A few responses below. ++ vjp Message: 5 Date: Sat, 5 Mar 2011 17:47:01 -0800 (PST) From: "Rajan P. Parrikar" <[email protected]> Subject: [Goanet] Throw the casinos out of Goa
To Goanet - I read about Manohar Parrikar declaring that he wants to shut down "illegal" casinos. Not enough, I say. THROW OUT ALL CASINOS FROM GOA. We know how "legal" and "illegal" are fungible entities in Goa (and in India). These are meaningless terms. The Supreme Court gave a judgement on Cidade de Goa and Digu, batting for Timblo, turned that judgement on its head. So illegal became legal within 24 hours. vjp: Brilliant and well said. ++++++++++++ The important thing is to do what is right. The casinos in Mandovi river are a disgrace and an insult to every Goan. They are effectively floating brothels and gambling dens. (DEL) You can figure out why 'independent journos' and migrant editors in Goa don't want to touch this story. vjp: Send them up some other river. Heck not even the Narmada which has been abused enough. ++++++++++++ If you have noticed a sudden increase in the number of faces of girls from the northeast hanging around in Panjim the past few months, that is not a coincidence. No longer is Goa a brothel in the metaphorical sense. IT IS A LITERAL BROTHEL. It is also common knowledge that one minister (I believe it is more than one, but my informant can confirm at least one) has a direct stake in one of the casinos. His average take in a month runs into crores. Most of the owners are outsiders, fellows who have suitably bribed local politicos and panchayats to feather their little pads in Goa. Many of the employees at the floating casinos are outsiders. Furthermore, has anyone investigated the sewage and other rubbish that is being dumped in the river? vjp: Imagine if this was the North East and the public taking things in its own hands. I keep thinking that after Parshuram, the parshu, the Portuguese -- these boys straight-jacketed minds, bodies and spirits as well as the fact that spiritual organizations caved in--also with the tacit though tangential sportsmanship of those who repeatedly criticise the involvements of religious in politics. Such matters are context based, and not to be taken lightly. +++++++++++++++ So I say to Manohar - if you mean it, then shut down ALL casinos. Otherwise you are just blowing smoke. vjp: Time for me to think on orifices. +++++++++++++++ I say to the Goans - how can you be so goddam supine that any bhailo can run over you at will? If the GRA has any teeth, the first order of business - throw the casinos out of Goa. vjp: Logic is hard to imbibe. Perhaps not much was learnt from Kant's logic, And Immanuel means God with us!! But I personally feel that the Church played a huge role in anaesthetising its flock. Who knows what deals were made. To gain something one has to be be willing to loose. This could mean destruction by elements of places of worship, old neighborhoods, etc. But odd balances have been maintained and the flock/s emasculated. It is only when deep sentiments are hurt that wills get steeled, and people will be able to discern who not to associate with. But that has been prevented under the guise of Love and its connotations. People prefer to be led. In our world, unlike say France where people protest depite all their modernity-- its hard when one gets modern (even somewhat) to withstand a hit, a beating--not easy. We have those individuals--those who not long ago sat on the Panjim bridge. One must embrace them, learn from them etc. Those who help prop up systems also need to be embraced. The police bigwigs for instance who to feather their nests and prevent being transferred by doing the bidding of these politicians. And so forth--stuff that most who do well, and share in anyway in the spoils KNOW. ++++++++++++ venantius j pinto +++++++++++++++ Regards, r ------------------------------
