------- Forwarded message ------- From: "Sandeep Heble" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Mon, 22 Mar 2004 05:14:25 -0000
In a blind world, the mute/dumb/deaf is king. Or so it seems! With great fanfare, our CM Shri Manohar Parrikar announced that Goa would be a permanent venue of the International Film Festival and that this Festival would be hosted in November 2004. The entire "Film Festival" project is today shrouded in a veil of secrecy. No plans have been made Public, and those who have dared ask for the same have not been provided with the answers. A classic case of the high and mighty emperor superimposing his own decisions on his subjects whilst keeping them all in ignorance!
With barely 8 months remaining, nobody really knows what kind of changes will be incorporated in the city and what implications this festival will have on the city and its residents. Strangely, the Corporation of the City of Panjim too has been kept in the dark. The only thing Mr. Parrikar announced at a Press Conference held sometime back was that he had many surprises in store for Panjim city.
One such surprise the city residents learnt of recently was about the demolition of the Football Stadium at Campal-Panaji to create Parking slots for vehicles during the Film Festival. This decision has rightly drawn quite a large amount of protests and flak from the people. Manohar "Salazar" Parrikar obviously has no love for Sports. Instead of diverting the much needed funds to renovate Panaji's only Football stadium, he is more interested in destroying it. It is high time city residents and various NGO's act and act fast. The demolition work which has begun must be stopped. The people must agitate!
How many more of such surprises or rather rude shocks does the "Emperor" have in store for his subjects? I have learnt from some sources that a large number of kiosks will soon be introduced along the stretch beginning from Kala Academy right unto the Patto Bridge. If true, the Panjim citizens who have preferred to remain blind till date can watch their peaceful and calm city being transformed into a city full of commotion and chaos.
The Chief Minister is behaving like a dictator. He thinks he alone knows what is right and wrong for Panjim. He has obviously taken Panjim citizens for granted. As of now, not many are opposing the Film Festival in principle. But the least one expects is some degree of transparency. The citizens of the City have a fundamental right to know what will happen in their own backyard. "Emperor" Parrikar must oblige!
Sandeep Heble Panaji-Goa
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