------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Documented by Goa Desc Resource Centre Ph:2252660 Website: www.goadesc.org Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Press Clippings on the web: http://www.goadesc.org/mem/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------------------------------------- Sahani, top bureaucrats come in for severe criticism -------------------------------------------------------------------- In an interesting development apparently having political overtones, the Governor, Kidar Nath Sahani, the Chief Secretary, D S Negi, Information Secretary, Jayashree Raghuraman and Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Muktesh Chander have come under severe criticism from National Organisation for Tobacco Eradication (NOTE-India) for their association with the bravery awards presentation by a tobacco company two days ago.
What was startling was that the admonition was done by Dr Shekar Salkar, General Secretary of NOTE-India. Dr Salkar is known to work in tandem with the Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar and shares one thing in common with the Governor - both are products of the RSS.
Interestingly, the chief minister has taken a serious view of the development involving three senior bureaucrats, according to Dr Salkar.
At a press conference here, Dr Salkar took strong objection to Governor Kidar Nath Sahani giving the Red and White Bravery Awards, that were sponsored by Godfrey Philips India Ltd., manufacturer of Red and White cigarettes.Dr Salkar said, "the main purpose of the Company is to promote the Red and White cigarettes, under the guise of being champion of bravery.
The companies which are responsible for death of people cannot be angels of life." Godfrey Philips India Ltd's Red and Bravery Awards were presented to four persons for their brave hearts at the hands of Mr Sahani at a function held in a 5-star hotel on Monday.
Regarding the association of senior bureaucrats, Dr Salkar said the officers could not have been ignorant of the Goa Prohibition of Smoking and Spitting Act, that prohibits any form of advertising of tobacco products.
DIG Muktesh Chander and International Film Festival India (IFFI) expert, Jayashree Raghuraman ranked the nominations for the bravery awards and selected the winners."The contradictions are more glaring in the case of Chief Secretary who was chairing all the meetings for enforcement of the Goa Prohibition of Smoking and Spitting Act, with the help of the Police headed by Director general of Police. This act of participation by these two senior-most government officials smacks of total hypocrisy of surrendering themselves to the multinational company inspite of knowing that the Chief Minister had flatly refused to participate in this award function, " charged Dr Salkar.
NOTE-India has taken this matter to Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, who Dr Salkar claimed, has taken "serious note" of the same. Replying to a query, he admitted that the officials concerned owe an 'public apology' for their 'Act of bravery'.
NOTE-India, he clarified, is not against recognising brave deeds of people. "Brave deeds of our people ought to be acknowledged and honoured. We can do this by keeping the controversial elements out and away from the public gaze specially the youth, said Dr Salkar.
Interestingly, NOTE-India didn't go public on the issue when the cigarette company called for applications for the bravery awards a month ago in Panjim.
"Taking strong cognizance of the Governor's involvement in the function, the NOTE has decided to write a letter to `His Excellency' pointing the fallacy of associating with wrong elements" said Dr Salkar.
Political circles were taken by surprise over the press statement of Dr Salkar. Rumours doing the rounds in the political circles were that the higher-ups in the government do not have cordial relations with the governor - this started from the time the governor went public with his initiative to revive traditional occupation as an answer to the growing unemployment in the state, a trust viewed by the political rulers as parallel to the government policies. Incidentally, the soft-spoken chief secretary has a good equation with the governor. -------------------------------- HERALD 18/3/04 page 3 --------------------------------
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