Dear (Dr) Francisco Colaco, I, in my humble capacity, fully endorse your views.
In these trying times that Goa finds itself, a more pragmatic way of thinking is called for. Goans have always been at cross roads with one another for one thing or the other. And this singular trait has been responsible for what is happening to Goa. I have criticised Rajan Narayan as and when I felt the need to criticise him. And I have praised him as and when I have felt that he deserves to be praised. That has happened with other editors of other newspapers too specially NT. But what I cannot understand is that why all this criticism and bad feelings were bottled up for such a long time? When things are bottled up for far too long, they come out like a bomb with devastating effects. Such has been the case in point vis-a-vis Rajan Narayan. Like you, I strongly feel that we need and Independent newspaper for Goa more than we need Rajan Narayan. I do hope that there will be some positiveness coming out of all this. I am personally in touch with Rajan Narayan and I feel that all concerned should put their cards on the table and trash things out and come to a decision once and for all. We need to focus on our adversary rather than crib about petty things. In his article, yesterday, in the Herald, Nandkumar Kamat has been all praises for Manohar Parrikar. At first, it seemed out of place, but the reality is reality. People of Goa have been thirsting for an oasis for far too long (40 years). Enter Parrikar, people of Goa have found that little oasis(s) are coming up everywhere where they can quench their thirst without much trouble. They believe what they see. If these oasis(s) have a saffron color or a saffron tinge to them, people do not want to bother too much about it. At best of times they may even not be able to differentiate a 'saffron' oasis from a 'green' oasis. For them oasis is oasis. If someone were to tell them that they will provide them with green oasis, they it will be hard for them to belive this. Past records have not been consistent. Therefore, I tend to agree fully with Nandkumar Kamat in his evaluation of Manohar Parrikar's government. I would also like to point out at this time that I had asked Manohar Parrikar (as a personal favour) to put up glow-strips on the stretch of the Sai service (Porvorim) road divider. He had replied in the positive. It has taken some time but the glow-strips are in place. They may not be very effective, but the work has been done. And I appreciate what I see and what has been done. This does not mean that I will be less critical of Manohar Parrikar's ways of functioning. GIVE THE DEVIL HIS DUES is what I believe in. In the similar fashion, we have objected to the concerned authorities with regards to the defacing of the public property with BJP posters and flags. Nothing has been done so far to remove the defacements. But inshahallah the BJP under Manohar Parrikar will attend to this eye-sore and not indulge in this disgraceful exercise in the future. regards Floriano Lobo ----- Original Message ----- From: Francisco Colaco <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Monday, October 20, 2003 4:33 PM Subject: [Goanet]Rajan Narayan > The systematic campaign against Rajan Narayan by some > of his detractors is sickening. What is more, it is > not being done on weekly or daily instalments, but > almost on an hourly basis. Even when it involves facts > and issues one would expect any criticism to be done > with some amount of charity. Rajan may be no saint > and, let him apologize for his sins of commission or > omission. Personally, I also do not agree with all he > does. But few would doubt about his commitment to Goa > and the Goans. Whether it was the Congress or the BJP > rule he has preferred to remain in the opposition. > Sycophancy has assured benefits, but to oppose takes > courage and sacrifice. Despite severe constraints, > Rajan, has fearlessly opted for the latter. He has > fought many a battle single-handedly and faced a lot > of risks. He may have gone overboard at times. But, to > say that he is inflaming passions, or playing to the > galleries is not fair. In fact it is the other way > round. In his thousands of editorials he has dissected > matters admirably well, digging from his amazing > library of recorded events, so much so that rulers > have tried to avoid a head-on collision about the > issues raised by him. To be sure, he almost always > backs his criticism with facts. > > What is more surprising though is that some of his > critics have come all the way to find faults with him > when they do not even bother to say a single word > against the present dispensation. Isn't there a > feeling today that the minorities are being sidelined? > Isn't there a general clamour that there's a virtual > takeover of the police, education and cultural > departments? Haven't we a situation where the boss > wants his diktat to be heard without any dissenting > voice? In such circumstances, how many come forward to > raise their voices in protest? > > As things stand today, I feel, there's utter need of > a forum where one can express views without shackles; > where editors can write freely without being dictated > by the narrow interests of the management. If IGO is > found wanting in this regard and there are loopholes > in the way it is being planned, and these remain > unattended to, let's find an alternative. But a free, > independent newspaper that fights for a clean, > prosperous, secular and pluricultural Goa is the need > of the hour. Let the critics lead from the top and > show the way. > > Francisco Colaco, MD > > __________________________________ > Do you Yahoo!? > The New Yahoo! 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