Once upon a time, Goa was synonymous with sunsets, susegad, and sandy shores. Now? It’s making headlines for reasons that would make a crime novelist blush. Murders, rapes, acid attacks, armed robberies, and kidnappings—it’s a crime buffet, and the public is choking on it.
Let’s take a grim walk down recent memory lane.
On June 12, two minor girls were raped in Calangute. By June 22, not to be outdone, a rapist targeted an 80-year-old woman. Apparently, age is no barrier to perversion. As if that's not vile enough, an 18-year-old girl stepped forward to reveal she’s been sexually assaulted since 2021 by a 24-year-old man. Oh, and let’s not forget the private medical practitioner; a title once associated with healing—now charged with raping a nurse. In February this year 4 men raped a mentally challenged 25 years old woman at Cansaulim.
And in a shocking twist that looks more like a scene from Netflix crime series, two men on a bike threw acid on a 17-year-old boy. Goa: come for the beaches, stay for the trauma.
Now, enter our valiant police force—masters of poetic press conferences. "Organized crime", "personal disputes", "crimes of passion"—their vocabulary is worthy of a literature award. And of course, they always end on a comforting note: “We are working tirelessly to bring justice.” Tiring is right, especially for the public waiting for a shred of action while the perpetrators sip tea.
Let’s face it. Justice in Goa (or India) is not only delayed, it’s often denied. Trials drag on longer than Bollywood sequels. Witnesses grow old, memories fade, and evidence—well, if it ever existed—is “under investigation.” Gathering evidence here is still in the “baby’s first steps” phase. You could hand them a confession and they'd still ask for “further verification.”
Of course, it's not just about bodily crimes. We’ve got robberies and kidnappings too! Because why not? In April, a senior couple in their 70s were tied up and terrorized in their Dona Paula home by three armed men. A businessman in Ponda was kidnapped in broad daylight. Sunburn Festival isn’t the only thing happening in daylight anymore.
And how do our men in uniform respond? By doing what they do best—announcing initiatives. “Enhanced patrolling,” “community policing programs”— all the right buzzwords. For a week or two, they’re suddenly everywhere, then poof — back to their cozy status quo.
Try calling the police. Just try. Phones; paid for by you, dear taxpayer, ring endlessly. Calls to stations are answered with classic replies like, “No vehicle,” “Will dispatch someone,” or the ever-reassuring “No officer is around.” Apparently, criminals know better than to commit crimes when cops are actually at work.
Meanwhile, the people of Goa are angry and afraid. Violent crime is on the rise, and the sense of security has evaporated faster than government promises. Political pressure is mounting on the non-Goan Chief Minister of Goa Pramod Sawant, and rightfully so. He is, after all, the Home Minister.
Let’s be blunt: Pramod Sawant has failed. Miserably.
Instead of addressing the crime wave, he’d rather talk about roads, bridges, and statues. Ask him about law and order, and he’ll pivot to a PowerPoint about infrastructure. What’s a few acid attacks and rapes when you’ve got a fancy new sewage treatment plant to show off?
Who could forget his 2021 masterclass in victim blaming? Two 14-year-old girls raped in Benaulim, and Sawant’s response? “They shouldn’t have been out at night.” Truly revolutionary stuff. He even reminded parents it’s their job to keep children safe, as if the government and police are just decorative entities, like Christmas lights.
But if you think that’s bad, remember: Sawant is also fond of blaming the Portuguese. Colonialism, for him they are the root cause of all evil, even crimes that occurred this week. Ironically, people still recall how, during the Portuguese era, one could leave their doors open at night and sleep soundly. Simply because there was this thing called fear of the law.
That fear? It’s dead. Buried. Cremated. Under the BJP regime, law is optional, accountability is a myth, and criminals have better odds than citizens.
So, here we are. A beautiful state drowning in crime and denial, where the police are missing, the government is clueless, and the criminals? They're just getting started.
Truly, the Sun has set on law and order in Goa!
Thursday, 3 July 2025
Thursday, 26 June 2025
Power, "Shashtang Dandavat" and Political Amnesia: Goa’s greatest hits of hypocrisy - By Nisser Dias
Ah, Goa. Land of beaches, feni, and a political theatre so rich, it makes Bollywood look like an amateur class. On June 22, 2025, the state witnessed yet another blockbuster performance; this time starring ex-Art and Culture Minister Govind Gaude, who decided to end his speech not with a mic drop, but with a partly ‘surya namaskar’.
Yes, you read that right. Gaude, freshly ousted from his ministerial chair, went full "Shashtang Dandavat", prostrating on stage with folded hands, hoping the gods of electoral mercy (read: voters) would bless him with a second chance. A performance worthy of a lifetime achievement award in political melodrama. Of course, he’s not alone in this cringe-worthy quest for public sympathy. Let’s rewind to June 14, 2020, when Goa Forward Party supremo and Fatorda MLA Vijay Sardessai, on his 50th birthday, begged Goans to forgive him for his "political mistake" to support the BJP post-Parrikar. Conveniently, this realization came right after he was dropped as Deputy CM. Timing, as they say, is everything.
And speaking of crocodile tears, let’s not forget our arrogant Vishwajit Rane. The Health Minister, who once begged late CM Manohar Parrikar to accept him into the BJP fold, has become Goa’s poster child for performative penitence. A classic case of “cry when you’re down, roar when you’re up.”
But behind every apology is a history lesson we’d do well to remember. Take Rane, who just this month lashed out at Dr. Rudresh Kuttikar, the Chief Medical Officer at Goa Medical College, proving yet again that arrogance doesn’t retire, it just recalibrates based on power.
Let’s not be fooled, this isn’t character development. It’s a re-run.
Back in 2019, Vijay Sardessai, then Deputy CM, slapped a phone out of a civic officer’s hand. When public pressure reached a boiling point, he switched gears from ‘Hulk’ mode to humble servant, issuing an apology like a kid caught cheating during finals. He’s also lashed out at journalists because asking questions is apparently a cardinal sin in his kingdom.
And remember the time Sardessai, as TCP Minister, lined up bouncers in the Town and Country Planning office like it was a nightclub in Baga? Govind Gaude, too, showed us what "cultural leadership" really means, by hurling abuse at the director of the Tribal Affairs department for allowing an NGO to hold a camp to educate lower section of the society of government schemes and their rights. Lashing out at journalists, activists, and even artists who dared question his Kala Academy renovation project, which, by the way, had more red flags than a Communist rally had become a norm for him.
But here's the kicker: once the chair gets pulled from under them, these very same men suddenly discover the spiritual power of humility. They apologize. They cry. They literally lie on the floor. Not because they’ve changed, but because they want your vote.
So let’s call it what it is: a seasonal shedding of arrogance disguised as repentance. When in power, they strut. When out of power, they crawl. Goa doesn’t need more dramatics. It needs accountability, memory, and voters with long attention spans. Because if we keep rewarding bad actors (read: politicians) with encore performances, they’ll keep rewriting the script to suit their egos, not our futures.
Yes, you read that right. Gaude, freshly ousted from his ministerial chair, went full "Shashtang Dandavat", prostrating on stage with folded hands, hoping the gods of electoral mercy (read: voters) would bless him with a second chance. A performance worthy of a lifetime achievement award in political melodrama. Of course, he’s not alone in this cringe-worthy quest for public sympathy. Let’s rewind to June 14, 2020, when Goa Forward Party supremo and Fatorda MLA Vijay Sardessai, on his 50th birthday, begged Goans to forgive him for his "political mistake" to support the BJP post-Parrikar. Conveniently, this realization came right after he was dropped as Deputy CM. Timing, as they say, is everything.
And speaking of crocodile tears, let’s not forget our arrogant Vishwajit Rane. The Health Minister, who once begged late CM Manohar Parrikar to accept him into the BJP fold, has become Goa’s poster child for performative penitence. A classic case of “cry when you’re down, roar when you’re up.”
But behind every apology is a history lesson we’d do well to remember. Take Rane, who just this month lashed out at Dr. Rudresh Kuttikar, the Chief Medical Officer at Goa Medical College, proving yet again that arrogance doesn’t retire, it just recalibrates based on power.
Let’s not be fooled, this isn’t character development. It’s a re-run.
Back in 2019, Vijay Sardessai, then Deputy CM, slapped a phone out of a civic officer’s hand. When public pressure reached a boiling point, he switched gears from ‘Hulk’ mode to humble servant, issuing an apology like a kid caught cheating during finals. He’s also lashed out at journalists because asking questions is apparently a cardinal sin in his kingdom.
And remember the time Sardessai, as TCP Minister, lined up bouncers in the Town and Country Planning office like it was a nightclub in Baga? Govind Gaude, too, showed us what "cultural leadership" really means, by hurling abuse at the director of the Tribal Affairs department for allowing an NGO to hold a camp to educate lower section of the society of government schemes and their rights. Lashing out at journalists, activists, and even artists who dared question his Kala Academy renovation project, which, by the way, had more red flags than a Communist rally had become a norm for him.
But here's the kicker: once the chair gets pulled from under them, these very same men suddenly discover the spiritual power of humility. They apologize. They cry. They literally lie on the floor. Not because they’ve changed, but because they want your vote.
So let’s call it what it is: a seasonal shedding of arrogance disguised as repentance. When in power, they strut. When out of power, they crawl. Goa doesn’t need more dramatics. It needs accountability, memory, and voters with long attention spans. Because if we keep rewarding bad actors (read: politicians) with encore performances, they’ll keep rewriting the script to suit their egos, not our futures.
Thursday, 19 June 2025
Govind Gaude's ouster: A smokescreen for Goa's corrupt regime -- By Nisser Dias
The recent removal of Goa's infamous Art and Culture Minister Govind Gaude from the BJP-led government has sparked a storm of discussion across the state. On the surface, it appears to be a routine reshuffle, well within the constitutional prerogative of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant. But a closer look reveals a far more sinister reality—one that exposes the rot festering deep within the corridors of Goa's BJP regime.
For months, citizens and artists clamoured for Gaude's dismissal following the scandalous, shoddy renovation of the iconic Kala Academy. But Chief Minister Sawant shielded his minister, consistently blaming contractors and deflecting all responsibility. His unwavering support for Gaude raises one uncomfortable question: Why now? What changed?
The answer lies in a bombshell revelation that shook the BJP government to its core: Govind Gaude dared to accuse Chief Minister Sawant of corruption in the Tribal Welfare Department, which Sawant himself heads. When the opposition seized on these explosive allegations, Sawant found himself cornered, his image tarnished and his moral authority crumbling. And yet, instead of immediately sacking Gaude to assert his innocence, Sawant resorted to his usual tactic, outsourcing his discretion to instructions from his political masters in New Delhi.
This cowardly delay only proves one thing: Govind Gaude wasn’t fired for his incompetence or failures as a minister—he was axed for breaking the unspoken code of silence and daring to challenge the Chief Minister’s corruption.
But this is not an isolated incident. The rot in Goa's governance runs far deeper. Former Governor Satya Pal Malik, the very constitutional head of the state, publicly accused Chief Minister Sawant of direct corruption. Malik even brought his concerns to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expecting accountability. Instead of confronting these grave charges, Sawant used his influence in Delhi to oust Malik—a blatant abuse of power that underscores the BJP’s willingness to suppress truth to preserve its stranglehold on Goa.
Pramod Sawant, a non-Goan parachuted into power by late Manohar Parrikar and the RSS, had the audacity to promise 'strict action' against corruption in 2024. But every passing scandal exposes his hollow rhetoric. If Sawant truly stands for clean governance, why not begin by investigating the allegations against himself? The cash-for-jobs scandal stands as one of the most damning indictments of Sawant's leadership. This explosive controversy revealed the systemic rot within government hiring practices, leaving the administration humiliated and discredited. Under Sawant, governance in Goa has degenerated into organized looting—a brazen mockery of democratic principles.
The unlawful demolition of a house in Assagao, reportedly facilitated by collusion between politicians, police, and land sharks, further unmasked the nexus of corruption choking Goa. Former Director General of Police Jaspal Singh acting as an enforcer for powerful vested interests, laid bare just how compromised the state's institutions have become. When the heat started building he was packed to Delhi.
And then there is the murky case of former Chief Secretary Puneet Goel, hurriedly transferred to Delhi after revelations that he allegedly manipulated land-use designations to purchase prime property in Aldona. His swift transfer speaks volumes about the BJP government's desperation to sweep its corruption under the rug. The pattern is undeniable: under Pramod Sawant's leadership, corruption has become institutionalized. Goa today is not governed; it is plundered.
Govind Gaude's ouster is not a victory for accountability—it is a warning. A warning that in Sawant's Goa, the real crime isn’t corruption—it’s exposing it. The Chief Minister has long since forfeited any moral right to continue in office. For the sake of Goa’s dignity and its democratic future, Pramod Sawant and his tainted cabinet must resign immediately.
For months, citizens and artists clamoured for Gaude's dismissal following the scandalous, shoddy renovation of the iconic Kala Academy. But Chief Minister Sawant shielded his minister, consistently blaming contractors and deflecting all responsibility. His unwavering support for Gaude raises one uncomfortable question: Why now? What changed?
The answer lies in a bombshell revelation that shook the BJP government to its core: Govind Gaude dared to accuse Chief Minister Sawant of corruption in the Tribal Welfare Department, which Sawant himself heads. When the opposition seized on these explosive allegations, Sawant found himself cornered, his image tarnished and his moral authority crumbling. And yet, instead of immediately sacking Gaude to assert his innocence, Sawant resorted to his usual tactic, outsourcing his discretion to instructions from his political masters in New Delhi.
This cowardly delay only proves one thing: Govind Gaude wasn’t fired for his incompetence or failures as a minister—he was axed for breaking the unspoken code of silence and daring to challenge the Chief Minister’s corruption.
But this is not an isolated incident. The rot in Goa's governance runs far deeper. Former Governor Satya Pal Malik, the very constitutional head of the state, publicly accused Chief Minister Sawant of direct corruption. Malik even brought his concerns to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expecting accountability. Instead of confronting these grave charges, Sawant used his influence in Delhi to oust Malik—a blatant abuse of power that underscores the BJP’s willingness to suppress truth to preserve its stranglehold on Goa.
Pramod Sawant, a non-Goan parachuted into power by late Manohar Parrikar and the RSS, had the audacity to promise 'strict action' against corruption in 2024. But every passing scandal exposes his hollow rhetoric. If Sawant truly stands for clean governance, why not begin by investigating the allegations against himself? The cash-for-jobs scandal stands as one of the most damning indictments of Sawant's leadership. This explosive controversy revealed the systemic rot within government hiring practices, leaving the administration humiliated and discredited. Under Sawant, governance in Goa has degenerated into organized looting—a brazen mockery of democratic principles.
The unlawful demolition of a house in Assagao, reportedly facilitated by collusion between politicians, police, and land sharks, further unmasked the nexus of corruption choking Goa. Former Director General of Police Jaspal Singh acting as an enforcer for powerful vested interests, laid bare just how compromised the state's institutions have become. When the heat started building he was packed to Delhi.
And then there is the murky case of former Chief Secretary Puneet Goel, hurriedly transferred to Delhi after revelations that he allegedly manipulated land-use designations to purchase prime property in Aldona. His swift transfer speaks volumes about the BJP government's desperation to sweep its corruption under the rug. The pattern is undeniable: under Pramod Sawant's leadership, corruption has become institutionalized. Goa today is not governed; it is plundered.
Govind Gaude's ouster is not a victory for accountability—it is a warning. A warning that in Sawant's Goa, the real crime isn’t corruption—it’s exposing it. The Chief Minister has long since forfeited any moral right to continue in office. For the sake of Goa’s dignity and its democratic future, Pramod Sawant and his tainted cabinet must resign immediately.
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