########################################################################## # Goanetters-2004 meet in Goa. Dec 21, Tuesday. 12 noon to 2 pm. # # Clube Vasco, Near Municipal Garden, Panjim. Pass the word around! # ##########################################################################
PRESS STATEMENT The Goa Su-Raj Party is not surprised that the former Industries Minister Mr. Luizinho Faleiro has been solely indicted by the Pendse Commission. This Commission was set up to deflect the probing eyes of finance-conscious citizens of this state on the conduct of the present Chief Minister, Mr. Manohar Parrikar, vis a vis the operation of the EDC and the grossly inappropriate and malafide OTS waivers granted to friends and family of the people in power including the family members of the chief minister himself. The only way this could be done was through the mutilated 'Terms of Reference" of the Commission. Goa Su-Raj Party has sent legal notices to the Directors of the EDC to show cause how these OTS waivers were given. If at all any investigation was to be conducted, it should have been conducted in full transparency. Mr. Faleiro is not wrong in stating that he has been made a scape-goat. The "Terms of Reference" of this Commission is a hog-wash. Goa Su-Raj Party had made an application to the Commission that it would like to be given the opportunity to present its submission before it. The Terms of reference are manipulated in such a way that the entire heat is turned on the ex-industries minister. Why? If he is guilty, let him be indicted. So also others who may have been guilty, and who are guilty, should have been probed, specially the directors of EDC who are responsible for the functioning of this Corporation. The Pendse Commission's report is not cutting any ice with anyone. It is a manipulative tool that has been cleverly used to shift the heat of the blame where it would exact more damage. Goa Su-Raj Party is of the opinion that Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has done more damage to the Corporation than anyone else, before. We have proofs of how large amounts of funds have been siphoned-off as OTS and re-inducted into the BJP party funds to acquire large assets. The Chief Minister, having been emboldened in silencing the opposition through the fake "White Paper" on the EDC, has tried this again with IFFI with crores of rupees of tax-payer's money going into the pockets of friendly contractors like INOX where the same will be re-directed into the funds of the BJP. Much was expected of Justice Pendse vis a vis this commission of inquiry. This proves without doubt that we are anything else but a democracy, and that, there are eminent personages who can be bent like reeds. Can anyone be trusted anymore? Sd/- President, Goa Su-Raj Party. 2nd. Floor, Karekar Building, Abv. IOB, Angod-Mapusa.
