Author: Team Admin

Talent Development Centre Nears Completion; IGNOU Seeks Land for Regional Centre at Farmagudi

Goa News

Team Goemkarponn Panaji: The Goa government informed the Legislative Assembly that research projects under the Interdisciplinary Research Interventions Scheme (IRIS) for Local Development are currently underway, while the proposed Talent Development Centre for faculty training is in the final stages of completion. Replying to an unstarred question tabled by Carlos Ferreira, Chief Minister and Education Minister Pramod Sawant stated that the IRIS scheme was implemented with effect from July 19, 2024. As the funded projects are still ongoing, research reports are not yet available. However, details of the selected villages or communities, interdisciplinary research teams and funds sanctioned have been…

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“To begin with, the concerns of villagers and activists opposing the dam cannot simply be dismissed. Development projects, especially large water infrastructure, inevitably bring difficult trade offs. While governments argue such projects are necessary for long term water security, people living in the affected areas worry about displacement, loss of homes and ecological damage. These anxieties are neither irrational nor illegitimate. In any democracy, citizens have the right to question projects that may alter their lives and landscapes. Yet, the method of protest used inside the Assembly is difficult to justify. A legislature is not a street corner or a public rally ground. It is the state’s highest deliberative body where elected representatives debate and decide policy. The visitors’ gallery exists so citizens can observe the proceedings of their government, not intervene in them.” Protest, Privilege and the Limits of Assembly Decorum The brief disruption inside the Goa Legislative Assembly by protesters opposing the proposed Zuari dam has sparked a debate that goes beyond a single incident. At its core are larger questions about democratic dissent, institutional sanctity and the responsibility of those in power. A group of protesters in the visitors’ gallery raised slogans and displayed placards against the project, forcing the Assembly to halt proceedings briefly. Security personnel removed them and they were detained. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant reacted strongly, describing the act as a “terrorist kind of attitude” and calling for strict action. The episode deserves careful reflection rather than instant outrage. To begin with, the concerns of villagers and activists opposing the dam cannot simply be dismissed. Development projects, especially large water infrastructure, inevitably bring difficult trade offs. While governments argue such projects are necessary for long term water security, people living in the affected areas worry about displacement, loss of homes and ecological damage. These anxieties are neither irrational nor illegitimate. In any democracy, citizens have the right to question projects that may alter their lives and landscapes. Yet, the method of protest used inside the Assembly is difficult to justify. A legislature is not a street corner or a public rally ground. It is the state’s highest deliberative body where elected representatives debate and decide policy. The visitors’ gallery exists so citizens can observe the proceedings of their government, not intervene in them. Allowing demonstrations from the gallery would set a dangerous precedent. If one group can shout slogans inside the Assembly today, another group with a different cause might attempt the same tomorrow. Soon the chamber could become vulnerable to disruptions that undermine the very process of democratic decision making. Security considerations alone make such acts unacceptable. The Assembly must remain a controlled and orderly space. That said, the government’s reaction has also raised uncomfortable questions. Describing the protesters as terrorists or likening their behaviour to terrorism is a serious exaggeration. Terrorism involves violence, intimidation and threats to life. What happened in the Assembly was a breach of decorum and security, not an act of terror. Political leaders must be careful with their language. When dissenters are casually labelled as terrorists, it weakens democratic discourse and turns political disagreement into criminal suspicion. Governments have every right to enforce rules and maintain order. Those who disrupt the Assembly can face legal consequences for violating security protocols. But the state must distinguish between maintaining institutional discipline and demonising dissent. Another important issue is how the protesters entered the visitors’ gallery in the first place. Access to legislative galleries is not random. Visitors typically receive passes issued through legislators or authorised channels. If individuals were able to enter with placards and stage a coordinated protest, the Assembly administration must examine whether there were lapses in screening or oversight. Blaming the protesters alone would ignore this procedural failure. A proper inquiry should establish who recommended the passes and whether security checks were followed. There is also a political dimension that cannot be ignored. In many states, protest movements often have shifting alliances with political parties. Individuals who once supported a party or its leaders sometimes turn into critics when policy decisions affect their communities. Such shifts are part of the messy reality of democratic politics. That complexity, however, should not be used to discredit the substance of their concerns. Even if some protesters once sympathised with the ruling party, their fears about displacement or environmental impact still deserve to be heard. The real challenge for the government lies not in suppressing protests but in addressing the underlying grievances. If the Zuari dam project is essential, the administration must explain its benefits clearly, publish detailed impact assessments and present credible rehabilitation plans for affected families. Transparency is the most effective antidote to suspicion. The Assembly disruption was clearly wrong. Legislative spaces must remain protected from such intrusions. But the response must also remain proportionate. Democracies weaken when institutions lose authority, but they weaken just as much when governments treat dissent as hostility. In the end, both sides crossed a line. Protesters should not have turned the Assembly gallery into a stage for agitation. The government, in turn, should resist the temptation to brand critics as enemies of the state. Democracy survives when institutions remain strong and dissent remains legitimate. Neither should be sacrificed in the heat of political confrontation.

Opinion

“To begin with, the concerns of villagers and activists opposing the dam cannot simply be dismissed. Development projects, especially large water infrastructure, inevitably bring difficult trade offs. While governments argue such projects are necessary for long term water security, people living in the affected areas worry about displacement, loss of homes and ecological damage. These anxieties are neither irrational nor illegitimate. In any democracy, citizens have the right to question projects that may alter their lives and landscapes. Yet, the method of protest used inside the Assembly is difficult to justify. A legislature is not a street corner or a…

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*”BJP Govt’s Silence Forced Mirabag Protesters to Act:” Vijai Sardesai Stands Strong With Protestors*

Local News

Team Goemkarponn Fatorda: The indefinite protest against the controversial Mirabag bandhara project intensified dramatically yesterday when agitating villagers, frustrated after 27 days of government apathy, took their fight to the doors of the Goa Legislative Assembly. Goa Forward Party (GFP) President and Fatorda MLA, Shri Vijai Sardesai along with Senior leaders of GFP, and activists have strongly condemned the government’s response and demanded immediate justice. Senior Leader and General Secretary, Goa Forward Party, Mohandas Lolienkar, stated that the step taken by the protestors was a direct outcome of the government turning a deaf ear to their legitimate demands. He asserted…

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CM Orders Thorough Probe into Pernem Assault on Advocate

Local News

Team Goemkarponn Panaji: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has taken serious cognisance of the assault on advocate Sadanand D. Vaigankar reported from Pernem on March 6. Police have registered an offence in connection with the incident and begun an investigation. The Chief Minister has directed authorities to carry out a thorough probe and ensure that the accused involved in the act of violence are identified and brought to book in accordance with the law.

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‘It’s War Time, Show Must Not Go On’: Prabhav Naik Slams Govt Publicity Events

Local News

Team Goemkarponn Margao: Madganvcho Awaaz and youth leader Prabhav Naik has strongly criticised the State Government’s decision to organise large-scale publicity events at a time when citizens are struggling with rising prices of essential commodities, particularly the latest hike in LPG cylinder prices. Naik said that when households are finding it difficult to manage basic expenses, the government should prioritise relief for the people instead of spending crores on publicity-driven programmes. Referring to the Budget speech of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Naik pointed out that the “Sarkar Tumchya Daari” initiative was announced to take governance to the people. “Governance must…

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Lakshya Sen Storms Into All England Open Semifinals With Dominant Win Over Li Shi Feng

Sports

Panaji: Indian badminton star Lakshya Sen advanced to the men’s singles semifinals of the All England Open Badminton Championships after defeating China’s sixth seed Li Shi Feng in straight games. Lakshya delivered an impressive display to secure a 21–13, 21–16 victory in the quarterfinal, maintaining control throughout the contest with aggressive shot making and consistent pressure. The win marked a significant result for the Indian shuttler, who had previously lost all three of his earlier meetings against the Chinese player. With this victory, Lakshya moves into the semifinals where he will face the winner of the quarterfinal between Canada’s Victor…

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Aravindh Chithambaram Wins At Prague Chess Festival As Gukesh Settles For Another Draw

Sports

New Delhi: Indian Grandmaster Aravindh Chithambaram secured an important victory while world champion D Gukesh continued his winless run in the eighth round of the Prague Chess Festival in Prague, Czech Republic. Chithambaram defeated Dutch Grandmaster Jorden van Foreest to move up the standings, while Gukesh had to settle for a draw against Germany’s Vincent Keymer. The Indian world champion has yet to record a victory in the tournament and remains near the bottom of the leaderboard with one round left to play. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan’s Nodirbek Abdusattorov moved into the sole lead after defeating Czech Grandmaster David Navara. Abdusattorov now…

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