The cash-for-jobs scandal has reached an explosive tipping point, leaving the BJP government in Goa, led by a non-Goan Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, humiliated and exposed. This is no longer just a political embarrassment—it’s a damning indictment of the regime’s moral and administrative collapse. Pramod Sawant has lost every shred of moral authority to govern and should resign immediately along with his tainted cabinet. Their tenure has been marked by mismanagement, incompetence, and rampant corruption at every level.
Even during the superficial investigation into this scandal, the involvement of ministers and MLAs has come to light. Yet the police, rather than serving justice, appear determined to shield their political overlords. This raises a serious question: is there any independent or disciplined force left in Goa, or has every institution been co-opted into a web of corruption?
Take the case of South Goa Superintendent of Police (SP) Sunita Sawant, whose statements sound suspiciously like a BJP press release. She has categorically ruled out political links between the accused and any politicians, but on what basis? Has she conducted a thorough, forensic investigation? Has she verified whether the name "Vishwajit," cited in connection with two of the accused, has no relation to Town and Country Planning Minister Vishwajit Rane?
What about the audio evidence implicating BJP MLA Ganesh Gaonkar, where a voice allegedly admits to paying ₹7 lakh to Revenue Minister Atanasio Monserrate for a job? Has SP Sawant investigated this claim? Or is her rush to exonerate politicians a calculated effort to protect her political benefactors? If so, she has no business being in uniform. She should resign and formally join the saffron party, as she has already shown her true colors.
Police investigations into the cash-for-jobs scam is a mere farce.
A Rigged System Denying the Meritorious
This scandal didn’t surface due to police vigilance—it came to light because a spurned candidate exposed the rot. But what about all the “successful” candidates who paid bribes to secure their positions, trampling on the dreams of deserving and meritorious individuals? Has this aspect even been touched by the investigation?
Former Governor Satya Pal Malik had, back in 2021, exposed the BJP-led administration in Goa by stating on national television, “There is corruption in everything in Goa.” That was under Pramod Sawant’s leadership, further cementing the perception that Goa’s governance has been reduced to a cesspool of graft and patronage.
The ‘Queen Bee’ and Her Hive of Corruption
In a particularly shocking twist, most of the accused in this scam are women, one of whom was a BJP Mahila Morcha member. This points to the existence of a shadowy “Queen Bee” pulling the strings. Rumours abound that a minister was dropped from Pramod Sawant’s cabinet for refusing to entertain job candidates recommended by the Queen Bee. Yet the police, true to form, have buried their heads in the sand, pretending the public is oblivious to what’s happening.
A Farce of Accountability
Adding insult to injury, Pramod Sawant has made an absurd promise to compensate duped victims by auctioning the assets of the scamsters. Does he not understand basic legal procedures? The accused are unlikely to hold significant assets in their own names, and even if they do, these assets would remain tied up in police or court custody for years. Worse, given the shoddy investigation, there’s little chance of convictions. Instead, it wouldn’t be surprising if investigators are already eyeing their share of the ill-gotten wealth.
A Government in Decay
The cash-for-jobs scandal has laid bare the rot festering within the BJP-led administration in Goa. It has shown just how deeply entrenched corruption is under the leadership of a non-Goan Chief Minister. This isn’t governance—it’s organized plunder.
The time for accountability has long passed. The Sawant government must step down. A full judicial inquiry led by independent authorities—not caged parrots—is the only way to restore a semblance of justice and credibility in Goa’s governance. Anything less would be yet another betrayal of the people.
Tuesday, 19 November 2024
Wednesday, 30 October 2024
"Goa's Chief Minister Pramod Sawant: A mirror to his own corruption?" -- By Nisser Dias
Corruption Starts at the Top
It’s easy to preach about corruption in the lower ranks of government, but what happens when the allegations reach the top office? Former Goa Governor Satya Pal Malik made no small claim when he accused Chief Minister Sawant himself of corruption. As the constitutional head of the state, Malik reported these allegations to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expecting action. However, instead of stepping down to clear his name or challenge Malik’s claims, Sawant wielded his influence to see Malik removed from office. For someone so eager to lead the charge against corruption, Sawant’s own actions beg the question: why not start by turning the mirror on himself?
Selective Accountability: The Case of Pooja Naik
Sawant’s recent self-congratulatory statements about exposing a woman named Pooja Naik for job fraud is another example of selective enforcement. According to Sawant, Naik approached him directly to secure a government job for another individual, and when he discovered she had accepted money for the favor, he allegedly intervened, recovered the money, and returned it to the job seeker. However, no formal charges were filed against Naik, allowing her to walk free. Wouldn’t a clear signal against corruption have been to prosecute her? Instead, this half-hearted intervention allowed her to continue her schemes unrestrained.
It is like a young college boy who starts stealing pens, pencils and rubbers from mates, continues even when warned, and is finally rusticated. However, this boy joins politics because he sees a large scope to rob. Such selective leniency—especially for first-time offenders—sets a dangerous precedent. Unfortunately, Pooja Naik’s case isn’t an isolated one.
Preferential Treatment: When Laws Bend for the Powerful
A former Director General of Police (DGP), Jaspal Singh, found himself in a controversy when he allegedly sanctioned the illegal demolition of a house without court orders. Instead of facing due process, Singh was quickly transferred out of Goa—an exit seemingly orchestrated to sidestep legal repercussions. The question is simple: if shielding allies from accountability isn’t corruption, then what is?
Similarly, when allegations of a land scam surfaced against Goa’s former Chief Secretary Puneet Goel, he was hurriedly transferred from the state. Allegedly, Goel manipulated zoning laws to benefit himself, reclassifying agricultural land to settlement zone and then purchasing it. Yet, despite the gravity of these accusations, he was spared from prosecution. This selective justice reflects not only favoritism but a willingness to look the other way for those in the inner circle.
The Kala Academy Debacle: A Case Study in Cronyism
Perhaps the most glaring example of administrative neglect and corruption is the botched renovation of the iconic Kala Academy, where Rs. 56 crore of public money was
Though the Directorate of Vigilance recommended a technical probe into the renovation irregularities, the Sawant-led government chose to ignore the suggestion. This deliberate oversight shows not only the government’s complicity but Sawant’s own hand in shielding corrupt practices from scrutiny. ‘Smart City’ is another example of corruption, where one can write volumes.
Corruption Runs Deep
The story of Pramod Sawant’s government reads like a guidebook on the many faces of corruption. Bribery, favoritism, nepotism, selective enforcement, and shameless cronyism all find a place under his leadership. Whether it’s allowing allies to escape legal consequences, evading recommended investigations, or neglecting the most basic of accountability measures, Sawant’s administration has proven that corruption doesn’t merely exist on its fringes—it thrives in its highest ranks.
So, when Pramod Sawant claims to be fighting corruption, it’s hard to take him seriously. Goa deserves a government that confronts corruption head-on, not one that uses it as a tool to serve personal agendas.
Wednesday, 9 October 2024
Alexio Sequeira’s blame game: Deflecting Goa’s environmental destruction while politicians profit -- By Nisser Dias
In a brazen act of deflection, Goa’s Environment Minister, Alexio Sequeira, has placed the blame for the state’s environmental destruction squarely on the shoulders of Goans, accusing them of selling their inherited lands to non-Goans for hefty sums. According to him, if Goans hadn't sold their land, mega projects wouldn’t have found their way into the state. But this narrative is not only disingenuous—it’s a convenient smokescreen for his own political and economic interests.
Yes, Goans are selling land. But let’s get real: there are complex reasons behind these decisions, from financial necessity to resolving family disputes over property. The truth, which Sequeira conveniently sidesteps, is that the very politicians pointing fingers at the people are neck-deep in the real estate game themselves.
Ministers or a Land Broker?
Can Sequeira deny his own role as a land developer? Can he refute the claim that he, too, has sold land for personal gain? Or that he has used state machinery—police and government influence—to suppress protests against the sale of land for massive, destructive projects? The hypocrisy reeks.
Most of Goa's 40 MLAs have brokered land deals themselves. Goan families might sell small plots to stay afloat, but politicians are the ones who facilitate the sale of acres upon acres, greasing the wheels of these mega projects. Has the political turncoat Sequeira forgotten that politicians often coerce Goans to sell their land, using both persuasion and muscle? When the carrot doesn’t work, the stick follows—threats of land acquisition for "government purposes" leave property owners with no choice but to sell.
And let’s not forget Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, infamously dubbed "Property Sawant" by none other than his fellow MLAs and government insiders, due to his deep involvement in shady property deals.
The Real Culprits: Corrupt Politicians, Not Common Goans
For Sequeira, blaming the people is easy. It's a distraction from his own dishonesty. This is the same man who swore on holy ground—at a church, a temple, and a mosque—that he would never abandon the Congress party. Yet, for the sake of political convenience, he quickly jumped ship to the BJP, betraying not just his party but the people he claimed to represent. How can Goans trust a man who can’t even keep his oath to God?
More importantly, who is issuing the licenses to these non-Goan buyers? Who is bending, breaking, and reworking the rules to accommodate these outsiders? It’s the corrupt politicians like Sequeira who shamelessly sell out their own state. If they followed the law, refused bribes, and protected Goa's interests, this environmental destruction wouldn’t be happening. But instead, the laws governing land use are constantly being manipulated to benefit the wealthy and powerful—both inside and outside the state.
Why is the "change in land use" rule amended so often? It’s certainly not to help Goans. It’s to serve the rich non-Goan investors, who not only buy the land but also the politicians who enable their destructive projects.
A Government That Sells Its Soul—and Goa’s Future
If Sequeira and his fellow ministers genuinely cared about preserving Goa, why not introduce a law banning the sale of land to non-Goans, similar to the laws in several North-Eastern states? Instead, this government constantly seeks to shrink the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) from 200 meters to 50 meters from the high tide line. Why? To make beachfront property even more attractive to wealthy outsiders.
Why does the government push to exclude 70 villages from eco-sensitive zones? Why is the state’s forest cover diminishing year after year? Why are Goa’s hills being indiscriminately cut, and why are agricultural fields being converted into settlements, with high-ranking officials like the Chief Secretary directly profiting from these changes?
The answers are glaringly obvious: corruption, greed, and a complete disregard for the well-being of Goa and its people.
Stop Blaming the People, Start Holding Politicians Accountable
Goans selling their land is a symptom, not the cause. The disease is the corrupt, unethical, and arrogant leadership—like Alexio Sequeira—that prioritizes their personal profits over the future of Goa. It’s time to stop blaming the common man and start holding these politicians accountable for the devastation they are wreaking on the state.
Yes, Goans are selling land. But let’s get real: there are complex reasons behind these decisions, from financial necessity to resolving family disputes over property. The truth, which Sequeira conveniently sidesteps, is that the very politicians pointing fingers at the people are neck-deep in the real estate game themselves.
Ministers or a Land Broker?
Can Sequeira deny his own role as a land developer? Can he refute the claim that he, too, has sold land for personal gain? Or that he has used state machinery—police and government influence—to suppress protests against the sale of land for massive, destructive projects? The hypocrisy reeks.
Most of Goa's 40 MLAs have brokered land deals themselves. Goan families might sell small plots to stay afloat, but politicians are the ones who facilitate the sale of acres upon acres, greasing the wheels of these mega projects. Has the political turncoat Sequeira forgotten that politicians often coerce Goans to sell their land, using both persuasion and muscle? When the carrot doesn’t work, the stick follows—threats of land acquisition for "government purposes" leave property owners with no choice but to sell.
And let’s not forget Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, infamously dubbed "Property Sawant" by none other than his fellow MLAs and government insiders, due to his deep involvement in shady property deals.
The Real Culprits: Corrupt Politicians, Not Common Goans
For Sequeira, blaming the people is easy. It's a distraction from his own dishonesty. This is the same man who swore on holy ground—at a church, a temple, and a mosque—that he would never abandon the Congress party. Yet, for the sake of political convenience, he quickly jumped ship to the BJP, betraying not just his party but the people he claimed to represent. How can Goans trust a man who can’t even keep his oath to God?
More importantly, who is issuing the licenses to these non-Goan buyers? Who is bending, breaking, and reworking the rules to accommodate these outsiders? It’s the corrupt politicians like Sequeira who shamelessly sell out their own state. If they followed the law, refused bribes, and protected Goa's interests, this environmental destruction wouldn’t be happening. But instead, the laws governing land use are constantly being manipulated to benefit the wealthy and powerful—both inside and outside the state.
Why is the "change in land use" rule amended so often? It’s certainly not to help Goans. It’s to serve the rich non-Goan investors, who not only buy the land but also the politicians who enable their destructive projects.
A Government That Sells Its Soul—and Goa’s Future
If Sequeira and his fellow ministers genuinely cared about preserving Goa, why not introduce a law banning the sale of land to non-Goans, similar to the laws in several North-Eastern states? Instead, this government constantly seeks to shrink the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) from 200 meters to 50 meters from the high tide line. Why? To make beachfront property even more attractive to wealthy outsiders.
Why does the government push to exclude 70 villages from eco-sensitive zones? Why is the state’s forest cover diminishing year after year? Why are Goa’s hills being indiscriminately cut, and why are agricultural fields being converted into settlements, with high-ranking officials like the Chief Secretary directly profiting from these changes?
The answers are glaringly obvious: corruption, greed, and a complete disregard for the well-being of Goa and its people.
Stop Blaming the People, Start Holding Politicians Accountable
Goans selling their land is a symptom, not the cause. The disease is the corrupt, unethical, and arrogant leadership—like Alexio Sequeira—that prioritizes their personal profits over the future of Goa. It’s time to stop blaming the common man and start holding these politicians accountable for the devastation they are wreaking on the state.
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