Dear Goanetters, Goebbles here yet again promoting my 'Hitler' Parrikar.
Some 'idiot' published this news in today;s Oheraldo: President’s nod for Goa Lokayukta *May 15, 2012* TEAM HERALD [email protected] PANJIM: The road has been finally cleared for constitution of a Lokayukta in Goa with the President of India Pratibha Patil giving her assent to the bill. Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar while speaking to Herald on Monday confirmed the news that the president has given her assent to the Goa Lokayuka Bill. Parrikar said the modalities towards formation of Lokayukta in Goa will begin within the next fortnight. “Nothing has been finalised as yet, it will take some time since it is a long drawn process”, said the chief Minister when questioned if any names had been shortlisted to head the Lokayukta. Nine years after it was introduced in the state legislative assembly, the Goa Lokayukta bill was sent in amended form for the president's assent. Parrikar in his budget speech in March had stated that government would immediately appoint a Lokayukta, and that his government would follow up the the matter with Centre. The BJP in its election manifesto had promised to set up the Lokayukta within 100 days. The Goa Lokayukta Bill was first intoduced in Goa Assembly in 2003. It was later referred to a select committee. The selected report was adopted by state assembly in 2006. In 2007 it was sent for the president's assent. However, assent to the bill was delayed consequent to certain queries by central departments. The amended version of the bill was adopted by the state assembly in 2011 and was sent to the central government for assent. The Goa Lokayukta Bill was earlier cleared by the Union ministries of home, law and judiciary, and personnel and training. The Home Ministry gave its clearance to the Goa Lokayukta Bill on grounds that the central Lokpal Bill would supersede the state bill on issues that overlap when the Lokpal Bill is passed by the Centre. Another senior government official said it is now a matter of few a days that they receive a communique from Ministry of Home Affairs, and the state government would proceed on appointing a Lokayukta. Advocate Satish Sonak, convenor of the Goa unit of India against Corruption said “The assent to the bill is one step forward on the road to eradicate corruption. But there is a big but. Many provisions on the Goa Lokayukta Bill are also toothless. Before the assembly polls, the BJP had promised the IAC (Goa unit) that it would bring about an amendment to borrow good provisions from the Uttarakhand Bill. We would like to remind the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government that they should honour their promise.” Comment: I would like to know whether it was the same Aires accusing Shri Parrikar of lying about Lokayukta file being at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. It looks as if it was not Parrikar but Aires who was 'economical with the truth'. Aires of course has acused Parrikar of illegalities, despotism etc. Was it the same Aires who was sharing stage with Parrikar just a couple of years ago? Can Aires explain to Goanetters what went wrong? Also, he has apparently claimed that he will file 100 cases of illegalities committed by this government in the last two months. I think he should. I think goa certainly needs a strong Lokayukta and I for one would love to see Justice Rebello occupy this post. However, Goa also needs selfless activists with integrity, not disgruntled 'chamchas' involved in blackmailing. Anil Desai
