ACTS OF VANDALISM
Ms. Yvette Gomes, Miramar.

I WAS SURPRISED to read in a section of the press on June 20 that acts of vandalism at Mala village, Fontainhas and Tonca were allegedly carried out by persons known for their pro‑active patriotism and who have disapproved the beautification of the city by the CCP saying it is pro-Latin.

For that matter much of the development that the Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar, has in store for the city for the IFFI has a Latin touch. If the activists (vandals?) who have destroyed the street furniture in the city had visited the Panaji Expo held recently at the Kala Academy by the CCP they would have realized that the products proposed to be used for the IFFI related projects have a Latin/Western design.

I would suggest that the activists (vandals?) of the Panaji Nagrik Kruti Samiti (who are very close to the Chief Minister) advise him not to install any fixtures which remind them of the Portuguese and if he refuses, threaten to break the new street lights fixed on the Miramar‑Dona Paula road as similar fixtures have been installed in Lisbon.
Why the double standards?

SILENT SPECTATORS
Edwin Dias, Tonca, Panjim.

THE DEMOLITION of tiled name boards recently installed by the CCP in the Fontainhas area by a group of vandals has disturbed the peace and harmony of this quiet locality of Panaji. The nameplates were removed even from walls of private residences with threats. Surprisingly, the police were silent spectators and in fact escorted the vandals. Are citizens to believe that this was a conspiracy hatched in connivance with the top leaders of the present regime?

The silence of the Mayor, Ashok Naik, and the Chief Minister and MLA of Panaji, Manohar Parrikar, is deafening. The vandalism was carried out openly, the witnesses being the Panaji police, local residents and the press. The local press carried the names of prominent people involved in the incident such as freedom fighter Nagesh Karmali, BJP/RSS leader Rajendra Velingkar (son of the Chief Minister’s close confidante Subhash Velingkar) and others.

Inspite of so much evidence the authorities have not dared to file a complaint. A belated complaint of the CCP was filed against “unknown miscreants” only after the Tonca pillar was also vandalized! The police are supposed to be the law enforcing authorities and can act even without a complaint being lodged, specially since its own men on duty at Mala were witnesses to the destruction of public and private property.

The local MLA and Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar, instead of bullying the poor women and children of Baina and rendering them homeless, should rather look into the law and order situation in Panaji, the capital city which is gone out of control. The Panaji people are losing faith in the Government. The only option available to Parrikar is to take drastic action against the miscreants or resign, the same goes for the Mayor Ashok Naik. Panaji people do not believe in impotent leadership or governance by default.

EXIGENCIES OF GOVERNANCE?
Gurudas Naik, Comba, Margao .

THIS HAS reference to press reports stating that Micky has vowed to support the Parrikar government. No one can deny that in a democratic set up it is the prerogative of the Chief Minister to appoint or drop a minister as per the exigencies of governance. However, what is very strange in this particular case is that the concerned minister, Micky Pacheco, was sacked without being consulted or sounded when he was out of the country in London. Besides, it is not as if the CM was sacking or dropping a minister belonging to his own party the BJP, but a crucial member of another party on whose support it was possible for Mr. Parrikar to form the government in 2002. Hence, it would not have been surprising if Micky was upset and refused to support the government on his return to Goa (not that it would affect the stability of the government as things stand today).

The fact of the matter is that, it is not by coincidence that just one day after Pacheco was dropped from the government, it has decided to file an appropriate charge sheet in an arson case pending against him within three weeks! In view of this latest development, it is obvious that Micky is not in love with Mr. Parrikar and his administration as he wants the people to believe, but is worried about the sword Mr. Parrikar is dangling over his head.. In the next few months you can expect the government to blow hot or cold with this court case depending on whether Micky behaves himself or not.

BEWARE OF POLITICIANS
Anselm Gomes, Cuncolim.

IN OUR COUNTRY there is no room for honest and clean people in politics. Money and muscle power plays the big role and taking advantage of this goondas, smugglers and the uneducated, contest elections and become MLAs, MPs and montris, mukhya-montris, crorepatis, within a short period. While educated freedom fighters who have sacrificed their life in prison and highly educated, honest, retired administrative gazetted officers, are voted out of contested elections. Reason being lack of money and muscle power.

While most of the supporters of elected representatives are unemployed, notorious goondas, and frequent trouble makers disturbing the peace of innocent people! And some of our opportunistic, unprincipled educated too support them for their own benefits. It’s a shame and I wonder when all this will end.

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