Jul 26, 2005 To: The Administrator, GOANET.
For kind favour of publication. Thanking you, Yours Sincerely, for Goa Su-Raj Party Sd/- Gen. Secretary/Spokesperson. *** PRESS RELEASE Subject: CBI Investigation into IFFI Projects. The Goa Su-Raj Party is concerned about the reluctance of the Chief Minister Mr. Pratapsing Rane to initiate the CBI inquiry/investigations into the IFFI projects, inspite of the Congress Party having made this as its election plank during the recent bye-elections in five constituencies. The Goa Su-Raj Party congratulates Lokshakti for having organized the public meet on July 25, 2005 at Menezes Brangaza Hall, where naked facts of gross mismanagement and wastage of public funds have been professionally explained to the full house of concerned citizens of Goa. The Party concurs with the mindset of each and every speaker at this meet, more so, that the culprits must be brought to book through a thorough time-bound CBI investigation. The Party is with the people who believe that such acts of 'rape' of the people of Goa through misinformation and gross misappropriation of public funds must not go unchallenged and that if Mr. Rane is reluctant to initiate the time-bound CBI inquiry at the earliest, he is to be considered as 'persona non-grata, being accessory to the 'rape' and therefore demand that he vacates the august chair of the Chief Minister of Goa. The Goa Su-Raj Party which was initially against holding of the IFFI in Goa at such a short notice is of the opinion that: a) IFFI 2005 must be held at all costs so that not-holding the IFFI after putting in place the required infrastructure (overpaid or not) will only immortalize Mr. Manohar Parrikar. b) That IFFI 2005 and subsequent IFFIs can be held for not more than Rs. 2 to 3 crores, where one hundred crores demanded by the Rane Government of the center is absurd. c) Having awakened the aspirations of Goan talents, example of which is Konkani film "ALISHA' which has earned National recognition, it would be a sheer let down. Besides, the Congress party now in power has a chance to show to the world that Goa can organize IFFI on professional basis minus unwanted funfare. d) Rane's government which is sweet on the Convention Centre in Goa which is estimated to cost Rs. 250 plus crores would be a disservice to Goa if IFFI is not held in 2005 and subsequently held at the convention center on its completion. e) The convention center should not be another rape of Goa and its people considering the new thinking of popular governments that mega projects offer mega commissions to be pocketed by the powers that be. f) That HOK, the Canadian Consultants engaged by Mr. Manohar Parrikar 's government for IFFI must be sued for breach of trust. g) Clarification sought from Congress government in Goa vide a White Paper with respect to MOPA Airport, proposed Pednem-Pollem Highway and the Goa Convention Centre, their priority benefits to Goa, remembering that the people will want accountability of each and every rupee spent on these projects so that the rape such as the IFFI-2004 does not happen again and culprits going scot free. End
