Here's what appeared on the Niz Goenkar comments section: -- Anthony Alvares -Jt. Sec. MSSG Wednesday - Jul 24, 2013 Mr. Eugene is kinda "know-it-all" xapottkar. For his information, Prof. Prajal Sakardande, my personal friend is very much with the MSSG as its Secretary, and will attend their meet to be held on Friday(26th July) evening. Concerned Goans are invited for the same. Venue: Institute Nossa Senhora da Piedade, Panjim at 6:30 pm. --- Dear Alvares,
I expected a person who is an activist in social causes to be a little more diligent and careful in making a remark such as the one you made about me. For your info, the question about Prof. Sakardande's moving to the rival Goa Movement For Special Status was framed by Menino Fernandes and explained coherently by Adv. Antonio Lobo. I only said that I sensed a hurt in Antonio's voice over this episode. Here's part of a report from the Times of India, dated Jan. 26, 2013. "Unchecked immigration in Goa is leading to ruthless development on hills and other areas where construction is prohibited. We have presented a memorandum to the chief minister to get special status for Goa and we have given him a copy of the memorandum presented to the President of India in 2010 in the matter with an appeal to introduce legislation in the upcoming session of the assembly and our chief minister has agreed. We do not want financial packages, we only want special status to preserve our cultural identity," Prajal Sakhardande, president of GMFSS said. Considering what you said on NG, it seems Prof. Sarkhandande has moved back to MSSG as secretary from being president of GMFSS. I may add that because of these political brinkmanship on the part of both bodies that the cause of Special Status for Goa is suffering. Here's what Pushpa Iyengar writes on Goan Spirit: One year after he died, all that has happened is that there is GMSS and MSSG and the twain have not met, metaphorically speaking. While Matanhy’s wife, Alina, the current minister for forests and environment, feels the MSSG, which was born on July 7 last year with Antonio Lobo as the convenor, should merge with her late husband’s outfit, it is not accepted by everyone. “What are the terms of reference for the merger?” asks Lobo. For the Navelim meeting this January 26, he claims he coaxed Alina into putting in an appearance. But there’s a feeling that “she is not co-operating, she is not interested at all” and the phrase “hijacking of agendas” has been mentioned frequently. But on February 23, one of the founder members and office bearers of GMSS, Shashi Kamat, clarified that, “The idea of merger came from Antonio Lobo first and then from Floriano Lobo but till date there has been no move from them in this direction. However, Alina has made it clear that she along with GMSS is pursuing the dream of her late husband Matanhy Saldanha. “She is the guiding light”, Prajal Sakhardande, GMSS president, and also a convenor for MSSG, told *GS. * He does agree that she maintained a low profile on the issue “because of her period of mourning”. He met Parrikar on the eve of Matanhy’s first death anniversary on March 21 to press for an Assembly resolution on Special Status for Goa, says: “Unchecked migration into Goa is leading to ruthless development on hills and other areas where construction is prohibited”. His recent petition to the CM is the third. He had earlier given him a copy of the memorandum presented to the President of India in 2010 (also presented in 2008 by GMSS). The report is dated April 8-15, 2013. Sarkhandande was president of GMSS of at that time and also convenor of MSSG. And according to you, Mr. Antonio, he's "Very much with the MSSG as its Secretary," Compounding the confusion seems what these two bodies are doing. Seems the movement has either lost its way or lost its plot. In a lighter vein, nice alphabet soup to be fed to the people who may be who may be constipated with the working of GMSS and MSSG. No hard feelings, but wishing you the best. Eugene Correia
