Goa Diary

A game of numbersAfter all the hype generated by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Parivar, its rathyatra against the minority Christian co...

A game of numbers

After all the hype generated by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Parivar, its rathyatra against the minority Christian community turned out to be a damp squib in Goa. While the saffron leaders were promising four thousand participants, the actual figures were about a fourth of that number.

Sadhvi Rithambara, the fiery sanyasin, spewed vitriol on the Pope, the Christians, the English media, the middle-class Indians, Pakistan and Mulayam Singh Yadav. On cue, the assemblage even took the pledge administered by her, but the organisers sorely missed the huge crowds they could mobilise for Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee8217;s meetings in the past. Talk of substance gaining over sound and fury!

Money over mettle

A few years back, in his earlier avatar as an ordinary man, Luizinho Faleiro mooted the Goa Public Men8217;s Corruption Investigations and Enquiries Act, ostensibly to clean up the administration. A good public relations move, it was soon forgotten by all.

So when thesame Luizinho Faleiro is now occupying the post of Chief Minister, a citizens8217; group decided to take a closer look at how the provisions of the Act was being implemented and came up with startling results. Faleiro, himself, is among those who care yet to declare their assets. So is the entire Cabinet ruling Goa now. Former chief minister Wilfred D8217;Souza and Speaker of the Goa Assembly Parapsinh Rane are also guilty.

The citizens8217; group also alleged that some of Goa8217;s leaders, in fact, preferred to avail of the Voluntary Disclosure of Income Scheme VDIS implemented two years ago to launder their ill-gotten wealth.

Madhu8217;s plunge

Model Madhu Sapre may not have taken the plunge with Milind Soman, but then going solo seems to be the in8217; thing.

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Last week, at the launch of a bungee-jumping park at Anjuna beach, the supermodel did a solo jump of 80 feet, clad in a wedding dress designed by Goa8217;s Wendell Rodrigues not once, but thrice. No, Milind Soman was not around, neither was PramodNavalkar!

Tailpiece

Do the Portuguese still feel nostalgic about Goa? Well, yes, as long as the question of money is not involved. The directors of Banco Nacional Ultramarino, the Portuguese bank, who were in Panaji to open an extension office of the bank, feel that it would make sound financial sense to site the main branch at Mumbai. 8220;It is not a political decision,8221; they insisted. Colonial ties be damned.