Elections 2024 and mining implications for Goa

Let's accelerate sound utilization of District Mineral Trust Fund for the support of mining affected People

Electoral system in India is currently facing formidable challenge of electronic rigging with the way Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) are deployed to almost de-franchise people of India and usher in dictatorial system. Free and Fair elections might have been feasible to some extent with paper ballots. Indian current ethical system transmitted through Election Commision of India (ECI) did not allow any of these possibilities. Even Judiciary has betrayed people of India on this count. The consequences of such situation is the collosal collapse of voter trust in electoral system of EVM. The era of Guaratees is founded upon subtracting the basic guarantee of vote being registered in favour of candidate to whom voter votes. There is such a lot of evidence to this fact in India including latest proofs pointed out by Advocate Sadanand Vaingankar of Corruption Abolution Party in Margao for which he was criminally charged and detained for four hours under arrest past week.

This is an eco-system of Electronic corruption that jostled confidence of ruling political party to win election by winning over 400 seats in Lok Sabha.

Along side planned Electronic rigging of democratic mandate must be viewed something related: Electoral bonds. Electoral bonds to the Political Parties is brute camafulage of corporate hijacking of agendas as well as purchase of political candidature. It's a dramatic transition of democracy into corporate prey garden.

Implication of the above political cocktail is indeed highly threatening and we need to take steps to counter its dangerous implications immidiately through Resilience. While entire Country is facing perilous situation over increasingly corrupt and sophisticated polity Goa stands to loose the most.

These elections being that of Central government it has direct Implications to mining in Goa. Mining has unfolded biggest scam of Rs.35,000 crore in Goa and recovery of this amount is still pending due to various political reasons and power dynamics.

Mining industry has fielded Pallavi Dempo on BJP ticket in South Goa. Pallavi was born in family involved in Mining - Timblos of Margao and married in Mining family - Dempos of Panaji. Both these families are involved in eco-criminal activities through open cast iron ore Mining for past three generations and accumulated wealth sufficient for next 30 generations. In fact the election affidavit of Pallavi Dempo records her spouse Srinivas Dempo currently having mining lease in Sindadurg, Maharashtra worth several crores of Rupees. Dempo Family is responsible to getting globally notorious mining company Vandata Limited and its subsidiaries in Goa. The call for CBI investigations in the Mines transfer was never agreed to even though there are grounds for such investigations. 

Pallavi Dempo has disclosed assets worth more than 1000 crore in election affidavit and one can only guess as to how much might have remained undisclosed and off the record.

Fielding of Pallavi Dempo is significant indicator of both dissatisfaction with politicians to cover up and lobby for mining industry in Goa as well as desire for accelerating corporate take over of polity at the highest level in India.

All over Goa both Timblos as well as Dempos - like other mining companies - has profited from mining aggression of Goa's ecology, land, ground water, springs, lakes, water wells, agriculture, horticulture, forest, rivers. These families has been outstanding predators as well as parasites that has sucked out Goa economically as well as ecologically.

Crores of royalty collected by Goa State from the sale of minerals is stored in District Mineral Trust Fund (DMTF) without disbursing to mining affected areas. These funds should have been utilized for the people in mining belt that have been victims of mineral wounds to their geographies.

Candidates contesting Lok Sabha Elections in North as well as South Goa has to put this issue on agenda and get DMTF funds dispersed towards restoration of minerals wounded geographies of Goa in North as well as South Goa.

It is an irony that while mining industry is eager to take off yet again but it has paid no attention to the disbursement of DMTF to mining affected areas. Srinivas Dempo headed Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has been vocal in demanding dredging and deepening of Mandovi, Zuari and Cumbharjua Canal but it is not bothered about disbursement of DMTF to mining ravaged localities in Goa.

Politicians at all levels have been a failure to call for disbursement DMTF to mining affected people proving that they care a dam for Goa's minerally affected livelihoods.

It is rather strange that no political party thought it fit to speak up for the sound utilization of DMTF considering mining is so often being reffered to as backbone of Goa's economy. No Candidates of any Political Party or Independents thought it important to care for the mining affected people by pushing the DMTF issue on the election agenda even as Goa goes for the polls on May 06, 2024.

It is absolutely important to make DMTF functional and we need political parties to support and care for this.

Those who agree and willing to collaborate to make DMTF functional reach out to the author at 9923336347 or on email sebydesiolim@gmail.com


Dr. S.A. Rodrigues
Convenor,
Bharat Mukti Morcha,
Goa State 

Fishing manifesto for Parliamentary Elections 2024

Hello Candidates for Lok Sabha Elections from Goa!

Greetings from All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries Union!

We wish to draw your attention to few points that need your attention as a candidate for forthcoming Lok Sabha elections from Goa:

1. National Waterways

All the six rivers (Chapora, Mapusa, Mandovi, Cumbharjua, Zuari, Sal) be excluded from National Waterways Act 2017. This will make rivers legally safe for fishing.

2. Marinas

Two proposals (Nauxim and Sancoale) for Marinas in Zuari river be canceled. Leased deeds for both be canceled. This will ensure unhindered fishing in Zuari river.

3. MPA

Mormugao Port Authority (MPA) be excluded from the scope of Major Ports Authorities Act. This will be helpful to make fishing safe for small scale fishers.

4. Blue Flag

Blue Flag certification proposal for Siridao and other beaches in Goa be revoked. Beaches are declared as fish landing centre and This should not be disrupted by providing exclusive and reserved access to any beach in Goa.

5. Subsidies

Fishing communities fuel subsidies and other facilities be increased for small scale fishers.

6. Plastics

Rivers of Goa be cleaned up of plastic garbage by stopping manufacture of plastics.

7. Mining

Mining in Goa has led to siltation of rivers. It has negatively affected livelihoods of small scale fishing communities. Recent scientific study by Scientists from NIO etc has published evidence to this effect. This needs be taken on board as Indian government is moving ahead to resume mining in Goa.

We request you to keep above seven points on your agenda I times ahead.

We will be happy to extend any further inputs on the above points should you decide to contact us back.

Thanking  you,

Yours sincerely

Shaila D'mello

President

Laximan Mangueshkar

Secretary

Eco-hostile Resolution on Goa Mining

The resolution taken unanimously passed by Goa Legislative Assembly on August 03, 2018 strongly recommending re-starting of mining in Goa is completely eco-hostile act on behalf of all elective representatives in House. However this is no shocker. Mining companies of Goa are known to be funding State and National Political Parties both ruling and opposition, their MLAs are therefore obliged to push ahead the agenda of the mining corporate. Plus several MLAs of Goa are direct and indirect beneficiaries of mining industry with open and covert business links.

Curtorim MLA Reginald Lorenco who had raised public hopes with some dissent to mining, gave in. Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha who is amongst the most sensitive and skilled having worked with late Mathany Saldanha and functioned as Goa’s Minister for Environment and Forest has betrayed for trees has no votes. Tribal Affairs Minister and Priol MLA Govind Gawde did not bother to have deeper look at the tribal communities’ expression of grievances arising from ecological damage caused by mining industry in Sonshi and Colomba. Their votes signified their co-option to the exploitative system in place.

The resolution to re-start mining in Goa completely exclude any mention to the ecological damage that mining has already caused: amount of water pumped out daily depleting ground water table, amount of forest land diverted for mining purpose, amount of trees cut down or buried alive under mining dumps, the intensity of pollution caused to the paddy fields and rivers.

On the contrary we have witnessed highly objectionable comments from the Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar who is also Goa’s environment Minister “Just on ground of environmental damage, is it right to stop mining activity?” Goa’s environment Minister has a mindset that is in needs of immediate correction. Can economy flourish by damaging environment? The very first meeting of the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) minutes records that mining is biggest environmental pollution in Goa and barges transporting iron ore causes environmental pollution to Goa’s rivers, and massive public awareness is the need of the hour. When mining has caused such a high level of damage to Goa is it not the duty of the State government to stop mining forever and move people away from dependency on mining?

A month ago Indian Government’s Niti Ayog published study that warned of increasing shortage of fresh water in India. All water pumped out to extract ore in Goa is fresh water. Do any of the MLAs in Goa Legislative Assembly has data on how much ground water is pumped out from the legal and illegal mining pits in Goa ever since mechanization of mining in the decade of 1970s? Do they have information as to how many water bodies like wells in Sirgao has gone dry because of pumping out of ground water from mining pits? Do they have any data on how much of agriculture has been damaged due to flow of mining silt into paddy fields in Sattari, Bicholim, Ponda, Sanguem and Darbandora Talukas? How much unemployment and food insecurity has this created since 1970? It appears from the resolution that MLAs are only elected representatives lack moral courage and vulnerable to swings of cash and bullying.

Latest advertisements in Delhi Print media claim that mining in Goa is sustainable and eco-friendly. The extracted ore has reached shores of China, Japan, Pakistan and other countries as per records published by Goa Mineral Ore Exporters Association and Goa’s ore is sustaining these foreign countries. From 1945 Goa’s ore export has contributed immensely in resurrecting Japanese economy shattered by nuclear bombings. From 2000 Goa’s major share of exports went of China. Goa’s exports sustained Japanese and Chinese economies. How mining has sustained Goa’s ecology?

In what way Goa’s mining is eco-friendly? Isn’t it repackaging of mineral farming concept? On the contrary very first minutes of GSPCB proves that mining is an eco-hostile industry causing irreversible damage to Forest, Agriculture, Horticulture and Rivers.

Former Chief Minister Pratapsingh Rane, Poriem MLA is worst of all for his claims of not being aware of ecological damage due to mining. He must visit Pissurlem, Sirgao, Cavrem, Bicholim, Lamgao, Colomba, Advalpal, Honda, Sonshi and meet people who are staying and are at the receiving end of the mining industry.

The resolution to re-start mining by modifying Central Government mining laws is eco-hostile decision that will inevitably lead to Goa’s ecocide.

Sebastiao Rodrigues

Goa's Political heart attack

Heart of Goa Politics in mining pits. Now there is heart attack with jolting Supreme Court judgment. There is no ICU competent in Goa for its revival. Political all Party jamboree set to fly into Delhi ICU Union Minister of Mines and doctor hired in for special mission Gadkari who is perennially doctored. Not long ago reports revealed Goa's mining industry were top funders for Congress and BJP.

'Why' Politics of all Party meeting on Goa mining

Why Goa's legislators never thought of calling all Party meeting to discuss water shortages caused by mining by drying up of 75 village water wells of Sirigao village as mining pits have gone 90 meter below sea level? Why they never thought of calling all Party meeting to discuss entire destruction of agriculture by mining industry in Sirigao village? Why Goa legislators never had all Party meet when Forests land were diverted for mining and razed down brazenly? Why Goa legislators never had all Party meeting when Goa's rivers are invaded by mining industry through pollution as recorded in first meeting of GSPCB? Why they never called all Party meeting when so many jobs in hinterlands of Goa steadily lost due to mining intrusions? Why Goa's legislators are so selective in calling all Party meetings about mining in Goa? Is it likely that mining industry funds and 'buys off' all the MLAs? Is is likely that all political Parties in Goa are funded openly or under the table by mining industry? Why? Why? Why? This set of questions need answer for the sake of Goa's safety and prosperity. Can you attempt an answer?

Police investigations on BMM?

Just received information reveals that Goa Police CID has launched secret investigations on office bearers of Bharat Mukti Morcha (BMM) Goa Unit. People going to get the pass port clearances to police department are questioned about Bharat Mukti Morcha office bearers. 

In one instance that has come to our attention and we wish to share publicly is of one such policemen named Nitesh Borkar, CID, Police Headquarters, Panjim mobile number 7057088272. He is reported to have investigating travel mode and source of livelihood of Bharat Mukti Morcha Goa President Maggie Silveira. For nearly five days two policemen were posted this week at Vanxim Amboi Ferry point near Hotel Devaya to check mode of travel and vehicle number plate. Policemen did not bother to report release of sewage from Devaya Hotel into Mandovi river nor siphoning of water pipeline coming to Vanxim island by Devaya Hotel. Neither police nor one who put police on this task is really bothered about these issues.

Bharat Mukti Morcha will hold Goa Police CID responsible in case anything untoward occurs to any of the BMM office bearers all over the Goa. This insecurity with Goa police has triggered after BMM press conference on November 14, 2017 issued a statement against India's shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari, Environment Minister of India Harsh Vardhan and Chief Minister of Goa Manohar Parrikar. To read this critical statement click here. BMM will not cow down and request police to contact BMM office bearers directly instead of beating around the bush. BMM do not consider police as our enemy. BMM enemy is Bamon Raj and freedom from this Raj is our birth right and we will achieve it. 

Indian Politics currently operates in non-transparent manner as political parties are excluded from the ambit of Right to Information Act.

Is IOP Confusion as vast and deep as Indian Ocean ?

On 12^th June 2017 from 6.00 pm to 8.00 pm we had a visit from three People Asha Naik, Datraraj Kerker and Goa State Youth Vice President of Indian Oceanic Party Rama Shetkar. They had come to tell us to join their newly formed Political Party. After asking them about the Party ideology they gave us one page in Hindi containing global message of its National President C.P. Vyas. They did not give us the Constitution of the Party nor Manifesto of the Party. The speech though emotive ideologically is inclined towards Brahmanism. We present some points in this direction from the Vyas Global message from the perspective of mulnivasis.

No mention of Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar

There is no mention of Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar as one of the inspiring figure to the Party. There is a suspicion that this Party is tilted towards Brahmanism. This is significant considering that Ambedkar along with his predecessors Shahu Maharaj, Jyotirao Phooley and Savitribai Phooley fought for freedom from Brahmins with support from British. While Nehru-Gandhi-Gokhale after fought British to attain freedom for Brahmins after they failed to get share in rule.

Valmiki, the divine light of the Party?

Party thinks of non discrimination on Jatis and Religions. Jatis are different from Varnas which are four: Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vyasha and Shudra. Jatis are several splits orchestrated by Brahmins amongst Shudra to keep them perennially divided. They feel insecure and hence they keep them divided. Shudras is Sanskrit word for ‘Slaves’. Persian word for slave is ‘Hindu’. The word Hindusthan means land of slaves. 

At the same time text of this speech mentions that Vyas is moving ahead in divine light of Maharshi Valmiki. Valmiki was a State Poet in the Kingdom of Pushya Mitra Sung established after Brahmins destroyed revolution by murder of King Brudatt and established Ayodhya as headquarters of his counter-revolutionary kingdom. Valmiki wrote literary works ‘Ramayana’ in which he defended Varna system. Rama is written as dripping molten lead in the ears of studious non-brahmin native Shambook at the instigation of Brahmins; for Shambook was studying and Brahmins kingdom as per manusmriti denies education to Shudras. Rama is thus presented in Ramayana as defender of Bamon Raj. Now when C.P. Vyas is moving in this ‘divine’ light that defends Bamon Raj should natives of India join hands with it?

Location of roots of Violence and Injustice

Ramayana has seeds and examples of Violence as well as injustice from Brahmins to Shudras. Yet Vyas message ends with call to youth to be part of youth rights revolution and do away with Violence and Injustice from their roots. Now, when an epic of Violence and Injustice - Ramayana is a moving light for Vyas his call to Youth is meaningless directed to misguide and destroy.

Is Gandhi messenger of non-Violence?

For Vyas one of the inspirations is Gandhi and he wants to convince us that we are belonging to his vanvs. Vyas describes Gandhi as a messenger of Love, non-violence and brotherhood. This is surprising though popular notion peddled though Vyas speech. Vyas overlooks the fact that it was Gandhi who gave order for Violence in 1942: Do or Die! And amount of Violence triggered against British officials at all levels was remarkable. This violence created such huge damage that British in just a half decade from carried on Transfer of Power to Brahmins, and packed off from India.

When Gandhi betrayed Bhagat Singh

Along with Gandhi another inspiration listed with picture is of Bhagat Singh for the nationalistic reasons. We wonder how Gandhi and Bhagat Singh can be joint inspirations for Vyas. Gandhi never defended Bhagat Singh in his acts and in fact opposed him to such an extend that Gandhi stayed silent as Bhagat Singh was hanged Lahore Jail in today’s Pakistan. Bhagat Singh wrote a famous book “Why I am an Atheist” and was led to commit violent bombing of the Assembly in British India even though there were no casualties.

Concealed Masonic identity of Swami Vivekanand

Swami Vivekanand, Freemason is another inspiration for Vyas as he belied that he was world teacher. There is very little discussion or information shared in the speech on Vivekanand’s degree in Freemasonry. We wonder why.

Aryabhatta, a product of Revolution of Gautam Buddha

Aryabatta is another listed as inspiring world teacher. Aryabatta was a product of vibrant University system in Ancient India that came up after Brahmanism and rule of Manusmriti was overthrown by massive movements led by Gautama Mahavira and Gautama Buddhas. Science was research was major gift of Buddha’s revolution in India that led to a period when Maurya Empire ruled. Several Universities pioneering scientific temper rose up : Taxasheela, Vikramsheela and Nalanda are three renowned examples. Aryabatta who discovered zero was a product of this system of education. It was during this time India was known as Golden Bird. This system perished after the Brahmins re-established their rule in the form of Pushamitra Sungh. Bikkus were massacred all over India. University system that attracted scholars from all over the world was set on fire and was left burning for several months. If Aryabatta had to rise up again in India then the rule of Shudras has to be established again. For this Vyas has closed mind at least visible from his printed message in Hindi. Jyotibha Phule, Periyar, Shahu Maharaja, Ambedkar are not amongst those inspiring Vyas. Entire orientation of Vyas is a variant of Brahmanism. We wonder: why?

Vinobha Bhave - a response to dilute radical land reform movement

Vinobha Bhave is another figure mentioned as inspiring Vyas to view society together. This must be reflected upon as Bhave led Bhoodan movement in India as a response to radical movement advocating land reforms in India. He allegedly convinced Zamindars to give away mostly unproductive, uncultivable lands that they had captured over the years to the poor politically conscious masses. Bhave protected interest of Brahmins from en mass confiscation of their land by poor shudra peasants.

Cost of India as Economic Power

Vyas foresees India as economic power in near future. What’s the cost of this to masses of the country specially the Adivasis, SC and OBCs people? Vyas is silent on the topic. What is the cost of this growth of India as economic power on ecology? Vyas does not say anything.

Do nation dream or groups dream?

Vyas speaks of Dream of the Nation. One must ask him to list out what he considers as ‘dreams of the nation’. What is the dream of nation in current age of Anthropocene for the planet earth? Earth dreams of shut down of all the industries of the world. Who dreams on behalf of the nation?

Call to the nationalist

Vyas gives out a call to those nationalists with wish and capacity to free society of corruption, terrorism, starvation, hopelessness, unemployment, rapes, murders, intrusion, draught and floods. All these are products of rule of Congress and BJP, the two parties with their alliances under control of Brahmins in India. Brahmins now realized that both these Parties are discredited and they would not be able to manipulate EVMs non-stop to perpetuate their rule though these two Parties and allied parties. Hence new Parties are being floated. AAP is one of them and this Indian Oceanic Party has sufficient indicators in the global message of C.P.Vyas, it follow the same path. He is trying to cultivate Indian Nationalism by carefully protecting those responsible for sabotage of Indian nation over the centuries. Or else just refer to Manusmriti, a book of Brahmanical supremacy that Rama in Ramayana defends.

Vyas for nation of Brahmin Supremacy?

When Vyas himself adores Ramayana that protects and defends Brahmanical supremacy how do Vyas expect everyone to come together on one platform without Vyas renouncing divine path of Maharshi Valmiki?

Is Goa a nation?

One Goa centric point that must be made here as Vyas has come out with global message to Indians. Global Status of Goa as per United Nations Organizations is that Goa is a Colony of India. It was due to Veto power exercised by USSR on the night of December 18, 1961 that defeated UN condemnation of Invasion of Goa by India via its resolution 988. So officially Goa is part of India due to Veto power of USSR. Vyas has not made any comments on this in his message in Hindi circulated in Goa. Should India be allowed to forget this? Should Goa forget this? Should anyone forget this? No!

Conclusion

Indian Oceanic Party is confused in their orientation. Their broad orientation is towards strengthening o Bamon Raj. BMM disagrees with Party position in completion. Its yellow pamphlet in Hindi raises more questions that needs answers even though slogans are catchy and pitches for Truth: "Sacchayee ki tasveer bano" (Be a picture of truth) and "Majboor nahi majbooth bano" (Be strong rather than miserable). This criticism is written to seek truth for Truth sets us free. Truth is revealed through questions. Perhaps there is too much confusion as vast and deep as Indian Ocean. Lets await for a written response from Indian Ocean Party on its theory presented on yellow paper we have shared here as we received it. We are sure Bhagat Singh whose picture is printed on top of the pamphlet would have raised these questions and even perhaps more. Bhagat Singh was fierce critic of religion and even wrote a book "Why I am an Atheist?" Surely Bhagat Singh would instantly object to Maharshi Valmiki providing divine light to the IOP President. To print Bhagat Singh's picture on this pamphlet amounts to hijacking of Bhagat Singh's thought. Only those who do not suffer from lack of goodwill and lack of intellectual bankruptcy will talk this truth out which Vyas and leaders of IOP in India and Goa may like. Yet for the reason of upholding of truth we speak out forthrightly. This is contribution from BMM to Goa and India as well.