Dears,
Minister for Panchayati Raj[Prevention & Eradication]in the Government of Goa,
Mr. Babu Azgaonkar [currently a Congress man again]seemed to have temporarily
forgotten even which party and Government he belongs to today. He praised Shri
Manohar Parrikar for his ability as a doer. He had served as a Minister in
Parrikar's Government in yesteryears, and he remembers those glorious days of
unbriddled power with pride, specially Baina demolitions of 2004 that turned
other Margao-based cronies of Parrikar away from him, and even against him.
Said Babu at a public function to inaugurate the Devrai Hall in Aquem,
“Intelligent Leader of the Opposition should be with the Government to tackle
NGOs and those people, who are opposing mega projects for vested interest” as
can be seen in the Herald report below. Of course , he spoke in Konkani. I saw
the footage thrice on PRUDENT media news today just to get the facts right.
I wonder if he has had a cup of tea, as he was apparently advised by the Leader
of the opposition in the Goa Legislative Assembly last August in the language
he understands best ...... Konkani.
Not without justification, the Prudent Media news report stated "Panchayat
Minister goes back on his words." and proceeded to show visuals and run the
sound track wherein Babu says he praised Parrikar to win him over [and perhaps
make him a Congressman like he did for himself in 2005].Parrikar did not bite
the bait but praised the village level movements against "mega projects", he
rued. Can't blame Babu, can we? Budh asa demprani! To his credit, Babu has
clarified "Hecho arth Digamber kami mhun nhoi". That is the naked truth and
whom better to tell it to than Digamber. "Interesting justification" is what
the Prudent newsreader said it was!
"Handsome is who who handsome does" is an old English saying. Manohar Parrikar
has lived up to his name ['Manohar' means 'handsome' or 'pleasing'].Ask any old
timer, NRI or film producer about Baina or the INOX, restored old GMC/Escola
Medica de Goa complex or the Promenade or Corjuem bridge. For anyone who has
lived under Salazar or Marcel Caetano regimes, Parrikar is a benevolent
dictator who is required for "development" of Goa. Babu subscribes to this
school of thought. I do not know if he has ever been to a college or University
to have a world view. This is an era when, even if he has a degree certificate,
it will need to be sent for verification.
If the current condition of people's empowerment through the Gram Sabha
meetings leads to a true PANCHAYATI RAJ what will happen to the builders who
obtain all the licences, fraudulently or otherwise? Babu is a worried man.
"Disolve the Panchayats, the Assembly and the Parliament and let the Garam
Sabha issue licences" [for construtions] he says in mock rhetoric. Perhaps,
Joaquim Alemao's Ministry for Urban Development is better suited to Babu
Azgaonkar's new taste for wealth. If Joaquim is dropped to make place for
Madkaikar, that would be easy ....provided Babu is not dropped to accommodate
Narvekar!
First it was a ST minister who went out, then it was an OBC and now a Catholic
is on the verge or the umbro or ubbaro, the threshhold of the door. Who will be
next: GSB or SC? After Pale, will Congress Government in Goa kick the bucket as
per the rumour doing the rounds in some political circles ?
..........................................
Back Govt to tackle mega project ‘opponents’, Babu tells MLAs
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, OCT 10 With Government feeling the heat as people continue to oppose
the approved “mega projects” in panchayat areas, the Panchayat Minister today
proclaimed to lend all support to builders who have undertaken building
projects on obtaining all legal sanctions from departments concerned.
All the forty MLAs should support the Government and oppose people who are
illegally opposing mega projects, said Panchayat Minister Babu Azgaonkar while
making special reference to the Leader of Opposition Manohar Parrikar and his
IQ.
“Intelligent Leader of the Opposition should be with the Government to tackle
NGOs and those people, who are opposing mega projects for vested interest”, he
said.
The minister was speaking at a press conference held at Secretariat on Friday
here. While making it clear that gram sabhas have no business to decide on
projects or oppose legally sanctioned projects, minister said, at many places
opposition by gram sabhas for mega projects was not genuine and influenced by
vested interests.
And further said, Chief Minister Digambar Kamat should also take a firm stand
on the issue so that no builder should suffer when he has all approvals.
Panchayat grant sanction after all other departments such as PWD, TCP, approves
the projects. Permissions are granted in reference to zones. And if people do
want any mega project even in settlement zone, law to the effect has to be
introduced to ban big projects in the such zone, he said, adding but bashing of
panchayat members is no solution.
But he did not react when reporters told him that he should take lead in
bringing in such legislation. ENDS
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