29 SEPT,HERALD PUBLICATIONS PVT LTD

pg1_Layout 1 9/29/2010 12:56 AM Page 1

O HERALD O

Visit us at: www.oheraldo.in

The Voice of Goa — Since 1900 panjim, WEDnESDay, SEptEmbEr 29, 2010

Sports: Fit again Harbhajan to play Mohali Test Pg 18

Business: Income Tax filing date extended to October 15 Pg 13

priCE rs. 3.00 (air Surcharge rs 2.00) pages 18

India: Big B auctions lunch date, Pg 15 bid reaches Rs 6 lakh

Ayodhya verdict on Sept 30 PTI NEW DELHI/LUCKNOW, SEPT 28

I am for freedom of religion and against all maneuvers to bring about a legal ascendancy of one sect over another.

— Jefferson

IN BRIEF 1,000 feared dead in Mexico Up to 1,000 people were feared dead after a hillside collapsed early Tuesday in southern Mexico, burying up to 300 homes, a local official said.

A 200-metre (220-yard) strip of hillside collapsed above a group of some 100 to 300 homes in the waterlogged state of Oaxaca, the State’s Governor Ulises Ruiz said.

He feared “between 500 and 600 people, they’re talking about up to 1,000,” may be dead in the disaster, Ruiz told local television station Televisa. —(AFP) (Report on Pg 14)

The Allahabad High Court will deliver its verdict in the 60-yearold Ramjanmabhoomi- Babri Masjid title suit on Thursday after the Supreme Court today cleared the path by dismissing a petition for its deferment ending the uncertainty.

A three-judge Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court will pronounce the verdict in the Ayodhya case on September 30 at 3.30 pm, the Officer on Special Duty (OSD) Hari Shankar Dubey said in Lucknow, shortly after the Apex Court lifted its weeklong interim stay given last Thursday.

The Supreme Court’s threejudge bench headed by Chief Justice S H Kapadia gave a brief unanimous order dismissing the petition by a retired bureaucrat Ramesh Chandra Tripathi challenging the Lucknow Bench order rejecting his plea for postponing the keenly waited judgement to explore the possibility of mediation.

The bench also comprising Justices Aftab Alam and K S Radhakrishnan however did not give any reasons for its order giving the green signal for the High Court verdict after two hours of arguments.

“Having considered in detail the arguments of the parties, we are of the view that the SLP has to be dismissed. Accordingly, the SLP stands dismissed,” it

HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, SEPT 28

Security personnel stands guard outside a mosque ahead of the SC decision on the PIL on Ayodhya title suit, in Bhopal on Tuesday.

said.

During arguments on the Special Leave Petition, the Bench questioned the plea for deferment of the verdict.

“You are running against time because you woke up late. That is after 50 years,” Justice Aftab Alam said.

“The question is why you were quiet for all these days.

You had to strike a chord when the matter was in the High Court,” Justice Alam said.

The obser vations by the bench came when senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing

for Tripathi, was buttressing the argument that a settlement could be arrived at through negotiations.

Answering the bench for the delay in exploring an out-ofcourt settlement, Rohatgi said mediation was not a part of the statute.

Justice Alam said lawyers of all the contesting parties are at least in agreement on the issue of delivery of judgement by the Allahabad High Court.

The September 30 date fixed by the Lucknow Bench assumes importance since one of the

234 shacks to dot North HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, SEPT 28

The Tourism Department today allotted 234 shacks via lots for beach stretches of North Goa whereas allotment of 106 shacks for South Goa will be done on Wednesday.

Due to beach erosion at Sinquerim, only five shacks have been allotted at Dando on conditional basis.

Earlier, thirteen shacks were allotted along this stretch but since last season the number has been reduced.

Speaking to Herald, Director of Tourism Swapnil Naik said the number of shacks allotted at Dando was cut down on advice of the Coastal Regulation Zone authorities due to beach erosion.

He said the allotment proceedings were done transparently via video recording and the CDs would be handed over to both associations of the shack owners.

Naik said as per directive of the High Court, this season too, 90 per cent of the total shacks have been allotted to experi-

Govt breaks silence on HSRP, to serve notice on Shimnit

judges of the three-member bench, Justice D V Sharma, is to demit office on October 1.

The other judges in the bench are Justice S U Khan and Sudhir Agarwal.

Earlier, Attorney General G E Vahanvati, who was asked by the Apex Court to assist it in today’s hearing, said that uncertainty should not be allowed to continue.

The Supreme Court decision was welcomed by the main contesting parties to the title suit as well as the Centre and all (Continued on page 10)

Manch to submit proposal on Princess removal HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, SEPT 28

This season, two shacks have been allotted at Siridao beach whereas none has been allotted at Bambolim beach due to due to some property dispute. enced shack owners whereas 10 per cent were reserved for fresh applicants.

“There are no separate categories for experienced applicants as they are taken into consideration while making allotments,” he added.

The allotment and location of shacks is done via lots to avoid any kind of animosity among successful applicants.

This season, two shacks have been allotted at Siridao beach whereas none has been allotted at Bambolim beach due to due to some property dispute.

The allotment for shacks in South Goa will be conducted tomorrow; however, the allotment for Palolem beach has been put on hold.

Traditionally, eight shacks were allowed on Palolem beach.

1989 countermanding case ends in acquittal HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, SEPT 28

The sensational 1989 Countermanding of Elections conspiracy case has ended in an acquittal with the court of Judicial Magistrate First Class, Margao acquitting the accused persons on grounds that the prosecution has failed to establish its case.

JMFC Vandana Tendulkar acquitted the accused persons, including city-based lawyers, Adv Anacleto Viegas, Adv Radharao Gracias, Dr Ernesto Rodrigues, Freddy Dias, Norbert Almeida, Lino Ferrao, Joe Fernandes and Agostinho Fernandes for the offence punishable under Sections 199, 465, 471 and 120(B) of the IPC. The verdict came exactly 20 years after the police had filed the first chargesheet in the court. The case had hit the headlines after elections to the Velim and Curtorim Assembly constituencies and the South Goa Lok Sabha constituency was countermanded in 1989 following the death of an Independent candidate, Caetano Jackson Fernandes.

Investigations later discovered that deceased Caetano Jackson had never filed his nomination papers for the three seats and that he was impersonated as part of a criminal

conspiracy to countermand the polls.

In her 109 page order, JMFC Tendulkar said the offence of forgery is not proved, saying the evidence on record is not at all sufficient to show that the nomination papers submitted before the Returning Officer were fraudulently and dishonestly prepared by the accused persons in the name of Caetano Jackson Fernandes.

The judge said there is also no sufficient evidence on record to show that there was a false declaration made in the course of submission of the nomination papers in the name of Caetano Jackson Fernandes. “Even the alleged act of impersonation of Caetano Jackson by accused No 4 has not been proved by the prosecution, since none of the material witnesses of the prosecution have identified the accused as the person present before the Returning Officer to submit the nomination papers in the name of Caetano Jackson”, the judge said.

As far as the offence of conspiracy is concerned, Judge Tendulkar said the conspiracy between all the accused persons with intention to countermand the election has not been established. “The case of the (Continued on page 10)

Breaking its silence over high security registration plates (HSRP) issue, State Transport Ministry today said that Shimnit Utsch will be served show-cause notice within 15 days.

After almost a month confirmation that HSRP file is pending with State government office, Transport Minister Ramkrishna Dhavlikar said that the file is sent back to Advocate General to clarif y some more legal points.

“The file is back with AG, which will come back to us by next week. The notice will be served within a fortnight,” Dhavlikar told Herald.

The State government had assured to scrap the tender with Shimnit Utsch after Srivastava Committee pointed out glaring irregularities in the tendering process.

And accordingly, the Transport Department on August 20, 2010 decided to issue showcause notice over its termina-

tion. However, it was further postponed to August 23.

The Shimnit Utsch had approached High Court over government decision to scrap the tender.

The company had told Court that all the allegations made by the government committee, does not stand after awarding the contract. These points should have highlighted before awarding the tender.

The HSRP contract awarded to Shimnit Utsch Company had not gone well with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and transporters, who had taken to the streets demanding scrapping of the contract.

Chief Minister Digambar Kamat had then formed a State level committee to study the aspects of the HSRP on August 18, 2009.

Meanwhile, as the HSRP contract signed by the government with Shimnit Utsch still stands, public are been offered with the same number plates for their new vehicles.

With Salgaocar Mining Industries Pvt Ltd (SMIPL), declining to tender bank guarantee of Rs 10 crore, as a pre-condition for removal of M V River Princess, the Tourism Department has now asked River Princess Hatao Manch (RPHM) to submit its detailed proposal for removal of the stranded vessel.

The Tourism Director Swapnil Naik told Herald on Tuesday that they have asked RPHM to give its proposal in next few days.

It may be recalled that RPHM had offered to remove River Princess after SMIPL showed disinclination on the condition of bank guarantee.

The SMIPL offered to remove the vessel free of cost when the government had almost finalised Singaporean Company, M/s Titan Salvage to remove the vessel.

M/s Titan Salvage had agreed to remove the vessel within a period of six months with tender cost of Rs 125 crore.

It had also agreed to pay a (Continued on page 10)

Kasab challenges death penalty in HC PTI MUMBAI, SEPT 28

In a fresh development in the 26/11 terror attack case, Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Kasab today filed an appeal in Bombay High Court challenging death penalty awarded to him for killing 166 persons on November 26, 2008.

“We have filed an appeal today,” his lawyer Amin Solkar told PTI. Kasab has challenged death penalty saying it was a harsh punishment imposed on him and pleaded that there were lapses in evidence produced by police in the trial court.

The appeal has challenged identification of Kasab in the court saying the eye witnesses had easily identified him because his photograph had appeared prominently in newspapers and television on the day of attack.

The appeal also challenged

trial court’s ruling which upheld Kasab’s confession as “true and voluntary”, Kasab’s lawyer said.

The appeal would be heard

by High Court along with the matter pertaining to confirmation of death sentence awarded to him.

The court has decided to hear both matters on a day-today basis from October 18 and allowed Kasab to appear through video conferencing.

Sir ! Instead of those two, we don't mind acquiring this one for security reasons.

OHERALDO

GOA

Pg 2

GOA, WEDNESDAY, 29 SEPTEMBER, 2010

Babri verdict: security beefed up ‘5-star lobbies could be brain behind HERALD REPORTER PANJIM/MARGAO, SEPT 28

All sensitive areas of Goa are covered under strict police security in wake of the verdict in the controversial Babri Masjid-Ramjanmabhoomi title suit case on Thursday. Director General of Police (DGP) Bhim Sain Bassi informed that Goa police have heightened security around the entire State.

Sensitive towns like Ponda, Curchorem, Margao, Mapusa and Vasco, which comprises of mixed population with a history of communal fury are provided additional security force.

“These towns are provided additional force as they have the potential of triggering crisis. We have imposed Section 144 CrPC in both districts from September 23 onwards till further orders after the verdict,” Bassi told reporters on Tuesday morning.

North district is already under Section 144 CrPC owing to Valpoi by-poll elections.

“Both district superintendents of police have been provided additional personnel from other divisions as well to control any

untoward incident, if triggers,” he said.

“Besides, we have adopted all precautionary measures and appealed the communities not to fall prey to anti-social elements.”

More than 800 Home Guards and civil defense forces will be roped in to assist the mainstream force for maintaining security.

Chief Minister Digambar Kamat at a press briefing, last week, appealed to the public to maintain calm ahead verdict on Ayodhya dispute.

Allahabad High Court will pronounce its verdict on Thursday evening at 3:30 pm after Supreme Court rejected the plea for postponement of the verdict.

The South Goa police has asked for additional forces to deal with any untoward incident in the entire district.

District Police Chief Allan de Sa has asked for additional reinforcements from the Police Department. It is learnt that the Margao police sub-division has asked for two additional platoons of police person for deployment in the communally sensitive pockets

of the Commercial capital and the sensitive Rumdamol Housing Board.

When contacted, Margao sub divisional police officer, DySP Umesh Gaonkar said the police officers from the sub division will meet on Wednesday to discuss the strategy for deployment of forces on Thursday. “The police will meet tomorrow to discuss and devise strategy to finalise bandobast deployment on Thursday”, he said.

Replying to a question, he said the district Magistrate has already promulgated Section 144 of the CrPC and the same will remain in effect till September 30.

Sources in the know said the police deployment would be carried out as a precautionary measure though the city nor the Rumdamol Housing Board has witnessed any communal flare up in the last two years.

The housing board has been free from any communal tensions in the last two years after the ugly incident, remarked a police official, adding that the police will not take any chances as a matter of abundant caution.

I whole-heartedly support mining industry: minister HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, SEPT 28

Health Minister Vishwajeet Rane, who will fight the Valpoi by-poll to retain the seat, on Tuesday said that he wholeheartedly supports the mining industry in Goa. Rane, represents the Valpoi constituency and has a strong support in the talukas of Bicholim and Satteri, where the people have been demanding ban on mining due to the air pollution and environment reasons.

However, addressing a press conference at his Dona Paula residence, the junior Rane said

that those who talk about banning mining should first speak about how they intend to give employment to the people of the area.

“The mining industry today p ro v i d e s e m p l o y m e n t t o thousands of people. The people of Satteri, Bicholim and Valpoi were poor people but due to mining they are now well to do as they have business and employment,” he said adding “…but mining should not be at a cost of environment”.

Further, he stated, “I do not give permissions for mining in the areas. It is the people who

decide whether they want mines in their area or not during the hearing for Environmental clearance.”

Referring to BJP’s statements on mining, Rane said, “during BJP’s regime too mining existed and it is not something we have started.”

“If the BJP was so much concerned they should have stopped it when they were in power,” he said.

“As far as I am concerned I am totally backing the mining industry,” he said.

Replying to queries, he said there were no illegal mining in Valpoi constituency.

Valpoi by-poll: Haldankar files nomination

Man held for assaulting brother at Mayem HERALD CORRESPONDENT BICHOLIM, SEPT 28

Bicholim Police on Tuesday arrested a 34-year-old man from Tikhajan-Mayem on charges of assaulting his brother.

According to reports, the incident occurred due to a brawl between Nilesh M Kawthankar and his brother Tejanand.

In a fit of anger, Nilesh assaulted Tejanand, who sustained head injuries. Seriously injured Tejanand was rushed to GMC Hospital in Bambolim.

Bicholim Police arrested Nilesh under Sections 324, 504 IPC and ASI V P Desai is investigating the case.

Meanwhile, in another incident, one Ramda Gaju Varak (21) from Kudchirem-Bicholim was reported missing since September 25. Bicholim Police is investigating the case.

Woman knocked down by train at Dabolim HERALD REPORTER VASCO, SEPT 28

BJP candidate Santosh Haldankar submits his nomination papers to the returning officer at the Mamlatdar’s office Valpoi.

Photo by Ashraf Khan HERALD CORRESPONDENT VALPOI, SEPT 28

BJP candidate Santosh Haldankar, brother of former deputy speaker Narhari Haldankar, on Tuesday filed his nomination papers for the October 18 bye-election for Valpoi constituency.

Santosh filed his nomination papers before Returning Officer Raju Gawas, who was assisted

by Mamlatdar Satish Dessai and Joint Mamlatdar Trupti Rane.

Santosh was accompanied by Opposition Leader Manohar Parrikar, Laxmikant Parsekar, Govind Parvatkar, Vinay Tendulkar, Narhari Haldankar, Narayan Gawas, D Gaonkar and Promod Sawant, besides many BJP workers from Sattari, who were wait-

Jacques’ posting only after Valpoi by-poll HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, SEPT 28

Sandip Jacques, who was recently appointed as the North District Collector will have to wait for some more time atleast till the time the Valpoi by-poll are held to take charge of the new post.

In view of the code of conduct in force for the October 18 Valpoi by-poll, the State government has written to the Centre seeking to cancel the transfer of Jacques along with several other officers.

Joint Chief Electoral Officer Narayan Navti while speaking to reporters confirmed that the State government has written to the Election Commission seeking to cancel the transfer of former excise commissioner Sandip Jacques as a North District Collector.

The transfer was part of several transfers executed on September 20, a day when notification for Valpoi by-poll was issued by the Election Commission. Jacques was not holding any charge after being shifted from Excise Department.

ing outside the mamlatdar’s office at Valpoi.

Speaking to media persons, Santosh confidently stated that BJP has accepted the challenge of Congress candidate Vishwajeet Rane, who according to Santosh had said that BJP will be wiped out from Valpoi after the election results.

“BJP has started canvassing and people of Valpoi constituency are fully convinced with the issues on which BJP is fighting election. Our issues include illegal mining, corruption and employment problem,” claimed Santosh.

Manohar Parrikar criticised the Kamat-led government for misleading the people and forcing early election on the people

of Valpoi.

“If Vishwajeet had not resigned, then the question of this by-poll would not have arisen,” said Parrikar.

Meanwhile, according to sources, no candidate has filed nomination papers as independent candidate till Tuesday.

With the BJP candidate filing nomination papers, only two nominations are received by the returning officer till date, besides dummy candidates.

Congress candidate Vishwajeet Rane filed his nomination papers on September 23. However, rumours are doing round that independent candidate or candidate of regional party are likely to file nomination on Wednesday.

An unidentified woman was killed, after she was knocked down by a train near Alto Dabolim Railway Bridge, Vasco, on Tuesday afternoon.

Vasco Railway Police suspect the woman might have committed suicide, as the area is rarely used by pedestrians to cross and people are hardly seen walking along the track where the mishap took place.

Police informed that the deceased, who is suspected to be in her thirties, was wearing yellow-coloured saree, wheatish in complexion and medium built.

The body has been preserved at Hospicio in Margao for identification.

Incidentally, this is the third death in train accidents in less than one month on the stretch of barely one-kilometre rail track from Airport Railway overhead bridge to Alto-Dabolim Railway Bridge.

It may be recalled that about a month ago, a 40-year-old woman was killed, after she was knocked down by a train near Airport Railway Bridge, Chicalim.

Fifteen days later, a man in his thirties was killed, when he was dashed by a goods train barely 100 mtrs from the earlier spot.

BJP students’ cell not to allow GU polls on Sept 30 Claims irregularities marred previous elections HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, SEPT 28

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) students’ cell on Tuesday warned that they will not allow the Goa University students’ council elections to be held on September 30 claiming that the entire process was ‘politicised by Congress leaders.’

BJP Yuva Morcha (BJYM) and party ’s students’ cell this evening held a press conference stating that the entire process of last elections was marred with irregularities.

They claimed that a strong Congress-backed lobby in GU had sabotaged the process giving an edge to Congress-led group.

The party has alleged that GU Registrar Mohan Sangodkar’s role is also doubtful as he was acting bias.

The students have now de-

cided to meet Vice Chancellor Prof Dilip Deobagkar seeking his intervention in the matter.

“They have thrown out form of Yashwant Naik, who was our candidate for chairman’s post.

Also only two out of six executive members’ forms are kept.

This is entirely done with a purpose of not to allow free and fair elections,” BJP students' cell chief Atmaram Barve said.

He claimed that the sabotage in the election process had begun right from the beginning when role of Director Students' Welfare (DSW) was suspicious.

“We had learnt that Director had resigned from the post but suddenly he appeared in the election process,” Barve said.

The leader said that the list of candidates was declared and

revoked overnight creating confusion. “The list was put up adding more names to it,” he alleged.

While University elections are being held after a gap of two years, the students' leaders said that their candidates are being threatened using government machinery by Congress camp.

“They visit homes of our candidates and threaten them.

There are instances in which they have even said that their parents, who are government servants, would be transferred to far off places, if they continue supporting BJP,” Barve alleged.

BJYM President Pramod Sawant said that GU has always shown pro-Congress inclination and meeting of Rahul Gandhi in the University campus is a glaring example of it.

ancient monuments bill amendment’ HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, SEPT 28

Heritage activists on Tuesday alleged that five star lobbies could be a brain behind State government’s move to amend bill related to ancient monuments.

Goa Heritage Action Group (GHAG) has raised objection over ‘The Goa Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Amendment) Bill, 2010’, which was passed during the budget Assembly session in March 2010. However, has been implemented in retrospective effect beginning from March 1, 2007.

“The amendment throws field open to vested private interest, hotel lobbies and such other agencies, who will prey upon our valuable and priceless heritage,” GHAG executive member Prajal Sakhardande said while addressing a press conference Tuesday evening.

He maintained that all the 51

monuments, which includes chapels, temples and forts, notified by the State Archaeological Department due to their heritage importance, are under threat of being handed over to private firms.

sion of words like ‘re-erection and ‘re-construction’ of a historical heritage monument, which was otherwise placed as ‘maintain’ in the earlier Act, when it was enacted during Shashikala Kakodkar tenure, in 1978.

“The amendment throws field “This is highly obopen to vested private interest, jectionable and will deface history and hotel lobbies and such other heritage character of agencies, who will prey upon a monument,” our valuable and priceless her- Sakhardande said.

He made it clear itage.” as per the ‘conGHAG executive member that ser vation policy ’, Prajal Sakhardande which is followed worldwide, the ‘re“The amendment poses a erection and ‘re-construction’ is grave and serious threat to all taken at the extreme level. the monuments and sites. This “Conservation means, the is the second largest assault on value and the significance of the human resource in the State site must be preserved,” he after Regional Plan (RP),” the ac- added. tivist said.

Sakhardande pointed out that The GHAG members have a clause in the bill allows any strongly protested to the inclu- other agency, other than gov-

ernment, may be permitted adaptive reuse of ancient monuments.

“There were attempts by a European company in the past to take over Cabo de Rama Fort (located in South Goa) by denotifying it,” GHAG founder member Poonam Verma Mascarenhas said, adding that it was only after the protests that the move was scuttled.

She said that the government is just a caretaker of the monuments and not the owner. “It’s a collective heritage of the people…its not owned by government,” she said.

The heritage activist has already approached Goa Governor Dr S S Sidhu along with Chief Minister Digambar Kamat seeking their intervention in the issue.

The activist said that if need arises, the organisation will also knock the doors of High Court through public interest litigation.

Theft of hero-stone handiwork of antique smugglers: GHAG HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, SEPT 28

Disappearance of a hero-stone from Satteri is a handiwork of antique smugglers who are spreading their roots in the State, heritage activists claimed on Tuesday.

“There is an organised antique smuggling racket in Goa, which are eying State’s ancient treasures which are lying unattended and un-notified in various places,” GHAG exec-

utive member Prajal Sakhardande said in a press conference.

He said that the theft of ancient herostone (Viaragal) from Nagve village in Sattari taluka is an act of antique smugglers. “State government’s lethargy in notifying such important monuments is giving a free hand to these anti social elements,” he added.

The activist said that if government fails to take any action in tracing the culprit it

will be clear that the antique smuggling in the state will continue in near future.

The hero-stone, dating back to 12-13th century, was found missing on September 14.

The heritage activist said that all the unnotified sculptures and other antiquities are in grave danger and it is time for the government to act and put to end the loss of this treasure.

Sardinha opposes Greater Goa HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, SEPT 28

Maintaining that Goa should maintain and protect its unique identity, South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha has underlined to protect Goa for the future generations and firmly opposed the idea of Greater Goa. On the other hand, the Konkani Bhasha Mandal has said it has not taken any stand on the issue, saying the issue needs to be deliberated at length before taking any decision.

Close on the heels of CWC Member Luizinho Faleiro opposing the idea of Greater Goa, South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha underlined the need to protect Goa for the future generations. “We are slowly loosing our identity.

Already, it appears that Karwar is in Goa with the influx of outsiders. I appeal to Goans to protect Goa. When you get good higher price for your land, you

sell and shout from roof tops that outsiders are buying land”, he said, adding and asserted that Goa needs to be protected for the future generations.

Opposing the idea of including Konkani speaking areas into Goa as mooted in certain quarters, including PWD Minister, Churchill Alemao, Sardinha said “Goans should protect their own identity, while Karwaris should protect their identity”.

In a lighter vein, the MP said that the state now looks like Karwar with outsiders settling in the state and added “neither areas of other states should be included into Goa, nor Goa should be merged with other states”.

Meanwhile, Konkani Bhasha Mandal President, Prashant Naik has said the organization has not taken any stand on the demands made in certain quarters for inclusion of Konkani speaking areas of Karwar and Sind-

hudurg into Goa to make Greater Goa. Mandal President, Prashant Naik said the KBM has not discussed the issue at all, adding that the issues need to be deliberated after taking into account the pros and cons.

He admitted that Bakibab Borkar and others had the dream that all Konkani speaking areas from Thane to Cochin along the country’s west coast should be merged into one to form a Konkani speaking state with Panjim as the Capital. “That was decades ago. Whether there is a change in the thinking on the issue has to be deliberated at length. Karwar people are demanding merger into Goa due to attack from Kannada activsts”, he said. “We cannot say what exactly is the stand of Goans on this sensitive issue. Let there be a debate on the issue”, he added.

UGDP too voices opposition HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, SEPT 28

The United Goans Democratic Party on Tuesday resolved to oppose tooth and nail Vishal Gomantak or Greater Goa and has demanded postponement of the ensuing Municipal polls till a census on the ST and OBC population is carried out by the government for reservation of wards.

At a meeting of the Party Presidium held this evening, the party has also resolved to hold organisational polls within the next two months and has decided to strengthen the party organisation.

The ensuing Municipal polls and the reservation of wards dominated the meeting with members coming down heavily on the government for not compiling any data before carrying out reservation of wards for the ST and OBC communities.

The meeting has decided to petition to the government to postpone the Municipal polls till data on the population of ST and OBC is compiled via a census.

Party secretary general Adv Anacleto Viegas

said that the Presidium has asked senior party member Dr Jorson Fernandes to draft a petition to the government demanding a census on the ST and OBC population before holding the Municipal polls. He said the government is trying to reserve wards for the ST and OBC without any data and demanded a census to verify the population status of these communities.

He said the demand for Vishal Gomantak or Greater Goa was vehemently opposed at the meeting with the Presidium resolving to oppose the demand tooth and nail. “These people cannot now manage Goa”, he said and wondered how these people would take care of a Greater Goa. On the organisational polls, Adv Viegas said that the party polls will be held within two months and added that the Presidium has resolved to strengthen the party to face the next polls.

He said the regional outfit will gear up to face the next Assembly polls by strengthening the organisation and taking the party to the nook and corners of the state.

‘Will return to State politics only if High Command demands’ HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, SEPT 28

Asserting that neither he nor CWC member Luizinho Faleiro are interested in contesting the next Assembly polls from Benaulim, South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha said he will return to State politics only if the Congress high command asks him to do so.

Reacting to PWD Minister, Churchill Alemao’s statement asking him and Faleiro to contest from Benaulim, Sardinha said he is presently the South Goa MP and there’s still three years and half for his term to expire. “Why should I or Faleiro contest from Benaulim. Moreover, the Congress high command would decide on the candidates and on the question of giving tickets, whether to give the ticket to the politician’s sons and daughters.

“I was defeated in the last hustings in Curtorim and Luizinho Faleiro in Navelim. Why should we contest from Benaulim”, he asked, adding “I am a loyal soldier of the party and would return to State politics if asked by the high command”.

Sardinha recalled that he polled good number of votes in Benaulim constituency in the Lok Sabha polls despite attempts to sabotage from many quarters. “I polled the votes because Benaulim MLA Mickky Pacheco has worked for me, besides the people of Benaulim constituency”, he added.

Saying that the question of ticket business will be addressed by the high command at the right time, Sardinha said what is the use of the party selection committee if the tickets are to be decided here and there. “There is a process which has to be followed by the party before finalising a candidate. That stage has not come as yet”, he added.

Sonsodo: MMC in piquant situation over opening bid for consultant HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, SEPT 28

The Margao Municipal Council finds itself in a piquant situation over the opening of bids from consultants to monitor work on the installation of the waste treatment plant at Sonsodo.

For, amongst the four bidders, who have responded to the Expression of Interest invited by the Civic body, two of the consultants are not new to the Municipality and were associated in one way or the other with the waste treatment project.

Take for instance, Hyderabad-based Ramky Enviro Engineering Ltd. Ramky had placed its bid to set up the waste treatment plant and land fill site at Sonsodo, but lost it to Goa-based Fomento by a few points.

Now, that Ramky has submitted its bid for consultancy to monitor the work to be carried out by Fomento has raised enough eyebrows in the corridors of the Civic body.

In fact, questions are raised whether it

would be proper in the fitness of things to engage Ramky as a consultant to monitor the work of its rival after loosing the bid to set up the plant.

Similar questions are also raised in the Civic body over the appointment of the Ahmedabad-based consultant P U Asnani as the consultant to monitor the works of Fomento.

It is not out of place to mention here that Asnani – who was appointed by the Margao Civic body without Inviting Expression of Interest to evaluate the technical and financial bids of Ramky and Fomento – had ruled in favour of the Goa-based company.

Questions are raised in the corridors of

the Civic body whether Asnani would do justice to the job as he had some months ago given his decision in favour of Fomento over Ramky.

Incidentally, Ramky is believed to have submitted a letter to the Margao Civic body raising objections to certain clauses of the Expression of Interest invited by the Municipality to appoint a consultant to monitor work on the treatment plant.

Sources in the Civic body said the Municipality would soon call the much-awaited pre-bid meeting with the four consultants as per the decision of the high-powered committee headed by Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat.

OHERALDO

GOA

Pg 3

GOA, WEDNESDAY, 29 SEPTEMBER, 2010

Govt yet to act against Fed-up with govt’s dilly-dallying tactics, GBA agitation from Oct 14 bogus ration cards: PCF mediately come out with a notification effecting a freeze on construction at 50 Floor Area Ratio (FAR) in settlement

zones till finalisation of the RP 2021.

The contention of the GBA is that despite Fed-up with the continued dilly-dallying by water shortages and power problems, conthe State Government in finalising Regional struction at 80 FAR continues unabated Plan (RP) 2021, Goa Bachao Abthreatening quality of life and hiyan (GBA) has decided to start identity, supported yet further agitation from October 14 with by the new building bye-laws. a march to the residence of Chief The GBA has also demanded Minister, Digambar Kamat, at Al- The Chief Minister Digambar Kamat had assured the Goa Assembly a notification defining protection tinho. to release first two taluka plans in August and remaining in sub- of eco-zones as outlined in the “The GBA and affected groups sequent months and, to release the entire plan by December-end. Regional Plan draft documents. will start their official campaign The GBA convenor said “non But Chief Minister is yet to deliver on its assurance given to the in villages and towns for aware- House. planning lies at the root of all ness and call for action against Ironically, the government has not even finalised guidelines for the problems. Large housing such continued abuse and urge taluka plans. projects emerge in the villages people to question their elected The GBA Convenor, Sabina Martins told a press conference on with no study on carrying carepresentatives,” told GBA Con- Tuesday here that the guidelines are yet to be formulated. pacity of roads and infrastrucvenor Sabina Martins while ad“I enquired with TCP office and was told that the guidelines ture, leading to problems of dressing a press conference have not been formulated and, which is why the government has garbage, sewage and attendant along with Reboni Saha, GBA not been able to release the taluka plans,” said Martins. water problems.”

Secretary, on Tuesday here.

The cases filed in the High In fact, the guidelines deciding nature of projects should have “We are tired of making rep- been formulated before preparation of taluka plans is taken up, Court regarding over-construcresentations to the government she said. tion, water and power shortages over RP 2021, we are even fedShe further revealed that not a single meeting has been convened as in the case of Chimbel and up of the delay,” said GBA con- of the committee that was constituted to review Town and Country Soccoro have clearly pointed out venor even as she demanded Planning Act and inclusion of peoples’ participation. the problems, yet the governthat the government should imment does nothing, says GBA. HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, SEPT 28

RP 2021

CM yet to fulfill promise

Delhi seminar deliberates on RP 2021 HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, SEPT 28

A seminar on Regional Plan 2021 – Imagining Goa’s Future was held at the India International Centre, New Delhi recently.

Goans from Delhi and the NCR as members of the ‘Goenkarancho Ekvott’ participated in the seminar. First session of the seminar was chaired

by Edgar Ribeiro, former Chief Planner, TCPO, GOI and adviser to Government of Goa on draft RPG-21.

Goans in Delhi were made aware of the Regional Plan for Goa and the ills of the present government policies, apathy and corruption of those who govern the State which is resulting in the rapid destruction of the land through haphazard building of settlements in the name of development and the State being virtually taken over by non-Goans, foreigners and migrant people from other parts of the country, says a press re-

lease issued here by the organisation.

Further the release says there was a call for participation of Goans all over the world to invest in Goa and bring about awareness of what is going on in the State.

Mr S T Putturaju, senior planner GOG and Head of support team for draft RPG-21 did not show up citing ill health.

His presentation on “The basic ingredients of draft RPG21” was run through by Architect and member of draf t RPG-21 Task Force, Dean D’Cruz who followed it up with his presentation on “The impact and the effects on Goa’s Ecology, Environment and Builtscape if the Regional Plan 2021 is implemented”.

Blaise Costabir, industrialist and GCCI member on draft RPG21 Task Force spoke on “The Impact of the Regional Plan 2021 on the Economic Development of Goa”.

Burglars strike gold at Margao

Peter de Souza, director, Indian Institute of Advanced Studies, Shimla chaired the post lunch session of the seminar where the more firry speakers kept the audience alive and in the mood to discuss.

Rajan Narayan, Editor, Goan Observer spoke on “Implementation of Regional Plan 2021– through the lens of media”.

As a non Goan settled in Goa over the past 30 plus years, Narayan regailed with his experiences and views on how Goa’s character is rapidly changing as more and more developers and outsiders are buying into the State and Goans leaving for greener pastures elsewhere.

Mathany Saldanha, ex-minister for Tourism, Government of Goa spoke on “The Golden Mean between the Goa Government’s Policy and the Aspirations of the Goan people” followed by Dr Oscar Rebello of Save Goa Campaign and

Member draft RPG-21 Task Force on “The participatory process for implementation of RPG-21 – opinions and feedback from citizens and actions by government thereon”.

Some people in the audience expressed strong views and had recommendations to give as well. Overall the seminar was an eye opener to the non-resident Goan audience who were left wondering if there would be any place left for them which is affordable should they think of returning to Goa! The valedictory address was given by Prof Madhav Gadgil, Chairman, Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel, member, National Advisory Council, and member, Goa Golden Jubilee Development Council.

Women from Merces protective home shifted to Mumbai HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, SEPT 28

The women victims who attempted futile escape bid from Merces protective home on September 16, have been shifted to Mumbai protective home.

Director of Women and Child Department, Sanjiv Gadkar confirmed that in an order by Sub-Divisional Magistrate, all 11 women were released from Merces protective home and shifted to Mumbai under police escort.

Protesting their prolonged lodging at Merces Home, these women managed to flee from the protective home but were later traced with the help of Old Goa police.

The authorities, tried to keep the incident under veil as it exposed their lethargy of keeping the women for over three months against the legal provision to release them within 15 days.

The girls, who are victims of prostitution, were rescued by the police from various locations in North Goa.

The ransacked cupboards inside the apartment of Roque D’Silva on Tuesday morning.

Photo by Santosh Mirajkar HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, SEPT 28

In a daring daylight burglary, burglars struck gold worth lakhs of rupees from a residential apartment near Salgaoncar chambers, at Margao on Tuesday.

The burglary took place in two flats in broad daylight when the inmates of the house had gone out, only to find the apartment burgled after their return around noon.

The burglars effected entry into the flats by breaking open the latch of the main door. Once inside, they ransacked the cupboards and laid their hands on the gold ornaments, whose value is estimated around lakhs of rupees. They also lifted away cash belonging to the daughter of the owner. A 21 coin bracelet and gold chains studded with stones were the items lifted away from the apartment.

Flat owner Roque D’Silva in-

formed that he along with his wife had gone to the Church for the morning mass and returned back home at around 9.45 am after shopping. “I kept the goods inside the house and left after latching the door. When I returned back around noon, I found my neighbour standing near the apartment. My worst fears came true when the cupboards were left ransacked and the valuables missing”, he said.

Roque immediately intimated the incident to the Margao police, who are investigating into the case.

This is not the first time that flats have been burgled during daytime when the inmates are out of the house. In a recent case, unknown culprits effected entry into a house near the BPS club and decamped with valuables after the owner went out by locking the door to bring his child from the Holy Spirit grounds.

HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, SEPT 28

“The administration has not done anything even as we exposed that at least, 92 ration cards in Pilerne village are bogus. Does the government think Goans are foolish?” Questioned Pilerne Citizens Forum (PCF) clearly annoyed by the apathy of the government in dealing with the issue of illegal ration cards in use.

Addressing a press conference on Tuesday here, Aaron Paul Fernandes, Secretary PCF, said ration cards were issued in Pilerne Marra village without following proper procedure and this was

brought to the notice of administration but instead of taking appropriate action the authorities are sleeping.

“Under the Right to Information (RTI) we had sought documents furnished by the ration card holders to obtain ration cards but out of 92 names with respect to which the information was sought, the mamlatdar of Bardez furnished only details of seven ration cards thus suggesting that the remaining ration cards were issued without documentary backing,” pointed out Fernandes.

He said, one of the ration card holders in Pilerne, Nitin Mistry

NSUI chief complains of threat calls HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, SEPT 28

National Students Union of India (NSUI) Goa Unit president Sunil Khawtankar, who launched a signature campaign demanding CBI probe into the police-drug cartel nexus probe received threatening calls from an anonymous caller on Tuesday late evening.

A police complaint has been filed with the Panjim town police station. “I received a call from an unknown number, which I first ignored as I was in a meeting at Altinho. The same number flashed again on my phone and this time when I answered, the caller abused me and threatened of dire consequences,” Khawtankar told Herald after filing a police complaint.

The anonymous caller had called the NSUI chief from +919975587344 number at

9:46pm. “He (the anonymous caller) said you are doing too much and I will show you,” the complainant said in his complaint letter. Police sources say that the number is of a coin operated telephone box.

No police officials were however available for comments till late night.

It may be recalled that Khawtankar was attacked by two unknown assailants when he was on his way to Bicholim to meet the student leaders as part of anti-drug signature campaign on July 23 evening. The motorcycle bound assailants threw a boulder at his car windshield and it smashed into Khawtankar’s face as he was driving the car. A police complaint was registered, but, the assailants are neither identified nor traced so far.

has attempted to show that he is residing at Plot No 19 of Pilerne Industrial Estate. “It is shocking to see as to how ration cards are being issued in Goa,” says Fernandes further adding that there are more instances of such aberrations.

Inclusion of names of two UK nationals in ration cards in Nerul village panchayat was exposed

by PCF and had later filed a writ petition before the High Court.

Prakash Bandodkar, President of PCF, came down heavily on the Department of Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs and also, Minister for Civil Supplies Jose Philip D’Souza for their inaction on this issue.

“At least, now the government should take this issue seriously,” he added.

On direction of the Supreme Court, the department will soon undertake door-to-door checking to determine bogus ration cards in circulation.

Pg4

OHerALdO = =

GOA

GOA, wednesdAy, 29 sePTember, 2010

sHORT TAkEs

Forest official allays fears of Cotigao locals over CWH HERALD CORRESPONDENT CANACONA, SEPT 28

District Governor of Lions District 324D2 Nitin Maganlal presents the highest honour from Lions Clubs International, ‘Melvin Jones Fellowship’ award to Aurea Alvares Noronha, Principal of Greenlawn Group of Schools, at a function held recently at at Club Tennis Gaspar Dias, Panjim.

World Tourism Day celebrated

Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) Kamu Prakash on Monday visited Cotigao amid growing dissent among the residents over the government’s move to declare Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary as a Critical Wildlife Habitat (CWH).

Addressing the locals at Cotigao Panchayat, Prakash clarified that people should not oppose government’s proposal to declare Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary as CWH, as unless that is done no rehabilitation benefits can be extended to the affected people.

Almost toying with the reasoning of ACF, Poinguinim MLA Ramesh Tawadkar, who too had joined with the opposing people in recent times, said some political leaders are misguiding the people over the issue and

Be imitators of Christ: Archbishop

n CWH declaration is very much essential for conservation of the wildlife and thwart the threat of extinction of the endangered species --- Kamu Prakash asked all sundry not to fall prey to them.

ACF assured the villagers that all the people will be taken into consideration before declaring CWH at Cotigao sanctuary.

“CWH declaration is very much essential for conservation of the wildlife and thwart the threat of extinction of the endangered species,” said Prakash.

ACF met the people at the

panchayat, where Tawadkar, Cotigao Sarpanch Rajesh Gaonkar, Panch Sukto Gaonkar and senior villager Bhairo Gaonkar were also present.

It may be recalled that Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary was declared by Goa government in 1967 and officially notified it 1968.

According to reports, in another notification issued in 1986, government had de-notified some of the areas, earlier notified into the sanctuary park.

However, according to sources in the know-how, government has till date not promulgated Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary and same sources implies that promulgation is the basic requirement for declaring Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary or for that matter any other sanctuary park to a CWH.

Dr Bhatkurse bags Rajiv Gandhi Award

HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, SEPT 28

PANJIM (HND): Heritage Institute of Hotel & Tourism, Goa Campus taking up the social responsibility, organised beach cleaning by the students on the occasion of ‘World Tourism Day’. All the students and the staff of HIHT-Goa were present at Baina Beach, Vasco. The students worked very hard to get the area cleaned. The main purpose of World Tourism Day is to foster awareness among the international community of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic values.

Poetry recitation held

PANJIM (HND): Goa Konkani Akademi organised a poetry recitation programme based on the poetry of Bakibab Borkar to commemorate his birth centenary year, at Snehamandir, Bandora-Ponda.

Eminent poet Prakash Padgaonkar presided over the programme. Goa Konkani Akademi President N Shivdas, Sridhar Kamat Bambolkar and Suman Samant were present.

Gauraj Talaulikar, Bharat Cuncolienkar, Ramesh Lad, Tejashvi Prabhu, Kiran Mhambre, Neela Telang, Radha Bhave, Suphala Gaitonde, Hanumant Chopdekar, Tanvi Bambolkar and Anvesha Singbal recited poems from 'Paijana' and 'Sasai', the books on poetry collection of late Bakibab Borkar.

Short-story writer Govind Mudras, labour union leader Shivram Ajgankar and officials of the Snehamandir were present for the programme.

N Shivdas welcomed the guests and invitees and garlanded the portrait of Bakibab. A huge portrait of Bakibab painted by Shridhar Kamat was also exhibited in the programme.

Rangoli, décor contests held

Ganesha in Rangoli at Calangute.

Photo by Thomas Fernandes

CALANGUTE (HC): As part of Ganeshotsav celebrations at Calangute, Zambleshwar Yuvak Sangh, Gaura Vaddo-Calangute, organised Rangoli and decor competitions.

The competitions drew a good response in the senior and junior categories. The competition was judged by Sachin Kuttikar, Durgesh Parulekar and Aparna Lingudkar.

Kiran Pirankar and Sohan Kudnekar bagged the top honours in the Rangoli competition for seniors and juniors, while Rajkumar Naik bagged the honours in the decorative competition.

Other prize winners are Kiran Naik (second), Priya Arolkar (third), while Pankaj Shirodkar, Pradeep Korgaonkar and Suchita Parsekar won the consolation prizes in the senior category.

In the junior category, Deepasha Korgaonkar and Divya Pirankar won the second and third place, while Jiya Arolkar and Sairaj Pirankar claimed the consolation prizes.

The decor competition was won by the group led by Rajkumar Naik (Sai Matkar, Pratik Gupta, Alex Fernandes, Philip Fernandes, Kiran Naik and Isabella Fernandes), while Ravi Pirankar and Vithal Tuyemkar/Vijay Parsekar claimed the second and third places. Pankaj Shirodkar and Pradeep Korgaonkar won the consolation prizes. The prizes to the winners were given away by the village elders.

Zambleshwar Yuvak Sangh committee was led by Rajkumar Naik (president), Devanand Matkar (vice president), Vijay Parsekar (secretary), Prashant Matkar (assistant secretary), Dinanath Korgaonkar (treasurer), Abit Matkar (assistant treasurer) and Dyaneshwar Matkar (advisor) in smooth conduct of the competitions.

Archbishop-Patriarch Rev Filipe Neri Ferrao urged upon the seminarians to be imitators of Christ as Blessed Joseph Vaz, the Son of Goa and the patron of our Archdiocese imitated his Master in being all things to all men.

Reminding the future levites of the inspiring advice given by Joseph Vaz to his nephew: “Jesus is the Sun, you be the moon”, he called upon the seminarians to draw inspiration from this meaningful exhortation to radiate the values that Christ proclaimed. The Archbishop was speaking during the homily on the occasion of his annual visit to the Seminary Niwas, Duler-a branch of the minor Seminary of Our Lady, Saligao-Pilerne.

The theme for the liturgy: “Jezu suria amcho, ami porzoll Tacho” was beautifully unfolded through a meaningful liturgy organized by the young seminarians studying here. The cultural program that followed included an instrumental, a choral piece, a tableau on Blessed Joseph Vaz supported by power-point presentation entitled “Jezu ani Goykar Juze”, an action song titled “kaiborelo komblo” and a dance.

The well presented program saw the seminarians showcase their talents for music, acting, singing and dancing. During the program Vice-Principal of St Xavier’s Higher Secondary, Mapusa Yvonne Nunes was felicitated at the hands of the Archbishop.

BSNL’s broadband promotional offer HERALD NEWS BUREAU PANJIM, SEPT 28

Providing further concessions to prospective customers, BSNL has relaunched its broadband promotional offer with a 15day unlimited free download to subscribers registering for broadband connection before November 15.

New customers registering for broadband connections between September 15 and November 15 will also not be charged for installation fees.

The relaunch of promotion scheme allowing '15 days unlimited usage and waiver of installation charges' booking new broadband connections is available in all BSNL circles, as per the official website of BSNL. The BSNL broadband connectivity has a minimum speed of 256 Kbps, while maximum dedicated bandwidth speed offered is as high as 24 Mbps.

HERALD CORRESPONDENT SANGUEM, SEPT 28

Electricity cables at DudhalSanguem which were laid several years ago have now been lowered in the absence of any supporting cables.

The cables from the KalayCosti Junction to Dudhal, which supplies power to Dudhal and Maulinguem, have been lowered completely and there is no supporting cable to the main line.

The cable opposite the Jhalmi Temple at Dudhal almost touches the trees, posing a serious threat to the villagers if the cable snaps by accident.

According to locals, the cables were laid several years ago and the cables supporting the main cables have snapped with the passage of time. The villagers have urged the electricity department to attach supporting cables to the main line to prevent any mishap in the area.

Bandekar to be honoured on 60th b’day HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, SEPT 28

Dr Rajesh Bhatkurse receives the Rajiv Gandhi excellence award at the hands of Dr G V G Krishnamurthy. Others present are O P Saxena, R L Bhatia, Dr Bhishma Narayan Singh and Justice O P Varma.

HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, SEPT 28

Dr Rajesh Bhatkurse, consultant physician from Mapusa was awarded ‘Rajiv Gandhi Young Achiever Excellence Award’ at the hands of retired Chief Election Commissioner of India Dr G V G Krishnamurthy at a function held at New Delhi. The function was organised by International Institute of Education and Management, an NGO which works for the betterment of society through education for all policy.

Dr Bhatkurse was given the prestigious award for his contribution to society on various health issues through various media. The other dignitaries who graced the function included Dr Bhishma Narayan Singh, former union minister

and retired governor of Chennai, Justice O P Varma, former governor of Punjab, R L Bhatia, former union cabinet minister and ex-governor.

Dr Bhatkurse is a leading physician in Mapusa with special interest in diabetes. He was recently awarded Fellowship in Diabetes by CMC Vellore, Tamil Nadu. He has conducted more than 100 diabetic camps all over Goa and strongly believes that imparting health knowledge and awareness to public is far more important than treating a patient. He has also been awarded Rastriya Gaurav Puraskar, Vikas Ratan award, Jeevan Jyot Award, etc. In the past Dr Bhatkurse has been congratulated by various strata of society for his achievements.

Prominent industrialist and philanthropist Vishnu Shankar Bandekar is to be felicitated on attaining the age of 60 at a function to be held on Sunday 3 October at 7 pm at 4-Quatros Gardens at Verna. On the occasion, Bandekar will be honoured by eminent industrialist from Mumbai Ramakant Kadam.

A committee of Bandekar’s wellwishers and friends has been formed, called the ‘Shri Vishnu Bandekar Shashtyabdipurti Satkar Samiti. The committee is headed by eminent industrialist and Vice-Chairperson of the Kala Academy Paresh Joshi. The Satkar Samiti has appealed to all wellwishers of Vishnu Bandekar to attend the function in large numbers.

Tourist rescued from drowning at Calangute HERALD CORRESPONDENT CALANGUTE, SEPT 28

A 35-year-old tourist from Solapur-Maharashtra was rescued from drowning at Calangute by the Drishti Surf Life Team on Sunday.

According to reports, Drishti lifeguards Pradeep Halankar and Dinanath Halankar noticed Ravi Vodnal struggling in the rough sea and brought Vodnal safely to the shore.

Canacona CHC organises blood pressure, hypertension camp HERALD CORRESPONDENT CANACONA, SEPT 28

Seized with an uneasy problem of hypertension among youngsters of Canacona, the Community Health Centre (CHC) Canacona organized a camp on blood pressure/hypertension at S S Angle Higher Secondary, Maxem, on Wednesday.

Dr Ira Almeida, senior Pediatrician from Hospicio Margao, gave a talk to the students of S S Angle on ‘Lifestyle Change’.

Dr Almeida highlighted the diet, less exercise, too much TV, besides fast food/processed food leading to high blood pressure/hypertension, diabetes, etc.

Dr Ravindra Nadkarni, CMO NCDCP at Directorate of Health Services Panjim, was also present and examined about 33 students for blood pressure.

Community Health Centre (CHC) Health Officer Dr V R

uPCOMInG EVEnTs Discourse on guilt

PANJIM (HND): Fr Abraham Painumkal, a Jesuit priest and counsellor, will deliver a discourse on ‘Guilt (Self-Hatred)’ on September 30 at Jesuit House, Panjim at 6 pm. It is open to all and free. Fr Abraham is available for counselling at Jesuit House-Panjim and can be contacted on 9850123667/2223495.

Religious discourse

PANJIM (HND): Param Pujya Sant Shri Asaramji, lovingly called 'Bapu', will hold his first religious discourse (satsang) in Goa on September 30 at Goa Engineering College (GEG) ground in Farmagudi at 3.30 pm. In the morning session Narayan swami will conduct satsang.

Bapuji represents a confluence of bhakti yoga, gyan yoga and karma yoga. There are 200 ashrams working under the guidance of Asaramji Bapu. These ashrams organise spiritual and social activities on a regular basis. Some of these activities include weekly satsang, distribution and sale of ‘Rishi Prasad’ which is the largest circulated spiritual monthly magazine in the world.

The aim of all ashrams and Yoga Vedanta Samitis is to show the path of real peace and happiness to the masses. Their involvement in various activities is targeted towards the spiritual, moral, educational, and health related uplifting of the society.

‘Alakh Niranjan’

PANJIM (HND): The inaugural show of Kala Academy's first ever Sangeet Natak (musical play) 'Alakh Niranjan' specially written by Vishnu Surya Wagh, renowned Goan playwright for production of Rangmel- Repertory Company of Kala Academy, will be held on September 30 at the Dinanath Mangeshkar Kala Mandir, Panjim at 7 pm.

The Sangeet Natak - 'Alakh Niranjan' is based on the 'Nath Sampradaya' and its theme/subject revolves round the plot involving Adinath i.e. Guru Machhindranath who is lured by Queen Mainavati towards worldly pleasures and the timely intervention of Gorakhnath - the disciple of Guru Machhindranath to free his Guru from the clutches of Queen Mainavati and bring him back to the Nath Sampradaya.

The plot is ably scripted and directed by Vishnu Wagh.

Various roles in the play will be enacted by artists namely Dnyaneshwar Parsekar, Jayesh Bagkar, Namrata Naik, Priyanka Naik, Mamata Pednekar, Samiksha Desai, Sanjay Gaonkar, Sameer Gadekar, Krishnaji Gaonkar and Sachin Surlikar.

The programme is open to all, however, some seats will be reserved for Kala Academy.

Senior Citizens’ Day

PANJIM (HND): A legal literacy camp (national plan of action 2010-2011) will be organised on October 1 at Sneha Mandir, Bandora-Ponda at 4.30 pm, to observe Senior Citizens’ Day with a view to spread consciousness about the legal rights and duties of the senior citizens. Advocate Vinayak Deulkar will speak on Mental Health Act, advocate K L Gaonkar will speak on Right of Senior Citizen under Rules 2009 trained by Goa government and advocate Sujata Ranmathkar will speak on spreading awareness of the benefit and entitlement under the Legal Services Authorities Act 1987.

Book discussion

PANJIM (HND): The International Centre Goa (ICG) will be organising the monthly book discussion as part of the recently launched ‘ICG Book Reading Club’. The discussion is scheduled on October 1 at ICG–Dona Paula at 5.30 pm. In this session, views will be shared on Gandhian ideology, particularly on relevance of non-violence in the present age of terrorism and violence.

The books to be discussed are Hind Swaraj (1909), India of My Dreams (1947) and The Story of My Experiments with Truth (1927).

Adventure to Dandeli forests

PANJIM (HND): Wildtrek Adventures moves across the borders of Goa to the neighbouring Dandeli forests to explore the wildlife and beauty of that place. Backwater island visits in a speedboat, crocodile sightings, breathtaking views, bamboo rafting, campfires, bird watching and delicious west coast meals are packed in the itinerary. We leave on October 2 and arrive back on October 3 evening. For booking and details contact Dr Prithvi on 9822123458 or Savio on 9822155805.

Fado evening at Cidade

Dr Ravindra Nadkarni, CMO, checks blood pressure of a student at Maxem-Canacona.

Photo by Kathy Pereira

Murlidharan, S S Angle Secondary Principal Hemant Kamat and lecturer Anant Agni were present for the camp.

Extension Educator Umesh Kholkar, PHN Evera Dias, MPHW (F) Ashwini Naik, MPHW (M) Rajesh Naik from CHC Canacona assisted in the programme.

It may be recalled that on August 15, DHS in association with IMA doctors launched ‘Early detection and management of chronic kidney disease camp’ initially taking about

Coastal clean-up undertaken

PANJIM (HND): The Indian Coast Guard-Goa Area organised the International Coastal Cleanup Day in the State. The main event was held at Miramar beach, in addition to the other important beaches of Goa. At Miramar, the Director of General Police B S Bassi inaugurated the event and complimented the Coast Guard for conducting such an event to spread awareness among the people about the importance of keeping the beaches and environment clean. He congratulated all the participants for their wholehearted effort in the cause.

DIG NV Narashima, the Commander Coast Guard Goa Area thanked all the participating agencies and volunteers for coming together for the cause. He said that on this day, beaches around the world are cleaned voluntarily, to bring awareness among the general populace about the importance of keeping the beaches clean.

Coast Guard, Army, Navy, NCC, police, school children, village panchayat and hotels joined hands for the noble cause and cleaned the beaches around the state by picking up garbage littered around.

Loose power cables poses threat at Sanguem

200 students of S S Angle Higher Secondary, MaxemLoliem.

Subsequently, the second level investigations for urea, creatinine, cholesterol, HB, blood sugar and ultrasound, urine tests and personal examinations were conducted on September 3.

This gave suspicion that not everything is okay, as there were reports of hypertension incidents among young students, which ultimately lead to kidney diseases.

Dr Vaga’s death condoled HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, SEPT 28

Volunteers of Cidade de Goa and the Coast Guard (Goa) with the garbage collected after the coastal clean up drive undertaken at Vainguinim Beach.

The Tuberculosis Association of Goa has condoled the death of Dr Ananta Camotim Vaga, founder president of the association, who died at the age of 95 years on May 7.

At an executive committee meeting held, which was presided by Chairperson Dr Rajnanda Dessai, the secretary Dr Damodar Bhounsule, while paying glowing tributes to the memory of late Dr A C Vaga, referred in brief his great contribution to the public health services for nearly 28 years, occupying various government posts.

PANJIM (HND): Cidade de Goa will hold a special traditional live Fado evening at ‘Alfama’, its award winning fine dining restaurant on October 5 from 8 pm onwards.

Fado evening pays tribute to the music of Portugal, with songs filled with passion, sorrow, jealousy, grief and satire.

Well-known Fado singers specially invited for the evening are Sonia Shirsat, Miguel Cotta, Chantalle Cotta Viegas and Danica da Silva Pereira. Musicians accompanying them will be Franz Schubert Cotta-Portuguese Guitar (Guitarra Portuguese) and Carlos Meneses-Guitar (Viola).

A varied menu, consisting of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes will be laid out to satisfy the taste buds of the guests.

Call now to book the table at Rs 650 plus taxes per person including a glass of cheer. For more details please contact 2454545.

POWER sHuTdOWn SEPTEMBER 29 CURTORIM: From 8 am to 3 pm. Areas affected are VP Curtorim, VP Macazana, VP Raia (Colleandongor, St Xavier, Backhbhat, Uddo).

ALDONA: From 9 am to 3 pm. Areas affected are Lakdem, Patin, Carona Naikawaddo, Gawar hospital, Khorjuem and surrounding areas.

PEDDEM: From 9 am to 5 pm. Areas affected are Peddem, Gausawaddo, Bilwan and surrounding areas.

SIOLIM: From 9.30 am to 4 pm. Areas affected are Oxel, Madhlabhat, Gudem, Dhando, Vagali, Tarachi Bhat, Partawada, Bamanwada, Waddi Siolim and surrounding areas.

OCTOBER 1 PERNEM: From 9 am to 2 pm. Areas affected are Pernem Municipal Council area.

BATIM: From 9 am to 2 pm. Areas affected are Goa-Velha, Batim, Curca, Santan, Moula-Batim, part of Pilar and surrounding areas.

WEATHER REPORT Max Temp: 31.60C Min Temp: 22.20C Humidity: 85% Rainfall past 24 hrs: 15.4 mm Seasonal Total: 3383.3 mm Forecast: Few spells of rain or thunder showers would occur.

OHERALDO

GOA

Pg 5

GOA, WEDNESDAY, 29 SEPTEMBER, 2010

Transport dept plans to net Rs 200 cr revenue through computerisation!

HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, SEPT 28

Transport Department intends to net a whopping Rs 200 crore revenue during this financial year by investing just Rs 10-12 crore in various departmental upgradations, Transport Minister Ramakrishna Dhavalikar said on Tuesday.

Talking to Herald Dhavalikar said that revenue earning steps would be scaled to ensure that there is discipline on the road, smooth public transport system

and also revenue to the tune of Rs 200 crore can be gathered through these measures.

“During my tenure, the revenue collection has gone up from Rs 85 crore to Rs 130 crore and with new measures we expect to hike it further,” Dhavalikar said.

The minister said that the department has already initiated steps to upgrade itself. In the first phase, head office at Junta House in Panjim will be fully computerised.

“The department has recently introduced software Vahan and Sarathi, which is expected to reduce the interface between people and the officials,” he said.

State government run Goa Electronic Limited (GEL) is managing this software which is designed and licensed to National Informatic Centre (NIC).

Dhavalikar said that with the help of this software, the process of buying a new car which includes payment, re-

ceipts and also the registration number can also be freely done at the dealers place itself.

Interestingly, the software will also plug the revenue leakages for the department, which is one amongst the highest revenue earner for the State government.

“The system will keep a check on the arrears. If some tax is due, it will pop out informing the department about it. It can also generate demand notices automatically,” he said.

Karwar bus operators allege harassment by Goa counterparts

Halt operations of KTC buses, prevent entry of private operators HERALD CORRESPONDENT POINGUINIM, SEPT 28

Tensions between bus operators from Karwar and Goa came to the fore when three KTC buses were recently prevented from proceeding towards Goa from the bus stand at Karwar for nearly seven hours.

A KTC official rushed to Karwar and diffused the tension to allow KTC buses to resume the trips, but private passenger buses from Goa were not allowed to enter the Karwar bus stand.

Activists of various Kannada organisations on Friday had staged a dharna at the bus stand at Karwar, protesting against alleged assault on North West Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (NWKSRTC) drivers and conductors by private bus operators in Goa. The agitators prevented three KTC buses from proceeding to their respective destinations from 11.30 am till 6.30 pm.

According to reports, the governments of Karnataka and Goa have an understanding to operate inter-state buses between the two States.

The NWKSRTC bus drivers had complained that they were being allegedly harassed by their counterparts in Goa. They had also claimed that

NWKSRTC buses were prevented from entering bus stations in Goa by the KTC. On learning that the KTC buses were prevented from entering the bus stand at Karwar, KTC Deputy General Manager Pramod Gaonkar and a team rushed to Karwar and met with agitators at Karwar bus stand.

While accepting their demand to permit Karnataka buses to be parked in bus stands in Goa, Gaonkar also agreed to allow a KSRTC controller to function at each bus stand.

Gaonkar also assured that the interests of the KSRTC conductors and drivers would be honoured.

Following these assurances, the agitators permitted the Kadamba buses to ply to their respective destinations at 6.30 pm.

Speaking to Herald, Gaonkar said: “NWKSRTC conductors and drivers operating along the Goa route were beaten on regular occasions by private bus operators of Goa.” “One of the bus drivers of NWKSRTC provided the name of one person, where a driver

more goa news on pg 9

of NWKSRTC was assaulted at Poinguinim on Thursday.”

“The incident was not tolerated by the NWKSRTC staff and on Friday morning, they had a meeting with their association and decided to stop all KTC and private buses of Goa to enter the Karwar bus

stand.”

However, due to Gaonkar’s intervention with the Karnataka counterparts, the tension was diffused and KTC buses were allowed to resume trips, but private passenger buses from Goa were not allowed to enter the Karwar bus stand.

Minister said that the entire computerisation system will be controlled by a system annalistic and network engineer, who will be appointed shortly.

The department, with the help of Goa Broadband Network has started online learning licence test.

Apart from this, the department will be also introducing Revenue Generation System (RGS), to control the revenue leakage.

“Currently, the revenue is collected through additional director of transport (ADT). Under

RGS, this authority will go to the director of transport and deputy director to administration (DDA),” Dhavalikar said.

The ministry will create a new post of DDA to meet up the requirement.

In order to have a check on over loaded mining trucks and buses, the department will be appointing 15 more motor vehicle inspectors, who will be assisted by transport guards.

Two new enforcement offices in both the district will be formed to ensure that there is

discipline on the road and mining trucks do not over speed or overload.

The minister said that target of next two years have been set to complete all the plans.

OHERALDO

OPINION

Pg8

www.oheraldo.in

O HERALD O

No thank you, Mr Politician

Vol No CX No: 245 Goa, Wednesday 29 September, 2010

T

Selective amnesia

he Navy’s Public Relations Officer (PRO) for the Goa Area, Commander M C Joshi, has assured the people who have raised concerns over the acquisition of Pequeno and Grande Islands that they “need not worry”, since the acquisition of the islands is “merely for security purposes”. People’s apprehensions about access to the shrines located on Grande Island, and boat owners’ and water sports operators’ fears that they will not be allowed to take tourists for islands trips, says Cdr Joshi, can be allayed by incorporating these points, “after discussion with the state government”, in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Navy.

However, when Cdr Joshi is reminded of a similar agreement inked in 1987, when the state government handed over Anjediva Island, near Karwar, to the Navy, which agreed that pilgrims would be allowed to visit the island on two feast days each year – of the Church of Our Lady of Springs in February and the Chapel of St Francis d’Assisi in October – an agreement that was blatantly flouted by the Navy, which has unilaterally stopped pilgrims from visiting the Anjediva Island since 2005, he claims he is “not aware of the facts about Anjediva Island”. Still, he insists, the acquisition of the islands of St George “won’t harm interests of the people”.

Offering facetious explanations and displaying selective amnesia is not going to convince people. On the contrary, it will only make them more suspicious of the Navy’s real intentions, especially when it resorts to disingenuous claims that the islands can be a “safe haven” for terrorists, but that the hundreds of buildings close to the runway at Alto-Dabolim cannot, or that the proposed fishing harbour at Katem-Baina – which will be closer to the Navy area than any of the islands – will pose no “security threat” to the airport.

Why is the Navy talking big about keeping “security personnel” or erecting “naval battery, guns and other armaments” on the islands? See its record in this matter. One of the three islands has been in the Navy’s possession for decades. First, it posted two unarmed watchmen on the island. Then they too were withdrawn. Even after the 26/11 Mumbai attack, the island remains unmanned. So much for so-called “security” considerations! If it has not considered it necessary, even after 26/11, to secure its own island – neither repairing the broken jetty there nor posting armed personnel – then any claims about “threat perceptions” emanating from the other two islands are just hollow talk.

The people of Goa have spoken up against any acquisition of the islands. So have some leaders. But the deafening silence from Goa’s ministers, chief minister and leader of the opposition is ominous, to say the least. Are we going to become victims of another casino caper? It is our sincere hope that there is no move within the government to sign away the islands, with the blessing of the opposition…

Deceive & deprive

T

he Forest Department’s messianic drive to deprive Goa’s forest dwellers of their rights under the law continues. It now wants to declare part of the Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary as a ‘Critical Wildlife Habitat’ (CWH).

Thankfully, villagers are planning to oppose the move at the public hearing to be held on Thursday.

Union Minister of Tribal Affairs Kanti Lal Bhuria has already announced in Parliament that implementation of the ‘Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act is ‘nil’ in Goa. Yet, the Forest Dept wants to deceive people into believing that the CWH proposal is a part of implementation of the Forests Rights Act. They should not think that the people are such fools.

Oppose Navy’s land grab Dr Jawaharlal Henriques, Siolim I am grateful to you for highlighting Navy’s ambitious plans to secure the island of Sao Jorge and the pristine white sand beach called Bimbvell.

Our popular Rajya Sabha MP Shantaram Naik has made a very strong case for the Indian Navy to keep its hands off the island and the beach. I earnestly hope Jose Philip D’Souza, Mauvin Godinho and Milind Naik will join hands with our Rajya Sabha MP and Sigmund de Souza who initiated this battle along with Matanhy Saldanha.

My family has made a lot of sacrifice in national interest, giving away prime land for the airport, Navy and Goa shipyard. Recently, when I wanted to visit my ancestral property at Bimbvell, I was prevented to do so by Naval authorities.

Police should assist in preventing ha-

100 Years Ago

PRIMEIRO DIARIO NAS COLONIAS PORTUGEZAS

29 September 1910 Farewell ball

The High Society of Shimla is going to hold a high level Farewell Ball in honour of the departing Vice Roy of India.

Tremors rock Kalyan

In the wee hours of the night of 21st were felt slight tremors which lasted for about 5 seconds at Kalyan which is about 34 miles from the city of Bombay.

Gambling dens raided

The Belgian Police undertook a series of raids on the gambling dens in the city of Oostende arresting quite a number of those involved in those nefarious activities.

Trading stations

Two agricultural trading stations are going to be established in the Military Command of Sanguem and Satari.

S

local politics is mirrored on religiosity, communalism and chauvinism says FReDeRicK NoRoNHA

o what, then, is the job of a politician? Moving around Goa in the past fortnight, one would have thought that it was to with the citizen on the occasion of a festival. Or, two festivals if you like, as both Ganesh Chaturthi and Eid showed up around the same time this year.

To be fair, our political class is even handed in playing out this needless role. Come Christmas, and we can expect cloth banners once again. Do we march to the ballot boxes to elect politicians to do such a job? In any case, what is their credibility? What is their role in making use of religion to further their own nefarious roles — whether that’s to win at the hustings, to divide and rule, or to gain from a spurt in communalism?

But this is more serious a matter than just a few greeting banners strewing our roadsides. It is a reflection on how the tone and tenor of local politics has got shifted drastically towards one based on religiosity, communalism, and, in other ways, even regional chauvinism. We need to focus on issues of growth, of justice to all sections of the population, of the need for a leg up to the disadvantaged, and of building the potential of the citizen.

This is not an entirely new trend in Goa. We’ve lived with it from the 1960s; before that, three decades earlier were dominated by some form of Salazar dictatorship. In other words, the citizen here has been short changed for much of the past century.

MGP-UGP politics was nothing but this, even if we got polarised in those times. While the rest of India focused largely on matters of ideology, Goa was caught up early in religious divides, the politics of fear, and the religion-in-danger perspectives that have today engulfed larger areas of the country.

By the 1980s, Goa’s politics took a turn for the different. If the rise of the Congress meant an undeniable fuelling of corruption and genuflecting to Delhi, it also brought in a somewhat improvement in the discourse. No longer were you judged by your community and caste. Just when things seemed to be changing for the better, the 1994 elections, Ayodhya politics and all that, changed things. Once again religion, identity, and the politics of division came to the fore.

When will we see the end to this?

It is not merely a question of ideology and the external shape of politics. This is something that affects the very core of the discourse that dom-

Devil’s ADvocAte inates our life, and our priorities. While citizens were busy falling prey to the games of the politician, the rules of the game have itself been rewritten.

If you have communal strife at Curchorem, the goal is not to restore peace and work out some form of justice, but rather to calculate possible advantage in electoral terms. Efficiency in governance is hardly any concern; all that matter is to pack in “crucial” departments with supporters from a constituency, a community or even some caste.

Any issue can get polarised in today’s Goa, whether it is an issue about corruption, to a debate over an airport, debates over migration, vegetable vendors or garbage yards and even beef imports into Goa! Monte Dongor and the religion of its inhabitants becomes an issue only depending on which party their votes goes to!

Romi Konkani, the Konkani tiatr, or equal opportunity for all to access government jobs becomes an issue only when some top politicians decide to score points, and pander to different interest groups. Not because these might be deserving causes in themselves.

Sneaking conservatism, corporatisation, and elite domination is gaining a new lease of life in Goa. The goal of a more justice and fair society is all but forgotten. Our heroes in this new age

Kooking the Mana!

Goan abroad!

P

ing! So, like I’m having this steamy net chat with this flaming vixen from Japan (probably some fake fat dude from Bangladesh), when a log-me alert pings on my monitor. I click the icon – surprise!

My parrot Cocky aka <kooka2> has logged on to the Goacom chat room from my study computer, and is driving some Goan female insane: kooka2: hellooo auntie! goenchimana: wtf? who u calling auntie? kooka2: ooops, my bad. i thought u were a goan. goenchimana: #@!*! u call all goan females auntie?? kooka2: unless ur a ghantie?! goenchimana: that must be ur father. kooka2: or ur mother! goenchimana: u shld wash ur mouth. with ratol. kooka2: didn’t ur sister suicide with that? goenchimana: are u always this rude online?? kooka2: it cudn’t be! goenchimana: u calling me a... kunbi?!? kooka2: no, no, ur clothes were screaming at me.

rassment of land owners like me, traditional fishermen who number about three hundred, and persons who wish to go there on a picnic.

Politics behind verdict Shaikh Zemir, Margao The countdown to the Babri Masjid case is going on in the Allahbad High Court.

The Supreme Court has cleared the way for the HC to deliver the verdict on 30 Sept.

The Congress Goverment at the centre is playing with the verdict for personal gain. This is just an eye wash to divert our minds. Indians know of the political gambles but the poor, the downtrodden and marginalised section of society is unable to grasp the situation. They are taken for a ride and emotionally blackmailed to vote for their party in elections.

Seventeen years have already passed and after knowing the culprits of the demolition, the Indian courts are unable to nail them. This trend of hearing and adjournment will go on and on, unless a non corrupt and anti fascist regime comes into power in India. We have to work in that direction and hope that we are free from the bondage of corruption, casteism and discrimination.

Atala’s vanishing trick Dr Francisco Colaco, Margao The disappearance of the drug lord Atala can be traced to a series of gaffes. First, the decision of the NDPS Court at Mapusa to grant bail to a suspected hardened criminal was, in retrospect, a faux pas. Bail being what it is, — with a little collusion from a subservient police eager to look after the interests of their political bosses— the inevitable has happened. Many foreigners have easily fled the country after being released on bail. Loopholes are rife and our borders are porous. It is reliably reported that Atala is in his home town in Israel and extradition is a distant dream.

Ravi Naik’s bravado that he is serious about drug menace is vanishing into thin air. He is known to have taken tough decisions during his tenure as CM. But when it comes to the drug scene, strong action is

are the conservative Tilak. Or a Shivaji whose role in history had a completely different meaning for the resident of Goa centuries ago, from what it had for, say, Maharashtra. Even while celebrating a great man like Kosambi, his accidental caste connections seem to get more celebrated than his noble and far sighted ideas. (Elsewhere too, the situation is bad. Even the ‘development’ debate can be hijacked by a Narendra Modi, who goes about corporatising his State along with his dubious record of presiding over human rights atrocities of the worst kind.)

In the meanwhile, the citizen is being taken for a ride. Politicians, regardless of party or whether they are in the ruling or Opposition are unwilling to take up issues that matter. The agenda gets mauled, manipulated and distorted. Not just that, if someone else takes up the issue of environmental concerns liked to mining, he could get dubbed a Naxalite. Casinos get debated once in a blue moon, in fits and starts. Babush Monserrate, Mickky Pacheco, Ravi Naik and Churchill Alemao are perfectly good politicians if they support the right side of power. Which political dispensation in today’s Goa has not sought their backing?

Hold on a minute: one was thought that legislators were elected to legislate. But do we have the people friendly laws we need? As someone

put it the other day, so many of our laws are such, that it becomes impossible for the small man to go about his life lawfully. On the other hand, anyone who is a big time violator can easily work his way through.

We citizens are to blame too. The politician’s job has been accepted as “kaam korpak“ (to do our jobs), offer employment in government to the select few, and act as our godfathers with their ‘verbal permissions’ when some villager wants to extend his modest dwelling in a situation which the local laws make it impossible to work within! Can we get better? Do our politicians really represent “the people”?

Our Westminster patterned system gives a big chance for the politician to intervene in the functioning of the bureaucracy. The assumption is that, being close to the grassroots, the politician could act as a buffer to ensure that officialdom is responsive. But, today, making use of this, our politician has become a freelance businessman, in the worst sense of the word. He feathers his own nest, and is not concerned one bit about any conflict that his private business has with the wider task of governing the state. Worse still, as politicians get their sons, wives and daughters and nieces into the game, this has indeed been converted into a family business.

“Blood transfusions” between political parties have made one set of politicians quite indistinguishable from the other. In such a context, even a couple of fringe newspapers linked to extreme ideologies of hate and politicisation can set the agenda for the entire State. Instead of being watchdogs for the people, our politicians have become expert businessmen in the world of votes, budgets, undue favours, and spreading largesse.

Civil society, which could have possibly played some watchdog role, is sought to be taken over.

It is either through subsidies and incorporation or by an embrace-and-extend policy where politicians and their lackeys themselves set about their own pseudo-organisations.

As long as we get conned by the politics of division, can we expect anything better? Let’s not forget that our political parties, — especially those that matter — are largely unaccountable and undemocratic too. It is time we reminded them that the voter can’t be dismissed with the lollypops of greetings for festivals.

[Contact the writer fn@goa-india.org]

goenchimana: whaaaat? kooka2: yup, ur looking, uh.... gaudy! goenchimana: u little dukhor! kooka2: as alfred rose sang: “im ur dukhor, ur my suckhor!” goenchimana: hey dukhor – shouldn’t that be spelt with an ‘f ’?? kooka2: yeah, with an ‘f ’… like u, as in ur sooo... faaat! goenchimana: actually im on a diet. kooka2: no more rotis, no more parathas, moti mama? goenchimana: actually, im gonna omit the ghee from my diet... kooka2: why not omit the ‘t’ from ur diet... and just... die! goenchimana: i am! dying... of shame, reading ur crap!! kooka2: im the new york moira society champion of scrabble! goenchimana: hahaha moidecars, lol! can u even spell b-a-n-a-n-a?? kooka2: we don’t spell bananas, we eat them! goenchimana: ok, tell me, would ‘ghantis’ be accepted in scrabble? kooka2: of course not!! ghantis are never accepted anywhere! goenchimana: aaaargh! can’t u be serious just for once?? kooka2: ok, ok, ask me another one! goenchimana: am i allowed to use, uh, diaper in scrabble? kooka2: why can’t u #@!*!ing use the loo like everybody else?

Rahul, can you help?

Gustavo Stephen Godinho, Verna

We have read numerous reports of the police and politicians who are involved with drug peddlers. This has to end but, till today, nothing is being done. It appears that the law makers and law protectors are trying to protect some people. Police bend a lot of rules to suit themselves, much to everyone’s chagrin.

I am, however, surprised that there is no action forthcoming from Rahul Gandhi even after being briefed about the case by Sunil Kawthankar. This is a very serious issue as far as Goa and its youth are concerned. If Rahul does not give this matter serious attention, then who is going to save us from this corrupt system? Something has to be done for Goa. Our government is spineless and has no guts to solve matters.

The people of Goa are tired of this mess. Please help.

Church and politics M Sousa, Mapusa The Colva parish priest Fr Diago Fernandes was seen at a Congress meeting at Benaulim presumably to support the candidature of Francis Sequeira. The Catholic Church firmly teaches that she never wishes to enter into politics but only to influence its policies for the good of humanity. Fr Diago seems to like politics more than the Church as he is often seen in the company of politicians.

Already, we had enough of politics in Colva involving its parishioners. Being diabolic in nature, it appears that Fr Diago wants fissures in the Church.

The Archbishop must take firm action against all priests who want to politicise religion. If Fr Diago or any other priest likes politics so much, then they must leave the Church and enter politics.

What a blunder!

Vincent Rego, Dubai It was disgusting to read that drug lord Yaniv Benaim alias Atala has flown the coop and is hiding in his home town in Israel.

Over here, the Goa police are fooling people

goenchimana: sheesh! ok, im gonna tell u a little secret... kooka2: i knew it! ur gay aren’t u??! goenchimana: no... its jst... we’re really from... delhi... kooka2: i knew it! right at the start i said it... ur a... ghanti! goenchimana: and what exactly are u, mr kooka2... a kook? kooka2: no, that’s... cockatoo! im a true goan... parrot! goenchimana: ur a... parrot?? what kinda goan is that? kooka2: im a tru goencar, a... niz goan! goenchimana: not the other way around? kooka2: whaddya mean?? goenchimana: ...goan-niz...?? a... goanese! kooka2: shuddup! my turn... the secret of a looooong life... goenchimana: tell me... kooka2: don’t waste it! goenchimana: on?? kooka2: chatting with dukhors like u!!!

The popat always knows. (do not forward this exchange!:-) [If you just arrived: Langoti ‘Long’ John Silva is a globe-trotting Goencar, always accompanied by his wise-cracking parrot Cocky]

Letters to the Editor

Letter of the Day

lacking. A courageous decision by him would dispel a lot of fears. The problem of drugs in the State rages like the worst type of cancer that threatens to maim and decimate thousands of youngsters. Urgent measures are called for.

By Francis Rodrigues

with false red alert security.

Can anyone tell me how and on what passport Atala managed to flee India and through which airport? It is as simple as this. A person who is on bail has to surrender his or her passport to the police.

Over here, one cannot understand as to what’s going on.

This is a complete mockery of law. The Home Minister has hijacked the Home dept. so that it can be run as per his whims and fancies. Where is the law here?

The police-politician-drug cartel nexus has assumed dangerous ramifications. Here are families and their loved ones on a knife’s edge. Family values have been destroyed forever. No one will prosper in life through drugs, although drug peddlers may do so monetarily.

Keep CWG spirit alive S Kamat, Alto Betim There is nothing defensible about the work done for the Commonwealth Games 2010.

Most of the work done missed the schedule.

The fact that India mismanaged the forthcoming event is on everyone’s lips. The shoddy preparation work has been severely denounced. Amidst all this, there is a silver lining. There have been kind words in between, from some delegates, athletes and countries.

The press from the UK and Australia, the countries with the largest athlete delegations and to some extent New Zealand,

have showered their wrath on India. If one remembers, the recently held Youth Olympics in Singapore was confronted with similar problems. So, in keeping the spirit alive of the Commonwealth Games, each delegation should try and make the Games a success. Every one knows that India goofed up. Criticising our country will only serve to dampen that spirit.

Valpoi by election Carlos Fernandes, by email The election to the Valpoi constituency for the Goa Assembly has been caused due to the resignation of the Health Minister as he was elected as an independent candidate.

He now wants to join the Ruling Congress party, for his personal benefit.

In this case, who is to bear the cost of the election? It comes from the taxes of the citizens. Why should the tax payer’s money be utilised for such an election?

These MLAs should be debarred from contesting for a period of at least five years thus preventing them from resigning and contesting again at the tax payers cost.

This is a mockery of democracy.

False complaint Nigel Costa Frias, Dona Paula This is with reference to the news report ‘Complaint against HC lawyer for abuse’ (Herald, 26 Sept) regarding a complaint of alleged verbal abuse filed against me by a junior lawyer. This junior lawyer [name withheld], ever since my wife and I filed a civil suit against her sister and brother-inlaw, has been harassing me in the High Court, using foul and indecent gestures, particularly in the corridors, whenever I used to pass her. I filed a complaint against her with the Registrar of the High Court on 20 September, as also to the High Court Bar Association. After that she filed the complaint of verbal abuse against me, which is absolutely false and defamatory.

Letters should be 150 words or less in length, and should have the writer’s name, address and telephone number. The editor reserves the right to edit letters for size and readability, and to delete any personal attacks or libellous /objectionable matter.

Paths of Wisdom

Stone and the Flower

“You have hardened”, said the flower, bending her petals downward toward the half stone at her roots. “These rains should have softened you, made you more fertile and receptive to the seeds of the fields; but no. You have accumulated minerals and have become more silent and full of calcium. Why do you stay here? Why do you resist the brook that gives us water?”The stone said nothing.

A number of clouds passed by, the sun set and the night arrived with an immense bronze coloured freckled moon with acne scars upon her worn face and in this manner reflected down upon the silent stone which still had not fallen asleep. The flower, by now, had tucked in her petals and slept profoundly, and at this time the stone began to answer: “I stay here because your roots have made me yours. I stay here because it is no longer about my feeling the earth rather because I have become part of that which functions as a support of your stem which resists the wind and the rain. Everything changes, my sweet flower”, said the stone, “but I stay here because love is that microscopic space between your feet and my salted skin.

You would only be able to feel it if destiny were ever to separate the two of us.”

The moon followed the fade of the stars. Dawn gave a yawn as the sun began to burn its horizon on the lower lip of the mouth of a new day. The flower awoke and extended her beautiful petals. “Good morning”, she said, “I dreamt that you were singing to me.

How foolish of me, don’t you think?”

The stone said nothing.

(Source : Spiritual short stories)

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. junioryouth@herald-goa.com — Junior Herald & 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

Pg 9

GOA

GOA, WEDNESDAY, 29 SEPTEMBER, 2010

Students caught up in row between headmaster, mgmt HERALD CORRESPONDENT MAYEM, SEPT 28

The academic year of about 165 students at Raoji Rane High School, Maulingem-Bicholim, is in jeopardy due to a dispute between the headmaster and the school management.

According to sources, the tension has reached such an extent that the school management has allegedly locked the headmaster’s room on two occasions.

To make matters worse, students face a lot of inconvenience, as the school lacks basic amenities.

The school PTA and the Maulingem sarpanch have now demanded that the school be handed over to the government to save the academic year of the students.

It may be recalled that Raoji Rane High School Maulingem has been facing problems due to a dispute between management and the headmaster.

This compelled the education

department to appoint an administrator on June 16, 2009, to tackle the matter to some extent.

Accordingly, an official was appointed to run the affairs of the school, but after one year, the management asked the education department to hand

raoji rane high school over the charge to them.

The education department agreed to the demand, provided the management fulfilled some conditions.

However, when the issue was about to be solved, the management locked the headmaster’s room.

Irked with development, the headmaster lodged a complaint with the education department and the lock was removed in the presence of the administrator.

Mapusa youth arrested for Calangute thefts HERALD CORRESPONDENT CALANGUTE, SEPT 28

Calangute Police arrested a youth from Morod-Mapusa in connection with thefts at residential places in Calangute.

According to Calangute PSI Gaurish Parab, accused Samiullah Rafiq Katchi was wanted by the Calangute Police in connection with the theft of Rs 85,000 from a residential flat of Duncan Viegas, Gaura Vaddo-Calangute.

In his complaint, Viegas had named the accused as suspect in theft of Rs 85,000 from his flat, while Calangute Police was on look out for him.

PSI Parab further informed that Matunga (Mumbai) Police arrested Samiullah Rafiq Katchi as a suspect under Section 41 of IPC on September 24, where he confessed to crimes under Calangute Police jurisdiction.

Accordingly, Matunga Police informed their Calangute counterpart and a team led by PSI Parab and Yash Raj Kalangutkar proceeded to Mumbai to take possession of the accused.

The accused was brought to Calangute Police station on September 25 and was remanded to three days police custody. On expiry of the three-day period, Calangute Police sought further custody of the accused by three days, which was granted by the JMFC.

However, the issue got aggravated when the management once again locked headmaster’s room and the room remains locked till date.

In his complaint to the education department, PTA President Vishnu Gaonkar stated that the school building is in a dilapidated condition, due to which classes are conducted in the panchayat office.

“Besides, there is no library, computer room, staff room, laboratory and other basic amenities for the school, which has led to indiscipline among the school constituents,” stated Gaonkar.

“The school has only nine teachers to teach 165 students,” added Gaonkar and demanded to provide basic amenities to the school at the earliest.

Maulingem Sarpanch Siva Goankar has also demanded that the school be handed over to the government as the private management is incapable of running it.

Mahila Cong President Prabha Thakur arrives in State

BY HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, SEPT 28

Calangute PSI Gaurish Parab along with the accused at Calangute Police station.

Photo by Thomas Fernandes

While in Calangute Police custody, the accused confessed of his involvement in the theft of Rs 85,000 from the flat of Viegas.

Katchi also confessed to the theft of mobile phone, worth Rs 17,000, including cash of Rs 1,500 from the flat of Jatin Sahani at Candolim on August 26.

The accused also confessed that the entire amount of Rs 85,000 was spent by him on purchases like clothes, shoes, etc, which have been attached by Calangute Police. PSI Gaurish Parab is investigating the case.

Phatarpekar elected dy sarpanch of Salvador do Mundo p’yat HERALD CORRESPONDENT PORVORIM, SEPT 28

Prasad V Phatarpekar was on Tuesday elected unopposed deputy sarpanch of Salvador do Mundo Panchayat.

It may be recalled that the post had fallen vacant after former deputy sarpanch Rajendra Salgaonkar resigned in July.

The Block Development Officer Mapusa convened a special meeting to elect the new deputy sarpanch on September 28.

Out of the nine panchas, six Panchas Prasad Phatarpekar, Govind Nagvekar, Krisnakant Chodankar, Gautami Sawant, Rajendra Salgaonkar and Veronica Albuquerque attended the meeting, while Sandeep Salgaonkar, Namrata Chodankar and Bhagvant Naik remained absent.

President of All India Mahila Congress, MP Dr Prabha Thakur arrived in Goa on Tuesday.

She was received at the airport this evening by Goa Pradesh Mahila Congress chief Monica Dias, block presidents and members.

Dr Thakur will be attending the meeting of Goa Pradesh Mahila Congress on Wednesday and later will interact with members of the Mahila Congress on various issues concerning the Mahila organization in the state.

The meeting will be held at Damodar Vidhya Bhuvan, Comba, Margao at 3. 30 pm.

The function will also be attended by Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, Asha Kamat, GPCC President Subhash Shirodkar, MLA of St Cruz Constituency Victoria Fernandes, member of P.C.C and ex-president of Mahila Congress, Dr Pramod Salgaonkar, Chairperson of Women Commission, Ezilda Sapeco, ex-president of Goa Pradesh Mahila Congress, Inez Cotta Carvalho, ex-president of Goa Pradesh Mahila Congress, Madeline Pereira, Chairperson of Social Welfare Board, Manisha Naik and other dignitaries.

The President of Goa Pradesh Mahila Congress, Monica Dias has appealed to all members of Mahila Congress to attend the function in large numbers and to make it a grand success.

Police boats idle during monsoons HERALD CORRESPONDENT MUMBAI, SEPT 28

The speedboats supplied to coastal police forces are unequal to the fury of the monsoon, the Mumbai Coastal Police has reported. Coastal patrolling in Mumbai, suspended throughout the monsoon, resumed two days after Ganpati visarjan, but the speedboat ‘Koyna’, which ventured into the sea, had to return on account of rough weather.

This monsoon was the first since the police acquired their high-tech speedboats, but they were unable to withstand the rains. This crippled the police coastal patrolling operations and the speedboats lay idle in the monsoon.

Mumbai Police had given their feedback to the speedboat manufacturers, Goa Shipyard, and asked that the vessels yet to come be suitably improved to operate along the city’s coastline. The new boats, it is learnt, can withstand stronger currents. Part of the problem, say police, is that the boat drivers are local fishermen, who are not qualified to handle speedboats in bad weather, and refuse to take the risk of venturing into the sea when it is rough.

High Command will stake claim for Porvorim constituency: NCP HERALD CORRESPONDENT PORVORIM, SEPT 28

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Vice President Venkatesh Prabhu Moni on Tuesday exuded confidence that the party High Command would stake its claim to the newly formed Porvorim constituency.

Moni was speaking during the inauguration of NCP office at Socorro.

Moni said NCP has taken up a lot of social issues of the public and will continue to solve their grievances.

“The office has been opened at Socorro to help the people to approach us with their grievances and air their problems,” said Moni.

He expressed confidence that the High Command will stake its claim to the Porvorim constituency based on the work done by the party and the response and support their party is getting from the public.

Earlier, Minister for Revenue and Nationalist Congress Party

Frankfinn launches four new courses

BY HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, SEPT 28

In keeping with the industry requirements, Frankfinn Institute of Air Hostess Training has launched four new scientifically designed short term part time course for graduates and 12th class pass students.

Frankfinn is also introducing an abridged nine month Frankfinn certificate course in aviation, hospitality and travel management costing less than Rs one lakh.

There are two course on offer for graduates or those in the final year of graduation – Frankfinn Certificate course in Airport Ground Service (3 months) and Frankfinn Certificate course in Aviation & Hospitality Services (4 months), to prepare students for aviation and hospitality industries.

For 12th pass students, Frankfinn is offering 6 months intensive Frankfinn Certificate course in Hospitality,

Travel and Customer Service.

The full fledged 1 year UK’s Edexcel certified course BTEC HNC in Aviation, Hospitality & Travel Management will continue to be available for students with a minimum qualification of 12th class.

Says Vidhaya D’Silva, Centre Head - Goa, Frankfinn Institute of Airhostess: “The quality training that we provide has enabled us to become the world’s No.1 Air Hostess Training Institute. It is extremely satisfying for us that a large number of our students are today working as cabin crew and ground staff in leading airlines as well as in leading hospitality and travel organizations. Recently 20 Frankfinn students were selected as international cabin crew for Malaysia Airlines and 10 Frankfinn students were selected by NAS Air, a Saudi Arabian airline through a campus placement.”

Lamanis arrested for illegal trade at Palolem beach HERALD CORRESPONDENT CANACONA, SEPT 28

Canacona Police on Monday arrested around 10 lamanis on charges of carrying out illegal trade and obstructing visitors at Palolem Beach.

According to police sources, about 10 lamanis, including four women, were picked up from Palolem beach and booked under Section 34 (4) IP Act for illegally selling clothes and jewelry, besides obstructing people’s movement on the beach.

“All the arrested lamanis are in the age group between 25 and 35 years,” informed the police.

They were later released on submission of personal bond of Rs 50 each, informed police.

It may be recalled that on Monday, Herald had carried a report on large-scale presence of lamanis, virtually outnumbering tourists, who were freely engaged in illegal trade even before the tourism season commenced officially in the State.

Trajano lauds efforts of Konkani stage artiste at Siolim

(NCP) President Jose Philip D’Souza inaugurated the party office at Socorro.

Former minister Francisco Pacheco, senior Vice President of NCP Surendra Sirsat, Vice President Venkatesh Prabhu Moni, Sangeeta Parab, Carmo Pegado, Trajan D’Mello and Rajendra Ghate were present on the occasion.

Speaking to media, D’Souza stated that social worker and NCP Vice President Venkatesh Prabhu Moni has taken the initiative to open party office in Socorro to attend to the grievances of the people and to strengthen the party at the grass root level.

“During the recent party convention at Mapusa, it was decided to reach out to the people of ever y constituency and strengthen its base in each constituency. It is not necessary that the party will field their candidates in all the 40 constituencies,” said D’Souza.

“The selection of candidates and decision regarding contest-

STs to elicit public views over reservation HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, SEPT 28

The Goa ST, SC and OBC Federation has unanimously resolved to request the government to elicit the views of the public before notif ying the reserved wards for the Municipal polls.

Federation President Antonio Gauncar said this will avoid the problems and issues which arose

municipal polls during the Panchayat elections, wherein some wards with just one percent of the SC, ST & OBC population were notified.

The Federation has further requested UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to direct the Goa government to provide all facilities, rights and privileges including reservations for the welfare of the ST people of Goa. “Nowhere in India so much injustice is done to the tribal people as done in Goa. Inspite of having the cut off date of February 19, 1968 fixed by the central government, the high court orders and the supreme court verdicts to maintain the cut off date, the Scheduled Tribes in Goa are denied their rights which they are rightfully entitled to”, Gauncar said, adding that all surveys conducted by the government for the Scheduled Tribes are done without maintaining the cut off date of 19-2-1968.

He charged the government for conducting the surveys for the sake to further delay the matter.

Dr Coutinho to be feted MARGAO, SEPT 28 (HR)

The Chairman of the Cuncolim Chieftain’s Committee Dr Verissimo Coutinho will be felicitated at a function on October 1 at 4 pm at Paradise hall, Cuncolim.

The Dr Verissimo Coutinho felicitation committee has invited Rajya Sabha MP Shantaram Naik as the chief guest. Other guests includes Urban Development Minister, Joaquim Alemao, Prof Subhash Velingkar and Radharao Gracias.

appointments

Uday Palyekar, Bonaventure D’Pietro, Anthony Fernandes, Mahesh Rane, Milagres Carneiro and Fr Ave Maria Afonso.

Photo by Thomas Fernandes HERALD CORRESPONDENT CALANGUTE, SEPT 28

Carneiro Multi-Media Production recently felicitated Anthony Fernandes (Siolim-Marna) for his contribution on Konkani stage at a programme in the St Anthony’s Church Hall, Siolim.

NCP Spokesperson Trajano D’Mello, social worker from Siolim Uday Palyekar, Konkani writer Bonaventure D’Pietro, film maker Mahesh Rane, Carneiro Multi-Media Product i o n s P re s i d e n t M i l a g re s Carneiro, Konkani writer Fr Ave Maria Afonso and Assistant Parish Priest Siolim Fr Jerome Fernandes graced the occasion.

D’Mello congratulated Fernandes for keeping the Goan tradition of Tiatr alive through his

contribution and expressed his happiness over his felicitation.

He also congratulated Milagres Carneiro and his team for keeping in mind the people who contributed a lot to Goan culture throughout their life, but were left unnoticed by the government and other organisations.

“Ever y human being has plenty of difficulties and problems in life, but an artiste performs on stage leaving behind all his problems to entertain the audience,” said D’Mello.

Uday Palyekar was overjoyed to learn that such a person was being felicitated and wished him best in his future endeavour.

Mahesh Rane congratulated Carneiro Multi-Media Productions for the work in recognizing

the services of Fernandes and felicitating him.

He felt that the government should also felicitate such people, who have contributed a lot to Goan culture.

Fr Jerome Fernandes prayed to God for showers of blessings on Fernandes and a good health.

Bonaventure D’Pietro also spoke on the occasion.

Milagres Carneiro expressing satisfaction felt many people are doing a lot of good work, but very few get noticed.

“The aim of their Association is to highlight the efforts of the people who have contributed a lot to Goan culture,” he said and promised to felicitate a person every year for their contribution to Konkani.

ing the number seats in the ensuing assembly elections will be decided by the High Command. NCP’s pre-poll alliance with the Congress party still continues and we will act as per the directions of the High Com-

mand,” added the NCP president.

“The duty of NCP leaders in Goa is to strengthen the roots of the party and make it more popular among the people,” informed D’Souza.

appointments

OHERALDO GOA, WEDNESDAY, 29 SEPTEMBER, 2010

Pg10 Godhra trial ends, verdict after SC nod PTI AHMEDABAD, SEPT 28

The trial in the Godhra carnage got over today, more than eight years after the train burning incident killed 58 people and triggered communal riots across Gujarat in 2002, and the judgement will be pronounced after a nod from the Supreme Court.

Designated Judge P R Patel completed hearing the arguments of the prosecution and the defence.

“Now only the verdict has to be pronounced. But due to the stay of the Supreme Court on pronouncing the judgement we will have to wait for the apex court’s orders,” Special Public Prosecutor in the case J M Panchal told PTI. The trial which was conducted inside the Sabarmati Central Jail here against 94 accused, began in June 2009 with the framing of the charges and ended today, he said.

Assistant Special Public Prosecutor N N Prajapati said that 253 witnesses were examined during the trial.

“More than 1,500 documentary evidence were put before the court against the accused,” he said.

In all, there were 107 accused in the case, out of which five died during the past eight years, while eight others were juveniles who were transferred to juvenile court.

All the accused in the case have been charged for criminal conspiracy and murder for burning the S-6 coach of the Sabarmati Express train near Godhra railway station on February 27, 2002 in which 58 people, mostly kar sevaks returning from Ayodhya, were killed.

From Page 1 Ayodhya verdict

political parties including the Congress, BJP and the Left.

Appealing for calm, the Government and the political parties said the High Court verdict should be respected.

“We welcome the (SC) verdict” was the refrain of all sections.

Political parties also underscored that there was an option of approaching the Apex Court by any of the parties to the title suit after the HC verdict.

The Supreme Court has taken the “right decision” since an overwhelming majority did not want the verdict to be further deferred, Law and Justice Minister Veerappa Moily said. The verdict was to have been originally pronounced on September 24.

Vahanvati said the most preferred solution to the Ayodhya problem would be settlement but it has not taken place and the uncertainty which is prevailing should not be allowed to continue.

“This has been the view of the Centre and this is my view also,” he said.

“Settlement, if there is any possibility, we welcome it but we do not want any uncertainty,” the AG said.

Since 1999, the stand of the Union Government has been for settlement which has not taken place, he said.

“We would like a resolution of the matter in one way or the other. We cannot keep the law and order machinery in sustained animation,” Vahanvati said.

Counsels pleading for deferment of the verdict said the court and the government could try innovative approach to evolve an out-of-court settlement.

However, counsels for all the parties to the dispute except Nirmohi Akhara opposed the plea for deferment.

They said judicial function cannot be made a hostage to the negative consequences, which has been cited by Tripathi.

Amplifying his arguments, Vahanvati said “My position is very clear. I am of the view for implementation of the decision of the suit. This is what we have to do as per the mandate of 1994”.

Vahanvati said this while making a reference to the verdict of the Constitutional bench on the land acquisition at the disputed site in Ayodhya.

He refuted the allegations of senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, who was appearing for Tripathi that the Centre sat meekly and only stood as a receiver of the disputed land.

Princess removal bank guarantee of Rs 12.5 crore while SMIPL has offered only Rs 1 crore as bank guarantee.

The government decided to give priority to SMIPL after it made the offer to do the job free of cost.

A petition pertaining to River Princess is pending before High Court wherein the court on September 8 directed the State to commence the removal work of River Princess within two months.

Countermanding case prosecution that the accused persons had made a search in the respective constituencies for the persons on the death bed and thereafter had filled up the nomination forms in the names of those persons by impersonating them and by proposing the fake candidate in their names is not at all seen proved”, the judge said.

The judge observed that the prosecution by means of evidence on record has failed to show any agreement or league between all the accused persons having the main object of countermanding of the elections. The judge said there is no incriminating material available against some of the accused.

Freddy Dias, who was instrumental in exposing the conspiracy to countermand the elections by the accused persons through his own investigations, later told newsmen that he would file a revision application in the court against the order of acquittal passed by the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Margao.

OHERALDO

Pg11

GOA, WEDNESDAY 29 SEPTEMBER, 2010

Act or we will respond, Obama told Pakistan Former CIA offical calls Kayani a liar

Pakistan's powerful army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, long considered a close ally by America, is now thought by President Barack Obama's aides to be stonewalling Washington's call for decisive action against terrorists' safe havens in the country's turbulent tribal belt.

Top Obama administration officials say that Kayani has refused to adhere to any of the four demands of the US conveyed to him during a trip made by top aides in May this year just after a failed bomb plot at Times Square in New York by Pakistani-American Faisal Shahzad.

The apparent American misgivings on Kayani, considered to be the power centre in Pakistan, has grown so much that Bruce Riedel, a top former CIA official and one of the architects of America's Af-Pak policy told

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of US Staff Admiral Mike Mullen recently not to trust him (Kayani) as he is a “liar”.

However, Mullen went ahead to build a person-to-person relationship and had faith in the commitment shown by the Pakistan army chief, said a new book Obama's War by Bob Woodward, noted investigative journalist.

At a White House meeting on March 11, attended by National Security Advisor Gen (rtd.) James Jones, Defence Secretary Robert Gates and Mullen, Riedel urged Mullen not to trust Kayani as he was a liar.

“I have known every head of ISI since the mid-1980s,” Riedel is quoted as saying.

“Kayani is either not in control of his organization or he is not telling the truth. The US should see the obvious and connect the dots. The Pakistanis are lying,” he said.

Addressing Mullen, he said, "You have met Kayani some dozen times, you know him better than anyone else. My impression is that he falls into the second category – liar,” the book says.

Woodward, who was given access to some of the classified documents as part of writing his book, wrote that Mullen did not disagree.

The book also draws on crucial visits undertaken by CIA chief Leon Panetta and Jones to Islamabad to convey Obama's warning that US would have no other option but to respond if Pakistan did not take decisive action against terrorists and their safe havens.

The book says that after meeting Zardari, Panetta and Jones met Kayani to tell the Pakistani army chief that the clock was now starting on all the four requests made by Obama.

But Kayani would not budge

very much. He had other concerns. "I'll be the first to admit, I'm India centric,” he said, according to the book.

Woodward wrote that Jones and Panetta left feeling they had made only baby steps.

“How can you fight a war and safe havens across the border?

Panetta asked in frustration. The latest intelligence showed trucks crossing the border that were full of Taliban combatants with all kinds of weapons packed in the back. They were being waved through into Afghanistan to kill Americans at checkpoints controlled by the Pakistanis. It's a crazy kind of war,” Panetta said.

The book says that Riedel bluntly told the president and his team that they should not rely on Admiral Mullen's conversations with General Kayani.

“As at best, it would be half the story,” Woodward said.

there are some things even he would not be able to stop. Just as there are political realities in Pakistan, there are realities in the United States.

“No one will be able to stop the response and consequences.

There is not a threat, just a statement of political fact,” Zardai was told during the meeting, the book claims.

Giving a series of specific instances how terrorists' leaders are operating unhindered inside Pakistan, Jones told Zardari that Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, the LeT commander if the 2008 Mumbai attacks, is not being adequately interrogated and “he continues to direct LeT operations from his detention center.”

LeT is operating in

Afghanistan and the group carried out a recent attack at a guesthouse there. Intelligence also shows that LeT is threatening attacks in the United States and the possibility is rising each day, Jones said according to the book.

After meeting Zardari, US officials met Kayani, wherein Jones

told the Pakistan Army Chief that the clock was starting now all the four requests made by Obama.

“But Kayani would not budge very much. He had other concerns. “I'll be the first to admit, I'm India centric,” he said, according to the book.

Woodward wrote that Jones

PTI WASHINGTON, SEPT 28

Barack Obama PTI

WASHINGTON, SEPT 28

Frustrated over Pakistan's lackluster response to the war against terrorism, US President Barack Obama, sent his top aides to warn Pakistan that he would have no other option but to respond, if they do not take decisive action against terrorist safe havens.

Adding to the frustration, the Pakistani establishment in particular the all powerful Army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani refused to adhere to any of the four demands the US made through National Security Adviser Gen James Jones and CIA chief Leon Panetta during that trip in May this year, says noted investigative journalist Bob Woodward, in his latest book, Obama's War. “The President wants everyone in Pakistan to understand if such an attack connected to a Pakistani group is successful

UNI MOSCOW, SEPT 26

PTI UNITED NATIONS, SEPT 28

A baby is baptized during a mass baptism ceremony in Tbilisi on Tuesday,. . About 680 children were baptized by the Georgian Orthodox church during the 13th mass baptism ceremony at the country's main Holy Trinity cathedral.

In the midst of speculation about an Indo-Pak bilateral in New York this week, Pakistan's foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said that any talks between the two countries needs to be "meaningful."

At this stage, Qureshi noted that a bilateral was still worked out, and Islamabad had sent "some suggestions" through diplomatic channels to New Delhi about these talks.

Without going to specific details about these “suggestions,” Qureshi told reporters yesterday, that he was now awaiting a response from the Indian side.

“The talks can take place immediately if a positive response is received," the minister said,

noting that any meeting should produce results.

Pointing to disputes over Kashmir, Siachen and water, Qureshi said, “How can Pakistan talk to India without these subjects being on the table.”

Qureshi also refuted claims that Pakistan was putting conditions on India before holding talks. "The suggestions that we have made are aimed at making the talks meaningful,” he said, underlining the need for “result-oriented, meaningful and substantive for the sake of peace and stability.”

The minister also noted that despite Krishna's last visit to Islamabad being dubbed as a failure, the talks had been constructive and meaningful.

Jilted girlfriend made hoax Russia’s new nuke sub completes sea trials, returns to base: report

plane bomb call for revenge PTI LONDON, SEPT 28

A terror alarm that diverted and grounded a homeward PIA flight to Stockholm might have been sounded by a spurned lover, seeking revenge on her ex-boyfriend who was onboard, on his way to wed in Karachi A 28-year old Canadian of Pakistani-origin wasbriefly detained after the plane carrying 273 passengers, ncluding three hapless Indians, made an emergency landing at rlanda following a call alerting security agencies that the an was carrying explosives.

The passengers faced a long haul at the Stockholm airport as the Swedish police pulled out the youth and searched the aircraft for hours for the explosives.

The Canadian man was

briefly arrested in connection with the allegations but then released without charge after no explosives were found aboard the plane, flying from Toronto to Karachi.

While, the plane was let off the unfortunate man faced another long ordeal. Though he was cleared to go home to get married he failed to find an airliner to take him back.

By the time he was cleared to fly back home, word about the alleged terror plot had spread and the airliners refused to take him as passenger, a Swiss newspaper said.

The Swedish police have not given up the terror theory even after media reports that it was an angry ex-girlfriend who had called in the hoax bomb alert to Canadian police at the weekend that forced the Pakistan-bound plane to

make an emergency landing in Stockholm.

The report said, the girl who is still to be identified was unhappy with their separation, a Swedish newspaper reported today.

“From what I understood, an ex came forward with the claim in connection with their separation. It was surely not a happy one,” a Stockholm police officer told a newspaper.

“She had an evil eye on him,” he said, adding that according to the cleared suspect's written statement he was going to get married in Pakistan.

The Swedish police spokesman said that the man who was detained but then released without charge after his plane had already left for Pakistan, was expected to leave Sweden today.

UNI MOSCOW, SEPT 28

Russia's latest state-of-the-art strategic nuclear-powered submarine, the Borey class Yury Dolgoruky, has completed sea trials in the White Sea and returned to its base in northern Russia, the Sevmash shipyard reported today.

The trials were part of the manufacturer Sevmash's tests and the submarine is now ready for final inspection by a state commission before it starts its services with the Russian Navy. ''All the submarine's systems performed well, and the problems revealed during previous tests have been resolved,'' Sevmash said.

The Yury Dolgoruky is 170 meters long, has a hull diameter of 13 meters, a crew of 107, including 55 officers, a maximum

depth of 450 meters and a submerged speed of about 29 knots. It can carry up to 16 ballistic missiles and torpedoes.

Construction costs estimated around 713 million dollar, including 280 million dollar for research and development.

Three other Borey class nuclear submarines, the Alexander Nevsky, the Vladimir Monomakh, and Svyatitel Nikolai (St Nicholas) are in different stages of completion.

Russia has planned to built eight of these submarines by

2015.Fourth-generation Borey class nuclear-powered submarines are expected to constitute the core of Russia's modern strategic submarine fleet. However, the submarine's entry into defence services could be delayed by a series of setbacks in the development of the troubled Bulava submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), which has officially suffered seven failures in 12 tests.

The future development of the Bulava has been questioned by some lawmakers and defense industry officials, who have suggested that all efforts should be focused on the existing Sineva SLBM. But the Russian military has insisted that there is no alternative to the Bulava and pledged to continue testing the missile until it is ready to be put into services with the Navy

China showcases military might at African defence expo PTI CAPE TOWN, SEP 28

Reflecting its growing military might and interest in resourcerich Africa, China showcased its entire range of warships, missile systems and other military equipment at a major defence exhibition here becoming the biggest exhibitor of the biennial expo.

All roads at the Ysterplaat Air Force Base in this scenic South African city led to the Chinese Pavilion where 10 companies from the Asian giant had displayed an entire range of military equipment under a single banner 'China Defence' at the Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) 2010 exhibition.

The huge Chinese presence at this year's AAD, billed as Africa's biggest defence and air expo, is significant as China had only a couple of stalls in the

UNI

DUBAI, SEPT 28

The UAE has now added fiftyseven more categories of expatriate workers, who can sponsor their families to stay with them in the Gulf nation.

Workers will have to deposit Dh 5000 (Rs 60,000) per person of their family to sponsor here, a top UAE official said. ''Previously, some professions such as drivers, bakers, tailors and cooks were not allowed to sponsor their family members, regardless of how much money they earned. Now we have solved their issues by allowing them to sponsor their families if they pay the required deposit,'' Major General Nasser Al Awadi Al Menhali, Assistant Undersecretary for Naturalisation, Residency and Ports Affairs at the Ministry of Interior, told Gulf News.

Now welders, blacksmiths, goldsmiths, plumbers, mechanics, laundry workers, car washers, grocers, sales people, butchers and construction workers can also sponsor their families, he added.

In UAE, school fees and accomodation costs are very high but as country has been hit by recession following the global financial downturn, the relaxation of rules is expected to generate revenue for the coffers.

Awaiting India’s response on parleys offer: Quereshi

Ultra killed in Dagestan One of the four militants, killed in a special operation in Makhachkala, the capital of Russia’s Dagestan republic, in the North Caucasus, has been identified as the leader of a local terrorist sabotage group, a spokesman for the National Antiterrorist Committee said. ''Alibek Abunazarov, 40, had been on the federal wanted list for a long time; according to available information, he was involved in a range of terrorist acts, deadly attacks on policemen,'' the spokesman told RIA Novosti news agency.

He said the other three militants still have to be identified.

Bomb-disposal experts are currently working at the scene, they scour the field for explosive devices, he added.

and Panetta left feeling they had made only baby steps How can you fight a war and safe havens across the border?

Panetta asked in frustration. The latest intelligence showed trucks crossing the border that were full of Taliban combatants with all kinds of weapons packed in the back. They were being waved through into Afghanistan to kill Americans at checkpoints controlled by the Pakistanis.

“It's a crazy kind of war,” Panetta said.

According to the ward winning author, Pakistan has repeatedly refused to accept the US request to share names of all airline passengers travelling to or from Pakistan on the grounds that such a disclosure would violate their sovereignty.

They also suspected it would give the US insight into where their intelligence officers were going. Most ISI agents were flying east to India or Bangladesh, so the US had proposed just getting data on flights heading west to the Persian Gulf, Europe and the United States. But the Pakistanis has stubbornly resisted,” Woodward wrote.

In the event of a terrorist attack, the Obama official worried that it would be hard for Obama to defend Pakistan because their leaders had refused to do what had been simple easy, especially on the visas and passengers lists, he wrote.

UAE allows more expats to bring kin

AAD 2008 and observers feel it was its own way of telling the world that it has arrived in the continent, which has rich oil and mineral resources.

Chinese troops serve in the UN missions across the continent and Beijing is sponsoring

building programmes that include better roads, infrastructure and schools and the military officials are offering training and support to many African nations.

This is the first time that China has booked a national pavilion at the expo and show-

cased a whole range of defence equipment on par with the US, the organisers said.

The US did not have a national pavilion at the expo, though noted companies like Lockheed Martin and Boeing had stalls and their planes participated in the air show.

China sources more than half of its oil supplies from African countries and its show of strength in the defence expo is seen as an attempt to expand military ties with the African countries in exchange of getting access to their minerals and oil reserves.

The AAD 2010 was much bigger than its 2008 edition and some 300 exhibitors from 31 countries participated in this year's expo which drew an estimated 16,000 trade visitors.

It also coincided with the India, Brazil, South Africa joint

maritime exercises (IBSAMAR) off the South African coast.

Eleven warships from the three emerging economies that form IBSA were docked at the Cape Town port till yesterday as part of the exercises and visitors to the AAD also had a chance to take a look at these warships.

Covering an area of over 1,200 square metres in the Air Force Base, Chinese companies like China National Precision Machinery Import and Export Corporation, China Ship Building Trading Company (CSTC), China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation and State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry of National Defence.

More than 1,000 Chinesemade fighter aircraft are now flying in more than 30 countries across the world.

The cynosure of all eyes was

the miniature of JF-17 Thunder, jointly made by China and Pakistan.Some of the models on display were the FM-90N shipborne anti-missile air defence missile weapons system, a large landing ship and self-propelled gun Howitzer system by the NORINCO (China National Precision Machinery Import and Export Corporation).

The CSTC promoted its 2800T multi-mission frigate which is equipped with a combat system, EW, AsuWS and helicopter hangarage. It has a top speed of 29kt and maximum range of 400 nm.

Not only trade visitors made a bee line to visit the China pavilion, but also journalists who had come from across the globe were seen asking the guards and volunteers to show them the way to the Chinese pavilion.

Meanwhile, Qureshi ran into Krishna at a meeting for Commonwealth ministers, organised on the sidelines of the General Assembly at the UN. They had another “chance encounter,” last week, in the UN building.

Krishna told the Indian media that the ministers had indeed greeted each other.

Last week, Qureshi raised the issue of Kashmir several times in speeches he gave at public forums in New York. Both ministers, however, have spoken strongly in favour of talks as the only way forward.

“India wants to keep Pakistan engaged in talks because we do not see any other alternatives.

Talks are the only way to take this forward,” Krishna said on Friday.

Taliban warns Bangladesh

The Taliban has warned Bangladesh not to send its troops to Afghanistan following a plea by US to help the multinational forces bring stability in the war-torn nation.(PTI).

OHERALDO

Biz12:Pg12 9/28/2010 9:42 PM Page 1

BIZ

Pg12

GOA, WEDNESDAY, 29 SEPTEMBER, 2010

TALK BUSINESS

Open house on labour issues on Sept 30 PANJIM (HBD) -- An open house has been arranged by Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry between trade and industry and various State and Central Government Departments like labour, provident fund, ESI, inspectorate of factories & boilers, general health insurance etc.

This open house on labour related issues will be held on Sept 30, 2010 at 10.30 am at Goa Chamber’s Surendrababu Timblo Hall, Panjim.

Canara Bank celebrates Hindi day

Hindi Day being celebrated at Canara Bank, CO, Goa.

PANJIM (HBD) – Canara Bank celebrated Hindi Day at its Circle Office at Panjim, recently.

"Implementation of official language is the foremost duty of every Indian. With dedication we should put more efforts for the successful implementation of official language," opined Sunayna S Shet, Hindi Teacher, Our Lady of the Rosary School, Dona Paula.

Delivering the presidential address, D S Pai, Dy GM, Canara Bank, Circle Office, Panjim, said that on September 14, 1949, the constitutional Assembly has accepted Hindi as our nations official language and in commemoration of the same every year Hindi Day is celebrated.

S N Naik, AGM, S Sundar, AGM and A Sathish Nayak, DM, were also present on the occasion.

Prizes for Hindi Competitions conducted by the bank in connection with the Hindi Day were distributed in the function. Earlier S N Naik, AGM welcomed the gathering. A S Nayak proposed the vote of thanks. Shailaja A Nayak rendered the prayer. The programme was compered by Vanitha V Gadiyar, SM, CO, Goa. Entertainment programme was presented by the staff members of the Bank.

China rhetoric again attacks iron ore pricing REUTERS SHANGHAI, SEPT 28

Iron ore prices should follow steel prices, not the other way round, a spokesman for China's steel industry said on Tuesday, reopening a war of words over who sets the price of China's biggest import commodity.

China is by far the world's top steel producer, with almost half of global production in 2009, so using steel prices to guide iron ore prices would give it a large measure of control over the cost of the ingredient globally.

"I view iron ore as an intermediate ingredient that only has value because it is processed into steel by the steel industry," Shan Shanghua, secretary general of the China Iron & Steel Association (CISA), told a conference in the Chinese port of Dalian.

But such a drastic reversal of pricing power is unlikely to be accepted by the trio of top miners, who can exploit the lack of unity in China's fragmented market, which has thousands of steelmakers,

most not members of CISA. CISA, which represents 78 of China's top steel mills, has been fighting the pricing battle for years, determined to get an upper hand in negotiations with the big three miners, Vale SA, Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton.

Te n s i o n s peaked last year when CISA failed to clinch an annual pricing deal and a Shanghai court jailed four Rio Tinto employees, including Australian citizen Stern Hu, for stealing commercial secrets and taking bribes.

Their arrest at the height of fraught term iron ore price negotiations in 2009 strained ties between Australia and China, and shocked the Chinese steel industry.

"A great part of my time has been stabilising our business

here, and rebuilding our Shanghai office," Warwick Smith, managing director of sales and marketing at Rio Tinto's iron ore division, told the conference, organised by

CISA. "Quite simply, Rio Tinto is back on track."

QUARTERLY PRICING CISA's failure to reach an iron ore pricing deal last year helped bring down a decadesold system of annual benchmark pricing, but miners and mills have yet to settle on a universally accepted replace-

Sensex ends flat PTI

MUMBAI, SEPT 28

Helped by fag-end buying in power, realty and some banking stocks, the BSE benchmark Sensex today pared most of the losses suffered in the afternoon session and ended flat amid negative global sentiment. Cutting short its two-day gains, the 30-share barometer of the Bombay Stock Exchange ended at 20,104.86, down by 12.52 points, or 0.06 per cent.

The National Stock Exchange’s wide-based Nifty Index too settled with a nominal loss of 0.10 per cent at 6,029.50.

After slipping to a low of 19,981.96 in the afternoon trade, Sensex managed to re-conquer the 20,000 levels towards the end.

The late bounce was led by power, banking and capital goods.

Even realty and metal stocks were among major gainers.

egy at Vale, which struggles with higher shipping costs as it competes with Australian rivals in Asia. Martins said Vale has no preference for quarterly over spot prices, since its ore quality offsets higher shipping costs.

Shan railed against iron ore pricing indexes, which he said reflected only a small portion of the iron ore trade that passed through the spot markets, and therefore should not be the determinant of seaborne iron ore prices.

"Spot trading is mostly through small mills and therefore not representative of the market."

Investigators had found evidence of collusion between end-users and traders to fake spot import contracts, he said.

Shan said iron ore imports would fall this year, with domestic production expected to exceed 1.1 billion tonnes, adding that 100 million tonnes of steel scrap expected to be generated this year and more in the future would help mills cope with high ore prices.

Coal import to boom: Adani REUTERS MUMBAI, SEPT 28

Rajasthan promo fest to be held on Oct 4, 5 PANJIM (HBD) -- Department of Tourism, Government of Rajasthan in it’s bid to further attract domestic tourists from Goa and Konkan region is organising a two-day ‘Mini Rajasthan Festival’ in Goa on October 4 and 5.

The two day ‘Mini Rajasthan Festival’ to be held at the Taleigao Community Centre , near football ground is part of the Rajasthan Tourisms domestic tourism promotion campaign ‘Rajasthan Calling’ to be held in 19 major cities across the country including Kotchi, Chennai, Mumbai, Bangalore, Patna, Kolkatta, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Lukhnow and Chandigarh.

“The major reason for organizing “Mini Rajasthan Festival “ in lovely beach city of GOA is to give a feel of Rajasthan and facilitate a better understanding about the state and provide complete information and showcase the Rajasthan traditional culture and the exquisite range of Rajasthani handicraft products and Rajasthani delicacies. The major highlight of the festival will be live dances and a food court and free application of free mehandi (henna) to visiting ladies.” Said Usha Sharma, Principal Secretary and commissioner, Department of Tourism, Rajasthan.

“The food court will have stalls serving famous Dal Baati Choorma, famous Rajasthan Kachori’s, mirchi pakora and traditional sweets . The traditional Rajasthan dances to be performed will include famous Chari , Gujri, and Algoja dance . A tourist information desk for benefit of visitors and travel agent will also be put up at the venue,” Sharma said.

“About 25 stalls depicting various culture, handicrafts , works from various regions of the state will be showcased during the festival will include Woodden Toys from Bassi Chittor, Terracota from Siaya, Stone Artefacts from Banswara nad Tichupada, Ajmer Ka Gota work, Aratari Zardozi work from Nyla village, Leather items – Bags, Jutis etc from Jodhpur and Shinmal, Tie & Die from Akola, Brass Nakkashi- Balahedi and Forest Products from Barna” She added “With 14.8 lakh foreign tourists and 283 lakh domestic tourist arrivals in year 2008 Rajasthan is easily one of the most soughtafter tourist destinations in India. The State's popularity is primarily owing to its incredible tourism products: its rich heritage, its forts, palaces, lakes, colourful and lively fairs and festivals, golden sand dunes and rich wild life, add to that the adventure sports, wellness tourism, handicrafts, shopping, among other pullers,” Sharma said .

ment.

Big Chinese mills such as Baoshan Iron & Steel Co Ltd have moved to quarterly pricing, but some miners favour prices that fluctuate more rapidly, such as price indexes.

"Our position for this fiscal year has been to give the quarterly pricing system a chance to operate this year," Smith told reporters.

"To change to monthly pricing right now after changing from the annual to quarterly systems would be destabilising."

He added they were in discussions with Asian clients but not "forcing" anyone to move to a shorter pricing system.

So far, Asian mills prefer quarterly pricing, said Jose Carlos Martins, executive director of marketing, sales and strat-

Dena Bank to open three branches overseas PTI AHMEDABAD, SEPT 28

Dena Bank will soon open three branches overseas to mark the bank's first foray outside the country.

"Our board last month gave its nod for opening three branches overseas, which shall mark the first international foray by the bank," Aban Offshor, 842, 865, 836.95, 842.65 Abb Ltd., 912, 976, 908.05, 948.6 Abg Shipyard, 243, 248, 240.75, 246.5 Acc Limited, 1010, 1027.95, 1008.3, 1021.3 Adani Enterp, 676.8, 678.35, 665.5, 666.9 Aditya Birla, 867.2, 878.6, 862, 868.6 Allahabad Ba, 228.1, 229.65, 226.55, 228.85 Alstom Proje, 769, 784, 762, 780.25 Ambuja Cemen, 145.9, 147.7, 144.65, 146 Andhra Bank, 163.5, 164.6, 162.25, 163.05 Ashok Leylan, 73.5, 74.1, 72, 73.25 Asian Paints, 2790, 2805, 2757, 2777.85 Axis Bank Li, 1504, 1519.9, 1492.4, 1505.3 Bajaj Hindus, 135.4, 136.4, 133.75, 134.7 Bank Of Baro, 878, 888, 874.2, 879.05 Bank Of Indi, 497.5, 517.1, 492.15, 515.95 Beml Limited, 1120, 1120, 1106, 1112.95 Bharat Elect, 1783.4, 1790, 1770, 1775.1 Bharat Forge, 358.8, 365, 357.1, 362.75 Bharat Petro, 789.95, 793.1, 773.6, 781.75 Bharti Airte, 371.05, 376.95, 370, 373.25 Bhel, 2472.45, 2499, 2463.6, 2481.35 Bhushan Stee, 433.25, 438, 428.15, 431.5

CMD Dena Bank, D L Rawal said.

"Our initial survey for opening branches overseas has indicated that having set ups in UK, Africa and Middle East or US could be profitable ventures for the bank as large number of Gujarati's are residing there," he said.

"After boards approval now

Biocon Limit, 358.9, 369, 357, 367.7 Bombay Dyein, 650, 650.25, 633.6, 637.3 Bosch Limite, 6199.75, 6230, 6150, 6161.65 Brigade Ente, 151.1, 152.3, 146.2, 147.75 Cairn India, 334.8, 336.5, 331.4, 333.5 Canara Bank, 582, 583, 575.2, 578 Central Bank, 199.2, 204, 195.4, 196.35 Century Text, 512.35, 522.6, 509.1, 517.6 Cesc Ltd, 395.7, 401.7, 393.6, 394.85 Chambal Fert, 71, 71.75, 70.2, 71.3 Chennai Petr, 251, 251, 247.3, 248.75 Cipla Ltd, 321, 323.25, 319.95, 320.85 Colgate Palm, 910, 910, 862, 898.65 Container Co, 1320, 1320, 1300.1, 1312.7 Crompton Gre, 320, 321.3, 313.65, 316.15 Cummins Indi, 750, 759, 745, 752.9 Dabur India, 105.25, 105.25, 103.5, 104 Deccan Chron, 135, 135, 131.2, 132 Dish Tv Indi, 55.9, 56.15, 54.5, 54.75 Divi’s Labor, 720, 723.4, 711.2, 714.1 Dlf Limited, 369, 380.5, 367.05, 378 Dr. reddy’s, 1475, 1494, 1441.65, 1459.35 Edelweiss Ca, 54.35, 54.85, 53.05, 53.25 Educomp Solu, 627, 631, 612.1, 615.2

we shall be approaching RBI seeking licenses to open three branches overseas," Rawal said.

"With close to network of 528 branches the bank has wide presence in Gujarat and is now aiming to enhance its bond with the Non-Resident Gujaratis overseas too," Rawal said.

Eih Limited, 140.5, 141, 137.2, 138.2 Engineers In, 354.5, 358, 352.75, 355.4 Essar Oil Lt, 134, 134.9, 133, 133.45 Essar Shippi, 112.3, 115, 112.1, 113.95 Exide Indust, 167, 168, 163.5, 163.9 Federal Bank, 391, 408.25, 387.55, 405.1 Financial Te, 1225, 1245, 1216.1, 1221.8 Gail (india), 479.5, 483.5, 472.25, 477.75 Gammon India, 234, 236, 224.6, 229.1 Glaxosmithkl, 2104.4, 2171, 2102, 2158.65 Glenmark Pha, 297.4, 306.85, 296.1, 304.1 Gmr Infrastr, 58.3, 58.95, 58.05, 58.25 Godrej Indus, 224.5, 224.9, 217.7, 219.7 Grasim Indus, 2180.75, 2212.6, 2175, 2198.1 Great Offsho, 382.85, 384.8, 378, 379.35 Gtl Infra.Lt, 45.9, 45.95, 44.65, 45.3 Gujarat Mine, 136.8, 136.8, 132.6, 133.3 Gujarat N R, 61.8, 61.8, 60.55, 60.85 Gujarat Stat, 114.45, 114.45, 112, 113.35 Gvk Pow. & I, 47.1, 47.95, 46.7, 46.85 Hcl Technolo, 419.9, 419.9, 412.5, 414.05 Hdfc Bank Lt, 2438, 2461.7, 2421.4, 2450.4 Hdfc Ltd, 728.45, 730.1, 705, 712.45 Hero Honda M, 1860.35, 1875, 1846.25,

1854.85 Hindalco in, 197, 198, 192.15, 196 Hindustan Co, 61, 61.45, 60.25, 60.75 Hindustan Ma, 74.55, 75.5, 74, 74.2 Hindustan Pe, 542, 544.5, 535.2, 537.3 Hindustan Un, 309, 309.8, 304.55, 306.2 Hindustan Zi, 1135, 1140.95, 1116.2, 1128.8 Housing Dev, 272, 273.4, 266.75, 270.95 Icici Bank L, 1112, 1115.1, 1098, 1110.7 Idea Cellula, 76.9, 77.4, 74.4, 75.05 Ifci Ltd, 62.5, 63.25, 61.65, 62.2 India Cement, 117, 121.15, 117, 119.95 India Infoli, 117.2, 117.55, 113.4, 114.4 Indiabulls F, 146.6, 146.6, 143.5, 144.05 Indiabulls R, 178.95, 179.75, 172.6, 175.35 Indian Bank, 270, 271.5, 267.55, 270.2 Indian Hotel, 103.9, 104, 102.2, 102.75 Indian Oil C, 449, 456.9, 443.05, 445.35 Indian Overs, 135.85, 136.2, 133.25, 135.7 Indus Dev Ba, 154, 154.8, 151.75, 153.3 Indusind Ban, 262.2, 267.75, 259.9, 266.6 Infosys Tech, 3025, 3028.1, 3001, 3016.6 Infra. dev., 205.75, 206.7, 199.05, 201.3 Ispat Indust, 22.6, 22.9, 22.3, 22.45

Adani expects Asia's No3 economy to have the infrastructure in place to handle a surge in domestic coal demand from power, steel and cement industries, a senior executive said on Tuesday.

Coal powers more than half of India's electricity plants and import demand for the commodity, projected at 135 million tonnes by 2012, is expected to rise sharply along with its booming economy.

"The government is on track on this one. I don't see a major issue arising from potential infrastructure bottlenecks because a lot of port-based power plants are coming up," said Sandeep Mehta, chief executive of Adani's container and logistics business on the sidelines of an industry event.

Adani plans to import more than 40 million tonnes of coal this year, up from 30 million tonnes last year, Mehta said.

India's government has promised to modernise its ports to accommodate larger vessels and make transporting iron ore and coal to roads and railways more efficient.

"There is sufficient rail availability," Mehta said. "Most of the coal is going to port-based power plants so there won't be any hinderance since rail will not be required."

Adani, which controls InItc Ltd, 178.9, 180, 176.3, 178.4 Ivrcl Infras, 171.95, 171.95, 169.5, 170.4 Jai Corp Lim, 260, 264.25, 257, 258.75 Jaiprakash A, 122, 123.7, 121.05, 122.3 Jet Airways, 830, 830.05, 812.5, 818.8 Jindal Saw L, 211.1, 216.45, 207.2, 213.95 Jindal Steel, 700.5, 712, 700.4, 708.1 Jsw Steel Li, 1320, 1343.8, 1317, 1327.8 Kotak Mahind, 489, 490, 481.5, 487.8 Lakshmi Mach, 2418, 2435, 2355, 2368.3 Lanco Infrat, 69, 69.75, 67.55, 69.5 Larsen & Tou, 2030.1, 2052.45, 2020, 2047.35 Lic Housing, 1409, 1459.4, 1392.35, 1445.8 Lupin Limite, 402.7, 408, 394, 395.15 Mahanagar Te, 64, 64.95, 63.7, 63.95 Mahindra & M, 695.8, 716, 695.8, 711.3 Maruti Suzuk, 1452, 1484.6, 1452, 1468.1 Max India Lt, 169.9, 177.4, 168, 170.25 Maytas Infr., 223, 224.85, 218.05, 219.65 Moser-baer (, 71.8, 72.1, 69.3, 70 Mrpl, 79.1, 79.9, 78.7, 79.05 Nagarjuna Co, 164.3, 166.75, 160.55, 162.6

dian power utility Adani Power will open a new terminal at its cape port, Mundra, in the first quarter of 2011, Mehta said.

The new facility, one of India's largest, will be able to handle cape-size vessels and up to 50 million tonnes a year, of which half will be coal shipments. The port of Mundra already accounts for 60 percent of India's coal imports.

India's port capacity is expected to climb to 1.3 billion tonnes a year by April 2012 from the current 920 million tonnes, Shipping Minister G K Vasan said on Monday.

China has boosted its own iron ore production in the last five years in a bid to displace some of its imports. But industry experts say China's iron ore quality is far lower than that of imports.

Australia is China's top source of imported iron ore and a major investment destination for Chinese companies, including steel mills, many of which have stakes in iron ore mines there.

Australia's Ambassador to China, Geoff Raby, said Chinese steel companies should consider setting up mills in Australia, since they had interests in local iron ore and could get ready access to coking coal and energy such as natural gas.

But Australian iron ore costs could also rise because Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has proposed a 30 percent tax on coal and iron ore mining profits from 2012.

Shan said Chinese mills would refuse to pay more because of the tax.

"Chinese steelmakers will not be able to accept rising costs from the Australian iron ore mining tax as steel prices will reach a ceiling, and downstream users including automakers and producers of home appliances won't absorb rising costs," Shan said.

BOARD MEETINGS Satyam Comp Noida Toll Shipping Corp CCL Singer India Source: Indiainfoline.com

MF FUNDA PRINCIPAL MUTUAL FUND has filed offer document with SEBI to launch Principal PNB Fixed Maturity Plan - 540 Days - Series V, a close-ended debt scheme offering fixed maturity plan. The NFO price will be Rs 10 per unit.

Investment plans (s) / option(s): The scheme will have growth and dividend options. The dividend option will have the facility of payout and sweep.

Minimum application amount: Minimum application amount will be Rs 5000 and any amount thereafter. Minimum target amount: Rs 350 million Benchmark: Crisil Short Term Bond Fund Index. Fund manager: Shobit Gupta DEUTSCHE MUTUAL FUND has filed offer document with SEBI to launch DWS Hybrid Fixed Term Fund Series 2 to 3, 1 - 5 years close ended hybrid fund.

The NFO price will be Rs 10 per unit. Options: Dividend (Payout) and Growth.

Minimum application amount: Minimum application amount will be Rs 5,000 per application and in multiples of Re.1 thereafter.

Minimum target amount: Rs 10 million Benchmark: Crisil MIP Blended Fund Index. Fund managers: Aniket Inamdar (For managing investment in equity market) and Nitish Gupta (For managing investment in debt market).

Nagarjuna Fe, 30.6, 31.15, 30.3, 30.65 National Alu, 409.4, 412.1, 405, 406.45 Neyveli Lign, 164, 164.95, 161.6, 162.65 Ntpc Ltd, 214.6, 220, 214, 219.5 Oil And Natu, 1443.15, 1472.6, 1443.15, 1458.05 Omaxe Limite, 141.35, 144.5, 141, 142.55 Oriental Ban, 460, 464.95, 455.8, 460 Pantaloon Re, 493.15, 503.9, 486, 490.3 Parsvnath De, 147, 148, 145.55, 147.5 Petronet Lng, 108.8, 109.65, 107.1, 108 Power Fin Co, 340.1, 343.15, 331.55, 340.85 Power Grid C, 106, 107.15, 105.6, 106.9 Praj Industr, 77, 77.25, 76.15, 76.55 Punj Lloyd L, 133, 133.5, 129.6, 131.35 Punjab Natio, 1300, 1307.05, 1291.15, 1301.55 Rajesh Expor, 100, 103.8, 99.05, 102 Ranbaxy Labs, 566, 572.2, 558.5, 563.05 Rashtriya Ch, 82.75, 83.85, 82.2, 82.55 Rel. nat. re, 40.1, 40.75, 39.8, 40.05 Reliance Cap, 814, 823.95, 810, 813.8 Reliance Com, 171.45, 175, 169.25, 170.25

Reliance Ene, 1130, 1165, 1112.2, 1165 Reliance Ind, 876.9, 882.8, 866.1, 870.7 Reliance Ind, 1008.3, 1012, 993, 998.5 Reliance Pow, 161.4, 164.7, 161, 163.2 Rolta India, 169.2, 170.4, 167.15, 167.85 Satyam Compu, 96.3, 102.7, 96, 98.8 Sesa Goa Ltd, 337, 338, 331.5, 333.7 Shipping Cor, 163.5, 165.6, 161.1, 165.1 Siemens Ltd, 789.95, 824, 785.5, 816.4 Sintex Indus, 371.3, 385.8, 369.55, 384.2 Sobha Develo, 391, 399.35, 384.25, 391.95 State Bank O, 3179, 3209.95, 3163.35, 3190.7 Steel Author, 207.45, 207.45, 204.3, 206.15 Sterlite Ind, 178, 179.5, 175.25, 176.25 Sun Pharmace, 1934, 1974, 1934, 1970.05 Sun Tv Netwo, 534.8, 536, 523, 526.55 Suzlon Energ, 54.1, 54.85, 53.3, 53.75 Tata Communi, 321.5, 323.5, 318.1, 318.8 Tata Consult, 925.25, 930.3, 914.1, 919.65 Tata Motors, 1078.95, 1085, 1066.5, 1080.5 Tata Power C, 1350, 1355.7, 1338.05,

1348.7 Tata Steel L, 645, 655.9, 642, 651.65 Tata Teleser, 22.8, 23, 22.65, 22.75 Tech Mahindr, 780, 795.7, 775, 785.7 The Ge Shpg., 313, 322.7, 312.65, 321.85 The Phoenix, 241, 241.5, 225.95, 233.75 Thermax Ltd, 791.9, 794, 780, 786.9 Titan Indust, 3416, 3418, 3351, 3364.35 Torrent Powe, 329.45, 330, 325.2, 326.75 Triveni Engg, 118.9, 119.8, 116.3, 118.3 Tv18 India L, 93.3, 95, 92.35, 94.6 Uco Bank, 115.15, 116, 114.15, 114.65 Ultratech Ce, 1016.5, 1054.95, 1015, 1047.5 Union Bank O, 385, 387.5, 380.25, 384.25 Unitech Ltd, 87, 88.1, 85.95, 86.6 United Phosp, 183.8, 187.5, 183.3, 183.75 Videocon Ind, 280.25, 282.7, 275, 280.6 Vijaya Bank, 82.9, 84, 82.7, 83.05 Voltas Ltd, 238, 247.85, 236.6, 245.2 Wipro Ltd, 444.6, 450, 438, 441.5 Yes Bank Lim, 339, 354.6, 339, 351.45 Zee Entertai, 305.8, 309.5, 303.05, 308.6

OHERALDO

Biz13:Layout 1 9/28/2010 9:08 PM Page 1

Pg13

BIZ

GOA, WEDNESDAY, 29 SEPTEMBER, 2010

Anil outlines growth blueprint n

Plans Rs 1,25,000 investments

PTI MUMBAI, SEPT 28

In a slew of announcements one after another, Anil Ambani today outlined investments of nearly Rs 1,25,000 crore and also fund-raising to the tune of over Rs 65,000 crore for expanding businesses and entering new areas.

Hopping from one AGM to another in a span of a few hours, Ambani told shareholders of Reliance Power, Reliance Capital and Reliance Communications that the investments were not just about creating wealth but sharing it with them.

"We enjoy the trust of over 1 crore shareowners across the Group - the largest such family anywhere in the world," he said invoking the philosophy of his father Late Dhirubhai Ambani that wealth should be shared.

Most of the investments, announced by Ambani, would go into setting up power plants.

Also, a major part of the funds to be raised would be through the power ventures.

A whopping Rs 1,20,000 crore would go into creating thermal, hydro and gas-fired power plants. An estimated Rs 80,000 crore would be used for creating 20,000 MW of thermal generation capacity by 2015, Rs 30,000 crore for hydro and Rs 10,000 crore for gas-based projects.

Besides, Reliance Power would raise Rs 50,000 crore in what will become the largest fund raising exercise in the cor-

Anil Ambani, chairman of the Reliance ADAG, speaks during the AGM of Reliance Capital in Mumbai.

porate history of the country, he said.

Other fund-consuming businesses, as listed by Ambani, would be telecom arm Reliance Communications, which was also listed as a major fund-raising avenue by sale of shares in it, as also subsidiary Reliance Infratel. He also named insurance business as another area for raising funds through share sale.

At the same time, Ambani also made clear his intentions to enter new businesses such as banking and the exchange space, besides expanding further his presence in segments like other financial services, power and telecom.

"Our Group is by far the youngest of all large business houses in India, but we already rank among the top 5 on every important financial and operating parameter," Ambani said.

In banking, he said that the group's ambition was to set up a world-class bank.

In telecom, he said that not much capex would be required now onwards, but Reliance Communications would seek to raise funds through sale of up to 26 per cent stake in the company. Besides, the company would consider raising funds through sale of shares to strategic and financial investors as also through an IPO in telecom tower arm Reliance In-

fratel.

Incidentally, a deal for raising funds through sale of shares in Reliance Infratel failed, while an unsuccessful attempt was made in the past for the company's IPO. He said R-Com has spent nearly Rs 35,000 crore in capex in the last three years, and its investment this year is projected to be around Rs 3,000 crore and a similar trend of declining capex cycle expected to continue.

Stock market also reacted positively to the announcements made by Ambani, although gains were modest for the shares of three group companies.

R-Com first to unveil 3G capabilities PTI MUMBAI, SEPT 28

Anil Ambani-owned Reliance Communications (R-Com) today became the first private operator to unveil its 3G network capabilities to the public.

A private news channel broadcast was streamed live on a mobile phone and shown to

shareholders on a big screen at the company's AGM here.

"We are the first private operator to show our 3G network to the world," R-Com's President-Wireless, Syed Safawi, told shareholders as he requested a company executive to operate the mobile phone.

Interestingly, the channel

was playing the happenings at the AGM live and there were smiles across the faces of the shareholders present at the Birla Matushri Sabhagriha, the venue of the AGM. Probably due to the interest shown by the media in the goings-on at the AGM or caught up in the moment, a wide smile

spread across Chairman Ambani's face as well.

R-Com has sucessfully bid for launching 3G phones in three metros, including Mumbai, besides 10 other circles nationally. State-owned telecom companies BSNL and MTNL have already rolled out their 3G networks for the public.

Ambani split helped India: McDonald PTI MUMBAI, SEPT 27

The split in the Reliance empire caused by differences between the two scions -- Mukesh and Anil Ambani -- five years ago has been good for the country as it has unlocked a lot of value, the author of a newly-released book on the family said.

"Overall, its been better for India. The split has been good for the share-market, it has unlocked a lot of value and helped entrepreneurship," journalist Hamish McDonald said while promoting his new book 'Ambani & Sons' here.

The book is McDonald's second on the Ambani family, whose rise to the top of India Inc has been meteoric.

His first book, "Polyester Prince", an unauthorized biography of patriarch Dhirubhai which dwells on all the means

GoAir to focus on Tier II cities PTI PUNE, SEPT 28

The Wadia group-promoted budget air-carrier, Go Air, plans to focus on Tier II cities and provide a better air connectivity from these places as a part of its network expansion strategy, an airline official said.

"We have taken a stand that we will operate only to Tier-II cities. As part of this strategy, we are focusing only on those cities while undertaking our route expansion plans," GoAir's GM (Sales), Praveen Nair said.

GoAir operates from only two metros--Delhi and Mumbai--and a majority of its operations is from Tier II cities. The airline would continue to concentrate on providing better air connectivity to and from the smaller cities, Nair said.

As a part of this strategy, the airline would launch flight services form Pune, Lucknow and Leh from October 2, Nair said.

The airline plans to take the delivery of its Airbus 320 aircraft by this month, Nair said, adding the plane would be deployed to operate its proposed services.

GoAir expects to clock a 2025 per cent growth in the coming quarter, on the back of the festival season, for which the bookings have already started, Nair said.

used by him in his rapid rise, was not sold in India due to myriad reasons.

The first book was written before the split and McDonald feels it was the vertical division of businesses between the warring brothers in 2005 which prompted him to write 'Ambani & Sons'.

Post-the split, younger brother Anil went to the backward areas and Hindi heartland while elder sibling Mukesh went out and bought assets abroad, McDonald said.

"It was good for Reliance (Industries) as well...it could focus on its key businesses and the split also took it back to its strengths," McDonald said.

In a lighter vein, McDonald added, "it's better for two brothers to watch the outside world rather than watching each other."

McDonald, however, said he did not expect the business to split after the death of Dhirubhai in 2002, at least in the "current generation" (Mukesh and Anil).

The siblings' mother Kokilaben had brokered a thaw between the brothers, leading to the division of the diversified group. Under the settlement, Mukesh got RIL and IPCL and his younger sibling Anil got Reliance Capital, Reliance Energy and Reliance Infocom.

However, relations continued to be tumultuous even after the split with Anil dragging his elder brother to court over gas pricing. Now, however, five years after they split, the two brothers seem to have patched-up their differences though they still operate their different empires.

In his remarks, McDonald

also spoke about Dhirubhai's expertise in managing the press, prices of his stocks and favourable policy formulation, saying over "60 per cent of his time" was occupied in such activities.

To a specific query on lobbying in the corridors of power and if it should get legalised in India, he said, "Lobbying is a hot topic of debate across...you hear it in the USA, Europe and the UK. May be it should."

When asked about the current situation, McDonald said the reporting by the press is still "uneven" and reporters continue being under pressure.

He sounded optimistic that his new book would do well and continue to be on the stands in India. "I cannot see men in black outside (the hall)," he said, matter-of-factly.

Budget: No major change in tax rates AGENCY NEW DELHI, SEPT 28

Any major change either in direct or indirect tax rates is unlikely in the annual budgets in the coming years as the government is seeking to bring in consistency in policy through reforms proposed.

'Now there will be hardly any variation in the taxation policy.

The proposed reforms like Direct Tax Code and Goods and Services Tax will bring consistency in tax rates,' Shaktikanta Das, Joint Secretary, Budget, in the finance ministry said.

This will make Part B of the annual budget speech by the finance minister, which deals with tax proposals shorter.

Das said overall duration of the annual budget speech would also come down substantially as the government was trying to bring in predictability in the policies.

RBI wants banks to serve villages, says official AGENCY AGARTALA, SEPT 28

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has asked nationalised banks to provide services in all villages and human habitations with a minimum population of 2,000, United Bank of India (UBI) chairman Bhaskar Sen said here Tuesday.

'By 2012, all the human habitations with a population of at least 2,000 people, should be brought under the banks' financial inclusion,' Sen said while addressing a loan disbursement camp at western Tripura's Ranirbazar, 30 km north of Agartala.

'Of the UBI's 1,559 branches across the country, 82 percent branches are operating in northeast India,' Sen said.

The bank has disbursed Rs.42 crore as advances at the loan camp to set up different micro, small and medium en-

terprises (MSME).

'As there is no big investment proposal in the northeastern state, the MSME sectors are the main credit takers in the industry-starved state,' UBI's chief regional manager Nilmani Gangopadhyay said.

'Such loan camps would help increase the credit-deposit ratio in the state,' Gangopadhyay added.

Tripura Finance Minister Badal Chowdhury inaugurated the camp. The minister complained that the credit flow to the northeastern region from nationalised banks was very low.

'It is unfortunate that despite intervention from the union finance ministry, the credit-deposit ratio for the commercial banks in the region has remained at a level of around 30 percent over the past many

I-T filing date extended to Oct 15 AGENCY NEW DELHI, SEPT 28

The government Tuesday announced 15 days relief for income tax payers in view of the disturbance caused by floods in different parts of the country.

e-learning content now on USBs AGENCY HYDERABAD, SEPT 28

Information technology (IT) solutions provider FirstObject Technologies Limited Tuesday said it has entered into an agreement with optical media giant Moser Baer India Limited for launching its e-education content on DVDs and USB drives.

'We plan to launch the DVDs and USBs in a phased manner throughout India by the end of October 2010,' said P. Ramnath, director of Firstobject.

According to the company, the collaboration with Moser Baer will enable it to widen its product offering in the media range through DVDs and USB drives. The company is currently offering e-learning products like Firsteschool and Firstlawschool through web based platform in the country.

The last date of filing income tax returns for the assessment year 2010-11 has been extended to Oct 15 from Sep 30, according to an official statement.

'The due date has been extended in view of disturbance

to general life caused by floods,' it said.

Last week, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) extended the due date of filing of returns of income for all categories of cases in Jammu and Kash-

With the high networth individuals (HNWIs) population showing a robust growth of 33.2 per cent in the Asia-Pacific region last year, India and China are likely to remain the fastest-growing HNWI segment in the world, a report said today.

Emerging Asia (China, India, Indonesia and Thailand) is fast becoming the main engine of growth in the Asia-Pacific region and its HNWI segment showed a robust growth of 33.2 per cent in 2009, with wealth up 40.4 per cent, according to the 2010 Asia-Pacific Wealth Report released by Merrill Lynch Global Wealth Management and Capgemini, here.

India and China were the only two major Asia-Pacific countries in which industrial production actually rose in 2009, as they enjoyed a more diversified export market and broader domestic demand.

Hong Kong and India, which experienced the world's largest decline in HNWI population and wealth in 2008, experienced the strongest resurgence in 2009. The popu-

lation of HNWIs grew 104.4 per cent in Hong Kong, almost reaching pre-crisis levels and 50.9 per cent in India, the report said.

HNWI wealth in Hong Kong and India jumped 108.9 per cent and 53.8 per cent, respectively, amid strong growth in both markets and macro-economic drivers of wealth.

"The strong economic resurgence in India has been boosted primarily by the country's stock market capitalisation which more than doubled in 2009 after dropping 64.1 per cent in 2008," Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, India, chairman, Pradeep Dokania, told reporters here.

"The increased confidence

by Indian HNWIs facilitated by the strength of the underlying economy which grew 6.8 per cent in 2009 has resulted in a surge in HNWI wealth in the region," Dokania said.

"China and India will lead the way in the Asia-Pacific region with economic expansion and HNWI growth is likely to keep out-pacing more developed economics," he said.

China's rapid GDP growth is expected to slow a little to 8.3 per cent in 2011. Going forward, China is expected to focus on balancing its economy by boosting the service sector and driving private consumption.

However, India's growth is expected to keep accelerating with GDP forecast to expand 8.1 per cent in 2011 after a gain of 7.8 per cent in 2010 due to the significant expansion of private consumption and investment, the report said.

The report said the Reserve Bank of India is expected to tighten monetary policy progressively in 2010 to make sure its economy does not overheat as the global financial crises recedes.

The proportion of Asia-Pacific HNWI assets allocated to cash-based instruments dropped to 22 per cent in 2009 from 29 per cent in 2008 and fixed income investments accounted for only 20 per cent of assets, unchanged from 2008.

However, HNWIs from China and India allocated a very high 85 per cent and 82 per cent, respectively, to the home region investments, it said.

mir to Nov 30, because of the law and order problems in the state.

According to the statement, the extended date for filing returns in Jammu and Kashmir will remain the same.

Huge potential for private charter jet biz in India AGENCY THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, SEPT 28

The private charter jet market in India has a huge potential as more and more people fly in swanky jaircraft for business and holidays, says Adam Twidell, who heads the British company, Private Fly. 'This is a business which is waiting to happen here because there is no shortage of multi-millionaires in India. I have found out that there are many who own private jets and what lacks here is someone who will do the job what we do in the United Kingdom,' Twidell said.

Twidell's Private Fly coordinates with the nearly 2,000 private aircraft owners, who own more than 8,000 jets, and hires these out to those who want to charter flights for business and personal

needs.

'In our kitty are private jets which have a seating capacity from four to 16 seats. We have our website and those interested to hire charters gets in touch with us either online or offline. This unique service allows the customer the choice of their perfect jet at the most competitive market price,' said Twidell.

Twidell, a former pilot with the Royal Air Force, was here to interact with his IT partner, Q-Burst, a Technopark-based company which provides the software backup for Private Fly. To promote his company in India, Twidell has begun talking to people. One person with whom talks have progressed is Hindi film actor Dalip Tahil.

'We are looking for someone who would be the brand am-

bassador of our company in India. India is a huge country with so many airports and this is ideal for our type of operations because our job is to be intermediary between the private jet owners and the one who actually charters these jets,' he said.

But the biggest problem, he said, is the delay in getting the sanction from the civil aviation authorities.

'The record we have in the UK is we were able to put one customer into a private jet in 51 minutes, from the time he contacted us. India has certainly opened up, and for operations of private jets here to be smoother the need of the hour is civil aviation authorities would have to act fast when demands come for permission for landing and take off,' said Twidell.

Nikon to break-even in current fiscal PTI CHANDIGARH, SEPT 28

Japanese imaging major Nikon said it will break-even by current fiscal end after foraying into price sensitive Indian camera market three years ago.

"We will be reaching breakeven point this fiscal end," Nikon India MD Hiroshi Takashina said.

The company is eyeing expanding its market share in compact camera segment from 7 to 20 per cent on the back of expanding its network in the country.

India, China set to remain fastest-growing HNWI seg PTI MUMBAI, SEPT 28

years. This should be raised to at least 50 percent by 2010-11,' Chowdhury said.

The minister urged the nationalised banks to open more branches in rural areas to curb the illegitimate collection of deposit by the non-banking financial companies (NBFCs).

The Tripura government also launched a crackdown recently and police have arrested officials of several NBFCs. 'Arrests and raids would continue across the state. We have sealed offices of some NBFCs,' a police spokesman told reporters in Agartala.

'The state government has undertaken an inquiry against 84 NBFCs functioning in Tripura. The government has sought advice from the RBI and the (central) finance ministry about the possible steps the state can take,' the finance minister told reporters.

PlayBook a radical leap: Balsillie REUTERS MONTREAL, SEPT 28

The iPad may have defined the game, but Jim Balsillie is convinced the BlackBerry PlayBook will transform it.

Balsillie, RIM's tech-minded co-CEO, says the PlayBook and the QNX architecture powering it mark the arrival of the first fully functioning Internet experience in a mobile package. In short, RIM's device is a "game changer," he says.

RIM has struggled in recent years to be considered a visionary and innovative force worthy of comparison to Apple and its consumer-friendly iPhone and iPad tablet. On Monday, RIM opened an attack two years in the making when it unveiled its own tablet at a developers' conference in San Francisco. While critics may see RIM's tablet as just one more late arrival in a suddenly congested market that hardly existed before Apple's entry burst on the scene in April, Balsillie begs to differ.

"We are bringing mobility to the Web, not asking the Web to reformat for mobility," Balsillie told Reuters in a briefing ahead of PlayBook's introduction. "I

can't think of anything more architecturally game-changing that we've done, other than the launch of the original BlackBerry."

The PlayBook, at least initially, will only be able to access a cellular network by linking to a BlackBerry phone, lessening its allure for carriers, but appealing to users wary of another monthly service fee.

Its two cameras promise video-conferencing, as long as it is in range of a WiFi signal or Bluetooth-linked to a BlackBerry phone. Interestingly for enterprises, it mirrors and enlarges the workspace for applications but erases corporate data once that link is broken.

"There's no data residing on it, so the CIO (chief information officer) is fine," Balsillie said.

"This is blessed a thousand times over," he said, tapped his BlackBerry Torch. "But don't open up a hole in it."

APPLES AND BLACKBERRYS Balsillie, a Canadian known for his passion for hockey, seems at ease talking technical specifications. Lacing his narrative with jargon and acronyms, Balsillie is the antithesis of marketing genius Steve Jobs, who

whips up Apple fans into buying frenzies for new devices.

His enthusiasm for engineering is magnified by QNX cofounder Dan Dodge, who interrupts his new boss during an interview in New York City's Times Square to stress the strengths of the real-time operating system his company developed.

RIM acquired QNX Software Systems earlier this year.

QNX software is already embedded in air traffic control systems, surgical equipment, nuclear power plants, infotainment systems and casino gaming terminals.

"We've designed from day one to maximize, you throw a second core in, things will get faster. You throw a third core, faster again. It's built into the architecture," Dodge said.

The QNX kernel and architecture, which runs much of the Internet's plumbing, is fully compliant with older source code such as Adobe Flash software that animates websites, delivers video and offers interactivity, as well as the nascent HTML 5 standard that may eventually replace it.

In a dig at Apple, which does

not support Flash on its mobile devices due to its perceived technical drawbacks, Balsillie asks rhetorically: "What's going to happen when we show that the performance is superior?"

"People say it's about a couple of hundred thousand apps and we say, how about 10 million Flash apps. It's an interesting new dialogue."

Balsillie theatrically convulsed at the suggestion corporations are abandoning BlackBerrys and allowing their employees to access corporate systems on iPhones.

SERVING TWO MASTERS In recent iterations of the BlackBerry, long favored by executives for its push email and security, RIM has sought a piece of the growing global mass market of consumers who've taken to smartphones for their social-networking, web-browsing and video-viewing abilities.

Mobile data usage is expected to double every year until at least 2014, according to a Cisco white paper, with video ballooning to make up twothirds of the 3.6 billion gigabytes that will be transferred per month globally by then.

OHERALDO

Pg14

GOA, WEDNESDAY, 29 SEPTEMBER, 2010

Medvedev fires Moscow mayor REUTERS MOSCOw, SEpT 28

Russian president Dmitr y Medvedev on Tuesday abruptly sacked veteran Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov, a powerful political opponent who criticized the kremlin and then defied pressure to resign.

Luzhkov, a pillar of the ruling party, had ruled Russia's capital since 1992 but angered Medvedev by suggesting the country needed a stronger and more decisive leader -- a remark seen as favoring prime Minister Vladimir putin.

Famous for his flat working man's caps, billionaire second wife and blunt manner, Luzhkov used the $37-billion city budget to keep pensions and public services high, maintaining popularity despite corruption allegations he always denied.

The clash, a rare public battle among Russia's secretive elite, was widely seen as a test of the resolve of Medvedev, junior partner to putin in Russia's ruling tandem, ahead of the 2012 presidential election.

Medvedev, on a state visit to China, issued a decree stripping Luzhkov of his post. Russian news agencies reported that Luzhkov was in his office when the news broke and found out about the dismissal through a television report.

"As the president of Russia I lost my trust in Yuri Mikhailovich L u z h ko v a s t h e M a y o r o f Moscow," Medvedev told journalists during his visit to Shanghai.

"I will decide who will lead Moscow," he said. while Russia's constitution allows the president to sack the

Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov

Moscow mayor and regional governors at will and appoint a successor without elections, senior officials almost always resign before they are fired.

Luzhkov has not spoken publicly about his dismissal and was seen leaving the mayor's office five hours after the news broke.

Interfax reported he had submitted his resignation to putin's United Russia party and quoted a source as saying Luzhkov did not intend to leave the country.

Only on Monday, Luzhkov, 74, had returned from a week's holiday abroad vowing not to resign of his own free will -- a challenge the kremlin could not ignore.

But Medvedev's choice of replacement appeared to suggest that Luzhkov had not lost out entirely.

The presidential decree named a long-time Luzhkov ally, First Deputy Mayor Vladimir Resin, as acting mayor of Moscow. Resin has held the first deputy's job since 2001 and has responsibility for the city's construction sector.

Russian business daily Vedomosti last year published a pho-

tograph of Resin wearing a Swiss-made Dewitt Academia Tourbillon Differentiel in rose gold, costing more than 1 million Swiss francs ($1.02 million) before tax. It described it as the most expensive watch worn by any Russian official.

Luzhkov's tenure as mayor was tainted by repeated allegations that his billionaire construction boss wife, Yelena Baturina, benefited from his post -- allegations that the pair strenuously deny.

Suggestions of corruption were a focus of mud-slinging programmes that state-run television networks showed suddenly this month after Luzhkov targeted Medvedev with thinly veiled criticism in a state newspaper article.

Luzhkov criticized the effectiveness of Medvedev's administration and said "the Russian government needs to recover its true authority and meaning" in the article in the Rossiiskaya Gazeta on Sept 6.

"It has been unprecedented in the past decade for the internal tensions of the elite to

Israeli forces thwart bid to break blocked yet again

The aid ship, Irene, which aimed to breach the Israeli naval blockade of Gaza is seen here off the Cyprus coast.

AP JERUSALEM, SEpT 28

Israel on Tuesday prevented an aid ship carrying Jewish antiblockade activists bound for the Gaza Strip from reaching its destination, the Israeli military said.

There was no violence or incidents as naval forces boarded the ship, the ‘Irene’, as it approached the Gaza coast. The vessel was being towed to the Israeli port of Ashdod, about 38 kilometres north of Gaza city.

The military statement said

Kim’s sister seen as regime guardian AGENCIES SEOUL, SEpT 28

In innocent black-and-white family photographs from decades ago, toddler kim Jongil stands side by side with kyong-hui, his angel-faced younger sister.

She is still widely seen as the only person Mr kim, the North korean dictator, has been able to trust throughout his life.

Their bond became more public on Tuesday when she was named a four-star general along with the dictator’s son, kim Jong-eun.

Mrs kim, 64, is being groomed to play an important role in keeping the state alive, especially in the event her brother dies suddenly. She has been the most prominent companion on her brother’s recent trips around the country to factories, farms and operas, a signal to North korean elites to identify her as someone to whom kim Jong-il has confided his plans.

Moscow-educated Mrs kim has shown a strong personality, even defying kim Il-sung, her imposing father and the founder of the pyongyang regime, to carry on a student romance with Chang Sung-taek, then only the leader of a music group.

the ‘Irene’ was boarded after its captain ignored two warnings that it was breaking Israeli and international law.

The ‘Irene’, sailing under a British flag, left Cyprus on Sunday and was en route to the Gaza Strip, which has been subject to an Israeli blockade since 2007.

On board are 10 left-wing Jewish activists, including a Holocaust survivor and a man whose daughter was killed in a Hamas suicide bombing in 1997.

Organisers say they are bringing

“symbolic aid” to palestinians in Gaza — textbooks, prosthetic limbs, toys, musical instruments and fishing nets.

Israel placed the Gaza Strip under blockade in 2007, following the seizure of power by Hamas over the territory. However, the blockade was eased in June this year, several weeks after an Israeli attempt to stop an international aid flotilla sailing for the Strip turned violent, leaving nine pro-palestinian activists dead.

become so public," said Maria Lipman, an analyst with the Moscow Carnegie Center. "The question is whether the decision-makers can push their conflicts back behind the scenes."

The mayor's current term had been due to expire next June, but analysts said the kremlin wanted to give a successor time to settle in and ensure a strong vote for the ruling United Russia party in parliamentary elections later in 2011.

Medvedev and putin have said they will decide jointly who will run in a presidential election in March 2012, though most insiders believe the last word will be putin's.

Appointed by Boris Yeltsin months after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the 74-year-old Luzhkov's time in office spanned the presidencies of putin and his protégé Medvedev.

Riding a wave of petrodollars, Luzhkov oversaw a construction boom that helped turn oncedrab, grey Soviet central Moscow into a glamorous, vibrant, 24-hour capital for Russian business and society.

But the building explosion has left Muscovites crawling through some of the world's worst traffic and cursing a power grid that has suffered two big blackouts.

His control over coffers in the city, which accounts for onefifth of the nation's GDp, or $320 billion, allowed him to keep pensions and public services among the highest in Russia.

The decision appeared to have little impact on financial markets in Moscow, which had been widely expecting the move.

China, Japan soften stand in dispute AGENCIES BEIJING, SEpT 28

After weeks of escalating diplomatic tensions between Japan and China over the detention of a Chinese fishing captain, China appeared to ease up on the invective slightly on Tuesday by calling on Tokyo to work together to resolve what has become a messy dispute over territorial sovereignty, compensation for damaged boats and wounded national pride.

“China highly values ChinaJapan relations,” Jiang Yu, a Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said during a regular news conference.

“But safeguarding bilateral relations requires that the two sides meet halfway and requires Japan to take practical actions.”

The comments were gentle in comparison to previous admonishments and threats by the Chinese, including a warning of “full consequences” by the normally taciturn Chinese premier, wen Jiabao, should Japan fail to acquiesce to its demands.

The latest comments came a few hours after the Japanese foreign minister insisted that there was nothing to discuss when it came to sovereignty over the string of islands in the East China Sea.

French MEP confuses oral sex with inflation

AGENCIES pARIS, SEpT 28

Glamorous French politician Rachida Dati has been forced to issue a public apology after confusing oral sex with inflation.

The 44-year-old former justice minister and MEp is frequently nicknamed ‘Rachida Barbie’ because of her poor understanding of complicated political issues.

But nobody expected her extraordinary mistake on the national Europe 1 radio station on Sunday.

Asked about overseas investment funds profiteering during a period of economic uncertainty, she said: ‘I see some of them looking for returns of 20 or 25 per cent, at a time when fellatio is almost non-existent.’

In French, fellatio – a sex act performed on a man – is ‘fellation’, which sounds a bit like infla-

tion, which is the same word in French and English.

Apologising for the hugely embarrassing slip on her Facebook site, Miss Dati said: ‘This kind of thing happens if you speak too quickly on this kind of programme.’

The single mother of one added : ‘It is unfortunate that this is the only political message that has been received on such a serious subject.’

Miss Dati was fired from president Nicolas Sarkozy’s government last year because of her inability to do her job properly, and her frivolous nature.

She frequently appeared on the cover of magazines in designer dresses and stirred up speculation about the mystery father of her baby daughter to the extent that some still think it might be Mr Sarkozy himself.

Miss Dati was a love rival of Mr Sarkozy’s third wife, Carla Bruni, for many months as both battled for a place in the Elysee palace bed chamber.

A new book claims that Miss Bruni received police and security services file in March – including phone call listings and text messages – showing that Miss Dati and Sophie Douzal, the president's ex-sister-in-law, then spread unkind rumours about the First Lady’s love life.

Miss Dati was prepared to ‘stop at nothing to return to’ Mr Sarkozy’s government, according to ‘Carla and the Ambitious’ by journalists Michael Darmon and Yves Derai.

As a result, she and her fellow plotter ‘hatched a plan more fitting of the tradition of salon scheming than of a modern political fight’, says the book.

According to another biography Miss Bruni once pointed to the presidential bed and hissed at Miss Dati: ‘You'd have loved to have been in there, wouldn't you?’

Bed bug hits Hollywood AGENCIES NEw YORk, SEpT 28

Two strong men set Ukrainian national record of pulling plane: Nazar Pavliv (left) and Roman Shmyhelskyy pull the MiG29 fighter jet in the western Ukrainian city of Ivano-Frankivsk. The two strong men set a national record after they pulled a plane with weight of 11 tonnes for a distance of 35 meters during in 1 minute 21 seconds.

A-List couples Bradley Cooper and Renee Zellweger have been the latest victims of the bed bug epidemic.

The couple, who began dating last year, reportedly threw away their mattress after discovering bed bugs contaminating it.

A source close to the couple stated that “Bradley has been traveling a lot and staying in various hotels, and figures he must have picked the bed bugs up somewhere and brought them home.”

The 41 year old Oscar winning actress was so frightened that she supposedly made the 35 year old boyfriend buy a new Temper-pedic mattress to replace the old bug-infested mattress.

Pak govt condemns NATO air strikes AGENCIES JALALABAD, SEpT 28

The pakistani government on Monday strongly condemned a series of air strikes on pakistani soil, including two that NATO officials said killed about 55 suspected insurgents over the weekend.

"These incidents are a clear violation and breach of the U.N. mandate" that governs the conduct of the U.S.-led international force in Afghanistan, the pakistani Foreign Ministry said in a statement. pakistani officials also describe a sharp rise in suspected CIA drone attacks targeting Taliban sanctuaries in pakistan, saying at least 20 U.S. drone strikes were carried out this month in

the country's tribal regions.

Although NATO troops have occasionally crossed into pakistan while pursuing militants, this weekend's operation - which military officials said was carried out to beat back an attack on a small Afghan army border outpost - was unusual for the high death toll and the sharp rebuke from Islamabad.

The incident will probably exacerbate tensions between the U.S-led international force in Afghanistan and the government in pakistan, which washington sees as a crucial, if sometimes unreliable, partner in the war in Afghanistan.

Maj. Michael Johnson, a NATO spokesman, said NATO helicopters entered pakistani airspace

after Combat Outpost Narizah in khost province came under attack Friday.

He said 49 suspected insurgents were killed in the initial engagement.

A second team of attack helicopters was dispatched to the location Saturday morning to relieve the initial team, Johnson said. pilots from the second crew opened fire after they came under attack from fighters on the ground, Johnson said. He said an "additional four to six" suspected insurgents were killed in the second air strike.

"The rules of engagement were followed," Johnson said. "They were acting in self-defence."

Johnson said NATO has not received reports suggesting that

civilians may have been caught in the fire.

A US military official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, played down the prospect of heightened tensions over the raid. "we've enjoyed greater cooperation with the pakistanis, and it gets consistently better all the time," the official said.

US officials said the uptick in predator drone attacks has been driven by improved intelligence on an insurgent group known as the Haqqani network, rather than a coordinated CIA-military effort to expand operations on either side of the border. "Our operational tempo has been up for a while now," the official said.

Ed Miliband makes Blair-Brown break AFP MANCHESTER, SEpT 28

New Labour leader Ed Miliband broke with the record of former prime ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown on Tuesday when he set out his vision for returning the party to power.

Miliband will tell his party's annual conference that he understands public anger about Labour's mistakes during their 13 years in government under Blair and Brown.

The 40-year-old's set-piece address in Manchester comes as a poll put Labour ahead of the Conservatives for the first time since 2007.

Miliband, a fresh face to many voters, was elected Labour leader on Saturday thanks to the votes of trade union members, edging out his elder brother David, who was more popular with Mps and party members.

Besides introducing himself to the wider public, his speech will also be an attempt to assert his authority and win over those who preferred his better-known brother, a former foreign secretary.

The family drama, which has dominated the conference, rumbled on with David Miliband refusing to reveal before wednesday's deadline whether he will serve in Ed's top team.

Many members called for David to take the finance spokesman's brief, challenging the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition on its approach to reining in the record deficit built up under Labour.

Labour's task in hammering out a new economic policy was underlined when the new government won praise from the IMFon Monday for its deep cuts in public spend-

Cyber worm hasn’t hit N-plants: Iran AGENCIES TEHRAN, SEpT 28

I r a n i a n Fo re i g n M i n i s t r y Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast denied reports that a cyber worm had damaged computer systems at the country's nuclear power plant, the local satellite press TV reported Tuesday.

The reports were part of the "soft war" and a "propaganda stratagem" against Iran, Mehmanparast told reporters in his weekly press conference on Tuesday.

"The Busheher plant is pursuing its activities based on a set timetable," Mehmanparast was quoted as saying.

The new soft war is aimed at targeting the Islamic Republic's peaceful nuclear program, he added.

Mahmoud Jafari, an Iranian nuclear official told the official IRNA News agency on Sunday that Stuxnet computer worm had hit the personal computers of the staff at Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant.

"The virus has not caused any damage to major systems of Bushehr nuclear plant,'' Jafari was quoted by IRNA as saying.

The Islamic Republic said that the computer worm has infected 30,000 Ip addresses in Iran recently.

ing.

According to pre-released extracts of his speech, Ed Miliband was to say he understood public fury at Brown's proudest boast -- that he ended the boom and bust cycle during his decade as Chancellor under Blair.

Miliband's admission that Brown's claim was wrong will be seen as a repudiation of his political mentor's record.

"Our journey must also understand where it went wrong," he was to say.

"How did a party with such achievements to its name end up losing five million votes between 1997 and 2010?

"Let me say this to the country directly: when you saw the worst financial crisis in

a generation, I understand your anger that Labour hadn't stood up to the old ways in the City which said deregulation was the answer. "when you wanted to make it possible for your kids to get on in life, I understand why you felt that we were stuck in old thinking about higher and higher levels of personal debt.

"And when you saw jobs disappear and economic security undermined, I understand your anger at a Labour government that claimed it could end boom and bust."

Given his trade union backing, Miliband has been dubbed "Red Ed" by some newspapers expecting him to drag Labour to the left.

But he was to say Labour would be a party that "speaks for the majority and shapes the centre ground of politics."

Brendan Barber, the general secretary of the Trades Union Congress, denied Miliband was in the unions' pockets.

"That's a total misreading of the position.

It isn't about paybacks and favours," he told Sky News television, saying the unions were an integral part of the party.

However he said he did expect to see the leadership "reflecting" any public anger about the government's cuts plan.

A new poll in The Sun newspaper put Labour ahead of the Conservatives for the first time since Brown's brief honeymoon after taking over as prime minister in 2007. pollsters YouGov put Labour on 40 percent, the Tories on 39 percent, with the Liberal Democrats way down on 12 percent.

YouGov interviewed 1,948 adults on Sunday and Monday.

Titanic actress Gloria Stuart dead

AGENCIES LOS ANGELES, SEpT 28

Veteran Hollywood actress Gloria Stuart, who was better known for playing an elder version of kate winslet's character Rose in James Cameron's 1997 blockbuster "Titanic," died on Sunday at her home in west Los Angeles. She was 100.

Funeral services were pending Monday as the Academy Award- nominated actress has passed away after a battle against the lung cancer she was diagnosed to suffer from five years ago, her daughter Sylvia Thompson told the washington

post.

The blonde actress won acclaim for her role as the survivor of the notorious sea wreck in the box-office hit, and was nominated for a supporting-actress award for her portrayal of an elder version of the heroine, becoming the oldest Oscars nominee. She only lost to kim Basinger, who walked away with the honor for her role in "L.A. Confidential."

Born in July 4, 1910, the Santa Monica, California native was mostly active in the 1930s, playing a number of roles in films such as "The kiss Before The Mirror" and "The Invisible Man." Disappointed with her career, the glamorous blonde basically gave up on acting in the following three decades before reappearing in a string of television movies.

Stuart wrote an autobiography "I Just kept Hoping" in 1999 to sum up her sevendecades acting career. She received a star on the Hollywood walk of Fame in 2000. Her made her last appearance on film in 2004.

As one of the founding member of the Screen Actors Guild, she was honored by the group in June 2010 for her years of service.

Hundreds dead in Mexico landslide AGENCIES MEXICO CITY, SEpT

Some 300 homes were buried in western Mexico early Tuesday, and hundreds of local residents may have been killed as they slept, officials and media reports here say.

Excelsior, a leading national newspaper, said the landslide was feared to have killed some 1,000 people in Santa Maria Tlahuitoltepec town in Oaxaca state.

Oaxaca Governor Ulises Ruiz said the landslide might have killed at least 500 to 600 people.

The El Universal newspaper quoted Carlos Ramos Aragon, the state's head of civil protection, as saying, "The homes were crushed when land slipped down from a mountain, following heavy rain that struck the area at the weekend."

The Mexican military has attempted to reach the town, about four hours' drive from the state capital of Oaxaca, alongside hundreds of rescuers from state and federal government departments, but the heavy rain has hampered their efforts.

Over the past week, heavy rain has been generated by a storm system in the Caribbean region, where Mexico lies.

SPORTS

Pg16

GOA, Wednesday, 29 September, 2010

Nerul’s Mukund ‘two’ good for Pilerne HERALD SPORTS REPORTER MAPUSA, SEPT 28

A first half brace by Mukund Agawadeker gave Nerul Sports Club a deserving victory as they defeated Pilerne Sports Club 41 in GFA’s Third Division at Anjuna ground on Tuesday. Nerul led 2-0 at the interval.

Swapnil Betadkar received the only booking of the game in the second half for a reckless tackle, in a match which was played in good spirits.

Nerul did well to put pressure on the opponents, using pinpoint passes in midfield to penetrate the rival defence.

Pilerne had very good individual players in midfield in partic-

Guardian Angel HS triumph

ular Mahindra Faras who did not stop running for 90 minutes, but the team lacked height and struggled to win the ball in the air.

In the 32nd minute, Nerul’s Mukund latched on to a long clearance from his goalkeeper and took the ball in his stride and kept his composure to slot past rival custodian Blasco Fernandes.

On the stroke of half time, Mukund could hardly believe his luck when he was gifted the ball after the goalkeeper failed to collect and he tapped into an empty net.

Five minutes after the break Nerul went three up, after the ball was played across the face of goal and Dyneshwar

HERALD CORRESPONDENT CURCHOREM, SEPT 28

Guardian Angel High School, Curchorem, won the U-14 and U-17 boys football tournaments organised by Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs.

In U-14, Guardian Angel defeated Government High School, Ambaulim 5-0. In the second match, Guardian Angel defeated Government High School, Padi 5-0. In the semi-finals Guardian Angel got the better of Our Lady of Mother of Poor High School, Tilamol 1-0 and in the finals they defeated Immaculate Conception High School, Paroda 3-1.

D e s w i l Fe r n a n d e s o f Guardian Angel had an outstanding match.

In U-17, Guardian Angel defeated Our Lady Mother of Poor High School, Tilamol in the semifinals 3-1 via the tie-breaker.

In the finals, Don Bosco Farm High School were defeated 3-2 via the tie-breaker. Captain of the team Jovial Coutinho was the outstanding player in the Quepem Taluka.

Fr. Walter Miranda, Headmaster, Guardian Angel congratulated the U-14 and U-17 football teams which qualified for the South Zone in Margao.

Rohan gains 46 ELO points

PANJIM (HSD) -- Rohan Ahuja scored 7 points out of 13 rounds with 46 ELO rating points in the recently concluded National B Chess Championship in Haryana.

Ro h a n b e a t G i l Fo r d Thangkhiew 2003 of Meghalaya, Biswajeet Chatterjee 2079 of Jharkhand, Pahlira 1985 of Mizoram and Parmar Mehendra 1985 of Gujarat and drew with Vasudevan C. 1991 and Sudhirsana Singh 1942 of Manipur.

Niraj Saripalli scored 6 points and is gaining 8 ELO rating points.

ball away cheaply allowing Mukund to run in on goal. Only a tackle from Pilerne’s Agnelo Lobo at the last moment

Sachin stars for Crown HERALD SPORTS REPORTER MAPUSA, SEPT 28

Sachin Bansi scored a brace to help Crown Club defeat Sateri Sports Club 3-2 in GFA’s Third Division at Santa Cruz ground on Tuesday.

Crown Club raced into a twogoal lead at half time after Sachin Bansi netted in the 23rd and 33rd minutes.

In the second half, Sateri did not give up. Sachin Kundekar

pulled a goal back in the 60th and five minutes later Pandeshwar Haldonkar netted the equalizer.

Just as the game seemed like it was heading for a draw Dean D’Mello was in the right place at the right time to snatch victory for Crown Club in the 74th.

In another match at Taleigao ground, Odxel Sports Club were held to 2-2 draw by Panjim Footballers.

stopped him from having a clear shot on goal.

From the resulting corner Nerul worked the ball around the 18-yard box, before Sainath Kalangutkar delivered in a cross which Deepraj Sangalkar met and did well to finish first time.

In another match at Quitula ground, St Domnic Savio Sports Club overcame Augustias Sports Club 3-1. Prashant Suttar opened the scoring for Dominic in the 39th. Six minutes after the breather Noel Fernandes equalized for Augustias.

Tw o g o a l s f r o m S a c h i n Chopdekar in the 76th and 87th ensured Domnic took all three points.

Dicarpale trounce SWC Zaino lWilson Fernandes nets five; Manora, Telaulim win HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, SEPT 28

Youth Club of Manora beat Our Lady of Gloria 3-1 in a Third Division football league match at Loutulim ground on Tuesday.

They led 2-0 at the break.

Manora surged ahead in the 14th minute through Maurice D’Sousa and the striker consolidated the lead in the 26th minute. Gloria managed to reDeswil

Mudgaonkar was given time and space to pick his spot and rifle into the goal.

In the 65th, Pilerne gave the

duce the margin in the 85th minute through Alan D’Silva.

Jason Barbosa rounded off the tally in the dying minutes.

United Club of Telaulim defeated Navelim Sporting Club 4-1 at Navelim ground. Milton cardoso scored a brace in the 49th and 85th minutes. Nelson Coutinho opened the account in the 4th minute with Milagres Figueredo scoring in the

65th.

Mohammed Mutavary scored in the 75th minute for Navelim.

CRC Chinchinim and St Sebastian Youth Club, Fatorda were involved in a 2-2 draw at Dando ground. Ashley Rebello (68), Paulito Carvalho (88) netted for CRCC and Elson Fenandes (53), Xavier D'Silva (85) for St Sebastian.

Chicalim YC squeezed past

Baina Sports Club 1-0.

Dicarpale Sports Club hammered Sports and Welfare Club of Zaino 6-2 at Dicarpale ground.

Wilson Fernandes scored five goals including a hat-trick.

Jerry Rocha (18), Wilson Fernandes (44, 54, 67, 72, 74) scored for Dicarpale.

Neal Cardoso scored a brace for Zaino in 65th and 83rd minutes.

St Xavier cagers win varsity title HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, SEPT 28

St. Xavier’s College, Mapusa successfully defended the Goa University inter-college basketball championship in the women’s category defeating Don Bosco College 15-4.

Tejal Mahambre 6 points, Michelle Fernandes 5 and Alyxa D’Mello 4 were the scorers for Xavier’s while Samantha D’Costa was the lone scorer for Don Bosco’s.

Other results: PCCE beat Chowgule College 11-7. Raisa Prazeres 7, Ilona Rodrigues 2 and Akarsha Kadam 2 scored for PCCE. Kim Alemao 4, Nithya Rodrigues 2 and Kimberely Afonso 1 were the scorers for Chowgules.

Damodar College beat GEC 18-5. Damodar scored through Nelvie Mendes 14 and Joshila Fernandes 4. Teja K 3

and Lee Ann 2 scored for GEC. St. Xaviers trounced PCCE 376. St Xavier’s scored through Tricia Silveira 13, Tejal Mahambre 9, Fiona Soares 4 and Michelle Fernandes 4 while Raisa Prazeres with 6points was the lone scorer for PCCE. Don Bosco’s beat Damodar 7-6. Zenifa 5 scored for Don Bosco while Nelvie Mendes 4 was the scorer for Damodar.

Albert Fernandes, Asst. Registrar (Finance) was the chief guest and gave away the trophies and medals.

In the meanwhile, Padre Conceissao College of Engineering, Verna and V. M. Salgaocar College of Law, Mira Mar will clash in the finals of men’s inter-college basketball championship.

Results (quarters): PG students of Goa University beat St.

Xavier’s 35-31. Johan Braganza 15, Amish Jain 14, Warren Menezes 4 scored for PG’s while Kirk Duarte 9, Creig Menezes 8 and Joyston Britto 6 scored for St. Xavier’s.

PCCE defeated Dempo 38-32.

Ashish Bhupal 16, Patrick Silveira 8 and Ashish Pednekar 6 were the scorers for PCCE. Sidney Missier outclassed Dempo with 20 points followed by Abraham Menezes 10.

Re s u l t s ( s e m i s ) : P C C E trounced PGs 51-26. Patrick Silveira with 20 points excelled for PCCE followed by Ashish Bhupal 10 and Shelton Messais 6. Johan Braganza 12, Amish Jain 4 and Warren Menezes 4 scored for PGs. Salgaoncar beat Dhempe 1612. Salgaocar scored through Kher Simoes 8, S. Santosh Rebello 3, Aldrin Rodrigues 4.

Earlier, PCCE beat Chowgule 28-19. Patrick Silveira 11, Aditya Hosangadi 7 and Ashish Bhupal 4 were the scorers for PCCE. Joshua Coutinho 6, Denvir Rodrigues and Clifford Pereira 3 each scored for Chowgule.

St. Xavier beat GEC 38-13.

Kirk Duart 14, Josten Britto 6 scored for Xavier while Linekar Raposo of GEC scored 6 points.

Dhempe defeated Damodar College 11-10. Ibrahim Mulla 5, Ross F 3 scored for Dhempe.

Lester D’Sa 4 and Roger Fernandes 4 were the scorers for Damodar.

V M Salgaoncar beat Rosary 22-7. Peter Fernandes 7, Kher Simoes 4, Salvador Rebeoo 4, Aldum Rodrigues 4 scored for Salgaoncar while Rampalli Satish 3, Alister Fernandes 2 and Ian Coutinho 2 were the scorers for Rosatry.

Papaya Boys clinch maiden title HERALD CORRESPONDENT CANACONA, SEPT 28

Participating for the first timeever in a football tournament, Papaya Boys from Yedda-Cotigao, a remote area in Canacona Taluka, became victories in the 1st edition of Constancio Memorial 7-a-side football tournament organized by SFX Club, Bhatpal.

Papaya Boys who have no playground in their village, displayed unusual stamina and power to outclass other seasoned teams on the way to becoming proud 1st time winners the very first time they were taking part in a football tournament in Canacona Taluka.

Twenty teams from all over Canacona took part at Mokhardmoll, Bhatpal on Sunday.

Pa p a y a B o y s d e f e a t e d Tsunami Boys of Palolem 1-0, with the goal being scored in the first half by Uday Velip, who incidentally bagged the prize meant for first scorer of the finals. His teammate Ashok Velip added another feather

Poinguinim MLA Ramesh Tawadkar alongwith Ana Maria Gomes e Fernades, mother of late Constancio giving away the Constancio memorial trophy and cash to the winning caption of Papaya Boys, YeddaCotigao.

Photo: Kathy Pereira.

to their team’s cap, after he was judged best player of the tournament.

Earlier, in the semi-finals, Papaya Boys got the better of SFX Boys, Bhatpal 2-1, while Tsunami

Boys pipped St.Sebastian Club, Loliem 1-0.

Chief guest, Poinguinim MLA, Ramesh Tawadkar gave away the trophy and a purse of Rs. 5000 alongwith the mother of late

Constancio of Bhatpal and Canacona Lions president, Motesino Fernandes.

Fr. Frankey welcomed. Fr. Vincent Leitao proposed the vote of thanks.

The Taekwondo Association of Goa team which will participate in international poomse championship in Tashkent, Uzbekistan from October 5-10 – Angela de Abreu, Elizabeth F Luis, Debra Semmy Gomes, Lysha Elvita Fernandes, Tanvi D Nadkarni – alongwith SAG’s ED V M Prabhudesai, Vinayak Naik, Bruno Coutinho, Navin Acharya, Ashraf Pandial.

Goa University inter-college basketball: PCCE, Verna v. V.M. Salgaocar, University court, Taleigao, 9.30 a.m.

Kingfisher Pro League football: Sporting Clube de Goa v.

Faria Sports Management, Duler ground, 4.15 p.m.

Third Division League: Sinquerim SC, Mayem v. Friends XI SC, Quitula ground; Dramapur SC v. Union of Chinchinim Villagers, Dicarpale ground; Enfermos SC v. Carmel SC, Navelim ground; United SC of Seraulim v. St Anthony's Club, Colva, Dando ground; Parish Youth Consua v. BITS Pilani, Tilak ground; Dabolim YC v. Cortalim Villagers S & W A, Cansaulim ground. Kick off 4.15 p.m.

Gold Silver soccer semis: Wilred Leisure SC Curtorim v.

Chandor Club, Rosary ground, Navelim, 4.30 p.m.

Pg 17

SPORTS GOA, Wednesday, 29 September, 2010

Goa’s Golden Boys Come Home

The victorious Goa under-19 football team, winners of National Under-19 inter-school football championship at Jammu alongwith DSYA Director Dr Susana de Sousa, coach M M Muthawali, assistant coach Baptist Fernandes, manager Braz Rodrigues and other DSYA officials at Margao Railway station on Tuesday.

Photo: Third Eye

Ponting should look to Sachin, says Taylor

Churchill Bros play E Bengal for final place in Fed Cup UNI CUTTACK, SEPT 28

A fierce battle is expected when defending champion East Bengal take on star-studded Churchill Brothers in the first semi-final of 32nd Federation Cup at Barabati stadium in a day-night encounter here tomorrow.

The Goan giants have never made to the final in the Federation Cup whilst East Bengal, joint winners with Mohun Bagan in the inaugural year of 1978, have won six times after making into the last two stage for 13 times.

Defending champions East Bengal are a different side now under British coach James Trevor Morgan, who has changed the style of play for red and gold since he took over last month.

The Kolkata giants are yet to concede a match in last eight games - five in Kolkata Premier League and three at Barabati.

Morgan's boys also collected full nine points, the only team in this edition, with six goals from three games.

Morgan said his side was not bothered about what happened in the past. His boys were told to look ahead and perform like a champion.

Morgan did not pinpoint importance to any particular player-like in-form Penn Orji of African national or Australian recruit Tolgay and said all his boys have contributions in winning the matches.

Churchill Brothers made their way into the semi-finals pipping Chirag United on superior goal difference after being locked in a goalless draw and remained on five points each in Group B. The winners of 2008 Indian League, Churchill Brothers are rated a dangerous side in Indian football with goal machine and captain Odafe Okolie in the striking position.

After scoring four goals against Viva Kerala, in the second most important Indian football tournament, CB which surprisingly drew 1-1 with Sesa Goa and held Chirag United 00, need some strong will power to overcome East Bengal.

AGENCIES CHANDIGARH, SEPT 28

Goa Under-21 captain Mohmmed Ali, top scorer Rakesh Kumar, vice-captain goalkeeper Marshall Fernandes pose with the National Trophy alongwith coach Mthuwali, asst coach Baptist in Margao on Tuesdsy.

Photo Third Eye

Goa 3rd at jump rope Nationals

UNI LONDON, SEPT 28

Suspended trio picked for regional tournament AGENCIES KARACHI, SEPT 28

Salman Butt, Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif, the Pakistan players provisionally suspended by the ICC following spot-fixing allegations, have been selected as reserves by their regional sides for a domestic Twenty20 tournament likely t o b e s t a g e d i n O c t o b e r.

Rawalpindi picked Amir, Lahore selected Butt, and Asif was included by the defending champion Sialkot.

The ICC suspended the trio following an undercover operation by the News of the World, during which Mazhar Majeed -

allegedly a player agent claimed Asif and Amir had bowled deliberate no-balls against England at Lord's, and that Butt was also involved. The trio is currently awaiting the dates for their ICC hearing as well as a decision by the UK's Crown Prosecution Service as to whether a criminal case will go ahead against them.

It is unlikely, however, that any of them will actually take part in the tournament. According to the anti-corruption code of conduct, the trio will not be able to play unless the ICC clears them; the tournament is due to begin mid-October.

GOA DIARY One-day football at Cansaulim

PANJIM (HSD) -- The Mexico Boys of Cansaulim will organise their 8th all-Goa one-day football tournament on October 2 from 9 a.m. at Cansaulim sports complex. The winners will be richer

by Rs. 15,000 while the runners-up will pocket Rs. 10,000. Other individual prizes will also be awarded. Details may be obtained from Rafael on 9822123223 or Jack on 9822169750

Fr. Xavier Paiva tie-breaker

PANJIM (HSD) – The United Club of Old Goa will organise the 20th Fr. Xavier Paiva memorial 3-a-side football tie-breaker on October 2 from 10 a.m. at Panchayat ground, near Old Goa Educational School. Entries may be submitted at Sanjay Café and S.F.X Electricals, Old Goa.

6-a-side football at Cansaulim

PANJIM (HSD) -- Mexico Boys of Cansaulim will organize their annual 8th one-day All-Goa 6-a-side football tournament on October 2 at T.B Cunha Sports Complex, Cansaulim from 9 a.m. Rs 15,000 (winners), Rs 10,000 (runners-up) will be awarded besides other prizes. Spot entries will be accepted. Organizers can be contacted on 9822169750 or 9822123223

Cricket selection trials for senior girls

PANJIM (HSD) – The Goa Cricket Association will conduct selection trials for the State cricket senior girls team on October 3 at GCA Academy, indoor nets, Porvorim at 10.30 a.m. Players have been asked to report to coach Collin Rodrigues on 9158506423 or Anuradha Redkar on 9730507019.

Botham warns Oz of Ashes thrashing

The victorious Goa Jump Rope team alongwith Rajkumar Desai, Venkatesh Prabhu Moni, Ramchandra Garde, Sandesh Barajankar, Shrihari Athalye, Nitin Parcekar and Neela Joshi.

HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, SEPT 28

Goa bagged the third place with 99 medals in their kitty in different events at the 7th Junior National Jump Rope Championship at Municipal ground, Hospet, Karnataka held recently.

The 1st and 2nd places were secured by Gujarat and Karnataka respectively.

The medal winners for Goa: Akhilesh Desai (5 silver and 2 bronze), Shreyas Athalye (2 gold and 1 silver), Poonam Jadhav (1 gold and 3 silver), Pravin Phadte

(1 gold, 3 silver and 1 bronze), Tushal Naik (3 silver and 1 bronze), Prajyot Naik (3 silver and 1 bronze), Ramnath Gaonkar (2 silver ), Kritika Tivrekar (2 silver and 2 bronze), Garnish Kawlekar (2 gold), Shrevita Kawlekar (3 gold), Pravin Dhatkar (2 silver and 1 bronze), Harish Kawlekar (1 gold and 1 silver), Dattaprasad Ghadi (1 gold and 1 silver), Ameya Kawlekar (1 gold and 1 silver), Pundalik (2 silver), Anikesh Velguekar (2 silver), Pranali Kuttikar (1 silver), Yashoda Katiyal

(1 silver) and Vanita Bhandari (1 gold).

The team today arrived at Panjim and was welcomed by Rajkumar Desai, president of Rope Skipping Association of Goa alongwith Venkatesh Prabhu Moni, Ramchandra Garde and other officials of the association. Venkatesh Prabhu and Ramchandra Garde felicitated the medal winners. The association has congratulated the players for their hard efforts put in for winning the third place.

St Sebastian Youth emerge champs HERALD CORRESPONDENT CALANGUTE, SEPT 28

St. Sebastian Vaddo Youth, Mapusa defeated Duler Boys 6-1 to emerge champions in 7-aside inter-sector football tourn a m e n t o rg a n i z e d b y S t .

Jerome’s Parish Youth Group, Mapusa at St. Anthony’s High School ground, Duler recently.

Bro. P.D. Mathew, superior and manager of St. Anthony’s Institute was the chief guest and gave away the prizes to the winners alongwith the guest of honour, Salvador Pinto, moderator of St. Jerome’s Parish Pastoral

Council in the presence of Fr. Caetano Fernandes (chaplain and dean of Mapusa Deanery), Fr. Alex D’Souza (in-charge of St. Xavier’s hostel), Fr. Pio Almedia (rector-Seminary Niwas, Duler), Fr. Adolfo Alvares (assistant parish priest of St. Jerome’s Church, Mapusa), Anthony Lobo (P.P.C member) and Maria Imelda D’Souza.

Following individual prizes were awarded: Best goalkeeper: Carlton De Souza (Time Pass team). Best player: David Barreto (Duler Boys). Highest scorer and first goal scorer of the finals:

Joalan Fernandes (St. Sebastian Vaddo).

Earlier, Fr. Francisco De Mello, Parish Priest of St. J e ro m e ’ s c h u rc h , M a p u s a kicked off the tourney exhibition matches before the finals.

Altar Severs of St. Jerome’s church overcame Altar Servers of St. Francis Xavier, Duler by a solitary goal. In another match between Married and Bachelors, Bachelors defeated Married 6-4 while the priests of Mapusa Deanery thrashed PY of Mapusa 3-1. Fr. Aldrin D’Costa compered.

Legendar y all-rounder Ian Botham has boldly predicted that England will thrash arch-rivals Australia and retain their Ashes crown.

The former England captain was impressed with the skill and unity of the present national squad during their recent home series against Pakistan and feels that they have what it takes to prevail in the tough conditions Down Under. ''I think England will win the Ashes and I think they might win it in a bit of style. ''England's preparation is good - they have got at least a few (warm-up) games in Australia and their team spirit is magnificent,'' Botham said. ''They have had a very hard last couple of months here with everything that has been going on against Pakistan. ''But they've come through that well and Andrew Strauss as captain has conducted himself with dignity in a ver y tough time and that has rubbed off on the team,'' he added.

Ricky Ponting should seek inspiration from Sachin Tendulkar's batting renaissance, according to the former captain of Australia, Mark Taylor. Tendulkar and Ponting are the two leading run scorers in Test history and they will be key men in the upcoming two-Test series in India.

But whereas Tendulkar, 37, has shone over the past year with six Test hundreds and an average of 81.84, it hasn't been as easy for Ponting, 35, who has scored one century and averaged 40.05. Taylor, who endured a memorable lean period during his final years of Test cricket, said life would not get any easier for Ponting.

"He is not getting any better," Taylor told DNA. "He may no longer be the batsman he was in his late 20s but he is still a very good batsman. Honestly, Ponting's best is behind him but he is still capable of scoring big hundreds."

Ponting's form is not unlike that of Tendulkar during 2006 and 2007; during those years Tendulkar averaged 41.72 with two centuries in 17 Tests. Taylor said he was impressed by Tendulkar's return to form, which has also included the first double-century in one-day internationals.

Ricky Ponting pats Sachin Tendulkar on his back.

"I think Sachin has had a rebirth," Taylor said. "He is really batting at his best and that can be a sort of inspiration for Ponting. It might be difficult for him to overhaul Sachin's number of centuries because the Indian master is lengthening the gap between them.

"But Ponting has this job of rebuilding the Australian side. The current Australian side is very much his. Seniors like Adam Gilchrist, Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne, Matthew Hayden have all gone. It is a much younger side.

"I think Sachin has had a rebirth," Taylor said. "He is really batting at his best and that can be a sort of inspiration for Ponting. It might be difficult for him to overhaul Sachin's number of centuries because the Indian master is lengthening the gap between them.

"But Ponting has this job of rebuilding the Australian side. The current Australian side is very much his. Seniors like Adam Gilchrist, Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne, Matthew Hayden have all gone. It is a much younger side.

"I think Ponting's focus has moved a little bit away from his personal milestones. In that sense, Sachin is fortunate. He does not have to worry about captaincy. That is probably the reason why he is making hundreds."

PG 18:Layout 1 9/29/2010 12:08 AM Page 1

SPORTS

GOA, WEDNESDAY, 29 SEPTEMBER, 2010

www.oheraldo.in

Athletes and Indian performers pose inside the Commonwealth Games athletes Village in New Delhi on Security personnel, backdropped by a banner for the Commonwealth Games, stand guard outside the Shyam Prasad Swimming Stadium in New Delhi, on Tuesday.

Tuesday.

Pg18

Indian soldiers reconstruct an overbridge near the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the main Commonwealth Games venue in Delhi on Tuesday.

Food, warmth at Village bowl over athletes AGENCIES NEW DELHI, SEPT 28

If the proof of the pudding is in the eating, then athletes and officials at Commonwealth Games Village are not just relishing the fare served at the Village but are raving about it. They are also overwhelmed by the warmth of the welcome extended to them as they troop into the Village, which many were not willing to enter till a few days back.

'It's a brilliant place this Village and the welcome we got...it was just amazing,' said Amy Monkhouse, member of the Lawnbowls team from England.

'We arrived here yesterday (Monday) and are loving our stay in the Village, particularly the delicious food on offer,' he said.

Chris Nelson, the 25-year-old captain of the Scottish hockey team, echoed the view.

'Our rooms are spotless and the

beds are very comfortable... the Village is just perfect. Our team arrived here yesterday (Monday) and since then we have had no issues here. But I guess we'll have more fun as more athletes start arriving,' he said.

'The place is quite different from back home as there is a lot of hustlebustle here but we are liking it very much,' said his teammate Iain Scholefield.

Agreed Laurence Jupp II, a cyclist from the Bahamas, who, on his first visit to Delhi, was mesmerised by it and its food.

'The Village is excellent and so is the accommodation. The environment here is very spirited and colourful. I've tried the chicken biryani and mutton kebabs and just loved them, they are delicious,' said the 18-yearold.

'I particularly like the breads here,

Snake incident put in doubt our participation: SA boxer AGENCIES NEW DELHI, SEPT 28

South African boxer Siphiwe Lusizi said they were completely rattled after a snake was found in one of the rooms of the Village and that the incident had put their participation in the Commonwealth Games in jeopardy.

On Sunday, South African High Commissioner Harris Mbulelo Mejeke had claimed that a snake was found in a room in the residential towers, earmarked for their athletes and Lusizi said it was only after being pacified by the team officials that they were able to relax.

"When the snake incident happened. Everyone in the team was scared and wanted to go back home and there were doubts over our participation.

n When the snake incident happened, everyone in the team was scared and wanted to go back home and there were doubts over our participation. But the team official and coaches told us to relax. They convinced us that nothing will happen and we were at ease after that -- SA boxer Siphiwe Lusizi

But the team official and coaches told us to relax. They convinced us that nothing will happen and we were at ease after that," he said.

However, Lusizi, who is participating in the welterweight (69kg) category, said after he

arrvived at the village all his doubts were cleared as facilities here were top-class.

"After arrival what we have experienced is that it is very good facilities here. Food, dining, lodging and training facilities, everything is top class," he said.

Team official Nkosinushi Welcome Hiletswayo also gave a thumbs-up to the facilities and said the athletes are having a

good time at the village.

"We are enjoying our stay here. It has been ver y good till now.

There were no problem are. The facilities are wonderful here and all the athletes are very happy with their stay," he said.

On Sunday, Mejeke had said that they have grave concerns about staying at the village.

"We can't go and stay till things are fixed up. We have very grave concerns. If snakes are found we can't ask our teams to stay there. Yesterday we found a snake but I don't know whether it was an Indian snake. But it was there in one of our rooms," Mejeke had said before entering the Village.

which are thin and light,' added Jupp.

'It's quite good here and the people are very warm and friendly. Our rooms are clean and tidy, and everything is ready here according to me,' said Kenyan para-athletic Henry Calebodiyo participating in the 1,500-metre wheelchair race.

'We have been here since Sunday but I haven't tasted Indian food yet. I am on my way to have lunch and would definitely be having Indian food

Everything will be in place before Games start: Dikshit PTI NEW DELHI, SEPT 28

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today assured that ‘everything will be in place’ and Commonwealth Games Village and venues will be made ‘spic and span’ before the commencement of the sporting extravaganza.

"All the work at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Commonwealth Games Village and other venues will be over and everything will be in place before the commencement of the Games on October 3," she said after inaugurating a 220 KV substation near the IGI airport here.

She said that even in other countries the work continued till the inaugural ceremony and "such thing do happen but I can assure you that everything will be in place".

Fit again Harbhajan Yuvraj, Karthik, Badrinath to lead to play Mohali Test AGENCIES CHANDIGARH, SEPT 28

Senior off-spinner Harbhajan Singh along with Indian openers Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir on Tuesday took part in the practice session at the Sector 16 cricket stadium here.

India's spin spearhead Harbhajan Singh who on Monday underwent an MRI scan at a private hospital in Mohali after suffering a side sprain, had a bowling and batting session of about an hour here on Tuesday.

The offie bowled in his natural rhythm and later batted as well for a while.

At PCA stadium in Mohali on Monday, Harbhajan was seen limping during the practice session with his ankle bandaged.

He though took part in the training after taking a break.

Monday evening, he had also bowled at Sector-16 stadium nets after the conclusion of the match between Australia and

Board President's XI. Then he went to Fortis Hospital in Mohali for the MRI scan. The hospital sources had told PTI that there was no serious injury but since he got a sprain, it would be advisable to take rest for the next few days.

Meanwhile, Sehwag batted

with ease after having hurt his right knee while facing speedster Ishant Sharma during Sunday's net session, at the PCA Stadium in Mohali.

Left-handed batsman Gautam Gambhir, who was on Sunday rushed to a hospital here after being hit on the right wrist by a Ben Hilfenhaus delivery also had a knock on the day.

Gambhir didn't field or bat on the final day of the warm-up match against Australia. The opener appeared to be in good touch as he looked like stroking the balls well during the net session.

Rahul Dravid who arrived in here on Tuesday and straightway headed for the nets. Meanwhile, pacers Ishant Sharma and Zaheer Khan bowled with full steam during the three hour session here.

Skipper Dhoni, Suresh Raina and Murali Vijay are expected to reach here on Wednesday.

Manohar, Srinivasan elected unopposed PTI MUMBAI, SEPT 28

Shashank Manohar and N Srinivasan today retained unopposed their posts of Cricket Board president and secretary respectively with the closing of nominations today ahead of tomorrow's 81st AGM. Srinivasan was also the lone nomination received for the president-elect's post to take over the reins of the Board at the 82nd AGM in September next year, according to a media release from the BCCI. Also retaining their posts un-

opposed as treasurer and joint secretary were M P Pandove and Sanjay Jagdale respectively at the closing of nominations.

There are two changes in the list of vice presidents with former secretary Niranjan Shah and Rajya Sabha MP Rajiv Shukla replacing Chirayu Amin and suspended IPL chairman Lalit Modi from west and central zones respectively.

All the other sub committees, including the Working Committee, the IPL Governing Council and the selection committee for

senior and junior teams, would be decided tomorrow at the AGM. The IPL GC is to be reconstituted after an amendment to the Board's Memorandum of Rules and Regulations at the AGM by curtailing its tenure from the current five years to one year.

According to sources, Amin, Shah, Shukla, Jaitley and either Jyotiraditya Scindia or Anurag Thakur would be in the new committee, along with the elected principal office bearers as ex-officio members.

Challenger sides

are some of the players w h o would be eager to make a Yuvraj Singh S Badrinath Dinesh Karthik m a r k a n d AGENCIES get back into the national fold.

INDORE, SEPT 28 Irfan's elder brother Yusuf, Yu v r a j S i n g h a n d D i n e s h who last played an ODI against Karthik will lead India Blue and Sri Lanka at Harare, will also get India Red respectively, while a chance to show his big-hitting India Green will be captained prowess.

by Subramanium Badrinath Similarly, former India U-19 when Airtel Challenger Series wicketkeeper Srivats Goswami, for NKP Salve Trophy com- Karnataka batsman Ganesh mences in Indore from October Sathish, Punjab leg-spinners 8-11.

Sarabjit Ladda and Rahul Sharma Senior national selection com- have been rewarded for some mittee led by Krishnamachari good performance at the doSrikkanth on Tuesday decided mestic level. to give some of the tried and Talented Hyderabad batstested faces another lifeline as man Ambati Rayudu, who went the senior national team will into oblivion after his two-seaembark on a long international son stint with the unofficial season with the focus on next Indian Cricket League (ICL), is year's World Cup to be staged also back in the mix in the in the sub-continent. wake of some strong performSome of the youngsters will ance for Mumbai Indians in the also get a chance to showcase IPL and Champions League their talent, which could cata- Twenty20. pult them to the big league.

Rayudu's former ICL colDashing Karnataka batsman league, Madhya Pradesh opener Robin Uthappa, Uttar Pradesh Mohnish Mishra has also been left-arm seamer Rudra Pratap rewarded with a call-up in the Singh, all-rounder Irfan Pathan India 'Red' side.

SQUADS

India Blue: Yuvraj Singh (c), Shikhar Dhawan, Srivats Goswami, Ajinkya Rahane, Manoj Tiwary, Irfan Pathan, Ravindra Jadeja, Wriddhiman Saha, Piyush Chawla, Umesh Yadav, R P Singh, Yo Mahesh, Ganesh Satish, Tanmay Srivastava.

India Red: Dinesh Kartik (c), Abhinav Mukund, Parthiv Patel, Manish Pandey, Virat Kohli, Saurabh Tiwary, Yusuf Pathan, Iqbal Abdulla, R Vinay Kumar, Ashok Dinda, Sudeep Tyagi, Mohnish Mishra, Abu Nachim Ahmed, Rahul Sharma.

India Green: S Badrinath (c), Naman Ojha, Srikkanth Aniruddha, Rohit Sharma, Robin Uthappa, Kedar Jadhav, R Ashwin, Jaskaran Singh, Abhimanyu Mithun, Jaydev Unadkat, Sarabjit Ladda, T Suman, Dhawal Kulkarni, Ambati Rayudu.

today,' the 33-year-old added as he joked around with people passing by.

His partner, Mathews Mugenya Olum, was equally fascinated by the village and termed it 'wonderful'.

Omojola Olarinde from Nigeria arrived at the Village Monday and was content with the amenities provided.

'The food is very tasty here and I get whatever I want very easily,' said the wheelchair racer who will compete in the 500m race.

Another world champion pulls out l Caster Semenya doubtful PTI JOHANNESBURG, SEPT 28

South African world champion 800m runner Mbulaeni Mulaudzi today became the latest high-profile athlete to pull out of CWG due to injury while compatriot Caster Semenya is also doubtful for the mega event hit hard by star withdrawals.

S e m e n y a , t h e re i g n i n g women's 800m world champion, has been having a back injury and her coach Michael Seme said a decision on her participation in the Games starting October 3 will be taken tomorrow.

Mulaudzi, who won men's 800m gold in the Berlin World Championships last year and a silver winner in the 2004 Athens Olympics, has a nagging back injury problem.

Seme said Semenya, a strong medal contender in the Games

after her comeback following her controversial gender test during the Berlin World Championships in August 2009, is awaiting medical advice on a back injury before making a call on whether to travel to New Delhi.

"Her back nags her during practice, but we don't know how serious it is," Seme said.

Semenya returned to the track after 11 months in wilderness in the wake of a controversy over her gender that saw Athletics South Africa at loggerheads with the International Athletics Federation.

If Semenya pulls out, the chances for Indian youngster Tintu Luka to win a medal in the Commonwealth Games will brighten as season's two top performer Kenyans Janeth Jepkosgei and Nancy Langat have already puled out.

Army to hand over footbridge near Nehru stadium soon AGENCIES NEW DELHI, SEPT 28

Around 600 combat engineers of the Indian Army, working on war footing for a little over four days, have managed to rebuild a footbridge near the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium -- days after it collapsed causing embarrassment ahead of the showpiece Commonwealth Games.

'The bridge will be handed over to the organisers (of the sporting event) soon,' an official in the army headquarters told IANS. The army stepped in to build the retractable Bailey overpass after an under-construction footbridge collapsed Tuesday near the stadium, the main venue of the mega sporting event.

According to officials at the Army Headquarters here, construction work started Saturday and the structure is almost ready and will be handed over to the Games Organising Committee after a necessary safety trial.

The official said it took over 600 combat engineers from the Madras Engineer Group, known as the Madras Sappers, to finish the job in a little over four days.

The structure made of portable steel sheets and iron angles with roadbed width of 12 feet has been erected on concrete pillars on either side of the elevated Barapullah Nallah, on which the earlier structure rested, near Lodhi Road.