All’s not well in the Goa BJP
A lowdown on the infighting in the Goa BJP, the battle by Anjuncars to save themselves from noise pollution, Aleixo's slippery tongue and more in this weekly roundup from Goa.
All’s not well in the Goa BJP: That was the refrain of Calangute ‘BJP’ MLA Michael Lobo who took partymen by surprise when he told reporters during an impromptu conversation that the government’s decision to withdraw several bills that were tabled during the recently concluded session of the Goa Legislative Assembly was indicative that “all was not well” within the ruling BJP.
Lobo’s gripe was this: Despite having an overwhelming majority in the legislatures -- 33 versus the opposition’s 7, the government backed down on passing a bill that was already tabled in the house.
The bill in question was the Town and Country Planning Amendment and Validation Bill, 2024 that I discussed in a previous edition of my newsletter that you can find here.
However, not everyone within the BJP was happy with what was happening. The disquiet at the way the Town and Country Planning Department was being run, that bubbled to the surface after a war of words between Babush Monserrate and Vishwajit Rane over land conversions earlier this month was now a full blown war, albeit behind closed doors.
The Clash of Clans
Things came to a head during a cabinet meeting that was held during the session that descended into a shouting match between at least three ministers in the cabinet.
From the little news that has trickled out from within, two other ministers in the government were loudly upset not just at the ‘bad name’ the government was getting as a result of a law designed to make the TCP department the sole arbiter of land zoning in Goa, but also because the department was approving deeply unpopular massive construction projects projects in their respective constituencies that not only amounted to interfering in their turf, but also was even threatening their re-election. No prizes for guessing who the two ministers are.
More than anything, people within the BJP and the government have had enough of Rane’s style of functioning. For example, when Monserrate raised the issue of unbridled land conversion in Goa, Rane replied with a threat -- that there would be no ODP for Taleigao. When the legislators said they would raise the issue of land conversion in Goa during the assembly session, Rane responded with yet another threat -- that all the conversions he has done were at the behest of MLAs and ministers he would revel the names were they to press the issue further.. Last year, when the Pernem zoning plan was being opposed by the people of Pernem Rane threatened that he would expose local Mandrem MLA Jit Arolkar’s land conversions. It’s a different matter that none of the threats were ever followed through.
The BJP core committee decided to end the party and a decision was taken to withdraw the bills -- not just the TCP Bill but all the bills that were tabled by Rane and scheduled for passing during the recently concluded session.
But that’s not all. When asked about the contentious clause, Rane claimed it was not his department, but the law department that inserted the clause. Law minister Aleixo Sequeira was quick to counter him saying it wasn’t his department that included the contentious clause. Who will bell the recalcitrant cat?
Why did Lobo have a problem that this bill in particular was not passed?
As you may be aware, this Bill had something known as the validation clause. This validation clause was drafted after the Bombay High Court at Goa blocked the Town and Country Planning Department from issuing permissions on the basis of the Calangute Candolim ODP that was withdrawn by the department after Vishwajit Rane, who took over as the Town and Country Planning Minister in 2022.
Rane, who tabled a report in the Goa Legislative Assembly back in July 2022 accused the local MLA Michael Lobo of ‘destroying Goa’ and his report tabled before the Assembly alleged that “3.59 lakh sq m of land in five villages in North Goa’s coastal belt were converted from tenanted land, cultivated land, no development slopes or mangroves to settlement land.”
“People come to Goa because they love Goa. People come to Goa because they feel that there is a lot of greenery and peace of mind…If you destroy Goa and you make Goa a city or a metro, people will not come to Goa. You have to save Goa for posterity. These are the people who have destroyed Goa,” Rane had said according to an Indian Express report from back then.
Sounds very different from the Vishwajit Rane of today, doesn’t it? Either way, point being, no matter what the Goa government did the High Court stayed everything concerning the Calangute Candolim ODP and the Arpora, Parra Nagoa ODP. When the TCP issued a notification saying that permissions could be issued on the basis of the scrapped ODP, the High Court stayed that. When the Goa government brought an ordinance to amend the law and undo the basis of the HC judgement, the High Court stayed the operation of the ODP for an interim period. The Goa government then filed a case before the Supreme Court to stay the High Court’s order, but the matter has since been reverted back to the High Court.
This back and forth between a shameless government and a stern High Court was clearly getting on the nerves of the powers that be that decided to bring a law that would make the Calangute Candolim ODP outside the purview of Courts -- something quite unheard of in a democracy.
At risk are all the zoning changes that have been carried out over the last ten years or so both by Lobo and now by Rane that have been stayed by the High Court thrice -- 2017, and twice this year by the High Court. It’s no wonder that those who want the lands converted fully and finally are getting increasingly impatient. A small win for now, but the bigger battle lies ahead.
Aleixo’s slippery of tongue
Environment Minister and Congress turncoat Aleixo Sequeira embarrassed his own government when speaking to the media earlier this week claimed that “drugs are available all over. You don’t need Sunburn to come and make drugs available.”
Sequeira who is facing the music -- both literally and figuratively -- after a proposal to host the Sunburn music festival in Loutolim was loudly and decisively opposed during the gram sabha held last Sunday, was asked about hosting the EDM music festival at the Verna plateau when he made the statement.
“You are all shouting about Sunburn and drugs. There is a festival that is organised for three days in Colva every year – I am sure some of you have gone to the festival. You want to tell me there are no drugs there? Drugs, I believe, are available. It is our responsibility to identify those selling them… [It is] our responsibility [is] to intimate the police that they are available,” he said, according to this Indian Express report.
“You tell me, in your own village, are drugs not available? What are you doing, then? What am I doing? Nothing. I feel the time has come that all of us should work hand-in-hand and let us aggressively attack this menace.”
Reading the comments makes it obvious that Sequeira was not only trying to justify the hosting of Sunburn in an interior more placid village of Goa, but also that he was definitely aware of what he was saying that he was talking about Goa.
Nevermind that he attempted to salvage the situation saying that he was talking about the global problem of drugs.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant quickly came to his rescue saying that Sequeira was a victim of a slippery tongue and that what he probably meant was that the problem of drugs is everywhere.
But as senior journalist Devika Sequeira wrote on Facebook that is worth quoting here in full:
“Aleixo Sequeira had a slip of the tongue when he said drugs are all over the map in Goa, his boss Pramod Sawant said.
Aleixo also got his tongue into a twist when he forgot which party he contested the election on.
He suffered memory loss as well about signing an affidavit swearing he wouldn't cross floors.
It was a slip of the tongue too when he told voters (all on video, damn those intrusive reporters) he wouldn't betray them, or when he told Nilesh Cabral he didn't want his Cabinet berth.
Doubt his tongue failed him though when he promised those Sunburn brokers he'd help set up their next gig in South Goa.”
Influencing the ‘influencers’
Eyebrows were raised this week when the media revealed that the Goa Police had launched an investigation and had dispatched teams to Delhi to probe a case of ‘influencers’ ‘defaming’ the state of Goa.
Here’s what happened. On August 7, several journalists, the undersigned included, received WhatsApp messages from unknown numbers, with no name or profile picture attached sharing a video file in which Rohit Upadhyay, an Instagram newscaster and journalist talks about a scam regarding the sale of land given to Zuari Agro Chemicals back in the 70s, which has now been sold to real estate companies for a huge profit. The issue was raised by opposition legislator Vijai Sardesai during the recently concluded assembly election. The other videos shared by the other numbers included video explainers on the Investment Promotion and Facilitation Amendment Bill, now before the select committee as well as other issues.
When the Police PRO and Superintendent of Police Crime Branch, was questioned about the case, he refused to say anything beyond: “We have received a complaint and are currently investigating the case.” Who has filed the complaints? What is the nature of ‘defamation’ that Goa is facing? What sections of the BNS have been violated via the videos -- no answers have been forthcoming despite these questions being asked of the Police.
While no arrests have been made so far, we can’t help but wonder, what exactly is the offence committed? If there is an error in the reporting, then it can always be clarified. But if there is none, then is ‘defaming’ the state even an offence?
Unsurprisingly, it was Vijai Sardesai who spoke in support of the influencer and while on record he claimed that he has no connection with the newscaster, it is not difficult to join the dots.
“I’m astonished reading press reports of @BJP4Goa @GovtofGoa sending @Goa_Cops to #Haryana to catch some influencers who’s been drawing the attention of the whole nation to the corrupt and incompetent circus that’s been the governance in #Goa…Rounding up a few influencers will not change the reality, and the reality is Goa is being ravaged,” Sardesai said via Twitter.
Upadhyay, who has made several issues about Goa including the Zuari land issue, the private forests issue, smart city scam and land scams, too didn’t hold back in a video titled ‘journalism is not a crime.’
“I have come to know via the media that the Goa government has sent teams to Delhi, Haryana. I have made some reports on scams, corruption and environmental issues and the failing law and order in Goa during the BJP's rule in Goa. They need not send the police at the cost of taxpayer money, I am willing to come to Goa myself,” he said in a video uploaded via social media channels.
One hopes that the state government realises its folly that pursuing the case will only bring more attention to the very issues it is trying to suppress. But then, if they have to learn it the hard way, then let them.
Anjuna noise pollution
The village of Anjuna, long suffering from the curse of loud music, has finally decided that enough is enough. The village has come together to hold candlelight vigils every night to highlight the non stop parties especially over the Independence Day weekend.
Villagers gathered in large numbers across three consecutive nights of Thursday, Friday and Saturday marched in solidarity forcing the police to stand up and take notice.
On Saturday, the Goa Police announced the suspension of the Duty Master at the Anjuna Police Station on charges of misusing his official position and colluding with the owners of pubs and restaurants to allow music to continue long after the permitted time of 10pm. But is suspending a low level official going to solve the problem?
But that’s not all, the protests have forced establishments to be worried after the police acted and seized the equipment of one establishment, fearing that the long arm of the law would fall on them next.
To be sure, the battle is far from over. But rather than leaving you despairing I’ll leave you with this video of an interaction with an Anjuna local and MLA Delilah Lobo. The interaction takes place no sooner than she handed over a memorandum on behalf of the residents of Anjuna complaining about noise pollution when the intrepid citizen decides to question her own commitment to the cause by shutting down her restaurant’s music by 10pm. It’s best watched in its full glory here.
That’s all I have for you this week. If you like my work, do not hesitate to leave comment, sign up and share it with your networks. Until next week.
Nothing changes until and unless the locals stay united and fight these monster ministers who are hell bent on destroying and wiping out Goa's identity. Looking forward to more such incisive reports from you.
Well done Gerald. Looking forward to your analyses and evaluation next week.