Three English dailies four Marathi dailies and the sole Konkani daily, went head over heels to eulogise the impeccable qualities of three time MLA from Margao ( considered as the commercial & cultural capital of Goa and the bastion or cradle of politics in Goa ) Mr Digamber Kamat a Saraswat Brahmin a native from Assolna settled in Margao, on his 50th birthday.
Inadvertently the message was ought to be conveyed that he is material enough for the CM in the making once Mr Manohar Parrikar gets kicked upstairs on a Rajya Sabha ticket so that his intellect and capabilities are harnessed for a more prominent role at the Centre Almost all newspapers were unanimous on the meteoric rise of Mr Kamat in Goa politics, from the time he was elected in 1979 as the Chairman of the Goa Agricultural Produce Market Committee a division which collects and markets the agricultural produce of farmers at remunerative prices, to his present tenure as the Power Minister for two of his three terms consecutive terms on BJP (in 1994 Opposition benches) 1999 and 2002. Sample this one the (Gomantak Times) out of over enthusiasm mentioned that Mr Kamat passed matriculation at the ripe age of 14 years ( viz in 1968 ) thereafter he did his XII standard . But the 10+2+3 course came into force only in 1975 , hence Mr Kamat could have passed only the Inter Science which was the pattern of (11+2+2) and not XII standard . It further mentions he made an unsuccessful attempt at "engineering" at Altinho when only a Polytechnic for Diploma in Engineering is available and Engineering College is at Farmagudi.Finally that he studied upto BSc (Physics/Maths) but it is not clear whether he passed. There was also an "unhealthy advise" considering that Mr Kamat had a pathetically lean physical structure when a student in Model English unlike his present paunchy outlook , that one should drink beer to put on weight. But there is something interesting that this writer discovered from these write ups have read between the lines. It was ex CM Pratapsing Raoji Rane late Mr Anant Narcinva Naik who were instrumental in Mr Kamats entry into politics. But ironically he revolted against the same persons. In 1989 he contested on the Indian national Congress ticket against his mentor late Anant Narcinva Naik who fought the elections as an Independent in Margao and won having been denied the INC ticket. Later he joined hands with Mr Francisco Sardinha ex CM who split from the INC and with the support of Mr Kamat then in the BJP formed the new Government, but in Oct 2000 he did a volte face and much to the shock of Mr Sardinha who was in Kangaroo country (Australia) he along with Parrikar unceremoniously unseated Mr Sardinha. The message therefore appears clear for Mr Parrikar as unlike Mr Parrikar's self confessed statement of being a staunch RSS and his open association with hindutva outfits in the cauldron of communal harmony --Goa Mr Kamat has conveniently maintained close harmony with all communities and could upset Mr Parrikars apple cart. The "Digamber Kamat Gaurav Committee" which resembles a Saraswat "melawo" is celebrating the birthday boys 50 anniversary with a three day public function at Bernado de Peres Grounds Pajifond Margao albeit on a low profile following the imposition of the Model Code of Conduct (since General Elections have been anounced on 29. Febrauary, 2004)and a brochure on "Mhojem Margao" was released on the ocassion. However despite tall claims of the Power Ministry earning 120 crores and the Urban Development Ministry being granted 50 crores as compared to 3 crores in the past. The domestic/commercial consumers are still groping with frequent power cuts and the promised computerisation of domestic bills is yet to make headway though promised "soon" Unfortunately on the mining side the portfolio he handles besides the above viz; Power and Urban Development the environmentalists are up in arms and the Netravali Mhadei areas which come under forest cover have earned the wrath of the citizens for rampant illegal mining activities. On the other hand a gruesome murder of an young woman of a prominent community in Margao, undetected robberies and undeveloped side of Margao viz; Calconda Chinchal Comba Khareaband where many migrant labour live in stench filth squalor was highlighted by Renji George Amballur a lecturer at Government College Quepem in his presentation on Margao. The traffic chaos in front of Marliz cafetaria and the garbage and filth in Gandhi market Opp Police Station and several other places continue aside the beautification measures. This is the free frank and fearless press in Goa, readers may draw their own conclusions why Goa has not made strides it ought to have made gvien its high rate of literacy and per capita index. from the BPS Grounds Pajifond Margao Godfrey J I Gonsalves Borda Margao Goa [EMAIL PROTECTED] 9822158584 ________________________________________________________________________ Yahoo! India Insurance Special: Be informed on the best policies, services, tools and more. Go to: http://in.insurance.yahoo.com/licspecial/index.html ########################################################################## # 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 # ##########################################################################
