Editor, Goemkarponn
AERIAL VIEW
Today, all traditional Goan businesses are at the receiving end due to these outsiders, be it taxi businesses, shack owners, watersports owners, or fisherfolks; the non-Goans have captured every business, and the Goans are left at lurch. Why?
This is our land and our government, and still, the voices of the Goans do not reach the rulers elected by the same Goans. Why? This is simply because few of us vote for just Rs 2000, a beer and a plate of chicken. Isn’t it?
The people who bought your votes think it is their right to do what they want for their self-interest and care a damn for their voters.
SURAJ NANDREKAR
Editor, Goemakrponn
What started as a start-up, inspired by the Digital India push, Goemkarponn newspaper is today one of the popular brands in Goa. Be it a newspaper, social media, web portal or digital news, Goemkarponn has made its presence felt in every sector.
In the last two years, Goemkarponn, through its journalists, has exposed several wrongs by the politicians, government, bureaucrats and police.
The major exposures have been the COVID-19 purchases in the health department, the Oxygen Scam, the Agriculture scam, the Mhadei diversion and so on.
As we step into the third year, we vow to be the eyes and ears of the common man in Goa and continue to fight for their rights, be it the issue of our lifeline Mhadei, the coal issue, the double tracking issue, the mining issue, the river nationalisation issue, the casino issue, the unemployment issue, retaining the identity of Goa or saving the scarce land and environment of Goa.
Goemkarponn will continue to do what it has been doing so far.
Having said this, we agree that Goa today is passing through a very critical phase; there is discontent everywhere, mainly from the people who love the environment and the people who want to save Goa for posterity.
Goa was always known as a paradise on earth and famous for its hospitality, but today we find that “Atithi Dev Bhava” does not find a place in our hearts; why?
The tourists who descend in Goa spending thousands of rupees are ill-treated? Is this our culture? The tourists are beaten up in dance bars and looted, and racist comments are being passed. Is this our Goemkarponn? Is this the way we treat tourists or our guests?
This is happening because we have let the dance bar, sex and drug culture enter our state. Today, the coastal areas are not ruled by our government or police but by outsiders – Delhiites, Kashmiris, Gujratis or Marwadis. They are the ones calling the shots and not the Goans.
Today, all traditional Goan businesses are at the receiving end due to these outsiders, be it taxi businesses, shack owners, watersports owners, or fisherfolks; the non-Goans have captured every business, and the Goans are left at lurch. Why?
This is our land and our government, and still, the voices of the Goans do not reach the rulers elected by the same Goans. Why? This is simply because few of us vote for just Rs 2000, a beer and a plate of chicken. Isn’t it?
The people who bought your votes think it is their right to do what they want for their self-interest and care a damn for their voters.
This is because you sold them your votes, so you have no right to blame them now.
A few honest MLA politicians are left with no choice, and even though they try to raise their voices, there is nobody to hear them.
Goa needs not a strong government but a strong Opposition to keep the government and the ministers on their toes today.
A strong Opposition needs to question the government why injustice is being meted out to the locals; what wrong have they done?
But sadly, the Opposition too in Goa is a divided lot today…
