tony martin wrote:
> Monserate may be a Narkasur. I don't know him personally. I only have
> a fair idea about politics, politicians and their priorities. But in a
> civil society, and in the present case, it is unfair that he should be
> tried by the media, by netizens, by citizens and by everyone who
> thinks his views need t
Tony, "activism" is becoming curiouser and curiouser in Goa these days!
This evening, Parrikar was lambasting the the three Congressmen whom he
now sees as responsible for the "bloody government" that we suffer from.
But he didn't see that these guys had their hands bloodied when Digu,
Ravi Naik and Babush were propping up his government at a crucial point
of time in Goa's saffronising history when he had no mandate to rule.
Aren't these the same guys who gave credibility to the Babushes of our
world, so as to better their chances of a victory, by minus-sing one
from the 'other' side? Who built up these guys as "Catholic leaders",
and had no problem with them as long as they were in the right camp?
Remember the income tax raids and who supported whom then?
Within the Congress too, there are a lot of shenanigans emerging.
Narvekar and others want Babush's seat, not better morality in
governance. When ex-ministers also turn "activist" and block IT habitats
in their fiefdom, I don't think this is kindly taken to.
Bottomline probably is that the other Congressmen don't like the way one
of them is dominating the cash-cow that is the real estate lobby in
today's Goa! The statements being made by various politicians, both
within and outside the party, are most insightful. So is the reporting
in a State, where politicians have of late quite successfully built
extensions of their party operations even within the Fourth Estate!
(Imagine Narvekar voicing outrage, when the ex-minister was himself
accused in a strikingly similar case, for sending his 'goons' to beat up
Rajan Narayan, according to the editor, quite some years back.)
Ravi Naik would probably like to up the public outrage, and then step in
as the hero taking action. (As for Goa's abilities in staging fake
arrests, the less said the better; someone was remembering a man called
Battlo just yesterday) He's not the only one. Who says there's no bitter
competition among politicians fronting for various lobbies and offering
to do the job better?
Trials by public opinion can be both dangerous and prone to
manipulation. Trials by "activism" is as unfair. That the legal system
works very slowly, and justice often fails to be delivered, is no excuse....
Aires' and Prajal's brutal assault follows earlier similar attacks on
Rajan Narayan and our (mine and Tony's) colleague Anthony Fernandes.
Anthony, now in the Gulf, had just done an expose on the launching of a
Goa 'matka' operations here some years ago. It was not possible for any
Babush to take an Aires-has-many-enemies position in the Anthony
Fernandes case, because the link was rather obvious. Like in this case,
Anthony was also beaten up while at dinner at the Horseshoe Restaurant,
not far from Anand.
I've known Aires since his early days on Goanet, and respect his
considerable intelligence, ability to make an argument and write
convincingly. At short notice, he had the ability to write a 1200-word
article making a very clear case critiquing what was wrong with
governance in Goa, for isntance. But, for the likes of me, I have yet to
fathom out the method to the madness of Aires' campaigns.
For that matter, after the December 2007 'attack' (quotes, because the
versions keep changing, depending on Babush's proximity to power!) Aires
was one of the prominent Babush supporters seated in his plush
residence, as the politician held court and addressed us mere mortals
and journos, telling us about the brutalities on his hapless son, etc.
I find it hard to believe that activists can convince themselves that
their persistent campaigns are actually not tailor-made to benefit one
or the other as dubious political interest in today's Goa. While many
activists are still sincere to their beliefs and struggles and have to
fight hard over it (compare the concern raised over mining in interior
Goa recently!), being a political cats-paw might only spread further
cynicism in Goa.
And, a last thought: I think it just goes to show the needs of dubious
agenda-driven campaigning and media sensationalism that we need to
identify the 14-year-old girl caught in this alleged sex crime, by
making her so easily identifiable. (Mother's name, nationality,
profession, village or residence, etc.) There were some hot words
exchanged in the pre-internet days when Dayanand Narvekar was himself
caught up in a 'molestation' controversy (the reasons for these inverted
commas are perhaps more apparent today than in those days of heady
campaigning!). But not only are we violating the suggested ethics laid
down by the Press Council (many newspapers and agencies are just
reporting this with fully details), but it is, if not mistaken, also
against the law to identify the victims of sex-crimes (more so minors)
both in India and probably elsewhere too! FN
