On Monday, speaking on demands for Town and Country Planning, Forests and Women and Children in the Goa Legislative Assembly, former Minister and Taleigao MLA Jennifer Monseratte demanded that Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary be declared as Tiger Reserve.
For the whole session, hardly anything could be heard from Jennifer on any issue, not even the issues concerning her constituency including bad roads etc but she suddenly woke up from her deep slumber and spoke on Tiger Reserve. One wonders where the love for Togers came from.
Of course, the Tiger Reserve is the need of the hour and it is for experts to decide. However, this coming in from the people, who have finished the jungles comes as a surprise.
Was there anything more that was meeting the naked eye?
For those who do not know, Vishwajit and Babush have no love lost over the Panaji Outline Development Plan as such both are at loggerheads with Babush alleging Vishwajit does not take into consideration the “interests” of other Ministers and MLAs.
Being a Minister in the Cabinet, Babush cannot speak his feelings in the Assembly other than his portfolios and he has to give his viewpoint only in the Cabinet meetings where nobody else except the 11 others get to hear him.
So it seems to be quite evident that Babush used his wife Jennifer Monseratte to vent his ire on Vishwajit. Jennifer spoke but it seemed like the words came from somewhere else.
Of course, as I said earlier, this article is not to defend Vishwajit Rane or against Tiger Reserve or his TCP Bills.
We respect the views of every member of the legislative assembly but it was shocking to hear this from Jennifer Monseratte on the Tiger Reserve Bill.
The couple, who have not left the destruction of any agricultural property in Taleigao is speaking on saving the environment. Strange.
Taleigao once known for its agricultural produce has become a concrete jungle the reason being the former and current legislators of the constituency, who have converted the properties along with builders lobby right left and centre.
One would also ask, what is Jennifer’s concern on Tiger Reserve, yes as citizens of Goa, we all are concerned about the environment, but it is difficult to digest that Jennifer had only Tiger’s interest in this comment.
Does she even know what Tiger Reserve means? What are the difficulties that inhabitants will face if they are declared Tiger Reserve? What are the pros and cons of such a decision?
Also, questions are now being raised which Tiger does she want to save?
Was she talking of reserving land in Taleigao and Panaji only for the so-called “Tiger of Taleigao”? Was this a “Save Tiger or Save Monseratte” statement?
Was she trying to save a so-called “Tiger” from Taleigao, who is slowly but steadily losing his grip on “power” and so also his health?
Despite being a Minister, he does have the same status and power he enjoyed a decade ago. And with his former friend Vishwajit making his time more difficult in ODP finalisation, Babush now wants to settle scores in the Assembly…
SURAJ BNANDREKAR
Editor, Goemkarponn
