HERALD: Tuesday Tunes

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Goa's phone numbers change from Nov 10, 2002. Prefix old number with a 2. New 
numbers will be seven-digit 2XXXXXX (where XXXXXX is the old number).
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TUESDAY TUNES

PANJIM, NOV 18

Of 'ailing' inaugurations

THESE DAYS, a mysterious disease seems to have hit the government officials
in Goa, but only at the time of inaugurating developmental works by the
MLAs.

They fall sick on the auspicious day and abstain from attending the
function. Some of the alleged ailments are fever, loose motions, toothache.
But they are the quick healing types, as officials resume their duties
promptly on the next day.

They report sick only when MLAs from the Opposition are inaugurating the
projects. And the reason for their sickness which was a mystery has been
finally unfolded.

According to sources, they have allegedly been given strict instructions to
abstain from such functions by none other than Chief Minister Manohar
Parrikar.

But the government babus, though not God-fearing, are fearful of MLAs and
avoid antagonising the Opposition MLAs. After all, nobody is really sure how
soon or when the aggrieved MLA will roam the street in a 'red-light' car,
should a toppling game take place.

And being sandwiched between two sides, the best alternative they have found
is to report sick on that auspicious day.


Enemy turned ally

When important issues such as no-confidence motions or elections of sarpanch
in the panchayat take place, presiding officers may be a pre-requisite
presence within the four walls of the panchayat.

But equally common are those who preside outside the panchayat walls - the
men in khaki.

A strong police presence to maintain law and order during important
panchayat meetings has now become a regular feature. In one such case, a
police team on Monday escorted Loliem-Polem panch Vishwesh Acharya, who
switched loyalties and joined the BJP, to the panchayat hall as elections to
the post of sarpanch was to be take up.

But police escort for Acharya is not a unusual scene, for earlier he was
escorted by the police, not to the panchayat but to the police station and
the court, where Acharya is faced with criminal cases filed against him by
the State. Incidentally, he is still undertrial by the court.

On June 2, he had filed a complaint against Canacona Police, alleging them
of torturing him, while in police custody.

In other words, what was considered an enemy in June has now turned an ally
in November.


Bank politics again

SOME FIREWORKS WERE expected after the CM's bombastic statements over the
affairs of Mapusa urban co-operative bank some time ago. More than two
months has passed and nothing much has happened as far as accountability is
concerned.

While sanctioning funds as liquidity for the bank, the government had said
that the "culprits" would be taken to task. In the government reply to the
calling attention raised by BJP president Laxmikant Parsekar in the last
assembly session, much had gone against long-time chairman Ramakant Khalap
over sanctioning of some loans.

It was expected that the government would initiate cases against all those
responsible for the bank to the present situation. Another
'War-Against-Corruption' episode on the lines of ticket and GSCB scams
involving Dayanand Narvekar and Somnath Zuwarkar, appeared set.

But over the last two months, there is so much of silence that nobody knows
whether something was really wrong with the MUCB or whether it was meant to
defame someone. Will the government explain if this is part of its new
policy on Good Governance?


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What's On In Goa (WOIG): 
Nov 06 Children's book exhibn opens, Walkabout, Anjuna... (all weekdays)
Nov 06 ArtHouse, Calangute: Chaitali's acrylics on canvas till 19.11
Nov 07 Revision of electoral rolls (till Nov 30) See schedule.
Dec 01 Two day conference, Goa Agenda. IT For Society. (Ends 2.12) 
Every Sunday: Music therapy sessions at Moira, 5 pm. 278, N.Portugal

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