www.oherald.com dated April 23, 2002 TUESDAY TUNES
Officials are in, MLAs are out? IF IT WERE an ex-MLA and a bureaucrat, who were lined-up for an audience with the chief minister at the latter's official residence, who among the two would it have been to be granted the meeting first? In normal circumstances, of course the politician. But not any more... at least not since the Goa Legislative Assembly was dissolved. It so happened that a top-rung bureaucrat bumped into an ex-MLA of the BJP in the gallery outside the CM's chamber at 'Mahalaxmi'. Both, had to meet the CM. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, this is what the resigned-looking ex-MLA had to say to the bureaucrat: "You should see him (CM) first. You people have the priority now." The statement had the bureaucrat looking embarrassed, and searching for words, but before she could utter any, the CM's office boy walked up to her with a message from the boss to see him! Give-and-take of leaks SOME HUMBLE BUREAUCRATS may feel uncomfortable with their new found superiority over their political counterparts, like the one referred to above. Wonder if her sub-ordinates, would feel the same way once a recent circular that promises officials of the 'joint-secretary' rank for cabins fitted with air-conditioners, is implemented. With the politicians suddenly vacating cabins at the secretariat, the government has discovered that air-conditioned offices are now in excess. This, apparently, is why the government has suddenly felt that joint-secretaries too deserve cabins with ACs.A Superintendent of Police, recently, 'leaked' information about such a government circular. The leak, obviously, was inspired by a jealousy-driven desire that it would result in adverse publicity. Nice try, Mr SP! Saffron clue? THERE ARE SEVERAL legends about the origination of Goa, rather 'Gomant' as it is referred to in the Mahabharata. One such legend speaks of an arrow shot from a peak of the Sahayadri by Parasurama - the sixth incarnation of Vishnu. This arrow, endowed with special powers, pushed the sea backwards, making Goa emerge. The site www.republicday.org, has reproduced this legend which also speaks of present day Benaulim as the "Bann-halli" spot, meaning, where the arrow fell. Wonder, whether it is this legend that inspired the present day, former legislator of Benaulim, to rediscover the pre-historic origins of his constituency. How else then, can one explain cutting of Congress lines and into the saffron political turf? Goan for Presidency!? WHO IS IN the race for the Indian presidency? We've heard of Dr Karan Singh, Dr P C Alexander and even Dr Farooq Abdullah. But should we mention of Dr Leo Rebello......"Leo who?" would be the instant response. Read this un-verified posting on the net, that is reproduced hereunder, and, who Dr Leo is, will be discovered we hope. "Whereas, Dr Karan Singh and Dr P C Alexander (the two other contenders) have passed their prime, Dr Leo Rebello - who will be 52 in April - if elected will be the youngest President of India. He represents three minorities : Christians (by birth), Parsis (by marriage) and Humanitarians (by choice). "He is highly qualified, well-traveled in some 51 countries, has written 25 books, has 30 years of solid all round social work experience. His contribution to Humanism in Health is widely known. He has once again been nominated for a Nobel and recipient of many international awards. He also has clean habits, is a vegetarian and teetotaler and linguist, who speaks fluent Hindi, English, Marathi, Gujarathi and Konkani." "Dr Leo Rebello is a statesman and not a politician and his heart beats for India. He is not self-serving and he will not compromise. All over the world there are young leaders. Only in India old men are elected even though the Constitution of India provides 35 as the minimum age for that august post of President of India." In Modi mode SO NATIONAL LEADERS would once again make a bee-line for this tiny state, in order to campaign for their respective political parties. CM Manohar Parrikar in fact announced, that Sushma Swaraj, Venkaiah Naidu, Arun Jaitley would be the star speakers for the party in Goa. Just a small thought, had Mr Modi been invited too? Playing it safe! IT'S STRANGE HOW thorough Goan politicians can be when it comes to the Code of Conduct or elections, rather. Last week, sports journos who drove upto the bungalow of Minister for Forests Prakash Phadte, at Altinho to attend a press conference called to announce the first-ever West Zone Tennis Ball cricket championship, were in for a surprise when officials humbly said the venue was shifted to a prominent city hotel.Sample this now in vogue "off-the-record" explanation provided by a high-profile official. "The minister did not want the press conference to send wrong signals with the Code of Conduct in place." Both the official and Mr Phadte probably had a point. The press conference was due to be followed by the "customary" dinner. When in Rome.... THOSE POLITICIANS AGAIN! At a musical evening, not far away from the capital city, a veteran politician who spearheaded Goa's Konkani agitation, ended-up ruffling a few feathers. Things were well and truly under control, right from the start but whispers of discontent went around no sooner the politician rose-up to, in the compere's words, "say a few words." For the first time, at least publicly, the politician addressed in Konkani. Nothing wrong with her language though, but quite a few purists raised their eyebrows in surprise. "Why this sudden change," many sought to know. None besides of course the politician had the answers. One thing for sure, the politician gave credence to the popular belief that "when in Rome, behave like the Romans do." Wonder what former Chief Minister Churchill Alemao would have done, if he was the Chief Guest. Goans, do you still remember the maiden Konkani speech in Parliament? Premises galore IT'S ELECTION TIME and for aspirants for Congress nominations, it's time to try out all possible ways and means to breast the tape in the race for tickets. One such innovative idea that has clicked on the minds of aspirants in Mapusa is to let their premises to be used as party offices. Strong contender for the Mapusa ticket, Mathew Braganza, is one such Congressman. A former mayor, Mr Braganza, has allowed the party to locate its North Goa District Congress Committee office in his premises at Braganza House, opposite the KTC bus-stand. Another of Braganza's likes is the former Calangute MLA, Srikant Malik, who contested as a Congress nominee in Saligao the last time round. Mr Malik, is reported to be keen to contest from Calangute again, and has allowed the party to use his premises as a block office. Only, it is located in Mapusa and not Calangute, and is being designated the 'Mapusa block campaign office ' of the Congress. What's queer though of the 'NGDCC office' and the 'campaign office' of the Congress in Mapusa, is that they are both located in the same building - Braganza House. Indeed, when it rains, it pours office premises for the Congress. Tailpiece Politics makes for heady wine Goa is ready to brew The grapes are ripe and The time is right =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet =================================================================== For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
