted and destroyed by large scale discharge of effluents, waste, garbage, waste water and sewage into the water body. The ecosystem is in danger of being destroyed permanently”, the petitioner submitted.

In fact, sample testing of the lake waters by the Goa Pollution Control Board had revealed extremely high total coliform and faecal coliform levels, due to discharge of sewage waters into the nullahs and drains which empties into the lake.

river came in handy for transportation of sand and roof tiles – right up to the Khareband bridge. Today, untreated sewage

finds its way into the river, leaving the waters contaminated, with concerned authorities turning a blind eye to the devastation and neglect.

That’s not all. The river has also become a favourite waste dumping ground for unscrupulous garbage contractors and citizens alike. Tons of waste finds its day into the river – right from the river course at the wholesale fish market to Mungul bridge and the Khareband bridge.

That the river is passing through six constituencies of Salcete – from its originating point at Verna right up to Betul, where the river empties its waters into the Arabian sea – has not spurred the political class to work out. These constituencies are represented by political heavyweights such as Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, PWD Minister Churchill Alemao, Power Minister Alexio

Sequeira and Water Resources Minsiter Filipe Neri Rodrigues, but a save River Sal plan seems to have no place on their agenda.

Take note, the river was twice de silted – at the stretch between Khareband-Mungul bridges and Nuvem-Mungul stretch of the river, but this piece meal action has failed to meet the objective.

An inspection of the river carried out by the Goa State Pollution Control Board around a year and half ago confirmed the worst fears. Sample testing of the river waters upon a petition by the Navelim Civic and Consumer Forum had revealed that the Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) was found as high as 52 mg against the permissible limit of 3 mg. The high BOD content only shows that the river is highly polluted, especially near the Khareband bridge, where the samples were taken

Water Hyacinth makes hay

Thick vegetation, including water hyacinth that has taken deep roots in the river.

Photo by Santosh Mirajkar

This aquatic weed has virtually come to stay in River Sal, so it

seems. In fact, large portion of the river is literally covered by

Water Hyacinth for most part of the year, except monsoon.

Demand rehabilitation on acquired land

for testing.

Sadly, it’s nearly a year and half since the river pollution came to light, but there’s no action plan in place to stem the rot.

A visit along the river course near the Khareband bridge showed that nothing has changed since the much-publicised inspection by Pollution Control Board officials. The river waters were found greenish in colour and were found stagnated, emitting foul odour, once again indicating that untreated waste water continues to find its way into the river right under the nose of the authorities.

Says social activist Sidharth Karapurkar: “The sample testing of the river waters had only confirmed our worst fears. But, it is indeed sad that the sorry state of affairs have not spurred the government to work out an action plan to save River Sal from further destruction”.

The weed is prominently seen along the river course from Mungul to Khareband, with the broad, thick leaves covering most part of the river between these two points.

Officials in the agricultural department say the water hyacinth is the fastest growing weed and is known to double its population within two weeks.

Experts say the weed can cover lakes and ponds, impacting water flow, blocks sunlight from reaching native aquatic plants and starves the water of oxygen, often killing fish or turtles.

Officials, however, say that it is for other government agencies to tackle the situation and arrest further spread of the weed.

Incidentally, the weed had vanished from Sal when the river was desilted between Mungul and Khareband, but has now resurfaced once again.

Displaced by the acquisition of the land by the Tourism department, fishermen from Colva dry their fish in the open, hoping the government would one day rehabilitate them on the acquired land.

Photo by Santosh Mirajkar HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JAN 28

These traditional fishermen from the coastal village of Colva are still hoping against hope for their rehabilitation – nearly half a decade after they were displaced from their natural habitat via the acquisition of the beach facing land.

They still recollect the day when the bulldozers struck down their temporary huts and a dozen pucca structures which helped them to store salt and dry fish, besides fishing nets and country made boats.

While the government has provided some relief to the fishermen along the coast by amending the CRZ notification, these fishermen are still looking for the day when the government would rehabilitate them on the shore to carry out their traditional occupation with ease.

Says a traditional fisherwoman Librata Fernandes: “We have been left high and dry after our traditional huts were razed down by the government. Our repeated pleas, to the government to rehabilitate us on the Tourism department acquired land, has failed to evoke response from the political class”.

She is sore over the fact that the fishermen inhabiting the coast and eking a living by fish drying activity is not even been provided water supply by the authorities. “After the demolition, we have been facing a whole lot of problems. No one has taken cognizance of our grievances till date”, she added.

Another fisherman Peter Fernandes made a humble plea to the government to erect huts to stack salt and dry fish, besides the fishing nets and country made boats.

It was on May 5, 2005 that

bulldozers requisitioned by the revenue authorities razed down the structures standing on land admeasuring 54,452 sq meters acquired by the Tourism department. Since then, they have been running from pillar to post for their rehabilitation on a portion of the acquired land, but in vain.

Says Thomas Rodrigues: “The fishermen had knocked the doors of the Tourism department with a plea for their rehabilitation. The demolished huts were built for a specific purpose, for storage of salt, nets and boats. Our nets, salt fish, canoes were all buried under the rubble”.

If Rodrigues is to be believed, the demolished huts had house numbers and power connection, and now plans to take up with the incumbent government headed by Chief Minister Digambar Kamat.

Sources in the Tourism department informed that the land in question was acquired by the Tourism department way back in 1988 at a cost of Rs 33.31 lakhs. The avowed objective was to keep free access to the people visiting Colva beach.

“I don’t think this purpose will be defeated if the traditional fishermen are rehabilitated on a small portion of the acquired land”, remarked Thomas.

Records stated that the authorities had razed down around 13 of the 17 structures standing on the acquired property.

Incidentally, the Tourism department has not put the huge acquired land to use during the last five years. Local fishermen are apprehensive that the land may be pocketed by private parties under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model at the cost of the traditional fishermen.

Navelim farmers lose sleep to save fields plant expansion and a buffer zone would be converted to They have been virtually on the commercial use or allotted to streets since December 2009, private individuals. ever since the government noWhat has agitated the farmers tified the acquisition of their was that the government has agricultural fields admeasuring no project report from any ex2.72 lakh square meters for the pert body or institution justifytwin purpose of exing the proposed n The Union Cabinet has approved the pansion of the Marexpansion of the National Policy for Farmers 2007 gao’s sewage plant sewage plant and and to provide a the requirements of formulated by the Union Ministry of buffer zone around buffer zone.

Agriculture and Cooperation. One of the theSays the plant.

Navelim vilreforms proposed in the policy Coming together l a g e r J o s e Pa u l under the banner document under clause 4.2.2 is that the Coutinho: “The govof Salpem Tollem prime farm land must be conserved for ernment has no jusXetkarancho tification to acquire agriculture except under exceptional Ekvott-Navelim, the the paddy fields for farmers have been the sewage plant excircumstances. For, non agricultural running from pillar purposes, as far as possible, land with pansion and the to post to save buffer zone. The low biological potential for farming their fields from acPWD has enough quisition. And, with would be earmarked and allocated for land at its disposal pleas falling on deaf non agricultural development activities. t o e x p a n d t h e ears and the govplant. The --- Activist Sidharth Karapurkar sewage ernment bulldozing government is trying its way with the achood and that such a vast land to play with the farmers”. quisition process, the farmers admeasuring 2,72,737 square Farmers say they have been have now knocked the doors of meters was not required for the cultivating the fields for long, the high court to stop the gov- buffer zone. but have stopped doing so only ernment from acquiring their The petitioners have con- recently because of rampant agricultural fields. tended that the proposed ac- sewage disposal in the Salpem It all began when the govern- quisition is not intended to Lake. “How can the government ment notified section 4 of the serve public purpose and they expect farmers to cultivate the Land Acquisition Act dated De- apprehend that the acquired fields when millions of litres of cember 22, 2009 and since then land under the garb of sewage sewage waters from Margao HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JAN 28

the farmers have not looked back in their battle to protect the land of their ancestors.

Their objections were threefold: One, the land sought to be acquired are paddy fields, cultivated by them; that the fields are their sources of liveli-

The farmers protesting over the acquisition of their paddy fields at Navelim for the Margao sewerage plant expansion. The Salpem Lake which forms part of the land proposed to be acquired by the government.

Photo by Santosh Mirajkar

finds its way in the Salpem Lake”, they questioned.

Says activist Sidharth Karapurkar: “The Union Cabinet has approved the National Policy for Farmers 2007 formulated by the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperation. One of the reforms proposed in the policy document under clause

4.2.2 is that the prime farm land must be conserved for agriculture except under exceptional circumstances. For, non agricultural purposes, as far as possible, land with low biological potential for farming would be earmarked and allocated for non agricultural development activities”.

Is acquisition justified?

The Chairman of Sewerage & Infrastructural Development Corporation of Goa, Ganashyam Shirodkar says the government has proposed acquisition of 2.72 lakh square meters to create a buffer zone around the Margao sewerage plant.

He, however, could not satisfactorily explain why the agency requires nearly three lakh square meters of land for the buffer zone when the objective can be met by a few thousand squares meters of land.

Incidentally, Shirodkar said the government has no immediate plan to expand or upgrade Margao’s existing 7.5 MLD sewage plant and the government is not making a provision for the future requirements.

Interestingly, Shirodkar said his department plans to plant a variety of trees in the proposed buffer zone, even as the farmers want to continue paddy and vegetable cultivation on the land of their ancestors.

OHERALDO

GOA

Pg 5 GOA, SATURDAY, 29 JANUARY, 2011

Verna VP postpones meet at nth hour, invites people’s wrath HERALD REPORTER VASCO, JAN 28

The Verna panchayat’s decision to postpone a Gram Sabha barely hours ahead of the scheduled meeting has sparked off a controversy in the village.

The panchayat has, however, justified its decision to postpone the meet due to the ongoing Election Code of Conduct (ECC) in the village.

In a press note, a group of residents stated that a notice had been put up by the Verna panchayat on January 7 convening a Gram Sabha on January 23 at 9.15 am in the panchayat office.

“This announcement was made at masses in Verna church and surrounding chapels on January 9 and January 16,” the residents claimed.

“On January 23, about 40 perplexed villagers found a locked Panchayat office, as well as an absent Sarpanch and panchas.

Villagers were further confused by the presence of Joint Mamlatdar Laxmikant Desai, who was put on duty to maintain law and order.”

“Those gathered were informed by passers-by that the

Gram Sabha had been cancelled and rescheduled for February 6. A notice to this effect had been read out that morning at the masses in the church and chapels,” the press note stated.

Villagers were incensed at this arbitrary cancellation (a few hours before the appointed time) as they realized they would not be able to discuss the arbitrary granting of a construction license for a high density residential project in Senaulim ward.

The locals have registered their fears, apprehensions and strong protest regarding this construction with the Sarpanch on several occasions since August 2010, at meetings and in writing.

They state that their protests are on grounds of lack of amenities, change in demography of the ward and absence of a viable garbage management plan in the village.

Residents of the same ward have been complaining of rotting garbage, swarms of flies, howling stray dogs and fumes of burning plastic generated by an existing building.

“To ensure that there is no

repeat of this situation, the Gram Sabha had resolved unanimously in January 2009 that all multi-dwelling projects that would cause a more than 10% increase in the population of the ward must be placed before the Gram Sabha for decisions,” the press note stated.

“This is the same ward that battled long and hard and succeeded in stopping a similar project of 52 units. The residents are determined to fight this one too,” the press note added.

When contacted, Verna Deputy Sarpanch W illiam Minguel Barretto refuted the allegations and explained that the Gram Sabha was postponed due to the ECC imposed in the village.

The ECC has been imposed in the village as one ward is going to by-elections on January 30, due to the disqualification of the sitting panch.

“Even during the panchayat monthly meeting, we did not move or pass any resolution as it would have been declared null and void due to the ECC,” said Barretto.

“Since the panchayat did not want to enter into an unneces-

BJP activists return from Jammu, get rousing welcome

sary controversy, the Gram Sabha has been postponed to February 6. In fact, the decision to postpone the Gram Sabha was announced at the masses on Saturday and Sunday in the church, as people often attend the Gram Sabha after the mass,” said Barretto.

Speaking to Herald, Vasco Block Development Officer (BDO) Amir Parab endorsed the panchayat’s decision to postpone the Gram Sabha, but admitted the Panchayat had erred in convening a Gram Sabha during the ECC in the first place.

“The Gram Sabha was postponed to avoid unnecessary controversy since the ECC has been imposed in the village, due to the election of a ward on January 30,” the BDO said.

“But if the Gram Sabha had to be cancelled, it should have not been convened during the ECC in the first place,” said Parab.

“Most of the panchayat members preferred to convene the Gram Sabha after the elections.

This does not mean that members of the Gram Sabha would be denied the right to put forth their grievances,” he added.

Salcete M’latdar meets distributors over irregular LPG supply HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JAN 28

BJP youth workers given a warm welcome at the Margao railway station.

HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JAN 28

BJP youth activists who had gone to Jammu as part of the party’s nationwide program to hoist the National Tri Colour at the Lal Chowk returned back to a rousing welcome at the Margao railway station on Friday evening.

Slogan shouting party workers alighted at the railway station with shouts of Bharat Mata Ki Jai and Vande Mataram reverberating at the station premises.

BJP Fatorda MLA Damu Naik, while welcoming the party’s youth activists, warned the Congress government not to play with the sentiments of the people. He said no one has the right to stop a fellow countrymen to hoist the Tri Colour at the Lal Chowk, adding that no government will be able to stop the people if the entire country rise up to the occasion.

Condemning the act of stopping party leaders and youth members from hosting the Tri

GSPCB rejects Merces VP’s site for waste plant HERALD CORRESPONDENT MERCES, JAN 28

The attempt of the Merces panchayat to find a suitable site for garbage treatment plant has hit the roadblock as Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has rejected the site which was identified by the committee that prepared the draft RP for Merces.

On January 5, GSPCB officials had inspected the site along with the panchayat authorities at survey no 109/2 at MorombiO-Grande.

Though GSPCB is yet to communicate the same to the Merces panchayat, a source informed Herald that the site has been rejected purely on technical grounds as the area is a low lying area and very close to a water body.

The source was also highly critical of the way some panchayats are selecting sites for waste plant without applying minds and without giving due thoughts whether the selected sites are suitable for setting up waste plant or not.

“Then there are some other panchayats which are deliberately sending proposals which would be rejected, just to show to the people that they are doing their best in finding a site, and then they are laying the blame on the GSPCB,” the source further added.

The source, while accepting that the garbage problem has worsened over the years, however said that it doesn’t mean that the panchayats should expect GSPCB to clear sites which are not feasible, since it would only lead to aggravation of other problems.

When contacted, Merces panc h a y a t s e c re t a r y Ru p e s h Halarnkar said that the panchayat had sent the proposal to the GSPCB since the site was identified by the draft RP committee and the villagers had demanded that the panchayat should pursue the matter vigorously.

When asked what would be the future course of action, Merces Sarpanch Deepika Shirgaonkar said that the panchayat would discuss the issue at the gram sabha that would be held on Sunday, and urge the villagers to help the panchayat authorities in identifying an alternate site.

On how the panchayat deals with the waste in the village, Deepika informed that currently the workers are burning the waste, wherever it is possible, and the rest of the garbage is picked up by the contractor, who has been awarded the tender.

One killed in mishap HERALD CORRESPONDENT BICHOLIM, JAN 28

A 40-year-old pedestrian died, after he was knocked down by a car at Walshi-Bicholim on Thursday.

According to Bicholim Polcie, the accident occurred when the car (GA-03-C-6386) dashed against one Basappa at Walshi at about 12 pm. Basappa died on the spot.

The body was sent to GMC Hospital in Bambolim and the body has been preserved in the morgue, as the police are yet to know about the whereabouts of the deceased. PSI T P Walke is investigating the case.

Photo by Santosh Mirajkar

Colour at the Lal Chowk, the MLA said that no one will dare to stop the party from hoisting the National flag at Lal Chowk once the party government returns back to power at the centre.

The youth activists narrated the sequence of events since they headed to Jammu as part of the program to hoist the Tri Colour at the Lal Chowk.

A number of party leaders were also present at the railway station to welcome the youth activists.

Salcete Mamlatdar Paresh Faldessai on Friday had a meeting with city-based LPG gas distributors and issued strict instructions to deliver the cylinders within eight days of booking.

All the LPG gas distributors were invited by the Mamlatdar for a meeting following complaints of irregularities in the supply of cylinders.

The distributors pointed out to the Mamlatdar that booking of cylinders before delivery has now been made compulsory, adding that the distributors cannot deliver the cylinders sans booking.

The distributors also submitted details of the delivery system as sought by the Mamlatdar office.

When contacted, the Mamlatdar informed that strict instructions have been issued to the distributors not to take more than eight days in supplying the cylinders to the consumers. “My office had received many complaints over delays in delivery of the gas cylinders. Today’s meeting was part of an exercise to streamline the distribution system and to put a mechanism in place”, he added.

Reduce MLAs, devolve powers to ZPs: meet HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JAN 28

The issue of delegation of powers to Zilla Panchayats (ZP) figured prominently in today’s meeting of North Goa Zilla Panchayat (NGZP) with members suggesting that the government should bring down the number of MLAs to make a way for devolution of power to ZPs. Heated discussion took place with non-satisfactory reply of the government when delegation of ZP members had approached the government demanding that ZPs should be given all powers as mandated in the Constitution.

The ZP members met Chief Minister Digambar Kamat and submitted their demands, however they were disappointed as Kamat told them that they should first convince MLAs over the issue.

When the matter came up for discussion today, some of the

agitated members, said they have been made football and the government is not at all serious in fulfilling their demand.

It was unanimously decided by the ZP members that they will have to draw a definite plan of action to compel government to give powers due to them.

However, with a five day assembly session beginning on January 31, it was decided to give representation to each MLA and to decide future course of action on conclusion of the assembly session.

In today’s NGZP meeting the members resolved that contractors’ bills should not be released unless ZP member of the respective area certifies that the tendered work has been satisfactorily carried out.

The resolution was adopted as some members complained that contractors do not carry out works tendered to them in satisfactory manner.

PIB to begin campaign at Mandrem, Siolim HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JAN 28

Press Information Bureau (PIB), the publicity wing of Government of India has organized a threeday long Bharat Nirman Public Information Campaign at Mandrem and Siolim beginning from today.

The campaign which will pay more attention towards familiarizing of central government schemes to the locals will begin with a rally of students at Mandrem on January 29. While on the same day the inauguration of the campaign would be held at the hands of Laxmikant Parsekar.

While on January 30, North Goa MP, Sripad Naik will inaugurate the campaign at Siolim.

A cultural programme by Song and Drama division of Director of Film Publicity from Pune will be held on all the days after the technical session, which will be delivered by various resource persons, particularly engaged in implementing Central government schemes.

Meanwhile, a special programme on media orientation regarding Central government schemes was organized by PIB at Panjim today afternoon.

Govt warned not to promote International Arbitration Centre HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JAN 28

The South Goa Advocates Association has warned the government not to promote the International Arbitration Centre as in the final analysis, the object and the true character of the organization is international exploitation and would better be known as International Exploitation Centre.

“The need for a centre ought to have been debated and outstanding lawyers, judges, doctors, engineers, jurists and arbitrators should have associated with constitution of the International Arbitration Centre.

This so-called International Ar-

bitration Centre is a mockery of the need for Arbitration. It must be therefore be stopped from functioning and its registration cancelled forthwith as it is intended to promote certain individuals by exploiting the need of the society”, asserted Association president Adv Anacelto Viegas.

Adv Viegas said, “Today, the field is open for arbitration of international dispute no doubt, but that three individuals should constitute themselves into an International Arbitration Centre is alarming”.

He said the Chairman of the International Arbitration Centre is neither a practicing lawyer

Probe in headless murder in right direction: police HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JAN 28

The police on Tuesday said that investigations into the sensational headless body murder case is progressing in the right directions and exuded confid e n c e o f a n e a r l y b re a k through.

Margao Sub-divisional Police Officer, Margao, DySP Umesh Gaonkar told newsmen that the police are in the process of linking up the sequence of events that led to the brutal murder of deceased Sultan Bellary.

“All I can say at this stage is that the investigations are progressing in the right directions.

We have so far arrested three persons in connection with the murder, including the Maruti Swift owner”, DySP Gaonkar said.

Replying to a question, he said that the Maina Curtorim police had summoned on Friday Ashish Kamat for interrogations in connection with the case.

“The police has recorded the statement of Ashish Kamat. The

police are verifying the statement and is also investigating into all aspects of the case”, he added.

Kamat came to the police station this evening accompanied by his lawyer. He was allowed to go home after the police recorded his statement.

Sources in the Margao police headquarters said the police will now lay their hands on the brain behind the gruesome murder and that investigations are in progress to hunt for the head of the deceased, besides the weapon of assault.

nor an outstanding jurist, but is one who has spent his life on politicking and politics.

“The disturbing question is that individuals have registered

a private trust with no public participation and are trying to pass under the name of International Arbitration Centre’, Adv Viegas added.

OHERALDO

Pg6

www.oheraldo.in

O HERALD O Vol No CXI No: 029 Goa, Saturday, 29 January, 2011

Do they get an ordinance too?

W

hen a five star hotel was ordered to demolish a significant part of its structure a few years ago, the state government intervened swiftly. Within days, it had drafted and passed an ordinance with retrospective effect going back over 40 years, to pre-empt the impending demolition. Faced with unprecedented flak, the government had then justified its action saying that it saved 600 jobs, which could have been lost if the demolition had gone ahead.

A recent High Court judgment has ordered the Mormugao Municipal Corporation (MMC) to demolish 330 houses in Vasco’s Khariwaddo by 15 February. On Thursday, residents of Khariwaddo held a public meeting to voice their protest as well as to debate the best course of action to take. Councillors of the Vasco municipality as well as other local leaders spoke at this meeting.

Most of them pointed out – quite correctly – that locals had been carrying out fishing activities in the area since generations, and their rights could not simply be wished away merely because the Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) needs the area for its expansion plans. Others revealed that the issue dated back to 1998, when the MPT first identified 194 homes to be demolished for its expansion, but that the port authority had, in the same year, signed an MoU with the government and leaders of the fishing community that their homes would not be demolished until a full-fledged alternative fishing jetty was built.

In situations like these, justifications are all very fine, but what is of essence is action. What should the residents of Khariwaddo do now? Some spouted the usual platitudes, asking the residents to “stand together” against the High Court order (Exactly how does one do this?). Others were more practical, urging residents to join together and appeal the judgment. Still others were against a common legal strategy, saying that all the threatened homes should go for stay orders, individually but simultaneously.

But it was one particular Councillor that said the government should intervene with an ordinance, exactly the way it did when the Supreme Court ordered the demolition of part of a five star hotel. This, she said, would save both livelihoods as well as houses.

She is right. If 600 jobs were at stake in the proposed demolition of part of the five star hotel, how much more is at risk – in terms of both livelihoods and residences – if 330 homes of fisherfolk are demolished at Khariwaddo? Over 2,000 people will be out on the streets, and their earning members will be unable to continue with their traditional occupations.

These people are no less ‘aam admi’ than those who allegedly stood to lose their jobs if part of that five star hotel came down. They are being offered ‘alternative accommodation’ at a place where it is highly difficult, if not impossible, to continue with traditional fishing. The alternative jetty that was to be built for them at Katem Baina has not even begun construction.

So is Goa’s ‘aam admi’ government going to give them an ordinance too?

T

High time

hey posed to be ‘high security’ but were only ‘high priced’. And it was ‘high time’ that the government scrapped the contract with Delhi-based firm Shimnit Utsch for the so-called ‘high security’ registration plates, which seemed more scam than security measure.

The authorities should first find out why countries in Europe as well as the UK, Canada and the United States, which have the maximum number of cars, find these systems completely unnecessary.

Beleaguered Vasco Daniel F de Souza, Vasco da Gama Though the ‘Chaka Chak Goa’ campaign is receiving encouraging response in different parts of Goa, and tons of garbage is being cleared from the environment, it appears that the Mormugao Municipal Council is totally ignorant of what is happening around. The Municipal sweepers engaged by the council to sweep the streets gather the garbage and make a bonfire of it in rain water drains, and open places instead of collecting it and systematically disposing them off at the dump site. No supervision has enabled the sweepers to engage in the garbage disposal short cut.

Thick smoke clouds emanating toxic fumes are seen emerging from these bonfires. This leads to smoke pollution. Already, Vasco city is suffering from severe dust pollution. Will the Chief Officer MMC please

100 Years Ago PRIMEIRO DIARIO NAS COLONIAS PORTUGEZAS

29 January 1911

New owner of ‘Intransigent’

The ‘Intransigent’ is as of now the property of Machado Santos who steered the same through the politics of principles.

Artists to promote petition

A group of artists from ‘Sociedade Nacional de Belas Artes’ are promoting one petition through arts with a purpose to reunite a general assembly to discuss matters pertinent to National Flag.

Law of Civil Decree

The Justice Minister is still working actively to bring about as soon as possible the Law of Civil Decree.

Grand welcome accorded

The residents of the Village of Dabul held yesterday a grand welcoming reception to the Patriarch of East Indies who remained touched with that display of affection.

OPINION

Brands for Generation Next

Why bother creating a brand strategy for a product which historically, has done well, asks PlAStinO d’cOStA

L

ately, the hit American brand Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) made a quiet entry into Goa, quite because there was hardly anything spent on advertising as compared to what is usually expected of them. So high is the brand appeal of KFC, that Goans were seen thronging in an unfinished shopping mall, trying to get a taste of KFC. The long queues have now become manageable, but they still remain steady. Good news for everybody, the owners of KFC and Goans will now spend big bucks to taste international brands. KFC, because of their fast increasing customer base, and brand loyalty among Generation Next, will slowly change Goan food habits, and will eat into the market share of the cuisine of Goa which, till date, has remained unbranded.

We cannot compare fast food with elegant Goan cuisine, but in order take on the mighty KFC, Goans should start thinking in terms of improvising some of our own cuisine into creating fast food brands such as a chicken ‘cafreal.’

The reason being if Goan cuisine has to survive the onslaught of international tastes then creating, managing and building a chain of brands of at least some our foods, might be the only alternative forward. In this competitive world, everybody is free to promote and sell international brands and therefore, it becomes imperative that local brands of foods are created which are in imminent danger of being wiped out.

In the Middle East, there is a craze among their Generation Next to patronise American brands, KFC being one of them. These international brands attract their customers not necessarily for the taste, but also because they are cool places to hang out.

At this rate, there was a danger that Arab food habits were changing and therefore, some enterprising local businessmen created their own brand of chicken that matched the outlet of a KFC and offered their own grilled tender chicken instead of fried. This gave the customer a choice of eating an international fried chicken or a local grilled tender chicken.

At least, they made sure that their taste of chicken competes with KFC, and at the same time, is economically viable. Countries in the far east have developed their own local food chains and compete side by side with international brands at food courts in prestigious malls.

Goans should start thinking of creating fast food brands which are easy to prepare, and faster

Firmly EntrEnchEd to serve. For example, creating a brand for the all time Goan favourite ‘Choris Pao’ might not be a bad idea.

At the moment, available in not so comfortable local bars, its clientele is limited as it does not attract trendy customers, but once you place this product in a place that is cool and trendy, chances are that these foods might survive the next generation. A two-year old idea by a political party of creating a brand of the famous Vada Pav is taking shape in Mumbai, and although it is delayed, at least their intent is right.

Creating a brand is not an easy task, as it needs strong financial backing, publicity, and overcoming logistical hindrances. Sometimes you might have to tweak the original recipe to suit changing tastes or to make it economically viable.

Even KFC went through a transformation, and its recipe according to its original founder Colonel Harland Sanders is not the same that he prepared in the 1930s.

We need them

Tongue in cheek

T

hey are called by different names. They are known as ‘outsiders’, ‘non-Goans’, ‘migrants’ and even ‘ghatis’. That is how we Goans tend to address migrant labourers coming from other states. They are despised, scorned at, and even blamed for many of the ills that plague our society. Come rain, these labourers are blamed for spreading deadly diseases like malaria. Whenever there is a theft or a house-break, the people who are first rounded-up for questioning, are the migrants living nearby. Is it right to blame these people? These migrants come from poor villages from far off states like MP, Bihar, Jharkhand, UP, etc., and neighbouring states like Karnataka and Maharashtra. They come down to Goa to do menial jobs so that they can fend for themselves and their families.

Every Indian has a right to look for their means of livelihood, anywhere in the country. Therefore, we should not look down upon them as pests who move about in dirty clothes. Accepted, that some of them may have gone astray or fallen into bad company or some of them have become anti-social elements. But then one

get his act together and pull up the erring municipal workers and stop this unhealthy practice forthwith?

Attire rules Augustus Alphonso, Vasco The letter entitled ‘Wear proper attire’

by Simon D’souza of Calangute, (Herald, 27 Jan) made me wonder of tourists who do not clothe themselves respectfully in Goa. Indeed, D’souza is right in saying that these foreigners must respect Goan culture, as we do not walk semi-nude on our streets. Their holidays in Goa bring in the euros, dollars and pounds, but the damage that their culture does, in the process, is something that can be avoided.

If molestations and rapes take place in Goa, these Europeans are partly to be blamed for it. Several Goan youth have ruined their lives by foolishly aping the west, by wearing earrings and becoming drug addicts. Our government must impose ‘attire rules’ for tourists visiting Goa, as we do not need western culture anymore.

Impact of tourism Nancy Mascarenhas, Colva This has reference to Steve Tyler’s article “Goa is Great, but…”(Herald, Jan 25) Foreign tourists have indirect adverse implications on the socio-economic welfare of Goan society. Due to the ever increasing inflow of foreign national tourists, the flow of domestic Indian tourists has risen at an unprecedented scale, not because of the scenic beauty that Goa offers, but mainly because of the visual feast, they get by watching scantily dressed foreign tourists.

Domestic tourists are a big nuisance in Goa. In addition, drug mafias are making hay in the sunshine. Crimes, bribes, and drug trafficking have shown a steep increase in the graph line of Goan tourism.

Goa is noted only for the bad vices.

Our Central government has taken a step in the right direction to put restrictions on foreign tourist visa rules.

This will bring under control, the negative effects of excess flow of foreign tourists.

After he sold the franchise for $2 million in 1964, the company changed hands from Heublien to R J Reynolds and now with Pepsico from 1986, which now holds the brand through its subsidiary Yum Brands.

Economics play a big part in the longevity of a brand, and as long as their basic recipe has remained unchanged, a little bit of tweaking should be acceptable.

Why bother creating a brand strategy for products which historically has done well? Well they might have, in a protected environment but there is no guarantee in the changing competitive scenario that these Goan foods will survive.

Having said that, there are few Goans who have been in the process of creating Goan brands. Mahendra Alvares in Loutolim has shown the way on how in his project ‘Big Foot’ he is able to take you back in time, and yet strike a chord with the Generation Next thereby creating a brand image for the venture.

‘Goa Chitra’ an ethnographic museum concep-

tualised by Victor Hugo Gomes of Benaulim, promotes the concept of ‘Back to Basics’ which now makes more and more sense, in this high inflation scenario.

Goa needs brand positioning and efforts from our stars like Remo Fernandes, who recently composed music and sang for a Konkani feature film, or Wendell Rodricks designing the Goan Kunbi saree, will go a long way in building brand ‘GOA’.

Their efforts have, at least, positioned brand Goa positively and changed the perception to the outside world, although it might completely not arrest the eroding brand value of Goa, which our politicians have attained over the years.

Badly handled tourism in the hands of politicians for a few more years will position brand Goa next to a brothel, where anyone and everyone enjoys on their terms, but at the cost of Goans. The toppling political games our politicians play might amuse the local population, but when these events take place, brand Goa always takes a hit.

A couple of years ago, India biggest private bank ICICI Bank took a hit when rumours were intentionally floated about their weak financial position to enable a certain bear cartel to short sell the banks shares.

The bank quickly realised their brand had taken a hit, and took decisive action by roping in Shahrukh Khan for their advertising campaign to reinforce their brand image, and contacted their depositors to dispel those rumors.

But then, ICICI Bank is a private bank and is answerable to its shareholders, depositors and its customers. Their very existence depended on the brand they had created, over these years.

Enterprising Goans must start thinking of creating local brands, because it might be our only chance to compete, with the best in the world.

The brand must then make enough money to sustain itself on its own, instead of begging for government dole and political favours; and least of all, never make politicians inaugurate that new venture, whatever might be the compulsions.

In Generation Next lingo, they are the opposite of cool, they are not the Generation Next idols, your brand might create initial curiosity but in the long run, it might never takeoff.

Our existence will now depend on how fast we adapt to this changing scenario.

can definitely not say that all these migrants are of nuisance value.

In fact, we need their services for the overall development of the state. How many Goans would do the job of a mason and work at the construction sites?

Goans may work as painters, plumbers, masons, carpenters, and even work at the construction sites in the Gulf countries, but they would not do such work in their home state. That is why these migrant labourers, who come to our state, play such an important role. They are found everywhere. One can see them at the bus stand and at the railway stations, where they work as ‘coolies.’ (porters).

If it were not for these labourers, most of the construction work in the state would have come to a stand-still. It may be true that they are exploited by the contractors by underpaying them and make them live in unhygienic conditions.

That is the reason why the Government insists that these labourers should be given health cards. These labourers have no workers union which to approach to address their grievances. They live a

Broad roads are a necessity P L Fernandes, Old Goa

This refers to your editorial “Highway or my way” (Herald, 28 Jan) and the Governor’s address on Republic Day. Frankly, no one in his or her right mind would object to highway broadening. We need four-laned roads.

The major Goan roads and land routes, that exist today, are those left by the erstwhile Portuguese regime, and have been surgically broadened to resemble the national highway.

Undeniably, the growing number of vehicles added every year, has contributed to the the brunt, with traffic at its busiest best. But then, any flow of traffic on national highways, is principally heavy and continuous. Needless to say, it is noisy. If national highways are taken through the hinterland, as against urban and populated areas, the impact would be less on other major roads.

As His Excellency, the Governor says, let the government allay people’s fears and apprehensions, and all will be well.

Christine Russon, Canada I am a Canadian who travels to India every year to visit family in Mumbai and Goa. I am appalled when I observe the arrogance of some of the foreign visitors to Goa, who act as though spending a little money here gives them the right to stay for as long as they like, do whatever they please, and speak to the locals as if they are beneath them.

I am equally disheartened when I witness Goans, who welcome the disrespectful behaviour of these types of people. The Indian visa rules have been changing due to the number of visitors who flout them, eg by working/doing business on a tourist visa, overstaying, engaging in illegal activities, etc. In a country that is constantly under the threat of terrorism, the tightening of these rules is necessary, commendable, and should be respected by all visitors.

Bureaucrats made scapegoats B V S Priolkar, Margao Recently, we have been witnessing a number of ‘scams’ with the blessings of a political party in power at the Centre. The political leaders allegedly involved are forced to resign to avoid mass unrest

hand-to-mouth existence. Their children do not have a proper school to go to. Their families do not have a proper roof over their heads. They live in make-shift shanties which lead to growth of slums with no proper water supply and hygiene.

The result is the spread of diseases among the local people.

And then we blame the construction workers for the spread of diseases. If we Goans make use of the services of these migrant labourers it is essential to see that this labour is well organised and that all their needs are met.

This entire responsibility should be shouldered by the contractors who bring these labourers to the state. The contractors could build temporary homes near the construction sites for these labourers and provide them with all the basic amenities.

We need their services. Imagine a life where it is difficult to get a plumber, a painter, a mason or a carpenter to do petty work in your homes or for that matter a ‘coolie’ (porter) to carry a baggage.

We should never take the services of these people for granted.

Letters to the Editor

Letter of the Day

Arrogant foreigners in Goa

By Adelmo Fernandes

and save party image. They do not remain out of a job for long and accommodated elsewhere in the party work.

The ‘scams’ just simply cannot happen without the active collusion of bureaucracy and the politicians, and the bureaucrats become vulnerable in getting caught. It is high time now that the bureaucrats rise above party politics and be sincere and honest with undoubted integrity. The alleged leader involved along with concerned bureaucrat, must be jailed and face trials so as to set an example.

Are we prepared?

Crispino Faia, Vasco Everyone may remember that when there was a collision between two vessels in the Mumbai port waters, few months ago, there was an oil spill. 400 tonnes of crude oil was let into the sea.

252.18 hectare of mangrove has been affected and in addition, three hump-back dolphins lost their lives.

The spill produced tar balls which travelled as far as Ratnagiri.

I wonder what happened to the oil spill equipment that is present on ships. Why weren’t they being used?

Ports should also have their own methods of combating such problems.

I am only concerned that if an incident of this nature takes place in Goa, are we prepared?

Leave missionaries alone

Paths of Wisdom The Friend in Need

Jerry Fernandes, Saligao This is with regards to the news report titled ‘Industrialists urged to help VHP to stop conversions’ (Herald, 18 Jan). Well, all these organisations, instead of targeting the Christian missionaries on flimsy grounds, should go and do some practical social service by helping the poor in India.

Great ancient religions have survived for generations and have produced leaders of class. Christian missionaries are hardly a threat to any religion. In India, there are many pressing needs like complete abolishment of the caste system. We also need to eradicate poverty and make our country self sufficient in all its needs.

Calling his bluff Joseph Furtado, Sangolda The brutality that Cipriano Fernandes suffered at the hands of the police and his resultant death in their custody is totally unjustified. The policemen responsible for his death should undergo a judicial inquiry.

What has the Home Minister to say about this case, and also the dumping of a beggar in the garbage bin at Campal, the drug mafia nexus, thefts, murders and the sex trade?

He has remarked that Goa is drug and crime free, so are all the above realities, just bluff?

For the sake of money Agnelo Furtado, Chinchinim Monetary gratification to inflict pain, seems to be the dharma of police brutality to arrest Sous-chef Cipriano.

The cruelty would pale Marquis de Sade and even Saddam Hussein. What Frankensteins, in uniform, has our democratic government produced?

We salute Herald, the NGO ‘Utt Goenkara’ and Mickky for condemning the incident, and raising their voices.

S

uppose one of you should go to a friend’s house at midnight and say to him, “Friend, let me borrow three loaves of bread. A friend of mine who is on a journey has just come to my house, and I haven’t got any food for him!’ And suppose my friend should answer from inside, ‘Don’t bother me! The door is already locked and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything. Well, what then? I tell you that even is he will not get up and give you the bread because you are his friend, yet, he will get up and give you everything you need, because you are not ashamed to keep on asking.

And so I say to you: Ask, and you will receive, seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks will receive, and he who seeks will find, and the door will be opened to anyone who knocks. Would any of you who are fathers, give your son a snake when he asks for fish? Or would you give him a scorpion when he asks for an egg? Bad as you are, you know how to give good things to your children. How much more, then, will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11-5-13)

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

HOW TO CONTACT US: mail@herald-goa.com — For press notes, general queries. junior@herald-goa.com — Junior Herald; junioryouth@herald-goa.com — Careers. heraldmirror@herald-goa.com — Sunday Mirror. reporters@herald-goa.com — For Reporters. business@herald-goa.com — For Business news. editor@herald-goa.com — For Letters to the Editor. sports@herald-goa.com — For Sports news. advt@herald-goa.com — For Advertisements. 2day@herald-goa.com — For Herald 2day. tiatr@herald-goa.com — For Tiatr Reviews and Reports. Disclaimer: Except for the editorial above, articles and letters in Herald represent the views of the concerned authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Herald editor, publisher, and/or owners.

OHERALDO

GOA

Pg 7 GOA, SATURDAY, 29 JANUARY, 2011

‘Defence officials should not sabotage livelihood of Goans’

Cortalim MLA Mauvin Godinho addresses fishermen, shack owners and boat operators to oppose Indian Navy’s move to acquire two islands off Arabian Sea. HERALD REPORTER VASCO, JAN 28

The public has finally commenced a movement against land acquisition plans of defence authorities to acquire Pequeno and St George islands off Baina and Bogmalo coast.

Fishermen, shack owners and boat operators gathered on the clarion call given by Cortalim ML A Mauvin Godinho for a meeting at Bogmalo beach on Thursday.

Godinho stated that the people’s agitation will move to the Assembly Complex, as he urged the people to gather near Assembly Complex on February 2 to send a message that the people of Goa would strongly oppose acquisition of the islands.

“We have highest regards for Indian Navy, as they safeguard our nation. But at the same, time the officials in the defence organization should not sabotage the livelihood of Goan tourism industry that is largely confined to beach and in terms of tourism perspective these islands are very important for Goa,” said Godinho.

He further said the islands have its own importance for fishermen during hours of distress.

Raj Sabha MP Shantaram Naik smelt a rat in the entire land acqui-

sition and termed it ‘land grabbing tactic’ in the name of security.

“We have apprehension that the central authority might invoke Section 17 of Land Acquisition Act and acquire both the islands on emergency by asking the State government and the District Collector, which we should not allow to happen,” said Rajsabha MP Shantaram Naik.

“Let the naval authority come on record to explain the need to acquire these islands all of a sudden,” asked Naik.

“This is a land grabbing tactic, as some of the retired officers have estimated the commercial importance of these islands,” alleged Naik.

He assured that he would strongly take the issue in the Parliament as people of Goa have been opposing the move tooth and nail.

Others who spoke at the meeting included Chicalim Sarpanch Raul D’Costa, Sancoale Deputy Sarpanch Ramakant B o r k a r, f o r m e r B o g m a l o sarpanch Laxman Kaulekar and Chicalim Villager Action Committee for Development President Ligorio Monterio.

Bogamlo Sarpanch Urban Rodrigues, Panch Arun Naik, ZP members Cynthia D’Silva and Aparna Naik, Velsao Sarpanch Olga D’Souza,

Panch Lawrence Rodrigues, Chicalim Deputy Sarpanch Mari Mascarnhas, Dabolim Congress Block President Swapnil Naik and others were present for the meeting.

Platinum jubilee celebrated HERALD NEWS BUREAU PANJIM, JAN 28

Holy Cross High School, Bastora, celebrated its Platinum Jubilee on January 8.

The programme commenced with the inaugural mass concelebrated by Fr Kyriel D'Souza, an exstudent and presently the Provincial Superior of the Pilar Society.

The theme of the celebration was 'In gratitude we celebrate your greatness'. The mass was followed by the cutting of the jubilee cake, a PowerPoint presentation of the history of the school and felicitation of past pupils, who are priests and nuns, and retired teachers\headmistresses.

Later, a draw of the donation coupons was held and the winners are 08125 (first prize), 11388 (second prize) and 20180 (third prize). The consolation prizes are 100009 (first), 05729 (second), 19091 (third), 18029 (fourth) and 03837 (fifth).

Eleven rescued from drowning in State HERALD CORRESPONDENT CALANGUTE, JAN 28

Eleven persons, including four Russian tourists, were recently rescued from drowning by lifeguards along the Goa coast.

According to reports, three Russian women, Tima Burobin (24), Lera Borseva (19) and Mriya Borseva (28), were rescued at Ashwem Beach by lifeguards S u j a n N a g v e ka r, B a b u r a o Nagvekar and Rahul Mahale while they struggled and panicked when boarding a boogie in the waters. The lifeguards helped the tourists and brought them safely to the shores.

In another incident at Ashwem, Gauresh Sharma (28) of Delhi was rescued by lifeguards Macchindra Chodankar and Rehul Mahale while he was in distress and struggled to make it to the shores.

Alex Nolo (35) of MoscowRussia was also rescued by lifeguards Sujan Nagvekar, Shailesh Mahale and Baburao Nagvekar.

At Sinquerim coast, Pradeep Dhingara (36) and Aarti Budhiraja (28) both from Pune were rescued by lifeguards Satyawan Gaonkar and Vikas Gaonkar while they were caught in rip current and struggled to swim safely to the shores.

At Candolim, Sharad Kumar (26) and Vinay Kumar (27), both native of Mysore, were rescued and saved from drowning by lifeguards Sunil Matondkar and Mahadev Usapkar while they were in distress and called for help.

In separate rescue incidents at Palolem and Cannaginim beaches, Rakesh Wagmare (28) Pune and Xavier Fernandes (29), local fisherman, were rescued by lifeguards Kashinath Velip, Venkatesh Velip, Sonu B Gaonkar and Samir Kankonkar, Dayanand Gaonkar and Girish Komarpant.

Restricted water supply to Fatorda PANJIM (HND): Water supply to Agali, Arlem and surrounding areas in Fatorda constituency will be restricted on January 29..

Prize distribution uprcoming events function held at Kalay Remembering martyrs

PANJIM(HND): The Nation will observe silence in memory of those who laid down their precious lives in the struggle for India’s freedom on January 30.

The main function will be held at Martyr’s Memorial at Azad Maidan, Panjim, between 10.35 am to 11am. All the Heads of Departments who are placed outside the jurisdiction of Panjim and nearby areas, public sector undertakings and autonomous bodies will attend the function in their offices by observing two minutes silence at 11 am.

Prize distribution function

Fr Custodio Fernandes, Marion Mascarenhas, Alka Fernandes, Academy President Arun Bicholkar, Academy Advisor Adv Uday Bicholker, Executive Members Baptista Gonsalves and Rupraj Naik at the prize distribution function organised by Frontline Academy, Kalay.

HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, JAN 28

Prize distribution of the first time Crib competition organised

by Frontline Academy Kalay at panchayat level was held recently. Fr Custodio Fernandes was the chief guest and Marion Mascarenhas, Alka Fernandes, Academy President Arun Bicholkar, Academy Advisor Adv Uday Bicholker, Executive Members Baptista Gonsalves and Rupraj Naik were also present.

First prize was bagged by

Stanley D’Costa, second by Davin Pereira and third was bagged by Franky Rodrigues.

Consolation prizes were given to Rohan Gonsalves, Henry Fernandes and Anivial Gonsalves.

Chief guest Custodio Fernandes praised the Academy for its work and advised the youth to participate in such competitions and cultural activities. He also urged them to work hard and protect the environment. Uday Bicholkar compered and proposed the vote of thanks.

PANJIM (HND): Kalika Prakashan Vishwast Mandal’s annual prize distribution function will be held on January 30 at Lingayat Hall, near Adarsh HS, Pajifond-Margao, at 4.30 pm.

Principal of CES College Cuncolim Dr Laxman Naik, and headmistress of Mahila and Nutan Vidhyalay Mangala Karapurkar will be the chief guests, and social worker and writer Anant Atmaram Chodankar will preside over the function.

Inter-faith prayer meet

PANJIM (HND): The Panjim Church will organise an InterFaith Prayer Meet on January 30, World Peace Day in our country, and Martyrdom Day of Gandhiji, the father of our nation in the Parish Hall (ground floor) at 6.15 pm. The theme of the celebration is: ‘Let us together protect and develop Mother Earth, God's creation’.

All religious communities residing in Panjim may take part in this Meet to reflect on God-given responsibility of saving the earth and promoting development within the plan of the creator.

Rally lights up St Cruz to show support for Victoria

Nachinola gram sabha expected to be stormy

the local MLA has done a great deal of development works inspite of not being a Minister.

The President of GPCC Subhash Shirodkar praised the MLA Victoria Fernandes for development work in the constituency and also the PCC Member Rudolf Fernandes for organising such Torch Lit Rally on the eve of Republic Day. Local MLA Victoria Fernandes thanked people for such overwhelming support and asked the Government to see that jobs are given to the people of her constituency and also to give the ST and OBC people houses by allotting plots.

She urged the people to be united irrespective of caste and creed and to fight against all odds and make the constituency number one in the State.

PCC Member Rudolf Fernandes proposed the vote of thanks

The Nachinola Gram Sabha, convened on January 30, is expected to be stormy, as the villagers are planning to raise various issues at the meeting.

Panch Satish Govekar informed that the main issue will be the withdrawal of Rs 2.29 lakh from the bank by the panchayat without completing the work of drainage and submitting false reports to Block Development authorities.

Further, the panchayat has been alleged having issued a fake tender for Rs 1.70 lakh towards improvement of panchayat premises by forging the signature of government contractor. A complaint in this regard was also filed with Mapusa Police station.

Govekar further stated that the panchayat is not functioning properly and is encouraging illegal constructions and resorting to corrupt practices.

HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, JAN 28

Over 10,000 people of St Cruz Constituency participated in a Torch Lit Rally organised by GPCC (Goa Pradesh congress Committee) under the leadership of PCC Member Rudolf Fernandes at St Cruz.

Ex president of the Action Committee of St Cruz Constituency Agnelo Oliveira said, if late Jack Sequeira is considered the Father of the Opinion Poll, Victoria Fernandes should be acknowledged as the Mother of Opinion Poll as she was actively involved in the movement to attain separate identity for Goa. While Sarpanch of Chimbel Chandrakant Kuncolkar lamented that the MLA inspite of being elected four times and also being the only women MLA in the Legislative Assembly, did not get a cabinet berth. Aslam Khan said that

and appealed to the Government for establishing small scale industry to employ the local people especially the youth.

Zilla Parishad Member Chaya Naik, Ex Sarpanch Merces Prakash Naik, Dy Sarpanch St Cruz Tony Fernandes, Social Worker Chimbel Nagesh Bodke, Ex President of ST Association of Goa Pandurang Kunkolkar, also spoke on the occasion.

Seminar on ethics

PANJIM (HND): The Indian Institute of Public Administration, West Coast Regional Branch, Goa and Civitas, Goa, will organise a seminar on professional ethics and responsibilities of civil servants on February 1, at the secretariat seminar hall, ground floor, from 10 am to 1 pm for secretaries and heads of departments of government.

HERALD CORRESPONDENT PORVORIM, JAN 28

McDonald's - 2250250

WANTED

OHERALDO

Pg 10

INDIA

GOA, SATURDAY, 29 JANUARY, 2011

Karmapa cash haul: Chinese link found PTI DHARAMSALA/NEW DELHI, JAN 28

Police claimed to have seized foreign currency valued at over Rs six crore during raids in the offices of a trust backed by 17th Karmapa Ugyen Trinley Dorje, who investigators believe could be having links with Chinese authorities.

Himachal Pradesh ADGP (Law and Order) S R Mardi said huge sums of money in currencies of 25 countries including China, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, the UK, the US, Australia, Thailand, Vietnam and Germany were seized during the raids.

The recovered amount includes 11 lakh in Chinese Yuan, 6 lakh USD and Rs 30 lakh. Officials said law will take its own course in the case.

DGP D S Minhas said lots of land deal documents were also found and probe is on whether these are part of some benami deals. Some travellers cheques were also found.

The Karmapa, who had fled to India on January 5, 2000 from China as a 14-year-old boy, may be questioned if needed, Minhas said. He has been living in Dharamsala ever since.

Although Dorje is widely called the Karmapa, officials said that he is one of the four contenders to the seat of Karmapa.

The Dalai Lama had also recognised him as 'Karmapa', a Buddhist seat that carries forward Tibetan activities.

Investigators probing the huge cash haul from the transit home of the Karmapa suspect that he is in regular touch with

CBI opposes bail plea of 2006 Malegaon blasts accused PTI MUMBAI, JAN 28

The CBI today opposed the bail application filed by nine accused in the 2006 Malegaon blasts case, saying they had not mentioned any valid reason for seeking relief.

In its reply filed before the special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act court here, the central investigation agency said, "The accused persons have not put forward any valid ground for consideration of their bail application and thus their bail application deserves to be rejected."

The CBI said that it is conducting further investigation after obtaining formal permission of the court.

Nine Muslim men, who were arrested in connection with case and have been in jail for the past four years, had moved the MCOCA court on January 17 seeking bail, citing Swami Aseemanand's confession pointing to a right-wing group's involvement in the attack that killed 36 persons.

Aseemanand, who was arrested last November for his alleged role in the 2007 Mecca Masjid blasts, had said in his confession recorded before the magistrate last month, that a right-wing group was responsible for the 2006 blasts, which killed 36 people and injured over 100.

The blasts took place near Hamidia mosque in the Bada Kabristan area around 1.15 PM on Friday on September 8, 2006, after the Shab-e-Barat prayers.

The police had arrested nine persons - Salman Farsi, Shabir Ahmed, Noorulhuda Doha, Rais Ahmed, Mohammed Ali, Asif Khan, Javed Sheikh, Farooque Ansari and Abrar Ahmed – for their alleged involvement in the blasts.

Chinese authorities, apparently to help Beijing control Buddhist monasteries from Ladakh to Tawang.

Evidence emerging during investigation indicated that the currencies of China, Japan, the US, the UK, Australia, Thailand and several other countries recovered from Gyuto Monastery in Dharamlsala have come from Chinese sources.

Sources said investigators have found that such funds regularly keep coming to the Tibetan religious leader and he could be part of a Chinese design to help Beijing control all Buddhist monasteries located in the Himalayan region beginning from Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir to Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh.

However, Speaker of Tibetan Parliament-in-exile Pempa Tsering ruled out any Chinese link with the Karmapa. He said "lack of knowledge of law and rules could be behind the keeping of money in huge amount which came through donations".

Sources said Karmapa's personal secretary Tsering, who is a l s o t h e s e c re t a r y o f t h e monastery was called back here from Dehradun. His office and residence have already been sealed by police.

Rabgyal Soshing alias Shakti Lama, a key functionary of the Karma Garchen Trust with main office in Gyato monastery at Sidhbari, 6 km from here, was arrested yesterday by the police and raids were conducted following information furnished by him.

The raids were conducted fol-

lowing recovery of Rs 1 crore from a vehicle at the Mehatpur barrier by the Una police on Thursday evening and arrest of two persons who provided clues about the source of the money.

Una police conducted the raids at the offices of the Trust at Sidhbari, Majnoo Ka Tila (Delhi), Ambala and some other places with the help of Kangra Police that led to seizure of foreign currencies worth crores of rupees.

Police was trying to verify the sources from where the Tibetan trust received the money as its authorities maintained that it was received through offerings and donations from devotees.

Una police had registered a case under IPC sections 419, 420, 467, 468, 471 and 120 against Sanjog Dutt and Ashutosh who were travelling in the vehicle in which cash worth Rs 1 crore was being carried from Majnoo Ka Tila to Sidhbari.

Sources said the money was to be paid to Dharamsala bases business with whom the Trust had struck a deal for purchasing the land but the vehicle was intercepted and the money could not be paid to the businessman.

The Himachal Police have also informed the Enforcement and Income Tax departments to ascertain whether there was any breach of law.

The police was interrogating Shakti lama and other two arrested persons to find the source from where the money came and also how it was to be spent.

Thomas should not have been made CVC: Advani PTI NEW DELHI, JAN 28

Senior BJP leader L K Advani today supported his colleague Sushma Swaraj's stand against the appointment of CVC P J Thomas, saying he could not have been chosen for the post as he had cases pending against him.

"This controversy started even when I was the Leader of the Opposition. I told them (government) that wherever this law that Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha should be there in the panel with the government they used to give only one name.

I told them I will not accept unless you give a panel (of names)," Advani told reporters.

He maintained that in the case of Thomas' appointment as CVC, the government tried to do the same by insisting on his name despite zeroing in on a panel of three candidates.

"Sushma said that she will not accept his name as there is a case against him and the CBI is investigating.... How can we appoint him when a case is pending against him. She said I do not know the other two names you (government) have given but I have no objection if you accept any of the two," Advani said.

Swaraj had registered her dissent in writing to the appointment of Thomas as the CVC as he was being investigated for his alleged complicity in the Palmolien import case. She has insisted that she had informed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh

n Sushma said that she will not accept his name as there is a case against him and the CBI is investigating....

How can we appoint him when a case is pending against him. She said I do not know the other two names you (government) have given but I have no objection if you accept any of the two. and Home Minister P Chidambaram about the case against Thomas but they maintained he had been exonerated and insisted on his candidature.

Swaraj has said she will file an affidavit against the government in the Supreme Court as the UPA regime is "misleading" the apex court on this issue.

The Supreme Court was yesterday told by Attorney General G E Vahanvati that the Committee which selected Thomas was not aware of charges against him in the two-decade-old Palmolein oil import case.

Congress General Secretary and MP Rahul Gandhi praying at Shri Saibaba Samadhi's in Shirdi on Friday.

White Paper sought on Muslims in custody for bomb blasts DELHI BUREAU NEW DELHI

The ruling Congress and Left Parties on Friday lent support to the demand raised at a daylong national seminar here for a "white paper" on the Muslim youths in custody on the charges of the bomb blasts over the past few years.

Families and victims rendered heart-rending stories of their detention, arrests, torture, media trial and behaviour of judiciary at the seminar that marked release of a report on the "communal" bureaucracy and security agencies launching a witch-hunt against the Muslims ignoring leads pointing towards hand of the Hindutva groups.

The report released by Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh and CPI(M) politburo member Sitaram Yechuri says: "The agencies showed their abject bias and chose to pursue the beaten track of investigating Islamic terrorist organisations— with the sole exception of Maharastra ATS chief Hemant

Rao to take up with Colombo killing of Indian fishermen PTI NEW DELHI, JAN 28

Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao will travel to Colombo tomorrow to discuss with the Sri Lankan government the killing of Indian fishermen in the past one month allegedly by its navy.

"External Affairs Minister S M Krishna has asked the Foreign Secretary to go to Sri Lanka tomorrow to discuss the killing of Indian fishermen with the government there," sources said here today.

Reflecting the political sensitivities in Tamil Nadu, India has already reacted very strongly to the incidents in which two Indian fishermen were killed in the span of one month, notwithstanding Sri Lankan government's claim that its navy was not involved.

Terming the incidents as "very serious" and "unacceptable", India has said that such incidents have no "justification" and called on Sri Lankan authorities to "desist" from the use of force.

SC stays death penalty to 3 AIADMK workers PTI NEW DELHI, JAN 28

The Supreme Court today stayed execution of capital punishment upheld by it earlier for three AIADMK workers involved in burning to death three hapless college girls in Tamil Nadu in 2000 after former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa's conviction in a corruption case.

The order was passed on petitions by three convicts -- C Muniappan, Ravindran and Nedunchezhian -- seeking review of the apex court's August 30 verdict last year, upholding death penalty awarded to them.

While suspending the execution of the death sentence, a bench of justices B Sudershan Reddy and S S Nijjar also issued notice to the Tamil Nadu government, seeking its response to the writ petition filed by the convicts.

The apex court had on August

30 last year upheld the death penalty for the trio, rejecting their pleas for leniency. The court had ruled that their gruesome offence fell under the category of "rarest of rare offence" warranting nothing less than death penalty.

The three victims of the infamous Dharampuri bus burning incident –-- Kokilavani, Gayathri and Hemalatha --– were students of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore.

The bus in which they were travelling along with 44 other students and two teachers was torched on February 2, 2000 following Jayalalithaa's conviction in the Pleasant Stay Hotel case.

On February 16, 2007, a trial court in Salem had awarded death sentence to the three accused after finding them guilty of murder, attempt to murder and other charges under IPC and

gave varying sentences of two months to two years to 25 others.

The Madras High Court had on December 6, 2007, had confirmed the capital punishment and the sentence of six months to two years imprisonment imposed on 25 others.

Upholding the death sentence, the apex court had said, "These were the murders of helpless, innocent, unarmed, young girl students in a totally unprovoked situation. No mitigating circumstances could be pointed to us, which would convince us to impose a lesser sentence on them. Their activities were not only barbaric but inhuman of the highest degree.

"Thus, the manner of the commission of the offence in the present case is extremely brutal, diabolical, grotesque and cruel.

It is shocking to the collective conscience of society.

Karkare."

Digvijay Singh put full blame on BJP veteran Lal Krishna Advani for sowing roots of terrorism in states like Gujarat, UP and Bihar by launching his Rath Yatra in 1989. He also stressed the Hindu terror should be dubbed as "Sangh terror" and not "saffron terror and suggested creation of public awareness to fight the Hindu groups ideologically.

"Banning these groups (as demanded by speakers at the seminar will not help. They will come up with new names. The time has come to fight them ideologically," he added.

Referring to the foiled Ekta Yatra of the BJP's youth wing to hoist the Tricolour at Lal Chowk in Srinagar, Digvijay Singh said: "They want to hoist flag wherever there is a conflict. We should oppose this." Talking on the two-nation theory, which was the basis for the partition of India and creation of Pakistan, Singh said, "The father of the two-nation theory was not Mo-

hammed Ali Jinnah but Hindutva ideologue Veer Savarkar."

Supporting the statement, CPM leader Sitaram Yechury also said, "The ideology of Sangh Parivar must change. We will take up the issue in Parliament.

Diggy rightly said that the twonation theory was given by Vinayak Damodar Savarkar."

Yechury said there was an urgent need to change the mindset that terrorism is associated with people of only one community, and promised to raise the issue of innocent persons targeted in terror-related investigations in Parliament.

The CPI(M) leader also talked about B S Moonje, considered a mentor to RSS founder K B Hedgewar, quoting from his diary that he had wanted to meet Italian dictator Mussolini, and that after meeting him he established the Central Hindu Military Education Society in 1935. "This was the place where people like Col Shrikant Purohit took training," Yechury said.

FROM PAGE 1 The CM is backing... themselves and their candidates elected without Ravi’s support.

Poriem, Valpoi, Mayem (from where the controversial son of the home minister Roy Naik is planning to contest), Bicholim and Sankhlim are strongholds of Vishwajeet Rane and will remain with him. In addition, the junior Rane plans to field his man Uday Paleyekar from Siolim.

For the chief minister, it is a bigger challenge to hold onto Vishwajeet’s support in the North and Churchill Alemao’s support in the South than worry about a Congress minus Ravi’s support. And let there be no mistake, Rane and Churchill are power centers by themselves who run their own fiefdoms and have a free run of their departments. Rane already is deeply upset over income tax raids at his residence recently which according to sources in Mumbai and Delhi were kick started by the direct intervention of Kamat’s close ally, the Maharashtra chief minister who used his clout with the Delhi durbar. The move apparently upset even the powerful 10 Janpath loyalist Ahmed Patel. Vishwajeet blames the chief minister squarely for this. So, Digambar Kamat, for political reasons alone, would do himself a lot of good by backing the right horses to carry him through the 21 seat mark in the next elections.

Churchill, firmly in the chief minister’s camp for now, is consistently inconsistent when it comes to political friendships. In a public meeting, he says that Kamat will be chief minister for 10 years. On the sidelines of the same meeting he reportedly said “I need to get my work done and files cleared, so I have to praise him.” At the same time he has financially backed certain Tiatr productions where he has been hailed as Goa’s future chief minister.

If there are two things Alemao doesn’t lack they are money and ambition.

In yet another twist, (and that is why Goa’s political scene is as fresh as your morning pao, on a daily basis), Churchill has been backing the chief minister’s status quo theory, because there was a move to remove Ravi from home and make him the Public Works Department (PWD) minister. A shocked Alemao protested, and led the chorus to keep Ravi “at home”, since his and his daughter’s political fortunes and growth depend on PWD power.

Ravi, unlike Vishwajeet and Churchill, has become a political liability for the Congress. Unknown to the public, the chief minister was openly attacked at the last CLP meeting by some MLAs who asked him what “status quo” meant . The term incompetent” was also used towards him. Kamat was openly told “If every minister wants to hold onto his chair so be it but at least let the chairs be shuffled, because the Congress has never had to face so many embarrassments, especially on the law and order front.”

Mauvin Godinho, one of the vocal MLAs, met Ravi later and told him that he would attack him in the assembly because matters had become serious. “Your police has gone out of hand”, Godinho told him.

In a political atmosphere like this, the politics of Digambar Kamat appear baffling. So does his arithmetic.

CVC refuses to quit possible for the cabinet to recommend such an action as Thomas has done no wrong as the CVC to be acted upon. For the same reason, even the impeachment proceedings, as the only way to remove a CVC as provided under the Act, cannot be initiated against Thomas.

They also scotched the speculation by electronic media that the Congress core group that met here in the evening will decide the CVC’s fate. They pointed out that the group can only advise the government while it is not in the government’s hand to remove Thomas unless and except if he volunteers.

Thomas has reportedly told some bureaucrat friends that he had never sought his appointment as the CVC after his retirement as the telecom secretary in September, but his exit at this stage will leave an unwarranted taint on him.

OHERALDO

11 GOA, SATURDAY, 29 JANUARY 2011

‘Nothing new in violent strain of Hindutva’ PTI NEW DELHI, JAN 28

A day after Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh commented on the issue of 'Sangh terror', CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury today cited ideologies propounded by freedom fighters V Savarkar and B S Moonje to insist that there was nothing new in the violent strain of Hindutva.

Yechury said there was an urgent need to change the mindset that terrorism is associated with people of only one community, and promised to raise the issue of innocent persons targeted in terror-related investigations in the Parliament.

The CPI-M leader was speaking at a day-long conference organised by civil rights groups Anhad and others for highlighting the plight of people who were targeted by security agencies in the aftermath of terror attacks in which the role of some RSS leaders has cropped up recently.

Yechury said his party will raise the issue in the upcoming Parliament session and will demand investigation into the att a c k s a n d o f re d re s s a l o f grievances of those unfairly targetted.

"The partition of India happened because the twin radical strains of both Hindutva and Islam were adamant...But despite the fact that India became a secular republic, attempts are being made to convert it into a Hindutva state," Yechury said.

He said there was a history of militant ideology within the RSS and it is wrong to assume that violent tendencies have developed only recently as a reaction to certain provocations.

"The violent strain in Hindutva is very old. The two-nation the-

ory as reminded to us by Digvijay Singh was propounded by Savarkar, who also spoke about militarizing Hindu 'dharma' and 'Hinduising' all politics," he said at the conference which was also attended by the Congress leader.

"There is nothing new about these violent tendencies and it is not that such tendencies have developed out of provocation of recent situations...It is wrong to assume that Hindus cannot be terrorists," he said.

Yechury said in the light of history it is important to be careful and to make sure that a particular community is not stigmatised and that terrorism is not encouraged by targeting innocent youth after every terror incident.

Besides Savarkar, Yechury also cited ideology of B S Moonje who is considered a mentor to RSS founder K B Hedgewar.

Yechury pointed out that Moonje had noted in his diary that he wanted to meet Italian dictator Mussolini, and that after meeting him he established the Central Hindu Military Education Society in 1935.

"This was the place where people like Col Shrikant Purohit took training," Yechury said.

Yechury said there should be "zero tolerance" against terrorism but targetting of innocents is not acceptable.

"The communal violence and rehabilitation law has been in the talk for six years but it is still not ready. It should be brought out quickly," he said.

At the conference, civil society groups raised a number of demands, including that a white paper be released on the number of Muslim youths arrested in the aftermath of recent terror attacks in the country.

Wanted American fugitive arrested by CBI PTI MUMBAI, JAN 28

An alleged fraudster, who is wanted by the American authorities for cheating a bank of over USD 300,000 has been arrested at the international airport here.

Dan Boayke Agyenm (56), facing an Interpol red corner notice in the country since July 7, 2009 was arrested recently after he flew in from Ghana on an expired passport, CBI sources said today.

CBI, which is the local arm for the 188-member Interpol, later handed over the accused

HC dismisses PIL against SRK PTI MUMBAI, JAN 28

The Bombay High Court today dismissed a PIL against Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan for alleged violation of construction norms as "frivolous" and imposed a cost on the petitioner for wasting its time.

Activist Simpreet Singh had filed a PIL against the actor alleging that a building, an extension of his bungalow "Mannat", a heritage property, had been constructed in gross violation of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) and other rules.

A division bench of Justice P B Majmudar and A Sayed threw out the PIL after observing that the petitioner had targeted the film star only for publicity.

Priyanka terms reports as ‘malicious rumours’ PTI MUMBAI, JAN 28

Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra has described as "malicious rumours" reports in the media about her alleged unaccounted wealth.

"We deny the many malicious rumours being spread in the media on the basis of some unidentified sources," a spokesperson of the actress said today.

"We are extending all co-operation to the Income Tax authorities on their ongoing investigations and are restraining ourselves from commenting further on the issue pending completion of the investigative process," the spokesperson said.

I-T officials had searched the residences and office of Priyanka on Monday for suspected tax evasion.

It was reported that the film star owns nine flats in Mumbai and has unaccounted assets worth Rs 6 crore.

to the local police here.

As per the red corner notice, sources said, the accused is wanted for alleged fraud of over USD 300,000. He is accused of having minted money out of counterfeit cheques, which were submitted for clearance in a Californian branch of a US bank.

Agyenm had mentioned his occupation as "Attorney" and also carried a US passport which had expired on December 30, 2010.

Sources said an arrest warrant against him was issued by a Californian Court on September 20, 2007 and if convicted Agyenm could face a maximum of 30 years' imprisonment.

The memorandum, to be submitted to the government, also demanded a compensation and rehabilitation package for persons targeted and tortured wrongly in terror cases.

It also demanded that foreign sources of funding of Hindutva organisations be also probed, all police officers involved in torture and illegal detention be suspended and charged, and an apology be issued by the respective state governments to persons who were unfairly targeted in terror cases.

Releasing a book of compilation of testimonies of persons picked up and tortured in terror cases in which the role of RSS was later cropped up, activist Shabnum Hashmi said, "These people can be picked up any time again...There is an infiltra-

tion of RSS in every government departments...these random arrests have been made not only in BJP-ruled states but also in the states governed by secular governments."

Biz12:Pg12 1/28/2011 11:22 PM Page 1

OHERALDO

Pg 12 Top CEOs show interest in India PTI DAVOS, JAN 28

Top global CEOs, including those of Wal-Mart, Rio Tinto, Tesco and Applied Materials, met Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma here last evening, sharing their en-

BIZ

GOA, SATURDAY, 29 JANUARY, 2011

thusiasm about opportunities in the growing Indian economy.

Those who met Sharma included Wal-Mart CEO Mike Duke, Tesco Chief Executive Terry Leahy, Sistema Chairman Vladimir Evtushenkov, Rio

Tinto Chief Executive Tom Albanese and Applied Materials head Michael Splinter.

A senior official, who was present at the meeting, said given the consistent economic growth in India, the world business leaders expressed their interest in increased commitment to India, in terms of strengthening their presence

in the world's second fastest growing economy.

Sharma, he said, told them that barring a few sectors, India has opened the gates for foreign direct investment in all the areas.

He said the global retailers can invest more in the backend infrastructure like building supply chain between the farm producers and the retailers.

Davos annual WEF meeting is all about networking and cementing ties with India remains on top of the agenda of the global corporates, said a senior Indian industry leader.

"We have been advised to scale up investment in upstream activities," Tesco CE Terry Leahy said.

Sistema, which has a collaboration with Shyam Group in India, expressed his company's increasing investment in the Indian telecom sector with a subscriber base of 750 million.

Though FDI into India declined in 2010-11 due to global slowdown in the previous years, the country remains a priority area for the investors.

India's FDI inflows declined by 27 per cent to USD 14 billion during April-November 2010-11 compared to the same period last fiscal.

SAIL to revive Malavika Steels PTI LUCKNOW, JAN 28

Steel Authority of India (SAIL) has plans to revive Malavika Steels in Jagdispur area in Amethi, the constituency of Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi, by constructing 1000 MW gas-based power plant in collaboration with a Japanese firm.

The first phase of the revival plan with an investment of Rs 100 crores in the sick Malvika Steel that was taken over in 2009 is already on besides some other works, the chairman of SAIL CS Verma said.

Talks are already on with M/S Kobe Steels, Japan for the second phase which includes a 1000 MW gas based power plant with an investment of Rs 2,500 crores and a steel plant based on direct reused ironmaking technology that would take some three years to complete, Verma said.

A joint task force team with the Japanese firm has been set up which would submit its report in March 2011, Verma said.

An application for gas allocation has also been moved and once it is granted, other formalities would start.

‘2 groups looking into blackmoney’ PTI NEW DELHI, JAN 28

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said that two groups are looking into the different aspects of black money, including an amnesty scheme to unearth unaccounted wealth.

While an expert group would advise Mukherjee on the feasibility of an amnesty scheme to encourage the people to bring back unaccounted money parked in Swiss bank and other tax havens, an interministerial group would provide an estimate of black money and suggest ways for curbing its generation.

"The expert group (on amnesty scheme) would advise me... it will submit the report as early as possible," Mukherjee told reporters.

He parried a question whether the amnesty scheme

could be part of the 2011-12 budget to be presented next month on February 28.

The government in the past had come out with amnesty schemes to encourage people to disclose unaccounted money.

Although these schemes have generated tax income for the government, they were criticised for being unfair to honest taxpayers.

The Minister had earlier this week described the amnesty schemes to convert black money into white as tricky ones like "a double- edged sword".

"You know there is always a double side to these amnesty schemes. Sometimes if somebody is allowed, you will be highly criticised because this will be at the cost of the honest tax payers. Sometimes it helps to bring some money," he had said.

Special SBI packages for army PTI MUMBAI, JAN 28

The State Bank of India signed a MoU with the Indian Army for offering customised salary packages to army personnel across the country.

The package would offer a unique lifelong account number, which can be retained by the holder even if he is transferred to another location, a press release stated.

The personnel can also retain the account even after retirement to draw pension, it said. Under the MoU, SBI would also offer free anywhere banking facility and give additional ATM cards for a single account holder.

This would enable family members of the army personnel to transact on the same bank account through any ATM, when they are away, the release said.

Adani, Japan's Kowa to explore biz opportunities PTI MUMBAI, JAN 28

Adani Enterprises, today announced a long-term tie-up and signing of a partnership agreement with Japan's Kowa Company, entailing joint co-operation in areas like infrastructure and trade both in Japan and India.

Adani Enterprises is the flagship company of leading infrastructure conglomerate, the Adani group, while Kowa Company is a leading diversified group in Japan.

As per the "Business Alliance Agreement", Kowa will facilitate Adani's initiation to do business with Japanese firms and help the Indian conglomerate develop its key businesses such as ports, shipping, coal mining, transportation of coal and power, a press release issued here stated.

The pact will also empower Kowa to act as a first contact for Adani's business operations in Japan while Adani will act in a similar capacity to facilitate Kowa's business interests in India, it said.

The agreement was signed between Kowa Company's President & CEO, Yoshiro Miwa, and Adani Group Chairman, Gautam Adani, in Japan today.

Gautam Adani said, "I am confident that Kowa will help us derive synergies for fast-track growth in the highly-competitive APAC region. We look forward to a long, mutually beneficial and strategic partnership with Kowa."

The Adani Group's decision to expand business in Japan is a significant development pursuant to the group's ambition to emerge as a global infrastructure and energy player.

BOARD MEETINGS IFB Inds Real Strips Indswift Lab Inox Leisure J&K Bank Kamat Hotels La Opala RG Maruti Suzuki Mazda Digjam Natraj Fin Ferro Alloys Tricom India Force Motors GCCL Infra GIC Housing Godfrey Phil Gujarat State Fert Prime Property Hawkins Cook Zenith Fibres Zigma Software Hotel Leela Source: Indiainfoline.com

MF FUNDA L&T MUTUAL FUND has announced launch of L&T FMP - II (January15M A), a Close Ended Income Scheme having a Tenor of 15 months.

The Scheme has opened for subscription on January 24, 2011and will close on Jan 31, 2011.

The minimum application amount is Rs 5000 and in multiples of Rs 10 thereafter, and the Scheme offers both growth and dividend payout option.

HDFC MUTUAL FUND has approved January 31, 2011 as the record date for declaration of dividend under dividend option of HDFC FMP 100D October 2010 (1).

The face value of per unit is Rs 10.

The quantum of dividend will be entire distributable surplus as on the record date.

Sensex dips another 289 pts PTI MUMBAI, JAN 28

A dent in investor confidence on a raft of negative factors like rising inflation and interest rate hike led to continued sell-off in stock markets, pulling down the BSE benchmark Sensex by another 289 points to a 5-month low of 18,395.97.

Interest rate sensitive stocks continued to bear the brunt of heavy selling after RBI raised key policy rates on January 25, as inflation continued to remain high.

Marketmen said investors fear that subsequently bank interest rates may go up further -- denting corporate performance and slowing down consumer spending -- after food inflation moved up again to 15.57 per cent for the week ended January 15.

Aban Offshor, 693, 693.05, 662.4, 674.35 Abb Ltd., 724, 724, 700, 706.25 Abg Shipyard, 351, 362.3, 334.2, 354.8 Acc Limited, 1028.75, 1028.75, 985, 992.15 Adani Enterp, 610, 614, 572.95, 576.8 Aditya Birla, 745.05, 762, 736.25, 752 Allahabad Ba, 211, 213.5, 195.65, 201.3 Alstom Proje, 588, 589, 560.5, 568.55 Ambuja Cemen, 131.9, 131.9, 127.1, 127.95 Andhra Bank, 131.2, 139.4, 130.15, 137.75 Ashok Leylan, 58.45, 58.45, 52.3, 56.3 Asian Paints, 2646.9, 2646.9, 2550, 2579.1 Axis Bank Li, 1300, 1304.4, 1243.45, 1253.5 Bajaj Hindus, 91, 91.3, 84.3, 85.7 Bank Of Baro, 847.75, 854, 825.1, 834.3 Bank Of Indi, 460.1, 460.1, 432.6, 437.8 Beml Limited, 910, 915.85, 875.15, 887.7 Bharat Elect, 1714, 1723.75, 1627.15, 1685.7 Bharat Forge, 342, 352.45, 323.45, 345 Bharat Petro, 639.9, 639.9, 620.2, 632.45 Bharti Airte, 327.9, 332.25, 322.5, 327.25 Bhel, 2221.3, 2235, 2131.55, 2152.15 Bhushan Stee, 409.9, 411, 387.2, 390.5 Biocon Limit, 355, 355, 336.15, 346.45 Bombay Dyein, 413.9, 414, 375, 386.1

Bosch Limite, 6190, 6215, 6034, 6063.8 Brigade Ente, 97.1, 98.8, 91.05, 94 Cairn India, 332.85, 333, 323, 327 Canara Bank, 591, 593.3, 549.3, 562.7 Central Bank, 172.2, 172.9, 165.05, 167.15 Century Text, 345, 345, 324.1, 329.2 Cesc Ltd, 315.8, 319.1, 311.55, 314.5 Chambal Fert, 72.9, 73.2, 69.1, 71.25 Chennai Petr, 223.8, 224.9, 211.05, 213.95 Cipla Ltd, 340.1, 340.9, 324.75, 335.1 Colgate Palm, 844, 856.95, 833.75, 848.1 Container Co, 1234.9, 1234.9, 1195.05, 1211.55 Crompton Gre, 279, 279.55, 258.3, 262.65 Cummins Indi, 729, 737.8, 720.1, 725.15 Dabur India, 95.5, 95.5, 86.65, 90.8 Deccan Chron, 92.4, 94, 87.8, 89.9 Dish Tv Indi, 61.8, 62.5, 56.1, 58.8 Dlf Limited, 239.8, 239.8, 216.8, 222.3 Dr. reddy’s, 1547.25, 1567, 1525.3, 1563.3 Edelweiss Ca, 41, 41, 38.65, 39.25 Educomp Solu, 497, 497, 466.7, 474.8 Eih Limited, 104.75, 104.75, 100.4, 101 Engineers In, 285, 285, 270.05, 272.85 Essar Oil Lt, 125.5, 125.5, 119, 120.25 Essar Shippi, 100, 102.5, 96.5, 99.4

Exide Indust, 129.5, 129.9, 122.3, 126.6 Federal Bank, 360.9, 361.5, 336.1, 348.35 Financial Te, 710, 717.15, 681.25, 704.45 Gail (india), 460.4, 461.85, 445, 454.6 Gammon India, 146.4, 151, 131.1, 142.7 Glaxosmithkl, 2239.55, 2298.7, 2180, 2278.55 Glenmark Pha, 314.6, 316.4, 308.1, 309.75 Gmr Infrastr, 40.4, 40.4, 38.9, 39.45 Godrej Indus, 176.4, 178.3, 168.1, 172 Grasim Indus, 2355.05, 2355.05, 2262, 2302.8 Great Offsho, 322, 322, 301, 304.75 Gtl Infra.Lt, 41.95, 42, 39.8, 40.7 Gujarat Mine, 124.6, 124.6, 119.2, 120.95 Gujarat N R, 62.2, 62.2, 58.1, 59.7 Gujarat Stat, 104.9, 105.9, 99, 103.75 Gvk Pow. & I, 33.3, 33.5, 31.9, 32.85 Hcl Technolo, 507, 512, 486.8, 493.3 Hdfc Bank Lt, 2055, 2089.35, 2042.05, 2054.25 Hdfc Ltd, 673, 673, 639.1, 645.25 Hero Honda M, 1725, 1729.8, 1636.9, 1656.95 Hindalco in, 232.7, 234.15, 217.6, 223.55 Hindustan Co, 39.7, 39.7, 37.85, 38.4 Hindustan Ma, 66.85, 66.85, 62.45, 62.95 Hindustan Pe, 362.35, 367.8, 351.85, 365.2 Hindustan Un, 270, 275, 267, 271.95

Hindustan Zi, 1310, 1310, 1231, 1263.9 Housing Dev, 154.45, 154.85, 137.4, 139.7 Icici Bank L, 1018, 1030.2, 993.25, 1018.45 Idea Cellula, 70.65, 70.65, 68.7, 70.2 Ifci Ltd, 55.15, 55.6, 52.25, 53.5 India Cement, 100.3, 101, 97.65, 98.45 India Infoli, 76.1, 76.5, 72.3, 75 Indiabulls F, 155.95, 158.65, 146.1, 150.65 Indiabulls R, 125.5, 125.75, 118.6, 121.55 Indian Bank, 218.2, 219.8, 206.6, 211.15 Indian Hotel, 93.65, 93.9, 90.3, 91.6 Indian Oil C, 327, 337, 322.3, 334.25 Indian Overs, 127.8, 129.55, 123, 127.1 Indus Dev Ba, 142.9, 143, 137.25, 141.35 Indusind Ban, 221.85, 221.85, 209.5, 215.6 Infosys Tech, 3205.8, 3268.55, 3140.65, 3168.15 Infra. dev., 152.5, 152.5, 146.15, 148.35 Ispat Indust, 24.6, 24.9, 23.7, 23.95 Itc Ltd, 168.85, 170.25, 165.6, 168.15 Ivrcl Infras, 92, 92, 82.05, 83.7 Jai Corp Lim, 189.95, 190.15, 172.5, 176 Jaiprakash A, 90.15, 90.3, 86.1, 87.45 Jet Airways, 600, 607.95, 573.8, 582.45 Jindal Saw L, 215.1, 215.1, 204, 211.25 Jindal Steel, 668.1, 705, 655, 663.95

Jsw Steel Li, 963.05, 983, 880.6, 896.4 Kotak Mahind, 392, 394.5, 374.25, 379.55 Lakshmi Mach, 2267, 2267, 2162.25, 2179.6 Lanco Infrat, 48.1, 49, 45.25, 47.2 Larsen & Tou, 1645, 1650, 1593.4, 1607.3 Lic Housing, 184.95, 185.4, 172.75, 176 Lupin Limite, 441, 445, 407.2, 419.25 Mahanagar Te, 49.5, 49.95, 47, 48.3 Mahindra & M, 735, 735.05, 677, 697.9 Maruti Suzuk, 1272, 1272, 1220, 1229.35 Max India Lt, 145, 145.35, 141.6, 144.05 Maytas Infr., 179.05, 180, 174.2, 176.5 Moser-baer (, 54, 54.2, 50.45, 51.9 Mrpl, 67.15, 70, 65.75, 68.4 Nagarjuna Co, 112.95, 113.9, 102.45, 111.1 Nagarjuna Fe, 29, 29.05, 27.55, 28.25 National Alu, 390, 394.9, 375.25, 389.2 Neyveli Lign, 114.5, 114.5, 108.35, 110.45 Ntpc Ltd, 194, 195.95, 191.35, 191.95 Oil And Natu, 1124.95, 1144.95, 1116.15, 1132.9 Omaxe Limite, 140, 144.1, 128, 136.95 Oriental Ban, 345, 349.85, 303.55, 321.3 Pantaloon Re, 303.9, 303.9, 277.25, 287.05 Parsvnath De, 49.8, 49.85, 47.25, 48.85 Petronet Lng, 129.45, 129.45, 123.9, 126.95

Power Fin Co, 265.5, 265.5, 253.4, 254.45 Power Grid C, 98.5, 98.8, 95.2, 96.55 Punj Lloyd L, 98, 98.3, 94.05, 95.8 Punjab Natio, 1108, 1110.2, 1088.2, 1093.8 Rajesh Expor, 139, 140, 133.5, 134.1 Ranbaxy Labs, 547, 547, 522.75, 535.45 Rashtriya Ch, 83, 83.65, 78.25, 79.65 Reliance Cap, 560.1, 561, 527.25, 536.3 Reliance Com, 127, 127.65, 123.3, 125.15 Reliance Ene, 1018.55, 1154, 1014.02, 1046.33 Reliance Ind, 619.7, 619.7, 580, 585.6 Reliance Ind, 945, 945.9, 902, 913 Reliance Pow, 139.9, 140, 135.7, 136.9 Rolta India, 142.8, 143.5, 134.3, 137.2 Satyam Compu, 64.8, 64.85, 61.35, 62.35 Sesa Goa Ltd, 331.4, 334.9, 321.7, 329.4 Shipping Cor, 118.7, 120.7, 116, 117.6 Siemens Ltd, 744.7, 747, 690.65, 728 Sintex Indus, 160, 160, 140.5, 144.95 Sobha Develo, 269.3, 269.3, 257.5, 259.95 State B O, 2649.7, 2674.65, 2590.45, 2620.15 Steel Author, 160, 160.5, 155.35, 158.35 Sterlite Ind, 170.95, 171.35, 162.05, 166.9 Sun Pharmace, 462, 462, 435.55, 448.8 Sun Tv Netwo, 499.6, 510, 478.35, 482.55

Suzlon Energ, 50.8, 51.25, 48.7, 49.7 Tata Communi, 241.2, 242.85, 232.2, 234.8 Tata Consult, 1195, 1203.6, 1165.25, 1181.35 Tata Motors, 1188, 1189.9, 1122, 1150.3 Tata Power C, 1295, 1309, 1252.3, 1263.2 Tata Steel L, 647, 654.5, 630.2, 637.45 Tata Teleser, 18, 18, 17.25, 17.45 The Ge Shpg., 329.6, 329.6, 305.05, 312.8 The Phoenix, 225, 228, 203, 204.85 Thermax Ltd, 715, 720, 650.5, 663.3 Titan Indust, 3565, 3604, 3325, 3467.95 Torrent Powe, 234.1, 234.45, 224.1, 226.05 Triveni Engg, 95.5, 96, 89.9, 92.05 Tv18 India L, 80.2, 80.9, 76.3, 77.15 Uco Bank, 108, 109, 103, 105.95 Ultratech Ce, 1010.5, 1010.5, 994, 997.9 Union Bank O, 321.9, 323, 312.4, 318.9 Unitech Ltd, 53.1, 53.45, 48.6, 51.05 United Phosp, 149.85, 150.85, 137.25, 140.3 Videocon Ind, 209.4, 213.05, 203.3, 209.3 Vijaya Bank, 89.95, 91.15, 88.25, 90.3 Voltas Ltd, 210, 211.95, 196.55, 198.6 Wipro Ltd, 443.9, 444.9, 435.6, 437.6 Yes Bank Lim, 264, 266, 251.3, 258.5 Zee Entertai, 118.9, 118.9, 113.2, 116.7

OHERALDO

Pg 13

WORLD

GOA, SATURDAY, 29 JANUARY, 2011

Egypt crisis: ElBaradei joins mass protests US reaffirms backing for the prayers.

At the upscale Mohandiseen district, at least 10,000 of people were marching toward the city centre chanting “down, down with Mubarak.”

Internet and cell-phone data services were disrupted across Egypt as authorities used extreme measures to hamper protestors from organizing mass rallies after Friday noon prayers as part of the biggest challenge to the government in decades.

The demonstrations are backed by both the country’s biggest opposition group—the Muslim Brotherhood—and ElBaradei, a Nobel Peace laureate

and a former chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency, giving momentum to the protests. ElBaradei returned to his homeland last night from Austrian capital Vienna.

“It is a critical time in the life of Egypt. I have come to participate with the Egyptian people,” 68-year-old ElBaradei said before leaving Cairo airport after his arrival from Vienna.

“We’re still reaching out to the regime to work with them for the process of change. Every Egyptian doesn’t want to see the country going into violence,” he said, adding “Our hand is outstretched.”

“I wish that we didn’t have to go to the streets to impress on the regime that they need to change,” ElBaradei said.

The Muslim Brotherhood said at least five of its leaders and five former members of parliament had been arrested.

The government deployed an elite special operations force in Cairo on Thursday night as violence escalated outside the capital, and the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood called on its members to take to the streets after Friday afternoon prayers.

Thousands of black-clad riot police armed with batons and shields were deployed across the city, with the largest concentrations at Tahrir, or Liberation, Square at the heart of the city, where 10,000 protestors gathered for their first demonstration on Tuesday. Mubarak has not been seen in public or heard from directly since Tuesday.

The police, backed by armoured vehicles and fire engines fitted with water cannon were also deployed in large numbers at Ramsis Square, another flashpoint in central Cairo.

India’s seat in UNSC PTI WASHINGTON, JAN 28

The US on Friday said it will work diligently and forcefully to push for reform of the UN Security Council as White House reaffirmed its support for India’s quest for permanent seat in the top world body.

“The UN no longer reflects some of the realities of today. And therefore, we’ll continue to work on that,” Mike Hammer, spokesperson of the National Security Council, White House, told Washington-based foreign journalists here.

Reforming the Security Council, he said, is one of the top foreign policy agenda of the Obama administration.

“We are looking to have UN Security Council reform. We have, as it was made clear, the (US) President announced in our visit in India our support for India in the UN Security Council,” he said.

At the same time, he acknowledged that such a reform would take time.

“We also recognise that these reforms take considerable effort and time. And that’s something that obviously (US) Ambassador (to the UN, Susan) Rice will be working on very diligently and forcefully over the coming months,” he said.

“We need to just give it time to realise that the world has evolved,” said Hammer, the out-

going spokesperson of the National Security Council.

Hammer said the US is working very hard to recognise emerging powers around the globe.

“And to that specifically, I’m referring to India.

You’ve seen the President’s trip last fall, which was, we thought, very important in developing that strategic partnership. It’s something we’ll continue to build on,” he said.

From the outset, Obama placed a high priority in terms of trying to re-establish and reassert American leadership and standing around the globe.

“I think the last two years you have certainly seen that come about, and we continue to work on that.

We have made every effort to strengthen our alliances: in Europe, with NATO; clearly in Asia, with our Japanese and Korean allies,” he said.

“We have begun to develop new partnerships to address the global challenges that we all face and common interests that we share.”

“This has highlighted by the efforts that the President and other world leaders have within the G-8 and then into the G-20, which I think has proven quite effective in addressing the international financial crisis, which is a key concern not only to the American people, in terms of the economy, but also globally.”

LOK SABHA TV ASATO MAA SADGAMAYA

Afghanistan war won’t end like Vietnam: NATO

HIGHLIGHTS OF PROGRAMMES January 29 to February 4, 2011 LIVE PROGRAMMES

AGENCIES BRUSSELS, JAN 28

The Afghan Army will not collapse when international troops end their combat role, in the way that South Vietnam’s did in the 1970s, NATO’s top officer said on Thursday.

Italian Admiral Giampaolo Di Paola said the international community intends to remain committed to Afghanistan after NATO forces hand over responsibility to the Afghan security forces in 2014.

“About 60 countries are engaged in the broader effort,” Di Paola told reporters. “It is not just a bilateral or trilateral effort, as it was (in Vietnam).”

“The United Nations, the World Bank, many non-governmental organisations are all there,” he said.

Perspective Monday to Friday, 10 am

In Transit Sunday, January 30, 6 pm

Insight Monday to Friday, 1.30 pm

Sohaila Kapur chats with award winning french theatre director Eric Vigner

Lok Manch Monday, Wednesday & Friday, 7 pm

Asmita Thursday, February 3, 10 pm

Public Forum Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday, 7 pm Legal Point Saturday, January 29, 2 pm

Topic: Civil Rights Act

Healthy India Saturday, January 29, 6 pm

Topic: Bringing up Toddlers OTHER PROGRAMMES Insight Weekend Saturday, January 29, 1.30 pm

Kumar Veer Bhushan goes behind the scene to see where Theatre in India is headed

Topic: Hindu Vivah Adhiniyam Aur Vivah Panjikaran Anchor: Sameena Weekend Classic Film

Saturday, January 29, 9 pm Sunday, January 30, 2 pm

EK DUJE KE LIYE Director: K. Balachander 1981 / 163 minutes / Colour / Hindi Cast: Kamal Haasan, Rati Agnihotri, Madhavi & others National Award for the Best Playback Singer, 1982 Uninterrupted Viewing Film Courtesy NFDC

davp 31102/11/0044/1011

Thousands of anti-government protestors in Egypt today clashed with police who used water cannons against prodemocracy leader Mohamed ElBaradei and his supporters as they joined the latest wave of nationwide demonstrations after noon prayers.

Police armed with batons beat some of ElBaradei’s supporters, who surrounded him to protect him, and fired rubber bullets into the crowd and used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the protestors outside a mosque in Giza square here on

the fourth day of demonstrations against 82-year-old Hosni Mubarak’s nearly three-decade rule.

Television stations also reported clashes between thousands of protesters and police in several other major Egyptian cities, including the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria, Minya and Assiut south of Cairo and al-Arish in the Sinai peninsula. The violence since mass protests erupted on Tuesday has so far claimed seven lives.

At Ramsis square in the heart of the city, thousands of protesters clashed with police as they left the al-Nur mosque after

Log on to http://164.100.24.209/lstv/dailyschedule.aspx for the full schedule

DESIRING TO ADOPT

‘Adoption’ means the process through which the adopted child is permanently separated from his biological parents and becomes the legitimate child of his adoptive parents with all the rights, privileges and responsibilities that are attached to the relationship.

To protect the long term interest of the child and the adoptive parents, Government of India have notified adoption guidelines.

These guidelines stipulate that the adoptive parents should follow certain laid down procedures to adopt a child. The guidelines also provide that children should be adopted only through recognized adoption agencies.

Parents desiring to adopt, are, therefore, advised to register only with the following adoption agencies: ª Recognised Indian Placement Agency (RIPA) ª Licensed Adoption Placement Agency (LAPA) ª Adoption Coordinating Agency (ACA)

Making adoption simpler for you

Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA)

(Ministry of Women & Child Development, Government of India)

West Block-8, Wing-II, 2nd Floor, R. K. Puram, New Delhi-110066 Ph. 91-11-26180194 Fax: 91-11-26180198 E-mail: cara-wcd@nic.in, Website: www.adoptionindia.nic.in

davp 46102/13/0007/1011

PTI CAIRO, JAN 28

Pg 14

SPORTS

GOA, Saturday, 29 January, 2011

Goa Police beat Merces first division HERALD SPORTS REPORTER MAPUSA, JAN 28

A spectacular acrobatic bicycle kick from Pedro Araujo would definitely be a potential candidate for goal of the season, but his effort was not enough to stop Merces Sports Club losing 1-3 to Goa Police Sports Club, in First Division football at Dr. Remigio Pinto ground, Taleigao on Friday. Police led 3-0 at the lemon break.

Three goals in the space of eight minutes, which included a brace from Elias D’Sousa and a strike from Paresh Morje was enough to give Goa Police the three points.

Goa Police were strong in the forward line, especially when counter attacking. Their strike force, made up of Paresh and

Elias, who were not afraid to shoot as soon as they saw the target.

Merces showed passion, enthusiasm and versatility when in possession of the ball, but there were long periods when they seemed to switch off and drift out of the game.

Two young boys were made the mascots of each team and they looked ecstatic with joy as they walked onto the field alongside the captains of the clubs at the beginning of the match.

In the 32nd minute, Paresh received the ball with his back to the goal, before turning his marker and slamming the ball into the back of the net to put Police in front.

In the 38th minute, Police right back Piedade Colaco

chipped the ball towards the Merces box, where it found Elias who controlled and found the back of the net, hitting the ball on the half volley.

Less than two minutes later, from a similar position Piedade floated in a similar ball and this time Elias managed to lift it over the Merces keeper for the third.

After the breather, Merces worked hard to get back into the match.

In the 67th, Minesh Kunkolkar crossed from the right flank and Pedro netted with an outrageous overhead shot.

Kishore Palkar and Piedade Colaco were booked for Goa Police in the second half.

Goa Police have now collected seven points from three matches, while Merces are yet to record their first point.

Nehern Acharya who bagged a gold in yogasana, a silver in rhythmic and a bronze in artistic Asian Yoga Championship in Thailand on Thursday.

Chandor squeeze past Chinchinim HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARGAO, JAN 28

Chandor Club registered a narrow 1-0 win over Union of Chinchinim Villagers to march into the quarter-finals of 3rd Wilred Leisure Cup inter-village football tournament organised by Wilred Leisure Sports Club at Curtorim ground, on Friday. There was no score at half time.

Both teams attacked from the start and kept the crowd on their toes with well orchestrated raids. The team’s defenders were quick in frustrating the attacks to keep their slate clean.

Chandor nearly broke the

deadlock midway in the opening session but Sammy Dias spurned the easiest chance with only the rival keeper at his mercy when he shot wide from close range.

At the other end, Chinchinim did not lag behind and went into the offensive and came close in forging ahead but striker Francis Oliveira’s rasping drive missed the mark narrowly.

Crossing over, both teams went all out in search of the match-winner and unleash several forays into the rival territory.

Chandor had a scoring opportunity but striker Socorro Fernandes messed up in front of

the Chinchinim goal.

Chinchinim nearly found success but striker Socorro’s snap shot missed the target narrowly.

Chandor ’s match-winner came in the 47th minute when striker Socorro Fernandes unleashed a stiff grounder beating the rival keeper off a pass from Sammy Dias.

Stung by the setback, Chinchinim tried their best but failed to get past the rival defence to troop out worthy winners.

Socorro Fernandes of Chandor and Sridhar Dabale of Chinchinim shared the man-of-the-match award.

Sporting Clube’s strong plea for neutral venue l Second Division I-League final round matches HERALD SPORTS REPORTER PANJIM, JAN 28

Sporting Clube de Goa whilst objecting to AIFF’s proposal to have Shillong, Meghalaya as the venue for the final round of Second Division I-League sought a neutral venue.

“Firstly, the decision to allot the final round to Shillong, will give Shillong Lajong an unfair advantage in terms of home ground, home conditions and home crowd,” Sporting’s vicepresident, stated Victor Fernandes.

“Secondly, the surface at the Shillong ground leaves much to be desired and is almost unplayable at certain places. The very poor condition of the ground was experienced by us last season and most of the other I-League teams complained about the same. Will it withstand the load of playing two matches a day continuously for two weeks?” queried Victor.

“Finally, going by past experience, we apprehend the use

of unfair tactics by the Local Organising Committee and the Shillong Lajong Club which are headed by one and the same person Larsing Ming, who incidentally is an influential AIFF functionary. Last year our club was one amongst others which had reported to the AIFF about the unfair tactics, employed at Shillong, such as changing playing conditions by watering one side of the ground during halftime, influencing match officials, illegally occupying the bench,” pointed out Victor.

“Though it may not be possible for the venue to be neutral for all teams in the final round, the least one can do is try to maintain neutrality or a level playing field between the two teams which will be seeded directly into the final round - Lajong and Sporting Clube,” pleaded Victor.

“It is not the case that alternate venues are unavailable. The only AFC/FIFA approved venue is there in Chennai. Then there is Hyderabad. Both these areas

have produced some of India’s best players in the past. And both these venues are equipped with the right infrastructure, but unfortunately have been deprived of good football. This event could be ideally suited to bring back the glory of football in these centres,” remarked Victor.

“If at all your decision to have the final round at Meghalaya was to provide the people of the North East, a chance to watch good football, which they have been missing this season, then the same purpose can be served by allotting the preliminary round of the Second Division I-League to that region,” disclosed Victor in a letter to new general secretary, Kushal Das. Sporting, who were always at the receiving end under the erstwhile administrative regime which was one-sided and revengeful to say the least, hope that the AIFF will maintain neutrality and reconsider the decision.

Kushal Das’ Goa visit put off l Floodlights work at Fatorda retendered

BY JOVITO LOPES PANJIM, JAN 28

The new general secretary of AIFF, Kushal Das’ visit to Goa on January 27 was put off due to some unavoidable reasons.

Kushal Das was scheduled to pay a visit to Goa on Thursday alongwith ex-secretary Alberto Colaco, whose contract expires on January 31.

It was when GFA’s senior vicepresident Elvis Gomes went to New Delhi for an I-League meeting lately, that Kushal Das informed Gomes that he had to put off the visit.

Elvis in his discussions with Kushal Das then impressed on the need to meet the Executive Committee and other GFA members, the I-League club officials and also to have a look at the existing infrastructure.

Meanwhile, the Sports Authority of Goa (SAG) has retendered the works for

providing floodlights at Nehru Stadium at Fatorda, Margao. The cost remains the same, Rs 2,03,92,242 (estimated), stated SAG’s Executive Director, V M Prabhudesai. It is expected to be completed within five to six months from March-end.

The towers structure will remain the same, except for few modifications at the top, disclosed Prabhudesai, who added that the towers will undergo modifications so as to avoid wastage of illumination, which was scattered previously.

The work has been approved

by SAG’s consultant and scrutinised by PWD, with the work being retenderd at the 2nd call.

Goa bag more medals in karate HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, JAN 28

Goa added two more gold, three silver and a bronze to their medal tally in the ongoing National JKA's karate championship at indoor stadium, Campal on Friday.

The day’s first gold came through Vinayak Sherenkar in the KYU level men open kumite category while the second gold was secured by Vaishali Almeida in the open women kumite.

Prakash got a silver each in the open kumite and kata. In the U-10, Nazia Shaikh, bagged

Angela Elizabeth bag gold

PANJIM (HSD) -- Angela Naik and Elizabeth Luis claimed a gold each on the first day of 5th Commonwealth taekwondo championship in Chennai.

Carlos Lawrenco and Tanvi Nadkarni bagged a silver each.

a silver in kumite.

Ejaz brought in a bronze in the men open category. The final medals tally stands at gold (4), silver (13), bronze (7) for a total of 24 medals.

GFA Second Division: St Mathew SC v. Dempo SC (Juniors), Taleigao ground, 4 p.m.

GFA U-16: Colmorod Ratwaddo SC v. Dicarpale SC, Rosary ground, Navelim, 4 p.m.

XVth All-Goa 2-a-side soccer, Babluis Jardin, opposite Dena Bank, Porvorim, 7 p.m.

3rd Wilred Leisure Cup soccer: Betalbatim SC v. Sporting Club of Davorlim, Curtorim ground, 4.30 p.m.

Pg 15

SPORTS

GOA, Saturday, 29 January, 2011

Crucial match for Bengal, Churchill HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, JAN 28

East Bengal will meet Churchill Brothers in a crucial 12th round I-League match at Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata tomorrow ay 1.45 p.m.

While East Bengal are at the top of the league table with 29 p o i n t s f ro m 1 1 m a t c h e s , Churchill Brothers are placed 3rd with 22 points.

Churchill Brothers would definitely want to reduce the gap between the two teams. Odafa Onyeka Okolie is in tremendous form having scored 15 goals so far in this edition of I- league, out of the 26 goals scored by Churchill Brothers. He is way ahead in the list of the top goal scorers.

Odafa, however, did not train today due to a muscle pain and coach Vincent Subramaniam will

take a call on Saturday morning whether the ace striker is fit enough to take part in the match.

Churchill Brothers coach’s main worry is their defence, which has conceded nine goals.

They will have a tough task in their hand tomorrow to curtail East Bengal strikers from scoring.

On the other hand, east Bengal are unbeaten so far in the ILeague with nine wins and two draws. Their Asian recruit Tolgey Ozbey has been their leading scorer with eight goals. East Bengal supremo, Trevor Morgan seems to be satisfied with the performance of back-four as they have conceded only two goals.

East Bengal are slightly ahead in tomorrow's match due to their strong defence led by Uga

ROUND 12 JANUARY 29 Air India v. Mohun Bagan E Bengal v. Churchill Bros

V Kerala v. Indian Arrows JANUARY 30 Mumbai FC v. Salgaocar Chirag v. ONGC HAL v. Dempo Pune FC v. JCT Okpara. The spectators tomorrow will surely watch an intriguing battle between him and Odafa. Their midfield is also in prime form led by Mehtab Hussain and Penn Orji. Both the midfielders have been the backbone of East Bengal and not only initiated the majority of attacks,

but also have done their defensive duty with aplomb.

A host of players have joined both the teams from Indian camp. While Rahim Nabi, Sushil Singh, Mehrajuddin Wadoo, Baljit Saini have joined East Bengal, Steven Dias, Gourmangi Singh's presence will surely strengthen the Churchill side.

Churchill coach, Vincent Subramaniam, looked confident as he said, "Whether Odafa will play or not does not matter, our target is three points as we have won matches without him too, which shows out strength in all.’’

East Bengal coach, Trevor Morgan, was a bit cautious on the other hand. "Odafa is definitely a good player, and we have made plans for him, but we will have to continue with

Salgaocar for Mumbai showdown HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARGAO, JAN 28

Vidyaniketan High School, Corlim Education Society, Corlim, winners of DSYA Tiswadi Taluka U-17 boys kabbadi tournament alongwith Pandurang Madkaikar (former minister, MLA and chairman, Madkaikar Navchaitanya Trust), Samir Betkikar (PE teacher) and Damu Mangadkar (principal). Standing (l to r): Bhupesh Kankonkar, Meghanath Dhulapkar, Prakash Yadav, Deepak Ghadi, Man Bahadur Mohato, Harish Jalmi, Dharmajeet Sharma, Chetan Jalmi (captain), Raghuvir Singh, Mahendra Dhulapkar, Vijendra Prasad and Siddesh Jadhav. They defeated Government High School, Sattari.

Taj Vivanta’s Kitchen Dept tops

Dennis D’Costa giving away the prize to the captain of the Kitchen Department.

HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, JAN 27

Taj Vivanta’s Kitchen Dept defeated Security Team 3-0 to

claim the inter-department football tournament organised by Taj Vivanta at Poriat ground, Calangute on Thursday. Kitchen

were leading 2-0 at the break.

Both teams attacked from the start. However, Kitchen had an extra edge over their rivals.

Kitchen shot into the lead when Anslem Vaz hit the target. Kitchen’s second goal came just before the lemon break. Changing ends, Kitchen netted their third goal.

I n d i v i d u a l p r i z e s w e re awarded to first scorer of the finals – Anselm Vaz (Kitchen).

Best player of the finals – Savio D’Sousa (Kitchen). Best player of the tournament – Samuel Crasto (kitchen). Most enthusiastic player – Dina Bagkar.

Dennis D’Costa, assistant executive manager, accommodations was the chief guest and gave away the prizes.

Salgaocar Sports Club coach Karim Bencherifa knows several players in the Mumbai Football Club as he prepares his team to take on Mumbai FC in Kolhapur on January 30.

Salgoacar are on a high after recording eight victories so far and have 24 points from 11 matches.

Salgaocar boys have responded well to coach Khalid Jamil’s call and pulled six victories against some of the leading clubs of the country.

Japanese Ryuji Seuoka and Ghanaian striker Yakubu Yusif, who missed the last two matches on account of injury, fully recovered, have shown maturity upfront.

Promising striker Marcus Mascarenhas has troubled the defence each time he has been introduced into the attack.

Salgaocsr ’s defence and waistline have been strengthened with the inclusion of defender Govin Singh and midfielders James Singh and Baldeep Singh.

“Every game is important and the boys know they have to deliver the goods,” claimed Bencherifa.

GOA DIARY Tennis ball cricket at Pilerne

PANJIM (HSD) – Maharudra Cricketers will organise their 1st AllGoa 9-a-side tennis ball cricket tournament near Azavedo farm, Moica Vaddo, Pilerne on January 30. The winners and runnersup will take home Rs 5,000 and Rs 3,000 respectively. Details may be obtained on 9822155747 or 9923493291.

2-a-side soccer at Porvorim

Balakrishanan (5 points) of Goa Medical College who won the civil services chess tournament conducted by DSYA at SAG hall, Campal, Panjim alongwith Arvind Mhamal, Directorate of Health Services (4), Shiva Swamy (GMC 4), Sabaji Shetye (Accounts 3), Dilesh Shetye (Accounts 3), Saroj Naik (best women, Accounts), Bruno Coutinho, (joint director coaching SAG), Mahesh Revonkar and Dattaram Pinge (arbiter).

Amonkar HS win Narvekar trophy with 114 runs (not-out) and Siddhesh Dabolkar scored 51 for Amonkar.

In reply, St Xavier’s scored 134 (all-out) in 16 overs. Kapil Shirodkar 12/4, Ganesh Chavan 9/1 and Chaunak Belekar 29/1.

Aditya HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, JAN 28

G S Amonkar School, Mapusa won the D G Narvekar U-14 interschool cricket tournament by 86 runs defeating St Xavier School.

G S Amonkar scored 220/1 in 20 overs. Aditya Dalvi top scored

Richard joins TFA HERALD SPORTS REPORTER MAPUSA, JAN 28

“I am absolutely delighted in joining TATA Football Academy (TFA),” remarked Richard Hood, former Vasco Sports Club Academy coach, speaking to Herald from his home in Chennai on Tuesday.

Richard will start his new role with TFA in Jamshedpur from February 1. He completed his UEFA B License in England last year, parted company with Vasco SC earlier in the season.

PANJIM (HSD) – Generation Boyz of Palmar, Pomburpa will organise their XVth All-Goa 2-a-side soccer tie-breaker tournament at Babluis Jardin, opposite Dena Bank, Porvorim on January 29 at 7 p.m. The winners and runners-up will walk away with Rs 5,555 and Rs 3,333 respectively. Spot entries will be accepted.

Tennis ball cricket at Dona Paula

PANJIM (HSD) – Aivao Cricketers in association with Aivao Pearl Youth Sanskrutik Sanstha will organise their 5th All-Goa tennis ball cricket tournament at Aivao greenfield ground, Dona Paula on February 16 and 20. The winners will claim Rs 10,000 while the runners-up will have to be content with Rs 7,000. The semifinal losers will take home Rs 2,000 each. Entries may be submitted before February 10. Details may be obtained from Dinesh on 9881269023.

9-a-side cricket at Ponda

PANJIM (HSD) – Silvanagar Boys will organise their 9-a-side cricket tournament at Goa Dairy ground, Curti, Ponda on January 30 at 10 a.m. Details may be obtained from Maaz on 9049557975 or Irfan on 7875225335.

our good run and get three points from the match."

Uga Okpara said, "Odafa is the best striker at this moment in India, but I will try to stop him from scoring tomorrow.

The last time we met in Federation Cup, we won the match."

Air India meet Mohun Bagan and Indian Arrows face Viva Kerala in the other matches tomorrow.

pg16:Layout 1 1/28/2011 11:39 PM Page 1

Pg16

Sporting Clube’s strong plea for neutral venue Pg 14

GOA, SATURDAY, 29 JANUARY, 2011 www.oheraldo.in

In BrIef

Sachin, VVS nominated for ESPNCricinfo's awards Run-machine Sachin Tendulkar has been nominated in ESPNCricinfo's awards list for the best ODI batsman in 2010.

Tendulkar, who scored an unbeaten 200 -- one-day cricket's first double hundred -- against South Africa in Gwalior on February 24, is among ten batsmen in the list, which includes compatriots Virender Sehwag and young Virat Kohli.

India's ever reliable VVS Laxman earned a nomination for the best Test batsman. Out the 10 nominations, the stylish Hyderabadi has?three.

Chopra needs Indian passport to represent country The All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Friday reiterated that Michael Chopra will be eligible to represent India only if the Cardiff City striker surrenders his British passport for an Indian one.

The Indian-origin player, on Thursday, again expressed his willingness to represent India, and the AIFF said Chopra's agent has been told about the criteria he needs to fulfill to represent the country.

"As far as India is concerned, he can't be a dual passport holder. He can play for the country only if he surrenders his British passport and becomes an Indian passport holder," said AIFF general secretary Kushal Das.

India should win WC for Sachin: Kambli Former cricketer Vinod Kambli on Friday said Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his boys should do everything to win the World Cup for Sachin Tendulkar, who has dreamt of collecting the coveted trophy since childhood.

Kambli said Tendulkar, his childhood friend, has such a burning desire to win the World Cup title that if it does not materialise this time around, he would continue playing and give it a shot in the 2015 edition.

"It is somewhere in the back of Sachin's mind to win the World Cup. I sincerely hope that the team should give him the World Cup gift else he will play in the 2015 World Cup too," Kambli, who played in the 1992 and 1996 World Cups said.

Jwala-Ashwini campaign ends India's challenge at the Korean Open ended after the women's doubles pair of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa lost their quarter-final match in the Super Series tournament in Seoul on Friday.

The Indian pair went down 16-21, 15-21 to eighth seeds Qing Tian and Yunlei Zhao in a 30 minute showdown.

Roma enter semi-finals Mirko Vucinic helped to send AS Roma into the Italian Cup semi-finals with a superb goal to set up a 2-0 win at Juventus on Thursday.

The in-form Montenegro forward picked up the ball on the side of the area midway through the second half and effortlessly curled it into the far corner.

Rodrigo Taddei added a second goal in added time with an acrobatic finish to ensure Roma progressed to meet holders Inter Milan in the last four.

Sutil backing Hamilton title bid Adrian Sutil says close friend Lewis Hamilton is highly motivated to regain the Formula One world title.

Hamilton, though, is guaranteeing he at least could not be better prepared to add to his 2008 triumph, as recognised by Sutil.

"Of course, it depends on the cars, but McLaren are a very strong team that has always been able to win the world championship, especially with Lewis," said Sutil.

"He is a great driver, and I can tell you he is very motivated right now, and he is also very fit. He wants the title."

Vidyaniketan wins taluka kabaddi Pg 15

Murray storms into final Dulko-Pennetta win doubles title

Andy Murray of Britain celebrates beating David Ferrer of Spain in Melbourne on Friday.

AGENCIES MELBOURNE, JAN 28

Andy Murray will get another chance to end a near 75-year winless streak for British men in Grand Slam singles tournaments after beating Spain’s David Ferrer 4-6, 7-6 (2), 6-1, 76 (2) Friday to reach the Australian Open final.

The semifinal win put Murray into Sunday’s final against Novak Djokovic of Serbia, the 2008 champion who holds a 4-3 edge in head-to-head matches. Murray, however, has won the last

three.

No British male has won a Grand Slam singles title since Fred Perry in 1936 — more than 270 Grand Slam tournaments ago. The drought endured through British hopes including Tim Henman and most recently

by Murray in last year’s straightset loss to Roger Federer at Melbourne Park.

Federer is gone from this tournament, beaten by Djokovic in the semifinals. Top-ranked Rafael Nadal, who was trying to win his fourth straight Grand

Slam tournament, is gone too.

He was hobbled by a thigh injury in his quarterfinal loss to Ferrer.

Friday night’s semifinal was filled with long rallies and plenty of booming forehands that just cleared the net. Murray mixed it up enough at times that his looping lob on break point at 4-1 in the third set went high over seventh-seeded Ferrer’s head, allowing the Spaniard to only watch as the ball bounced meters inside the line.

BCCI’s appeal to ICC to reconsider decision PTI NEW DELHI, JAN 28

The Indian Cricket Board is contemplating to ask the Internat i o n a l C r i c ke t C o u n c i l t o reconsider its decision of taking away the India-England World Cup match from the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

"We are writing a letter to the ICC to reconsider its decision.

But it is up to the ICC to decide.

We are still hopeful that Eden Gardens can host the match," a top BCCI official said today.

Cricket Association of Bengal president Jagmohan Dalmiya yesterday appealed to the ICC through the Indian Cricket Board to extend the deadline for completion of work at Eden Gardens till February 7.

This came after the ICC ruled out Eden Gardens as a venue for

the match, saying it was unprepared. The world body took the decision following an adverse report from its venue inspection team that visited Kolkata and four other venues earlier this week.

Dalmiya, a former BCCI and ICC president, requested for the extension drawing parallel to the additional 14 days that has

been granted to Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai and three other Sri Lankan stadiums to complete their work on time.

Meanwhile, West Bengal Sports Minister Kanti Ganguly today asked the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) to continue its efforts to bring back the tie to the city.

Match moved to Bangalore AGENCIES NEW DELHI, JAN 28

The India-England World Cup group stage match on February 27, which was moved out of Eden Gardens in Kolkata, will now be played at the M Chinnaswamy stadium in Bangalore.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) made the decision following delay in renovation work at the historic Eden Gardens, which boasts of a capacity of 90,000.

ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) of the decision, who selected Bangalore as the replacement venue though Chennai was also considered.

Sachin slams critics l Says Dhoni’s team is still atop PTI MUMBAI, JAN 28

Sachin Tendulkar today slammed critics who doubted the Indian team's ability to retain the No 1 world ranking soon after they achieved it more than a year ago and said that the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led side was still atop the ladder today was proof of the team's calibre.

"Many people thought we would be on top for only 30-40 days when we achieved the no 1 spot in Tests (beating Sri Lanka at home) as the South Africa series (at home) was next. After losing the first Test at Nagpur we heard we will lose the no 1 spot.

"But after more than a year we are still standing there. In this competitive era it is fantastic," said

Somdev in doubles semis singapore challenger AGENCIES SINGAPORE, JAN 28

A s i a n Games g o l d medallist, Somdev Devvarman combined with S o u t h African Rik De Voest to script a come-from-behind win over Dmitry Tursonov of Russia and Chinese Taipei's Jimmy Wang and advance to the semi-final of the men's doubles event at the Singapore ATP Challenger.

Devvarman and De Voest edged out the Tursonov Wang pair 6-4, 3-6, 10-7 after trailing 5-7 in the tie break.

The pair will take on second seeds Sonchai and Sonchat Ratiwatana of Thailand in the semifinals.

The Thai twins scored a 76(5), 2-6, 10-5 win over India's Purav Raja and Fillipino Conrad Treat Huey in the quarter-finals on Thursday.

Devvarman has also made it to the quarter-finals of the singles event after registering a comfortable straight sets victory over Australian John Millman on Thursday.

Tendulkar at the Castrol Awards function here today.

Tendulkar received three awards – the Indian Cricketer of the year (2009-10 season), the Test Cricketer of the year and a special award for completing 50 Test tons. In all, he received Rs nine lakh.

Tendulkar said the team faced many challenges after reaching the top and praised the entire team as well as coach Gary Kirsten.

"I feel extremely proud to be part of this team.

To get there (to the no 1 spot) was not easy. We had to face a lot of challenges and stood together supporting each other. We had to work hard. Gary brought a remarkable change in the squad. All batsmen have performed well since 2007," Tendulkar said in an indirect dig at former coach Greg Chappell.

“My body was feeling it a bit at the end,” said Murray. “Both of us did a lot of running.”

Ferrer won the first set by breaking Murray’s serve in the 10th game, and had a set point to go up 2-0 in the second. But Murray saved it and leveled at 5-5. The two exchanged service breaks in the next two games to send the second set to a tiebreaker, which Murray led 60 and easily prevailed.

“I think towards the end of the second set I started going for my shots more … I was missing a lot earlier,” Murray said.

“I changed my string tension and managed to come through.”

Ferrer rued his missed opportunities, but said he couldn’t have done any more.

“I had my chance in the set point in the second set, but in the important moments he served really well,” Ferrer said.

“In the tiebreak, maybe he start better than me.

“Andy, in important moments, serve better than me. So I can’t do nothing more. I fight a lot. I tried my best game all the time, but Andy’s a very, very great player.”

Meanwhile, Argentine Gisela Dulko and Italy's Flavia Pennetta beat Eastern Europeans Victoria Azarenka and Maria Kirilenko 2-6 7-5 6-1 to win the Australian Open women's doubles titles on Friday.

After MI, Modi questions IPL auction changes AGENCIES MUMBAI, JAN 28

Former Indian Premier League commissioner Lalit Modi on Friday questioned the IPL Governing Council's move to change the players auction norms for the fourth season of the T20 league at the last minute.

Modi, who was suspended as the chairman and commissioner of the league after the last year's IPL final on charges of alleged financial bunglings and rigging of bids, questioned the transparency of the process after players were auctioned through a pre-decided order of auction list.

"The changing of players' auction order as pointed by some franchisees is an issue which I highlighted when I saw the rules changed last minute.

"The order changing -- should not have been allowed as it gives advantage to teams that knew of it before," Modi wrote on his Twitter page.

Mumbai Indians had on Thursday accused the IPL GC of changing the auction norms in the last minute without proper reason.

In a letter written to the GC members, Indiawin Sports Pvt Ltd (ISPL), owners of the Mumbai Indians team, said players were auctioned through a pre-decided order of auction list, as opposed to an initial instruction that they would be arranged into sets and the order for which is to be drawn randomly.

SPORTS Contact us on: sports@herald-goa.com

Liverpool turn down Chelsea bid for Torres

AGENCIES LONDON, JAN 28

Liverpool have rejected a bid for their Spain striker Fernando Torres from Premier League rivals Chelsea, British newspapers reported on Friday.

"Chelsea have made a bid for Fernando which has been turned down," a Liverpool spokesman was quoted as saying in The

Times. "The player is not for sale."

The reports said Chelsea, who have slipped to the fringes of the title race after a poor run, had offered a British record fee of up to £40 million ($63.62 million) for Torres.

Torres, who won the World Cup with Spain last year, joined Liverpool for a club record fee of about £20 million in July 2007 from Atletico Madrid where he was idolised.

The 26-year-old has struggled to find top form this season, scoring nine league goals in 22 appearances as Liverpool have laboured after a poor start under former manager Roy Hodgson.

However, Torres has looked

sharper since Kenny Dalglish took over the managerial reins at Anfield and has helped them up to seventh in the standings after back-toback wins.