Dawn to Dusk Matanhy Padyatra rolls on

It is a roller coaster ride to be moving with United Goans Democratic Party candidate Matanhy Saldanha on his campaign trail given the fact that there are sudden changes in the prepared schedule as the polling date is fast drawing near, reports JULIO D’SILVA.

The day begins early for Matanhy who after his morning rituals and a healthy breakfast prepared by his wife Alina with great care but hurriedly gulped down, gets down to electioneering by calling up his lieutenants to go over the programme for the day and to check up on action taken with regards to earlier given tasks.

Although he was supposed to launch his padyatra in Margao market, frantic calls from supporters and well wishers, make him change his plan and he dashes off to Vasco to address four corner meetings within a span of 90 minutes.

“I have to be flexible to change the plans as my party does not have a real grass root level organization,” he concedes but is happy with the response his candidature has evoked not only in political circles, but even amongst the electorate.

The enthusiasm is palpable as one spends time with the candidate who keeps pointing out how Goa is being destroyed and thinks aloud of how the trend can be reversed.

While on his way to Margao, yet another telephone call forces a change in the plan. He is compelled to meet a political heavyweight - at least one who considers himself to be so - where a closed door meeting takes place for about half an hour.

As Matanhy is closeted with the politician, his driver gets harassed with persistent calls from the party president Dr Jorson Fernandes who is waiting for the candidate at the party office at Margao to go canvassing in the market area.

After a long delay of one-and-a-half hour, Matanhy makes it to the Margao office and has a quick confabulation with his president Dr Fernandes and munches upon a slice of the summer cooler - water melon.

Then it is back on the trail. Surrounded by a group of around 40 supporters that include the old and the young, men and women, the literate and the illiterate, Matanhy starts moving around Margao.

Starting from the shops below Gomant Vidya Niketan, he crosses over to the adjoining old bus stand and the shops by the side of State Bank of India and then crosses the Margao Municipal Council garden to canvass in the New Market area.

Shopkeepers and shoppers gave him such an enthusiastic response that even Dr Fernandes was surprised. “This is a good sign and it means that the loss of the traditional two leaves symbol will not affect us much,” he mused as people greeted Matanhy with “katol aili”.

Many middle class women who had come shopping were thrilled with the experience and some of them insisted on shaking hands with the candidate. “We support you because you are a good man” was the general refrain.

One shopper, Fatima Coutinho from Cuncolim, joined in the padyatra for some time. “We have to support such good candidates,” she said and prayed that God grants the wisdom to the people to elect a good man like him.

Original Goan women selling vegetables at Gandhi Market gave vent to their frustration by castigating the political class. “You remember us only at the time of elections and then you forget us,” they chorused.

However, Matanhy patiently explained to them that he was not in power and they agreed that it was the Congress that has taken them for a ride all these years. A fruit vendor from Borda admitted that the Congress Party workers provide alcohol to their men folk on the eve of elections and that is how they vote for that party. “This time however, we have decided not to vote for anybody,” she said. 

But another lady, a vegetable vendor from Davorlim kept her options open and candidly admitted that she would decide whom to vote after weighing what she stood to gain.

Significantly, a badel roundly blamed the Congress for all their problems and if this was balm to the UGDP workers, the way they were greeted by the cloth merchants and the tailors seated outside was ecstatic. As Matanhy moved from shop to shop, the staff and the tailors kept snipping their scissors.

Significantly Matanhy has succeeded in enthusing the youth to support his candidature. Most of them are students who have just concluded their exams and are thrilled to be working for Matanhy. “I had actually come here thinking it would be a part time job, but I am so impressed with the talk that Matanhy gave and I now feel proud that I am doing something to save my beautiful state,” said young Filomena Naik who had taken a break from her job at a call centre.

Despite the Goan refrain of Matanhy’s campaign, Rupender Thappa, a Hotel Management Student was enthusiastically doing all kinds of jobs including serving water to the visitors at the office.

After the brisk walk around the Margao market for two hours, it is a quick bite of working lunch for Matanhy at the party office at Jardin dos Aliados and then he has to rush to meet two local satraps who wield quite a bit of influence in certain pockets.

Here again there are closed-door meetings and after one such meeting a visibly disturbed Matanhy walks to the car. “Why can’t there be plain politics without manipulations and machina

ions,” he muses aloud but does not reveal what was it that upset him so much.

“I really wish such politics would end,” he says thus providing that despite jumping into the electoral battle so many times, he has not developed the thick skin a politician is meant to have and still remains a true sensitive son of the red soil who is struggling to protect his land.

“I am not a politician but am forced into politics because our political leadership has failed us,” he admits while pointing out how the Congress candidate in South Goa and the Congress president have different views on the issue of ‘Special Status’ for Goa.

Getting back on the campaign trail, Matanhy addresses a corner meeting at Demani in Cuncolim where his president Dr. Fernandes reminds the people of the problems they faced due to the polluting units at the Cuncolim Industrial Estate. “We do not need such industries specially in our villages,” said Matanhy.

Then it is to the Lohia Maidan for the first public meeting in Margao and after this meeting too there is no respite as there is a corner meeting at Ambaulim, which has now been added to the Cuncolim Assembly segment.

There is still a long way to go before Matanhy can hit the bed because on his way back home, he has yet another closed door meeting scheduled with yet another local leader.

What was apparent while on the trail with Matanhy was that the electorate is discontented and it blames the Congress for their woes but has no much hopes of the BJP being any different. But whether thisdiscontent will translate into votes for Matanhy is the big question.

Alemao's scare Cong

BY A GT REPORTER

MARGAO, APRIL 19, 2009: Only three days to go for the battle of ballot in the state but all does not seem to be well in the Congress as was evident at a rally organised by PWD Minister Churchill Alemao at the open-air Blasco hall, Navelim yesterday evening.

Ironically, the Aleamaos -- Churhill and Joaquim -- asked for votes to the Congress but in the same breath gave a veiled threat to the party if it took them lightly.

First, the younger brother, Urban Development Minister Joaquim Alemao reminded the party leaders present at the rally that when the Congress party was in a crisis it was he brought Churchill into the party fold. He warned that he would quit if any harm (disqualification or sacking from the party) befell on his elder brother.

He also lashed out at some of Churchill’s detractors calling upon the Benaulim residents to vote out NCP MLA at the next assembly elections.

Churchill hinted that in the possibility of he being disqualified, he would accept the decision and remain at home but not before taking the other MLAs with him. Thus, indirectly threatening to topple the present Congress-led coalition government as he also interestingly quipped ‘do not force me to play politics (with the party).’

He reiterated his earlier remarks that he would remain in politics as long as he had the support of the people but would quit only if the people sought so. Adding that he was afraid of no one other than God and his people.

Churchill also lamented about the Congress failure to honour the agreement made to him over party nomination for his daughter Adv ValankaAlemao for South Goa Parliamenatry seat. He quickly clarified that he did not desire to promote his family dynasty in the political field but that Valanka was genuinely keen in working for the people.

The PWD minister claimed that though the party has hurt him a lot, he had joined the party upon the request of the AICC president Sonia Gandhi. He further alleged that his bete noire and CWC permanent member Luizinho Faleiro along with the Save Goa Front (SGF) president Antonio Gauncar had moved the disqualification petition before Rane that was initially dismissed but later presented by Mickky.

The former SGF leader also took a swipe at the chief minister remarking that had he (Churchill) to be the CM, he would have dropped Mickky from the cabinet for filing the disqualification petition against his own cabinet colleague. 

Rebuke Sardinha, says Churchill

Churchill yesterday moved the GPCC president Subhash Shirodkar urging him to reprimand South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha for his statement that he would not visit his constituency but instead would be available to the public at his chamber in South Goa Collectorate every week on Wednesdays.

Churchill stated that this attitude was unbecoming of an elected representative. Shirodkar agreed to oblige the PWD minister while also assuring that a meeting would be convened after the polls to solve the woes of the private tourist taxi operators in the South Goa coastal belt.

Nature lovers ‘croak’ to save frogs from ‘rain’ of terror

BY GT REPORTER
PANJIM: Nature and wildlife lovers met in the city yesterday to collectively ‘croak’ about innovative ways and means to protect frogs from rampant poaching and the ill effects of urbanization.
The meeting held at the Kala Academy yesterday evening was organised by the WildGoa-online forum that works for the betterment of the wild side of Goa and focuses on creating awareness on the need for protecting the amphibians, hunted and devoured during monsoons and served in large numbers, as a delicacy called ‘jumping chicken’.
For more than three years now, the forum has been trying to send a strong message that killing of frogs for meat was not only inhuman, but also illegal.
“They are protected under Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Catching, killing and selling frog meat could result in stringent punishment with fine and imprisonment,” promoter of the forum Clinton Vaz told GT.
While some believe it is too early to start this campaign, as the poaching begins only during monsoons, Vaz argues that it is always better to start the awareness program sooner.
Vaz also has his sight set on April 28, which is observed as the Save
Frogs Day. “The Goa Forest Department is also supporting us in this cause and is also willing to offer monetary help,” he said.
Wildlife enthusiasts feel, that while authorities have been booking offences involving illegal frog hunting, a lot more needs to be done.
“Last year 10 persons were booked. However, no one was convicted. A conviction could mean up to three years imprisonment,” informed Vaz.
During the meeting several suggestions were put forth by the participants to make this campaign more effective.
Suggestions ranged from identifying restaurants that serve frog meat, targeting youth, putting up posters in panchayats or other public places, which inform people that killing frogs is illegal.
Participants also suggested making documentaries on the subject and posting them on social networking sites like Facebook and Orkut.
Increase in the mortality rate of frogs due to pesticides was also discussed during the meet.

Horticulturist Miguel Braganza suggested that organic farming should be promoted, as pesticides were equally bad for frogs as well as humans. Some rather ‘wild’ suggestions came forth too.
Caitan Philip Colaco from Dona Paula vouched for the concept of frog farming and said that exporting frog meat could be a source of foreign exchange for India, an option, which Vaz immediately shot down.
“The Bull frog or the other wild species are wild animals which are protected and are the property of the government. To breed them you would have to change the law,” confirmed Vaz.
WildGoa in the coming days will also seek the support of people hailing from villages in their campaign, as this practice is quite prevalent in the rural parts of Goa.

Karnataka MLA’s kin among four held

FAKE CURRENCY RACKET

BY A GT CORRESPONDENT

PONDA: Four persons including one relative of Karnataka MLA have been arrested in connection with fake currency racket in Ponda.
According to Police Inspector CL Patil, four arrested persons namely Shivanan Nagapa Dupadal (26), a resident of Roligiri Honawar, Vijay Kalidas Angal (33) of Bagalkot, Zayad Dastagiri Sad Kopal (32) of Bijapur and Feroz Kadar (25) of Dharwad were arguing over the distribution of their profits near Amigoes Hotel, Ponda yesterday at around 4.30 pm.
Fed up with the commotion, locals contacted the Ponda police station that arrested them and where taken into police station. Upon interrogation, police recovered from them a total of 101 currency of Rs 1000 denomination fake notes. Vijay Dupadal is related to one of the MLA’s in Karnataka.

Sonia vows special status to Goa, wipe out CRZ virus

BY A GT REPORTER
MARGAO: Urging the Goan voters to shun the BJP, the AICC president Sonia Gandhi yesterday promised to accord ‘Special Status’ to the state and save the ‘vulnerable section of society’ affected by the CRZ notification.
Addressing a massive rally outside Fatorda stadium yesterday, Sonia took a dig at the BJP, accusing the opposition party of spreading hatred among different faiths, citing examples of the incidents that took place in Orissa, Gujarat and Karnataka.
“Not only the minorities but everyone lives in fear. Terrorism thrives and affects every single person in the country. Can such a party fight terrorism? Can we even think of such a government at the center?”
She further sought the votes for Congress so as to provide a strong, stable government that protects and promotes secular values of communal harmony.
Stating that only the Congress party was sensitive to regional sentiments, Sonia boasted of the various achievements of the Congress party such as the reservations for the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes (SCs/STs), the construction of dams, power stations, creation of public sector, LIC, nationalization of banks, the green revolution, etc.
In her brief address in English, Sonia recalled the commitment of the Congress party to the state she claimed Goa was being given the highest priority.
She further referred to the vociferous public protests over the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) that she termed as ‘responsible activism’ wherein the Chief Minister Digambar Kamat had obeyed the wishes of the people despite the pressures from certain influential sectors. And also expressed her satisfaction that the people of the state would be fully involved through the institution of the Gram panchayats in preparing the Regional Plan 2021.
To a thunderous applause, Sonia assured protection to homes and livelihood of those residing in the coastal belt following a request made to her earlier by Kamat.
She also spoke of the various policies, schemes and programmes of the UPA government like the Mid-day meal scheme, the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence legislation that was passed under the
leadership of the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, who according to her had provided a transparent responsive government that provided employment.
Besides, also allocating unprecedented funds for the development of the infrastructure in the state such as schools for example that have been upgraded. So also the primary health centers (PHC).
Reminding that the Right to Information (RTI) Act that sought to empower the people was also introduced by the Congress government, the UPA leader further vowed to protect the environment for the future generation from climatic change.


Advani in her firing range


Sonia Gandhi also launched a frontal attack on the BJP prime ministerial candidate LK Advani for time and again calling Dr Manmohan Singh a weak prime minister.
Sonia reminded the people that terrorism had commenced during Advani’s tenure as the then home minister when India was attacked in Kargil, blackmailed at Kandahar and terrorists stormed the parliament.
She said, “are we not all aware of how things work in the BJP? Can the ex-home minister Advaniji today take any steps, any action without touching the feet of the RSS leaders? Can he do so? Absolutely not. They cannot do a thing, move an inch, say a word, take any action without the blessings and the clearance of the RSS.”
She termed the accusation made against the PM as ‘totally false’ and further recalled the then BJP president Advani’s visit to Pakistan wherein he had called the founder of that nation Mohammad Ali Jinnah as ‘secular’ but was made to relinquish his post on his return back to the country. “What happened to the strong man Advaniji? The RSS made him resign, he had to go into vanvas and only after he clarified he was given the opportunity to head the BJP. So I ask you, you tell me who is a strong leader? Is Advaniji, a strong leader or is our PM a strong leader?”

Gujarat iron man says bury vote bank politics

BY A GT REPORTER

PANJIM: Gurjrat Chief Minister Narendra Modi yesterday gave a clarion call to bury vote bank politics while urging the voters to vote for development with security. He was addressing a largely attended public meeting at Shivaji Maidan, Bicholim in support of North Goa BJP candidate Shripad Naik.

Modi said that the country was caught in the web of vote bank politics, which has eaten into the vitals of the country. The only solution is to bury vote bank politics and in stead go towards the politics of development. “Development is the only answer,” said Modi.

Coming down heavily on Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh’s reported statement at Mumbai where he said that the first riot on the national resources was that of the Muslims. Strongly denouncing this, Modi said that this is not in the spirit of the Constitution.

“I say the first riot on the national resources of our country is that of the poor. The country requires a strong Prime Minister whereas the current Prime Minister is weak,” he told the crowd.

Elaborating further on this issue, Modi quoted Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers Ram Vilas Paswan, who had said that that the Bangladeshi intruders must be treated as citizens of this country, be given a right to vote and to contest elections. “If you are as strong Prime Minister then why did you not remove Paswan from his ministerial post for his anti-India talk,” Modi asked.

He said that the Assam was being intruded by Bangladeshis and added that the situation was turning difficult for Assam due to vote bank politics of that government. On the contrary, he termed the Gujarat government as that of patriots.

He was disturbed over the government’s earlier moves of indulging in head count of Indian army on the basis of religion, which was subsequently aborted due to opposition from the army.

Turning his attention to terrorism, Modi came down heavily on Congress party’s criticism over BJP handling of Kandahar issue. “The Congress is criticising BJP for having exchanged terrorists for hostages. Who had stopped the Congress, when in the opposition from opposing this BJP’s step? The Congress was quiet before there was unanimous demand in the country, which wanted the government to get all these hostages back. He also cited other examples like Rudaiya Sayeed kidnapping episode and Char-e-Sharrif incident to expose the Congress party’s hollow game over terrorism issue. He also referred to other incidents like Mumbai train blast, Bihar flood and the naxalite issue to portray a green picture in the country under the UPA regime.

If voted to power, Modi said that the BJP would get the illegal monies deposited in Swiss banks to be used for the development of the country and in the interest of the poor.

In his concluding remarks, he posted three questions to the Prime Minister. Quoting the CAG report Modi said that in 2007-08, a sum of Rs 50,000 crore has been taken away from Indian treasury. He wanted Dr Manmohan Singh to explain this matter. In his second question, he drew Dr Singh’s attention towards Harshad Mehta scam and Satyam scam and said that both these matters occurred during the reign of Dr Manmohan Singh as Union Finance Minister and Prime Minister respectively.

“What did you do to stop this,” he asked the Prime Minister. Finally, he appealed to the people to vote for BJP to enable them to deliver a decisive government under a strong leader.

Others who addressed meeting were Shripad Naik, Leader of the Opposition Manohar Parrikar and MLAs Francis D’Souza, Dayanand Mandrekar, Laxmikant Parsekar and Rajesh Patnekar. Pernem MLA Dayanand Sopte conducted the meeting.

People are ready for change: Matanhy

An inimitable activist but dubbed as a ‘bunny’ in politics, Matanhy Saldanha, UGDP general secretary lambasts the two MPs for not addressing the woes of the Goan society at the center. In a chat with JULIO D’SILVA, he exudes confidence of making it to the Lok Sabha from South Goa.

GT: Matanhy how do you rate your chances at these elections?
Matanhy Saldanha (MS): These elections are crucial for Goa and the country. For us in Goa, they are crucial, as the state appears to be in a state of chaos. There is no governance as the interest of the people are put aside only to fulfill the vested interest and the quality of life of the common man is worsening due to the lobbyist policies of the government.
The people of Goa are feeling insecure and this is reflected in the various revolts that are taking place be it against the mega-projects, against the highway or against the railway loop.

GT: But if one considers the results of the last elections, your party’s performance was quite poor and it would be a gigantic task to talk about winning the elections.
MS: The circumstances have changed since then. World history tells us that changes have occurred due to circumstances and in Goa the circumstances are ripe for a change. Recent developments, especially in Salcete indicate that people are ready for a change. The very fact that people are reacting is an indicator of the dissatisfaction.

GT: The question is whether the dissatisfaction will convert into votes?
MS: I am confident that this time there will not be emotional voting.

GT: Matanhy, what role would have a regional party have in the Lok Sabha?
MS: Erasmo Sequeira was a representative of a regional party and he was an effective voice in the parliament. The party is not important, what is important is the person’s capacity to study the subject in national interest without compromising the State’s concerns. Although Goa has two MPs in the Lok Sabha, they have failed to put forth the State’s aspirations.

GT: What according to you should have been the role of the MPs?
MS: Irrespective of the political affiliations, the MPs should have acted as co-ordinators between the Centre and the State and address the people’s problems. It is time for us to think of the State’s interest. What has Goa gained from the various central projects? If railways want land, the State government acquires it, but in return are there any jobs reserved for Goans? What benefit has Goa got in terms of job reservation or anything from the Defence undertakings, from NIO and even from MPT? How many Goans are employed in these establishments?

GT: But those are issues of yore, what about today?
MS: What issues pertaining to Goa have been highlighted at the Centre? The basic fault of our past MPs has been that they have failed to highlight the uniqueness of Goa at the centre. Because of the distinct character of Goa, many of the Central laws cannot be made applicable to our state due to which today many of the central schemes cannot be implemented in Goa. There are various examples of this. If our MPs had to act properly then, today the Zilla Panchayats would not have been clamouring for powers. If our MPs had to do their job, the below poverty line schemes could have been provided to Goans. If our MPs had to highlight the plight of the coastal residents the CRZ laws could have been amended for Goa.
Why have our MPs not mooted for changing the Gadgil-Mukherjee formula, which is actually punishing performing States like Goa. Why is it that the Mhadei issue has not been raised in the Parliament? Here let me clarify that the Rajya Sabha MP Shantaram Naik is making some efforts.

GT: So what are the issues at these elections?
MS: Actually even the national issues are the State issues. Security of the nation is an issue in Goa as the terror threat can have an adverse impact on tourism. But the issues concerning Goa also are national issues. The Mhadei river dispute, the railways’ expansion plans, MPT’s jurisdiction that affects the common man and even in the Incredible India campaign of Government of India how Goa has been ignored. These are the issues that make one wonder whether our elected representatives have really been addressing the interest of the people or interest of land?

GT: Matanhy, you are perceived as a very good activist but a poor politician.
MS: It is because our political class has failed us that we are forced to step into the political arena. Today politics has become a business and people’s aspirations and welfare are forgotten.

GT: Elections are today governed with money power, which you apparently lack. So how would you tackle this aspect?
MS: It is true that people have been voting for money. But then, there is a limit for everything, and in Goa, I think this is the limit, as people are today feeling insecure. Demographically, linguistically and culturally the Goan population is feeling threatened and isolated. The terms of minority and majority that were applied to religions earlier have taken a new meaning today with Goans, irrespective of their religious affiliations, fearing that they are turning into a minority in their own land.

GT: There is a perception that you are in the fray to play spoilsport.
MS: Spoil what? If projecting the right demands of the people is spoilsport, so be it. What is politics then, a game of manipulation of, for and by vested interests or is it to put the people’s interest first? These are the questions that people have to ask.

GT: How will the change in your party symbol effect you?
MS: I do admit that the change in the symbol is a little setback. But then the symbol may change, the person has not changed. I am still the same Matanhy who has been fighting for issues pertaining to Goa and Goans. But yes, we have to work a little harder and the people of South Goa have to think a little harder.

BJP manifesto promises special status for Goa

Following are the salient features of the Bharatiya Janata Party manifesto which was released in the city on Tuesday.

• Special status to retain cultural identity and integrity of the state
• Making Goa an ‘Educational Hub’
• Construction of new parallel bridge over Zuari
• Completion of Galgibag-Talpona bridge
• 4-laning of NH-17 with minimal damage to private property
• Rapid bus transport along Mapusa, Panjim, Vasco and Margao
• Special coridoor for scooters
• Up-gradation and extension of Dabolim airport
• Fast completion of greenfield airport at Mopa
• Reviewing MPT zone of jurisdiction and expansion
• Denotifying SEZs, changing SEZ law and cancelling Goa’s SEZs
• Stopping illegal mining
• Recruitment centre for Goa for all central sector jobs including Posts &Telegraphs
• Protection of STs by implementing Tribal Forest Act