In a late evening meeting called by the Chief Minister
Mr Pratapsing Raoji Rane, as the count down to IFFI
begins inviting the Deputy Speaker Ms Victoria
Fernandes and the Town & Country Planning Minister Mr
Atanasio Babush Monseratte at 2230 hrs IST along with
other NGOs and Sarpanchs of Village Panachayats Mr
Rane tried to impress upon the group that the revenue
villages would be removed from the PDAs and PDAs
restricted only to the cities but as far as the
ordinance of 29th September, 2005 he pleaded that the
same though held in abeyance as of now will be
discussed in the Goa Legislative Assembly in the
coming session (winter in January 2006?) and a general
debate would be initiated to weigh the pros and cons
of the draconian ordinance.
He expressed his inability to have a Cabinet decision
to reconsider the ordinance and withdraw it. While
one of the negotiating teams pointed out that when the
law was already in force in the form of the ordinance
where was the need to discuss it again with the non
MLAs? and therefore nothing short of demanding its
withdrawal would be considered.
Ms Fernandes clearly indicated that the agitation
continued for over a month and that the MLA's of the
ruling side were just watching the scene, instead of
supporting the movement against it. She blamed Mr
Rane for his prolonged delay in the matter giving a
chance to non ruling political outfits to steal the
show of the anti ordinance.
She reiterated that unless the ordinance was withdrawn
there would be no compromise and the agitation on 21st
will continue.
Meanwhile this writer spoke to Ms Margaret Alva All
India Congress Committee General Secretary looking
after the Goa Desk and briefed her on the ongoing
month long agitation. It was also pointed out that
the agitation had offered the Opposition rank and file
to take mileage on the issue for though they support
Ms Victoria on the agitation they have not held a
single meeting thus far. This was with reference to
the leader of the Opposition making use of the meeting
at Calangute instead of holding his party meet to
support the agitation.
Ms Magaret Alva was also informed that the reason why
her views are being taken and she is asked to use her
influence on the Goa INC is because it has become
convenient to put the blame on the High Command
whenever such tricky issues are in place.
Ms Alva said that Goa is becoming a laughing stock
holding agitation and it will affect the IFFI and the
world media would be against us and Goa. At this the
writer informed her that it was equally shameful that
an MLA of the ruling party had to go to the streets to
agitate when her own partymen have maintained a stoic
silence. In any way she felt it was better to discuss
with the CM and ensure that the ordinance is out if
the people so desire it. When she stated that if the
matter is debated in the Assembly the whip could be
issued and the ruling party MLAs would vote for it
blindly and there the damage would be worse. Caught
on the wrong foot she however felt that the matter
could best be decided with the CM alone as the
Governor had already signed the same. It was then
pointed that perhaps there was a misrepresentation of
facts to the Governor since the issue was rushed
through, yet she pleaded to take up with the CM and
sort out the matter. As regards the opposition
joining the agitation she felt it is for the CM to
sort out the same.
In conclusion it is now evident that the draconian
ordinance especially section 33(1) as amended will not
need to carve out any planning areas as the Government
could direct the Chief Town Planner to change land use
of even non plan area.
As the CM later on feigned ignorance on the
technicalities as brought out by some members at the
meet held at his residence, the meeting ended with a
firm committment from Ms Victoria that the agitation
would continue irrespective of the CM's stance. One
of the members did not take kindly to the defiant
attitude of the Minister for TCP who called the
agitators names and pooh phooed the agitating groups
and the press reports.
On Monday the Winter session of Parliament starts and
the issue of the Goa ordinance is already billed to be
voiced in Parliament by the BJP, this could have
serious repercussions on the ruling combine. Further
the HOT TOPIC discussion on TV on the GOA 365 of the
local cable network will be telecast on Sunday 20th
September 2005 and this could embarrass the Government
further. As it is the agitation is swelling in its
ranks and Ms Victoria is not going to compromise on
its complete withdrawal niether are the supporting
NGO's and others
as conveyed vide teletalks
GODFREY J I GONSALVES
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
9822158584
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