Christians are the focus of BJP's Goa gameplan [ Posted by: radiogoa | Time: 02:59:46 AM ] [ Category: Goa News | Comments (0) ] Share this story with your Friends on Facebook The BJP is going all out to woo Goa's Christians, who account for 25% of voters and have traditionally backed the Congress. The party has taken this step after losing electoral battles in Goa, particularly in the southern parts of the state. Leading this campaign is IIT-educated former chief minister Manohar Parrikar, 56, who is leader of the opposition in the 2007-12 Goa assembly, in which the party has only 12 seats. The state, which has 40 seats, goes to polls on March 3.
For the first time, the BJP has roped in three prominent Christian leaders from South Goa - Carlos Almeida (Mormugao), Joaquim D'Souza (Nuvem), and most notably, former Congressman Matanhy Saldanha, who was Goa's tourism minister - into its fold.
Accompanied by Matanhy Saldanha, who has earned the nickname of being the "BJP's Catholic mascot", Parrikar is campaigning across the traditional Congress strongholds in Goa through his "jan sampark yatra", which was flagged off by senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley.
Parrikar, who is seen as the BJP's CM candidate, is said to enjoy
Digambar needs to be exposed for his immorality: Parrikar [ Posted by: radiogoa | Time: 02:57:08 AM ] [ Category: Goa News | Comments (4) ] Share this story with your Friends on Facebook Leader of Opposition, Mr Manohar Parrikar, has been on the roll for the last 8 days of the Janasampark Abhiyan. After the day’s hectic schedule, at half past midnight, Mr Parrikar spoke his heart out to Neshwin Almeida on governance, alliance and minorities. After touring South Goa, what feeling do you have about this Jansampark Abhiyan? I haven’t still toured South Goa. Until I complete Ponda and Murgao, I won’t rest. People are just fed up of the loot and corruption. An unaccountable government for the past five years that has done nothing for the people — no schemes, no policies, and no development. My tour is to assure the people that the BJP can lend a hand in their upbringing and development and do something different. The youth are jobless. Everything done needs a bribe to be paid. People are sick of this administration.
British national found dead in Goa [ Posted by: radiogoa | Time: 10:18:14 AM ] [ Category: Goa News | Comments (0) ] Share this story with your Friends on Facebook A New Year reveller from Britain, who was in Goa to celebrate the festivities, is found dead in a rented apartment at Siolim village near here, police said today. John David Tagg, who was in Goa along with his friend from UAE, was yesterday found dead in the rented accommodation in the village, about 15 km from Panaji. Tagg died in his sleep and the cause of his passing away could be known only after the postmortem is conducted, a senior police official said without elaborating further. Police are also interrogating Tagg's friend, who, according to them, could throw light on the mysterious death.
Indira Nagar goons run riot at Calangute shack [ Posted by: radiogoa | Time: 06:01:22 AM ] [ Category: Goa News | Comments (0) ] Share this story with your Friends on Facebook CALANGUTE: A minor scuffle took a violent turn when two persons were injured in an attack on a shack owner at Calangute on Sunday afternoon. According to police sources, the attack was an over reaction to a minor scuffle following an argument over CD sale in a shack run by a resident of Indira Nagar-Chimbel. Police sources claimed that a CD seller entered the shack but was driven away by the shack owner’s brother. Following the verbal argument which also led to some sort of scuffle, there was retaliation from the CD seller and his friends. However, the parties mutually settled the matter at the police station. Meanwhile, the shack owner and his brother conveyed the message to their friends at Indira Nagar, who armed with sticks, koitas, choppers and other weapons arrived at the scene. On their arrival, they allegedly assaulted the staff of another shack run by a resident of Calangute over the same matter. The gang also damaged chairs and other items in the shack. At this point, the locals rushed to the rescue of the
Starting this week, India’s smallest state will mark 50 years of democracy with a series of public concerts, a photo exhibition about its independence struggle, the laying of a foundation stone for a memorial to the 22 Indian soldiers who died in the 36-hour operation and the inauguration of a restored 16th-century fort.
The celebrations come at a time when Goa is in another period of transition. “I think that there is a new Goa that’s emerging,” said Peter Ronald deSouza, the director of the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, who is among the organizers of a conference examining Goa. “For 40 years, the idea of Goa was based on its history, its ecology and its diaspora. Now, it’s being redefined as a holiday destination for travelers.”
DeSouza’s seminar, which is organized by the Indian Institute for Advanced Study, Goa University and Portugal’s Coimbra University, will take a long view of the effects of liberation – or the “Indian invasion,” as the event was termed in much of the Western press, including The New York Times. The celebrations will also be given a more serious edge by the Goa Arts and Literary Festival, which will feature several writers of Goan origin from around the world. (Full disclosure: I’m participating in the festival, too.) The program also includes the release of sev
Addressing what the Congressmen claimed as the biggest ever political gathering in the state, which according to the police officials attracted around 50,000 people, Ms Gandhi said: "I shall certainly put both the issues before the central government for apt decision on the demand from the state leadership." The Union Defence Minister, Mr A K Anthony was also present on the occasion.
In a reference to the issue of Regional Plan 2021, she expressed hope that the Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat would find an acceptable solution to the vexed issue in consultation with the people concerned. The Saturday’s address was the first ever public meeting address by Congress president after her recent illness.
Ms Gandhi stated that Goa was bestowed with natural beauty and had cherished history and rich biodiversity. She went on to add that the Centre was concerned about protection of environment and ecology, and pollution in the state and has taken various steps to protect the state’s fragile ecology and environment and also to contain pollution.
Complimenting Goans on their achievement and progress and development ever since liberation, she said that Congress was behind in more ways than one in shaping the transformation of the state. She said that it would be a real challenge for Goans to sustain economic growth attained over the years.
She said that while it was Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru who was instrumental in liberating Goa, Indira Gandhi through opinion poll gave a chance to Goans to maintain their unique identity. She further said that it was her husband, Rajiv Gandhi, who announced statehood for Goa and that she was present on that occasion. S
RP 2021 a means to help builders - PCF. [ Posted by: radiogoa | Time: 06:07:43 AM ] [ Category: Goa News | Comments (0) ] Share this story with your Friends on Facebook PANJIM: The Regional Plan passed by Town and Country Planning Board and circulars issued thereafter, are a means to help builders get roads widened through the legal channel, members of Pilerne Citizens Forum, which has been leading the agitation against the plan, said. Addressing a press conference, Paul Fernandes of PCF said that the advertisement released in the newspapers, and subsequent circulars allowing constructions based on proposed roads widths, as well as acquisition of land were all indicative of things to come. The government issues an advertisement in the paper saying it will not demolish houses, and that new developers will have to keep the necessary setback. Next, they issue an amendment to the Regulation Note, saying that buildings can be built based on proposed roads widths subject to a minimum of six metres on the ground for multi family dwelling units. Finally, at a Town and Country Planning Board meeting they say that the department could take up acquisition of land for the roads and that the department (TCP) already has a separate plan scheme in the budget for ODP roads wherein funds are available, which is required to be enhanced and extended to RP roads if such proposals are to be taken up by the department,” Fernandes sa
PONDA: The feast of St Francis Xavier was on Saturday celebrated with traditional pomp with thousands of devotees from the state and other parts of the country attending the religious services at the Basilica De Bom Jesus throughout the day.
The feast high mass was celebrated by the Apostolic Nuncio to India, Rev Archbishop Salvatore Pennachio, Archbishop Philip Neri Ferrao in the concelebrated mass on the theme ‘Mon’xa xrititicho korar jieum-ya sam francisk xavierak man diun-ya’ ‘Covenant between human beings and creation divine love’s manifestation.’
In his preaching, Rev Pennachio said we should all praise the God for the gift of St Francis Xavier, who has be