============== ALL 'n' SUNDRY By Valmiki Faleiro ============== OF MORCHAS & HARTALS
What point, and against whom, was the Goa BJP trying to score, when it brought Panjim to a 3-hour agonizing halt last Tuesday evening? Striking at the *aam Goenkar* it avows to serve, literally on the streets ... hungry students returning home with their burden of books and homework, women with infants -- and older kids awaiting their return, the sick and the ailing to or from hospitals, passengers on the throes of missing connecting journeys... Whom was the BJP targeting and who did it hit? Militant trade unions declared *Hartals* in the yesteryears. But Tuesday, BJP's flash *Hartal* put another big *Morcha* by the All India Trade Union Congress, same day in another part of Panjim, to shame. The AITUC mobilized its cadres and made its point, without inconveniencing people at large. Courts of law have in the past ruled on Morchas, Hartals and Bandhs vis-à-vis disruption of daily life. Was a semblance of rule of law in evidence in Panjim Tuesday? Must we knock at the judiciary's door every time the executive abdicates its duty? How would Parrikar act, if he were Chief Minister that Tuesday? Youth Congress activists blocked traffic at the Ribandar end of Pato causeway when Parrikar was in power. He quickly put them behind bars and pressed criminal cases. And Rane? A full 24 hours later, he threatened to institute an "Enquiry!" When will the authors of such Morchas realize that inconveniencing the public will not fetch them sympathy? Fight, demonstrate, protest, score your points -- but do it between yourselves. Why subject apolitical innocents on the streets to untold miseries? Have politicos not done that already, in good measure, with their brand of "governance"? Even a student (quoted in HERALD) succinctly put the issue in perspective: "Why should the common man suffer for the inability of a few men to govern the state?" Shame, Parrikar and Rane! -------------------------------- Luizinho's latest labour of love -------------------------------- With characteristic fanfare, *Industrious* Minister Luizinho Faleiro announced several public projects in his constituency. Particularly in the segment west of River Sal, from Varca to the Mobor peninsula, home to a dense concentration of Goa's 5-star hotels. Notably a 200-metre bridge between Cavelossim and Assolna, a missing link presently spanned by government ferry service. Desirable, no doubt, but where are our priorities? Providing a motorable link at the far end of Salcete's river will sure help tourism and the luxury hotels. But what about the pressing need for links further upstream at Varca-Chinchinim or at Benaulim-Telaulim/Sinquetim? Places that not only form part of the same minister's constituency but are far more densely populated -- by *Goenkars*, not tourists -- than Cavelossim? We sure must be hospitable to our honoured guests, but at the cost of one's own household? In a sense, though, charity could begin at home in this case too... Maybe a coincidence that the minister, through relatives or corporate entities, owns the controversial Zug island at Cavelossim? And a pier or two of the proposed bridge could come to roost on that island? --------------------- Shame on Modganvkars! --------------------- The pride of Goa's civic edifices, the municipal building at Margao, with its envy of a frontyard -- the municipal garden, adjudged, again, the best in the days of yore -- witnessed its Centennial last week. It's not that the building just bears a stately appearance. My friend, former fellow-Councillor and architect, Ajit Hegde, never tired pointing out the unique architectural features of this imposing edifice ... including the relative height of its floors when viewed from the street level, all adding to an impression that few public buildings in Goa match (including the seat of the State, the *Adilcao* palace.) The colonial *Camara Municipal de Salcete* (yes, municipalities then represented the entire taluka, that's how we have 11 of them) was located at the then centre of town, the Holy Spirit Church square (present Old Market.) It was the far-sighted and easily the most illustrious of all of Salcete's Mayors, Dr. George Barreto of Benaulim, who mooted the idea of a new municipal building and saw to its completion. The centennial went unsung. Humble apologies, Dr. George Barreto! It's not that the original inhabitants of Salcete, whose civic destinies you presided in its golden age, have forgotten you. It's just that the ignominy reflects the sad levels to which this once glorious institution has sunk to... ============================================================================== The above article appeared in the February 19, 2006 edition of The Herald, Goa
