FOTASHI
With even the lawyers hitting the streets to seek justice for their colleague, the image of the ruling government has hit an all time low and many are now wondering if lawlessness is slowly creeping into society where street justice is going to be the name of the game.
More so, because it was not a high profile official that the government was seemingly trying to shield but a constable apparently with top political connections.
All the brouhaha could have been easily been avoided if Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who is also the Home Minister, had followed the adage: a stitch in time, saves nine. Had he intervened and ordered the suspension of the cops involved and a simultaneous impartial inquiry at the initial stage itself, he and his government could have saved the blushes.
This unsavoury episode has now created a sense of insecurity among the common man with an erosion of trust in the government machinery, especially the police. It has also exposed the unholy alliance among the politicians and the police, which seems to care two hoots for the law of the land.
If lawyers don't get justice, what about us, is the question on everyone's mind now.
Mopa chaos
It wasn't the couple of thousand people who made to Mopa last Sunday alone who faced the brunt of the ill-managed affairs at the venue where Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 'Manohar International Airport'. It also left the press corps fuming.
The half-hearted arrangements left dozens of journalists and crew from the media waiting endlessly for the event to start. Hungry and thirsty, with no arrangements until a supposed 'high tea' which was hardly high in sight, the mood and temperatures were shooting to a bad place, despite the soothing effect of unseasonal rain.
GMR International Airport Ltd, which owns and will operate the airport, may have to strengthen its PR and corporate communication division. The inaugural day wasn't the first time the arrangements were shabby. Around a month ago, similar disdain was exhibited towards the 'fourth estate' when Chief Minister Pramod Sawant toured the site and had the Department of Information tag journalists along.
There was nothing for the press. In news content I mean as journos were taken onto the tarmac/runway where Sawant and a few other politicians posed for a photograph and that's it.
A promised visit to the Air Traffic Control tower never happened. The reason: it's an out of bounds area for security reasons. Never mind that social butterflies, including Rotary Club peeps, had pictures inside the ATC posted all over social media around the same time.
Journalists are, after all, a bigger threat to the powers that be and should be.
Goa to have an AYUSH Minister soon
On Sunday, at the valedictory function of the World Ayurveda Congress, 'Vaidya' Pramod Sawant seized on to the opportunity and announced that Goa will create a separate department and ministry for AYUSH.
The opportunity couldn't have come at a better time for Sawant, faced as he is with his biggest political challenge yet, in his second innings: the need to rejig his team and 'accommodate' some from the eight Congress MLAs who switched over to his side two months ago.
It is almost certain that at least two from the eight will be inducted as ministers but for it to happen, Sawant is saddled with the question of which two among his current team will he dump.
This is the question that is seeing anxiety levels among the ministers hit the roof. Answers, however, will only be found when the cabinet reshuffle actually happens.
As for portfolios, we recall that some years ago when Calangute MLA Michael Lobo was first elevated as minister, a new ministry was created and he was designated as 'Garbage' minister. Now, Sawant is readying the ground to name another politician as 'Ayush' Minister.
Let's wait and see who it will be.
Hey Prabhu not again
After all the cases slapped on him and over Rs eight-crore to be paid to unit holders by way of penalty, Venkatesh Prabhu Moni remains remarkably unfazed and has been moving around the State as eager as a beaver.
So his presence in the Mapusa Municipal Council on Thursday morning did not come as a surprise to many, at least not to the appellants who have hauled him to various courts of law including the RERA court.
But the point is why was Moni in the municipality!
If a little birdie is to be believed, the beleaguered builder is working overtime to obtain the occupancy certificate to his much maligned and under litigation building, Prabhu Chambers.
And the buzz is that the civic body and its politicos known to be close to Moni are inclined to issue it to him.
But the unit holders who have been wronged aren't taking things lying down and gearing up to face the worst. Looks like the heat is on.
RERA: 'Favourite' staffer gets royal treatment
Getting a government job is an achievement in itself, but for a retired government servant to corner a position in a government department after turning 65 is even bigger.
A certain retired government servant was appointed on contract basis in the office of the Goa Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) for three years. Nothing unusual with that. But, on completion of the contractual three-year period and attaining the age of 65 the gentleman re-applies for the post!
His request was expectedly rejected by the concerned department. But the gentleman, who is said to be a favourite among some officials at RERA, continues to work in the same position, albeit without a contract.
Is anybody listening?
The 'Manohar' puzzle
Finally the greenfield international airport at Mopa got a name, Manohar International Airport.
But is the controversy settled?
Seems like not, and in fact, even more questions are now being asked via memes and hotly debated social media posts such as: Manohar who? Azgaonkar, Pednekar or Bicholkar?
Some sharing the common first name Manohar, have begun sarcastically claiming the airport is named after them. In Old Goa, one such person even threw a party for friends and family.
But the big question is: If the BJP wanted to honour Manohar Parrikar then why was the airport not named as Manohar Parrikar international airport?
Only those who were behind the christening of the airport can tell. And until they do, it's 'viva' to all the Manohars.
(Compiled by Ashley do Rosario with inputs from Manuel Vaz)
