Digambar skips Budget session, holidays in US
Chief Minister Manoharbhai Parrikar’s absence on the first three days of Assembly session was the talking point both within and outside the Assembly. However, there was another MLA from Saxttidom, who was conspicuous by his absence since the session began on Monday, Margao MLA Diggu. While the focus of attention was of course Manoharbhai after he was taken ill to Mumbai before his return to the House to present the budget, Legislators as well as the scribes suddenly found that Diggu too was absent in the House. Realisation later dawned upon the media friends that Diggu is holidaying abroad, with his close aides saying that the Baba is presently holed up in the USA. As per reports, Diggu is only expected to return home on March 5 “ ahead of his birthday scheduled on March 8 on International Women’s Day.
GF ministers, Khaunte huddle at Davondem
Was it just a mere coincidence that all the Goa Forward party ministers “ Vijaibab Sardesai, Vinodabab Paliencar and Jayeshbab Salgaonkar, along with Revenue Minister Rohanbab Khaunte, went into a huddle at the Davondem bandh, when an ailing Manoharbhai Parrikar was undergoing treatment at the Mumbai hospital? Well, the presence of the four ministers, who constitute an important alliance group supporting the coalition government indeed assumes significance though Vijaibab might have sought to downplay the meeting on Sunday evening. For, the meeting came against the backdrop of the fact that the foursome had extended support only to Manoharbhai Parrikar to lead the coalition and not to the BJP party. Any questions?
What’s fate of resolutions on Sequeira’s statue?
Can anyone from the ruling dispensation throw light on the fate of the resolutions demanding the installation of Dr Jack de Sequeira’s statue in the Legislative Assembly? If not for the curtailment of the just concluded Assembly session because of Manoharbhai Parrikar’s ill health, the resolutions in support of Dr Jack de Sequeira’s statue might have figured on Friday, the day earmarked for private member’s resolution.
Indeed, NCP legislator Churchillbab Alemao, who had moved a private member’s resolution on Dr Jack de Sequeira’s statue had assured his close aides before the commencement of the Assembly session that he would use the day reserved for private members Bills and resolution to move the resolution. The question asked in social media circles is the very fate of the host of resolutions demanding Dr Jack de Sequeira’s statue in the House? Will Goa Forward chief Vijaibab Sardesai throw some light on the question?
Damu put on K’taka poll assignment
With neighbouring Karnataka heading for Assembly election later this year, where the saffron brigade is making a determined bid to return back to power, local BJP leader from Fatorda Damubab has been appointed by the party bosses to boost the party’s prospects in and around the North Kanara district. Damubab is believed to have already paid a visit to the Assembly constituencies falling in the North Kanara districts of Karnataka and he is expected to make frequent trips to the neighbouring state as the D-day draws near. In the past too, leaders of the BJP as well as the Congress had hit the campaign trail in Karnataka, with Chief Minister Manoharbhai Parrikar turning out the star campaigner. Wait and watch.
Hathibed courts language row
It was a week when a member of the State Commission for Safai Karmacharis, Dilip Hathibed courted a language row at the South district Collectorate when he insisted on the use of Hindi at the deliberations.
Social Welfare Deputy Director Santanbab, who took to the mike to introduce Hathibed, had to even make way for a Hindi speaking official to do the honours. Hathibed point blank told Santanbab in full public view to conduct the proceedings in Hindi since it is a national language. During the interaction, Hathibed is believed to have remarked that Goa cannot be different from the rest of the country in the implementation of schemes, before scribes raised an uproar, taking objection to his sermons to members of the Fourth Estate. How’s that?
