Dears, I feel compelled to take a break from my present work load and strongly condemn the violence perpetrated against Prajal Sakhardande and Aires Rodrigues.
We should be thankful for small mercies that Rajan Parrikar was not assaulted while he was in Goa. Oh he was so close to trouble from the goons. Allow me to add a few random thoughts: 1: I sincerely hope that Aires and Prajal recover fully from their injuries 2: While guns might be an 'attractive' chacha Sam-Bushman idea, let's not forget that the goons can get better guns. 3: Better guns means more innocent bystanders getting hit accidently 4: Was either Prajal or Aires the intended or incidental victims of the attack? 5: Please do NOT automatically assume that Aires was right or wrong in his awful tirade against the Ribandar priest, the Old Goa nuns, or the Fiona MacKeown situation. 6: IF Prajal is part of Utt Goenkara and has NOT taken a contra-stand on the Fiona MacKeown threat .... it means that he supports the position taken by Aires in that matter. BTW: Alfred Tavares has correctly reminded us of the Goons that Bandodkar brought into Goa to beat up on the catholic Goans who supported the UGP. That is the gift, the alleged Freedom Fighters left behind for us. Interesting that Mario Sa Cabral has finally expressed the sentiments of the many anti-Salazar Goans. Curious (or perhaps not) that Frederick Noronha 'conveniently' chose not to encourage Mario to expand on that view point. Marlon may be correct that the "bhaille ghanti of Rajan" are not the ones who are responsible for this BUT that some corrupt and powerful Goan politicians are. What he (Marlon) has missed is that there is enough crime perpetrated in Goa by the "bhaille ghanti of Rajan" to warrant serious concern. 7: it might be worth investigation ALL the circumstances of this attack on Prajal and Aires. Is it related to their role as political activists or is it something personal? 8: I would strongly suggest that each incident be looked at independent of other incidents. This one could be political. 9: I would strongly suggest that Aires' unfortunate role in this present case NOT be confused with his quite unethical (IMHO) role in the Ribandar priest case, criminal (IMHO) alleged role in the Old Goa nuns case, and sordid (IMHO) role in the Fiona MacKeown situation. 10: Once again, I am personally grateful that Aires wasn't seriously injured in this brutal attack and hope that Prajal too isn't too badly injured. Hope both recover very soon indeed. 11: In general, those who come looking for equity ....must come with clean hands. I am not so sure what to make of Aires and Equity. 12: In many a ways, Rajan Parrikar is right about the Take over of Goa by the ghantis and about the Death of Goa. What Rajan Parrikar is not able to accept publicly is the fact that 1961 allowed this to happen. So let us in one voice, this Dec 19th, be grateful to the Freedom Fighters of Goa. 13: i know, I am jc