Now the Games will go well Crack Goa Team for Commonwealth Games By Cecil Pinto
My home phone rang again. The last time I picked it up nobody spoke. This time I let it ring a few times before picking it up. I said nothing but listened to the heavy breathing on the other side. After a few seconds a hoarse male voice asked me, “Is the coast clear?”. “Wrong number”, I replied, “This is not the weather department.” My wife paused whatever she was doing at the computer and asked me who it was. I told her what happened. She became pensive for a while and then casually picked up her cellphone and started tapping out a message. Meanwhile the phone rang again. “Hello!” I almost shouted, “Who is this? Stop irritating me.” “It’s me”, said the same raspy voice, “Is it safe to talk?” “Who is this?” I screamed into the receiver. “It’s me, X14.” Then I got it. This was my good friend and buddy from school who never really grew out of Hardy Boy Adventures. X14, as he likes to be called, revels in playing these cloak and dagger games. “Why exactly are you speaking that way?” “I got a cute foreign gitesh?” “A cute foreign what?” “Foreign gitesh. My throat…” “Aha! Acute pharyngitis. Why don’t you just say sore throat like everyone? So what do you have for me this time?” X14 was my source for inside information. His spy games and great contacts in drinking establishments made him my constant supplier of incredible information. “You know about the CGT for CWG?” “No I haven’t and stop being cryptic. Is this some team of sports people? Athletes? Officials?” “No, No. The Crack Goa Team for the Commonwealth Games. The State and Central Governments are denying it but I managed to find out that a high level team was summoned from Goa last week in a last ditch attempt to salvage the Games that begin on the 3rd of October. Manohar Parrikar is heading the CGT.” “How come Parrikar was chosen to lead this Crack Goa Team?” “Look at his track record. Six years back he got Panjim and Goa ready for the IFFI in just a few months. Parrikar leads from the front. He’s at the site and not giving instructions from some office. That is the type of leadership they need in Delhi now. You just see how Parrikar will...” “But during the first IFFI there were allegations of corruption.” “Arre baba, there will always be allegations of corruption when big money is involved. But look at the scale here. What was IFFI? A few dozen crores? The Commonwealth Games involves thousands and thousands of crores. There’s enough money around to get the job done, despite what has been siphoned out already. But since you’re questioning cleanliness I must tell you about the ACT.” “ACT?” “Advance Crack Team. Two members were sent even before the CGT - Sanjit Rodrigues and Clinton Vaz.” “Huh? Why?” “Obviously to clean up all the filth and put systems in place for garbage management. Sanjit is still remembered for cleaning up Panjim and making it virtually plastic bag and garbage bin free. The garbage collection system he put into place still serves Panjim well. And young Clinton is doing wonders with his garbage management consultancy services. These two are going to get Delhi clean, whatever it takes.” “Whatever it takes?” “Yes whatever. The Central Government has given a clean message to the Goa Crack Team. Do what it takes, but get the job done.” “And are they being paid for their services?” “Of course they’re being paid, and well. But what’s more important is that the Central Government has agreed to reciprocate by sending much needed funds to Goa for development. They’ve even agreed to release the JNNURM funds due to Panjim which the Corporation bungled up about.” “Wow! Tell me who else is in the Crack Goa Team sent to rescue the CWG?” “Well there’s Dayanand Narvekar of course.” “Why him?” “Who else? He knows all there is to know about stadiums and tickets and stuff like that. And his knowledge and experience of cricket events in India and abroad can be put to good use in Delhi now.” “So I guess a supposedly super-efficient person like Vishwajeet Rane is also part of the team?” “He was initially in the CGT but had to be dropped later.” “How come? Because his election is coming up?” “No, No. That’s a cakewalk for Vishwajeet. He was dropped because he was insisting that a contingent of 400 of his voters from Valpoi accompany the team – and be given permanent Government jobs after the Commonwealth Games end.” “Next you’ll tell me Churchill Alemao is in the team?” “Actually he is a very important member of the CGT, as is his daughter Valanka. Look at it this way. Kalmadi builds bridges that fall down. Churchill builds bridges where they’re not required. It’s all connected. But Churchill has taken a select team of PWD engineers, accountants and contractors with him to do up all the roads in Delhi.” “Huh? But those are the same people who are responsible for the pathetic state of our roads in Goa in recent years.” “Exactly! See in Delhi they’re not looking for long lasting roads. The roads need to just last for two weeks and they can then be washed away, for all anyone cares.” “Ok now I see the logic. Perfect choice! And what about our CM Digambar Kamat? Doesn’t he find place in the team?” “Sure. He’s going to be inaugurating all the stadiums and bridges and whatever. He’s the team’s Inauguration Expert.” “How come the CGT is dominated by politicians?” “There are other experts. Wendell Rodricks and Jerrome Marrel will make sure an event of this scale does not lack in hospitality and catering. Francisco Martins will provide expertise in décor and pageantry. Sonia Sirsat and Lorna are going to entertain the guests with their songs. There’s many others and of course Skitter Fia is the Public Relations consultant to see that only good news about the games appears in the media.” “They should have hired Skitter in the very beginning!” ---------- The column above appeared in Gomantak Times dated 30th September 2010 ======
