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.
Wednesday 9 October 2024
Wednesday 2 October 2024
Goa’s Unemployment Crisis: Empty Promises but Full Pockets -- By Nisser Dias
Goa’s job market is in crisis, and the numbers speak for themselves. The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation recently released a report through the National Sample Survey Office, revealing that Goa’s unemployment rate has skyrocketed to 8.7% for the 2023-2024 period—more than double the national average of 4.5%. This startling figure has ignited a fierce political debate, with the opposition lambasting the Pramod Sawant-led government for its economic mismanagement and broken promises to Goa’s youth.
Since the Prime Minister Narendra Modi government took office in 2014, unemployment has become a critical issue not just in Goa but across India. While election campaigns are filled with grand promises of job creation, these commitments often dissolve into empty rhetoric once the votes are cast. Goa is no exception. When official data, like the recent Periodic Labour Force Survey, highlights these failures, ruling governments typically respond with more vague assurances, deflecting responsibility and offering new promises that rarely see the light of day.
Non-Goan Chief Minister of Goa Pramod Sawant who has faced widespread criticism for his governance and administrative failings, recently pledged to create 2 lakh jobs over the next two years. However, many view this as yet another “jumla” aimed at countering the grim statistics from the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, as well as deflecting attention from corruption allegations surrounding massive land conversions.
But beneath these lofty promises lies a darker question: Will Goans even be able to afford these jobs? In Goa’s current political landscape, merit often takes a backseat to money and connections. There is a growing sentiment that government jobs in the state come with a hefty price tag, with merit and reservations becoming irrelevant in the face of corruption.
Another non-Goan minister in Goa’s cabinet, Vishwajit Rane demands that 22,000 jobs to be created in the next two years. Given Rane’s mercenary mindset, he sent a subtle
threat to his own government with his dictat, “or else we will have to think differently.
With slight deviation, Vishwajit is known to fill the majority of the vacant posts in his ministries with his voters. We have staff coming to work at South Goa District Hospital at Fatorda from his and his wife’s constituencies Valpoi and Poriem respectively, when jobs should have been provided to constituents of Fatorda, Margao, Nuvem and Benaulim.
Infact, all the government hospitals and sub-centres are filled with individuals from his and his wife’s constituencies.
Since the Prime Minister Narendra Modi government took office in 2014, unemployment has become a critical issue not just in Goa but across India. While election campaigns are filled with grand promises of job creation, these commitments often dissolve into empty rhetoric once the votes are cast. Goa is no exception. When official data, like the recent Periodic Labour Force Survey, highlights these failures, ruling governments typically respond with more vague assurances, deflecting responsibility and offering new promises that rarely see the light of day.
Non-Goan Chief Minister of Goa Pramod Sawant who has faced widespread criticism for his governance and administrative failings, recently pledged to create 2 lakh jobs over the next two years. However, many view this as yet another “jumla” aimed at countering the grim statistics from the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, as well as deflecting attention from corruption allegations surrounding massive land conversions.
But beneath these lofty promises lies a darker question: Will Goans even be able to afford these jobs? In Goa’s current political landscape, merit often takes a backseat to money and connections. There is a growing sentiment that government jobs in the state come with a hefty price tag, with merit and reservations becoming irrelevant in the face of corruption.
Another non-Goan minister in Goa’s cabinet, Vishwajit Rane demands that 22,000 jobs to be created in the next two years. Given Rane’s mercenary mindset, he sent a subtle
It has become an open secret that applying for jobs in any government department is a futile exercise—unless one is willing to “butter” the application heavily with cash. Be it Congress, BJP or alliance governments, ministers and supporting MLAs get their share of benefits. However in recent times Sawant has changed the equation by sharing the spoils with all MLAs endorsing 1932 Hindi feature film by J.J. Madan “Alibaba aur chalis chor.”
This pattern of corruption runs deep. The sale of government jobs has become an ingrained practice, with police sub-inspector positions allegedly selling for Rs. 40 lakhs, junior RTO officer’s post for Rs. 40 lakhs, and police constables post for Rs. 25 lakhs.
Opposition leader Yuri Alemao, has condemned these practices, although he himself comes from a political family with his father Joaquim Alemao and uncle Churchill Alemao has been part of Goa’s government machinery for decades. The truth is, this corruption has festered for years, but under Sawant and Rane, it appears to have reached new heights.
Recent court interventions have further exposed the rot in the system. On September 20, 2024, the Goa Bench of the Bombay High Court had to quash an appointment made by the Sawant government to the Goa Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA). The government had overridden a selection committee’s recommendation of retired District Judge Vincent D’Silva and instead appointed retired District Judge Cholu Gauns, with no justification. This blatant disregard for established procedures underscores the level of political manipulation that has become the norm.
The bottom line is this: in Goa, the ruling government under the ‘ghatti’ chief minister of Goa Pramod Sawant and his ministers have not just failed to deliver on job creation—they have commodified it. Promises of job creation are being leveraged as a smokescreen for a deeper, more disturbing reality where cash, not qualifications, determines one’s future. This job crisis is not just an economic issue; it is a moral and ethical one, revealing the extent of corruption that threatens to suffocate the hopes and dreams of Goa’s youth.
Sunday 30 June 2024
Unmasking the Nexus: The Assagao House Demolition Scandal – By Nisser Dias
The brutal and unlawful demolition of a house in Assagao, executed without judicial orders and with sheer force, has blown the lid off a festering corruption scandal that implicates politicians, police, and land sharks across India. This brazen act has laid bare a corrupt nexus that has long operated in the shadows.
Exposing the Corruption
Police Inspector Prashal Dessai's courageous decision to implicate Director General of Police (DGP) Jaspal Singh in this heinous affair is merely the tip of the iceberg. This scandal demands a rigorous, independent investigation to uncover the full extent of the conspiracy and identify all the culprits. The disgrace of DGP Singh confirms what many have long suspected: the police serve those who line their pockets, not the public they are sworn to protect.
The Chain of Command
It is implausible that DGP Singh acted alone. Such an operation would have required coordination with the Superintendent of Police and the Deputy Superintendent of Police, who would then direct the inspector on executing the plan. The scheme involved evicting the Agarwadekar family by summoning them to the Anjuna police station, falsely claiming the house was unoccupied, and then demolishing it.
When the operation went off the rails, hired thugs resorted to kidnapping the father and son. By this time, neighbours and the media had already been alerted, preventing the plan from being fully executed. This entire chain of command must be dissected to hold every participant accountable.
Political Collusion
We must scrutinize on whose orders DGP Singh was operating. Was he following directives from higher political authorities? It is inconceivable that Singh would jeopardize his career without powerful backing. The involvement of BJP-affiliated bouncers suggests a direct political link to the demolition.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant's Role
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s eagerness to rebuild the demolished house with public funds is highly suspicious. Even in cases of misconduct, courts typically order that costs be recovered from the perpetrators, not the government. Secondly why is Sawant in such a hurry to transfer DGP Singh to Delhi instead of suspending or dismissing him to ensure a fair investigation? As Home Minister, Sawant is Singh's direct superior. Sawant's reluctance to appoint a retired High Court judge for a judicial inquiry is telling. The so-called investigation by the Crime Branch into this abuse of power is a sham, designed to protect senior officials and making junior officers as scape-goats.
A Cover-Up in Motion
Whenever judicial courts grant bail to accused persons, the conditions are “not to interfere with investigation” and “not to influence the witnesses”. The Goa BJP government's request to transfer DGP Singh is nothing more than a manoeuvre to keep him in power, allowing him to influence the investigation, tamper with evidence, and intimidate witnesses. This move is a blatant attempt to cover up the chain of events and protect high-ranking officials.
Demanding Accountability
The people of Goa deserve transparency and justice, not a cover-up orchestrated to shield powerful individuals. Only a relentless and unbiased investigation can restore faith in the system and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice. This scandal is not just about a single house demolition; it is about uprooting a deeply entrenched corruption that threatens the very fabric of our society. The citizens of Goa must demand accountability and refuse to let this outrage be swept under the rug.
Exposing the Corruption
Police Inspector Prashal Dessai's courageous decision to implicate Director General of Police (DGP) Jaspal Singh in this heinous affair is merely the tip of the iceberg. This scandal demands a rigorous, independent investigation to uncover the full extent of the conspiracy and identify all the culprits. The disgrace of DGP Singh confirms what many have long suspected: the police serve those who line their pockets, not the public they are sworn to protect.
The Chain of Command
It is implausible that DGP Singh acted alone. Such an operation would have required coordination with the Superintendent of Police and the Deputy Superintendent of Police, who would then direct the inspector on executing the plan. The scheme involved evicting the Agarwadekar family by summoning them to the Anjuna police station, falsely claiming the house was unoccupied, and then demolishing it.
When the operation went off the rails, hired thugs resorted to kidnapping the father and son. By this time, neighbours and the media had already been alerted, preventing the plan from being fully executed. This entire chain of command must be dissected to hold every participant accountable.
Political Collusion
We must scrutinize on whose orders DGP Singh was operating. Was he following directives from higher political authorities? It is inconceivable that Singh would jeopardize his career without powerful backing. The involvement of BJP-affiliated bouncers suggests a direct political link to the demolition.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant's Role
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s eagerness to rebuild the demolished house with public funds is highly suspicious. Even in cases of misconduct, courts typically order that costs be recovered from the perpetrators, not the government. Secondly why is Sawant in such a hurry to transfer DGP Singh to Delhi instead of suspending or dismissing him to ensure a fair investigation? As Home Minister, Sawant is Singh's direct superior. Sawant's reluctance to appoint a retired High Court judge for a judicial inquiry is telling. The so-called investigation by the Crime Branch into this abuse of power is a sham, designed to protect senior officials and making junior officers as scape-goats.
A Cover-Up in Motion
Whenever judicial courts grant bail to accused persons, the conditions are “not to interfere with investigation” and “not to influence the witnesses”. The Goa BJP government's request to transfer DGP Singh is nothing more than a manoeuvre to keep him in power, allowing him to influence the investigation, tamper with evidence, and intimidate witnesses. This move is a blatant attempt to cover up the chain of events and protect high-ranking officials.
Demanding Accountability
The people of Goa deserve transparency and justice, not a cover-up orchestrated to shield powerful individuals. Only a relentless and unbiased investigation can restore faith in the system and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice. This scandal is not just about a single house demolition; it is about uprooting a deeply entrenched corruption that threatens the very fabric of our society. The citizens of Goa must demand accountability and refuse to let this outrage be swept under the rug.
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