Fw: For favour of publication.

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April 29th., 2003.

The Editor,
The Navhind Times,
Navhind Times Bhawan,
Panaji, Goa 403 001.

Dear Sir,

I am appalled at the manner in which you have frontpaged and headlined some
allegations  which were made by a Member of the Goa Legislative Assembly
against Dr. Claude Alvares.   Apart from the fact that the MLA concerned has
abused his privilege as a Member of the Legislative Assembly by making
unsubstantiated allegations against Dr. Alvares, who does not have the
ability to answer the charges in the House,  the fact that you have carried
the allegations  on the front page of The Navhind Times of April 29th. as if
the allegation were true, exposes your own lack of objectivity, and lends
credence to the popular belief that you are biased against citizens who are
active in Civic and Environmental issues.

Your headline conveys the impression that the allegations are true, without
in any way indicating that these were allegations made in the sacred
precincts of the Legislative Assembly in violation of the Code of Conduct of
the Legislators.   Since the allegations are of a criminal nature, you have
become  an accessory to a libel.   Unless you can provide substantial
evidence to prove that the allegation is well founded, you are yourself
guilty of a criminal offence.

Apart from the legal aspect, however, you have degraded the profession of
journalism by indulging in  cheap street-level mud-slinging by making
serious charges against a person who is held in very high regard by the
citizens in general, and by civic and environmentally conscious citizens in
particular.

You owe Dr. Claude Alvares a public apology for the manner in which you have
reported the irresponsible allegation made in the House by a Member who has
a very dubious reputation.   I do hope that you will have the courage and
the honesty to admit to your unacceptable publication of  a slanderous
allegation, and that you will offer your apology publicly  at the earliest.

Yours truly,



Mr. Averthanus D'Souza,
D-13, La Marvel Colony,
Dona Paula, Goa 403 004.

Tel:  2453552.


NOTE: The Navhind Times has issued a correction in the 30th. April, 2003
issue as under:
Quote
The headline 'Claude Alvares extorting money from hoteliers' which appeared
in the Navhind Times dated 29 April 2003 was wrong and misleading. We
apologise for the error.
Uquote
This has appeared on the front page RHS bottom.

Floriano Lobo.