To Goanet - Subodh Kerkar bloviates: >Chief Minister should take strong action against such fanatic acts. Mr. Kamat, >are you listening?
First of all, I am all for members of civil society raising their voices to condemn the forces of fanaticism. It is just that in this particular instance I find 'hypocrititis' overriding 'sentihurtitis.' To be sure, "strong action" must be taken against anyone threatening citizens and disrupting public order. That's why we have the police dept and other law enforcement authorities. Why does Kerkar want the CM to intervene in what should be a routine law enforcement matter? On which planet has Kerkar spent the past 3 years? Appealing to Digambar Kamat, the fellow who found a way to get around a Supreme Court order, who presides over numerous cases of fraud and scam, who runs the most corrupt administration in Goan history, and who has done incalculable long-term damage to the interests of Goa and Goans? You are asking the very man who should be a subject of investigation to "take strong action"? Boy, Kerkar does have a sense of humour. Kerkar-bab, why don't you ask Digu to abolish the Arts & Culture Dept? As you surely know, it has turned into Digu's private prasad distribution agency to reward friends, family - and yes, critics - at state expense. A couple of lakhs here, 5 lakhs there. Nice, if you can get in on the gravy train. By the way, about that photo in the newspaper the other day, with you beaming alongside Digu and Sonia-ji. Has your nose recovered its colour yet? Regards, r * * * In every way, the Goans of Bombay were part of the great melee that was this metropolis, distinct perhaps in the way communities often are, holding on to their own traditions but merging slowly nonetheless and forming the thin thread of nationhood that would eventually become India. -- Selma Carvalho, in *Into the Goan Diaspora Wilderness*. Available at Broadways Book Centre, Panjim [Ph +91-9822488564] Price (in Goa only) Rs 295. http://selmacarvalho.squarespace.com/ * * *
