Dears, On 31 December, 2006 some over enthusiastic activists refused to tone down their rhetoric and insisted on labelling the Taleigao MLA Atanasio "Babush" Monserrate as Kamsa [the wicked uncle of Krishna who killed at birth all the children who would have been Krishna's elder siblings],Narkasur, and Taliban de Taleigao because of the Regional Plan. today some of these over-enthusiatic "activists" are vying for space to speak alongside this same men like the Gopi's of Nandanvan as if he was their Krishna Kanhaiya or the Pied Piper of Taleigao Murli Krishna. No prizes for guessing to which party their affiliation ..... or "sympathy" .... lies!
Meanwhile, "Arjuna" Matanhy's rath trundles along the dusty, mine-blown roads from Valpoi to Bicholim. No prizes for guessing here either. The list of speakers ...... and the guys issuing the supporting/collaborative press notes ..... says it all. Just read the newspapers and watch out for more from 10 January, 2008 from the Kurukshetra [ Crook Shetra] at Penha de France. C'est la vie, n'est pas?? Mog asundi. Miguel PS It is nice to see the CCP Corporator, Avinash [the Indistructible] Bhosle, sharing the platform with his mentor Babush against his former funda, Daya, with whom he made merry last New Year at the proposed International Cricket Stadium ...trying to ring in the new ..... !! What do they say, Politicians do not have permanent friends, just permanent interest ..... and make capital whenever they can! Taleigao rally demands scrapping of IT Habitat NT Staff Reporter Panaji, Dec 9 The Taleigao MLA, Mr Atanasio Monserrate today said that scrapping of the Rajiv Gandhi IT Habitat project is a challenge he has accepted, and if needed, would not hesitate to "spill his blood" to see the end of the project. Mr Monserrate also maintained that he himself is capable of fully developing the Taleigao constituency, and needs no help from the government. Speaking before a large crowd participated in a peaceful morcha against the controversial project on the Dona Paula plateau, the Taleigao MLA said that he is ready to buy all 18 plots located in the habitat which have been sold at a cost between Rs 3,000 and Rs 4,000 per sq mt, and further allot it to the people from his constituency, for their benefit. Earlier, the march, which started from the church square, at Taleigao, was stopped along the way by the police, with Section 144 clamped at and around the IT Habitat. Mr Monserrate who led the march, addressed the people from atop a vehicle, in the presence of the city mayor, Mr Tony Rodrigues, a number of corporators of the Corporation of the City of Panaji, and other local leaders. Speaking further, Mr Monserrate said, "The government which took pride in announcing that it was for 'aam aadmi', today trampled on the rights of the common man by clamping Section 144 in an area which has a Hindu cremation ground." "Should the people on the deathbed wait until Section 144 is lifted, and then die, so that they may be cremated without any legal hassle," he questioned Stating that the Congress president, Ms Sonia Gandhi had launched the IT Habitat project in good faith, the Taleigao MLA said that Ms Gandhi must have thought that a project named after her late husband would be beneficial to Goa and its people. "How was she to know that some corrupt and greedy people in her party holding high posts would turn the project into a money making racket through land deals," he exclaimed, charging that these people want to make money by taking advantage of the name of late Rajiv Gandhi. Mr Monserrate said that the people from the Taleigao constituency would have welcomed giant IT companies like Wipro with open arms, as such establishments would have not gone into construction of massive structures, but provided better jobs with good salaries. Coming out hammer and tongs against the IT Minister, Mr Dayanand Narvekar, the Taleigao MLA alleged that "Mr Narvekar has not only allotted one of the plots at the IT Habitat to his brother-in-law who is neck deep into debt amounting to Rs 90 lakh, but also demanded money from a close friend of the Chief Minister for allotting a plot to him." Without taking any names, Mr Monserrate said that a number of cabinet ministers - including a public representative from Salcete taluka who was vehemently speaking against the government but has presently "lost his voice" - are supporting Mr Narvekar as he holds the finance portfolio. The government is uncommitted on the demand of the people to scrap the IT Habitat project and is only buying time by delaying any such announcement, Mr Monserrate observed. "What can the public expect from the infrastructure committee of the state cabinet in which three out of five members are thieves," he alleged. The public meeting was also addressed by a CCP corporator, Mr Avinash Bonsle, besides Mr Agnel Silveira, Mr Pradeep Nagvekar and Mr Jeevan Mayekar. Later, a life-sized effigy of the IT Minister was burnt by the participants of the rally.ENDS -- -.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-. Miguel Braganza, S1 Gracinda Apts, Rajvaddo, Mhapsa 403507 Goa Ph 9822982676 [EMAIL PROTECTED] -.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
