Dear Goanetters, The anti-suppression vehicle has become a 4x4 [four wheel drive] model: four newspapers and four groups [politicians,academicians/NGOs ,journalists and the readers]. Manohar is no longer the nut behind the steering wheel of this vehicle on the Goan roads. As the whole thing moves at a dangerous speed even the pedestrians need to be careful. There is no telling where this avalanche of words will lead us....to greater freedom of the press, we hope.
While it is happening, enjoy what is happening. Road race or road rage....or whatever. This is one for the road ...from me. Viva Goa. Miguel ----- Original Message ----- Sent: Friday, October 03, 2003 4:38 AM Subject: Goanet digest, Vol 1 #486 - 9 msgs > Date: Fri, 3 Oct 2003 04:28:09 +0530 (IST) > From: "Frederick Noronha (FN)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: [Goanet]NEWS: Parrikar's "notice" to four newspapers brings his opponents on one platform > Charges made by each other[Luizinho and Parrikar], of favouring political cronies and kin, led to the legal notice against the Big Two English-language newspapers in the state -- Navhind Times and Herald -- and their Marathi-language counterparts -- Tarun Bharat and Gomantak. Between themselves, these four papers control at least eight of every ten daily papers sold in this high-literacy state of 1.35 million. > Parrikar's lawyer called on the newspapers "to refrain from, in any way, > publishing any further or defamatory pieces or statements made by any > person including Mr Faleiro" against the chief minister. > > Says the legal notice: "My client does reiterate that being a public figure, it is necessary for him to accept criticism even if it be fair (sic) or > uncalled for. However, under no circumstances, can a person's reputation, > character, integrity be made the issue for judgement through newspaper > publications by making false statements and publishing them." >Prof Mishra, former Principal of Dhempe College, however, argued that if the Press was indeed guilty of defamation, it would have to face the court, > whereas "if the notice has no legal standing, then it is meaningless". > "Freedom of the Press does not mean licentiousness," he reminded. Former student activist Prashanti Talpankar charged Parrikar with pitting journalist against journalist. > Bhembre blasted the chief minister's "RSS mindset" and, alleging the CM's > intolerance to criticism, Parrikar, who has earlier too faced accusations of trying to somehow control the Press here, is also known to be over-sensitive to criticism. This is, in part, a fallout of the excessively good press he got since taking over power late in the year 2000. His earlier "Mr Clean" image has also possibly made > him react negatively to adverse publicity. > > But this time, he just might have overplayed his hand. This, combined with > the signs that the 'honeymoon period' with his government is wearing thin, > could lead the Opposition to make the most of a 'civil liberties' issue that the chief minister himself gifted to them. > Opposition parties, smarting under Parrikar's systematic attempts to divide or neutralise them, jumped onto this issue with unhidden enthusiasm. > Congressmen, other Opposition politicians of liquor baron Vijay Mallaya-resuscitated Janata Party, which is trying to spread its wings in Goa too, were present in a show of > solidarity with protesting members of the Press. Said former Congress leader now in the Janata, Avinash Bhonsle: "I don't have much expectations of the media. But this very notice will become a Brahmastra (invincible weapon). Let this issue not be taken up by, and > restricted to, the icons of the Press." FN --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.516 / Virus Database: 313 - Release Date: 9/1/2003 ########################################################################## # Send submissions for Goanet to [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # PLEASE remember to stay on-topic (related to Goa), and avoid top-posts # # More details on Goanet at http://joingoanet.shorturl.com/ # # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ##########################################################################
