Call for Boycott of Panchayat Elections 2017 in Goa

Panchayat elections in Goa are scheduled to be held on June 11, 2017. We observed that Panchayat powers to decide for the village has been taken away by two recent laws. One law is Goa Investment Promotion Act 2014 passed by Goa Government and second law is The National Waterways Act, 2016 of the Central government.

Goa Investment Promotion Act overrides Panchayats and  powers are taken away, and Panchayats have become Powerless in final decision makings etc. Several Panchayat and municipal areas such as Vanxim-Malar (Capao), Bambolim-Nauxim, Sancoale, Amdoi-Sanguem etc are brought under the ambit of Investment Promotion and facilitation Board (IPB) and declared as Investment Promotion Areas (IPA) e.g. Vanxim in order to facilitate massive land grabs by private corporate interests. Powers of decision making are taken away from the local Panchayats and given to the Secretary (Panchayats) who is always an IAS officer appointed to Goa by the Central Government (Delhi). When Panchayats in Goa are ruled from Delhi for the benefit of private corporate through this law then election to the Panchayats in Goa is a façade and must be boycotted till this law is scrapped.

The National Waterways Act, 2016 has taken control over Goa’s six rivers – Sal, Zuari, Mandovi, Mapusa/Moira, Chapora and Cumbharjua to the Inland Waterways Authority of India based in Gurgaon, Haryana. Its package that along with the rivers that pass through several village Panchayats jurisdiction central government rule extends to all the portions of attached village lands by virtue of Inland Waterways Authority of India Act, 1985. The reason is to get funds for dredging of rivers in Goa damaging fishing while benefiting mining, tourism and gambling involved Corporate. Dredging is known to cause ecological damage from NGT study on MPT dredging of Arabian Sea near Vasco. With Goa’s rivers taken over by Central Government will make fishermen livelihood miserable branding them as trespassers by invoking section 35 (j) of Inland Waterways Authority of India Act, 1985. 

Central Governments’ this decision is against common people of Goa and in collaboration with Goa Government. This is total bulldozing of Panchayat rule and elections to Panchayat in presence of this law over Goa are mockery.

Bharat Mukti Morcha therefore calls for boycott of Panchayat Election in Goa till the above two laws are repealed.

Sd/-

Maggie Silveira, President, Goa Unit

Vanxim Revolt is now Seven Years: Some reflections

May 2017 is a very important juncture in time for several reasons for Vanxim proved a way to the skeletons in the office of the Goa Archbishop. May 13, 2017 witnessed consecration of Archdiocese of Goa to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Mary’s views on God as recorded in Luke 1:51-53 commands our attention:

“He has shewed might in his arm: he has scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart. He has put down mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble. He has filled hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.”

This consecration is also the an occasion to clean up all heresies such as clandestine dictates against Latin Mass and Latin Litanies besides to reverse trend of high paced liquidation of Public Lands given to various religious institutes under Goa Diocese.

May 2017 completes open rebellion in Vanxim against Land grab by Corporate entity Ozone facilitated by Mahendra Gaunekar and the Office of the Goa Archbishop. On May 16, 2010 MLA Pandurang Madkaikar, Mahendra Gaunkar and Ozone officials visited Vanxim to convince people to accept land grab of their island. They did not succeed and had open confrontation. Overwhelming majority people opposed and challenged Pandurang Madkaikar as well as Mahendra Gaunekar along with Rudresh Chodankar.

May 23^rd is also the birthday of murdered Fr.Bismarque Dias. He spoke in defense of Vanxim and continuously questioned role of the Office of the Goa Archbishops in selling Vanxim. After State agencies avoided to register his death as murder High Court few weeks ago has directed Police to register this case as murder and commence investigations.

In view of the above circumstances it is important to reflect critically and question few taken-for-granted assumptions on Politics of Vanxim land deal.

1.       Mafia background: Although sounds scandalous Vanxim land deal is purely a mafia deal. Mafia that has not only penetrated deep into the office of the Goa Archbishop and visible from 1995 onwards. Fr.Victor Rodrigues has been key mole in this regard as he is the one who signed Vanxim Agreement to Sale in April 1999 on behalf of then Archbishop Raul Nicolau Gonsalves. Agreement to sale itself commits Archdiocese to sell Vanxim to corporate body directly. It was mafia operations by which Narayan Bhonsle refused to hand over charge to the new committee of Vanxim Tetants Association and destroyed Vanxim bunds allowing Mandovi waters into Paddy fields and rendering cultivation impossible. It was mafia influence in the office of the Tiswadi Mamlatdar who ignored the complaints on breach of bunds in Vanxim and illegalities of functioning of Tenants Association of Vanxim.

2.       Basis in Fraud: N.O.C obtained from Tenants Association of Vanxim  to sell Vanxim is fraud. This is confirmed as after repeated questioning Goa Diocese is not been able to make this document Public. What documents are presented to Rome is not known to public at all. Based on this fraud letter is written to Rome to get permission to sell Vanxim and claims are floating that Vatican has granted the permissions to sell Vanxim. This is again a fraud as Office of the Archbishop has not made these documents public in spite of repeated public questioning. By keeping these documents hidden Office of the Goa Archbishop is causing grave insult to Pope John Paul II who is believed to have sanctioned sale of Vanxim. If this saint was petitioned to sell Vanxim and if indeed if he has sanctioned sale of Vanxim then People of Goa has right to see these documents made public. We want to know as to how Goa Archbishop’s office had presented Vanxim case for liquidation and what has been the response. Secrecy in these matters is intolerable.

3.       Forged Signatures of witnesses: Signatures of the one staff of the Bishop’s house on Agreement to Sale and Sale Deed differs drastically. Investigations followed by criminal proceedings are the need of the hour on Vanxim deal on this aspect too.

4.        Buyer without Address: It is a common practice that both the seller and the buyer must have their complete address recorded in the documents of Agreement to Sale as well as Sale deed. While sellers’ address is recorded as Altinho, Panjim in total the buyers’ address is kept concealed in both the documents and recorded simply as Mahendra Gaunekar, Panjim. Why is it so? Why Mahendra Gaunekar’s full address is not recorded in full? Is it because Gaunekar is next door neighbor to the Office of the Goa Archbishop? Why Gaunekar’s address has been kept clandestine? The sale deed as well as Agreement to Sale was carried on in the office of Civil Authority. Why Civil Authorities allowed this to happen? It is clearly evident that Civil Authorities are as corrupt as the office of the Goa Archbishop.

5.       Long term destruction of agriculture: People of Vanxim were self sufficient in food. Paddy always yielded bumper crops. People were enterprising in their family farms and were autonomous. There was no dependency. Paddy was ably supplemented by fishing activities. Destruction of agriculture however destroyed but Paddy cultivation as well as traditional fishing at Vanxim manos. State authorities are colluded with anti-social elements and ignored public complaints and cultivation remains impossible. State Authorities behaved irresponsibly through their acts of omission. Now agriculture stands ravaged. Paddy fields are full of mangroves. For food People have to buy food from outside or from Public Distribution Shops (PDS) in Malar. Mafia rule in India has turned all pervasive. PDS is asking for Aadhaar Card for few kiolos of wheat and rice. Aadhaar data is for surveillance purpose and makes mockery of privacy. Destruction of food sustainability in Vanxim has resulted in such a enslaving situation and the Office of Goa Archbishop is clearly responsible to this.

6.       Ozone Intervention as Land Grab: buying of Vanxim bunds and Paddy fields by Bangalore based corporate Ozone represents colonial and imperialist designs of Capital accumulation and reducing local people as their subjects. In fact this is very clear from the Joint Development Agreement between Mahendra Gaunkar and Ozone corporate. Ozone claims that they are going to decide as to who stays in Vanxim. This document also outlines very clearly Goa
Archbishop is going to facilitate takeover of every residential house in Vanxim by Ozone. There are reports from Goa Archdiocese that Mahendra Gaunekar has approached to buy off residential houses in Vanxim but refused most probably due to Public outcry. Most of the houses in Vanxim have executed 99 years lease deed with the office of the Goa Archbishop. This legal relationship is now sought to be broken and sale deed promoted. This is mainly a capitalist move to put pressure on Vanxim residence to pay up very high costs for the purchase of their house plots. Once the sale deed is executed Ozone and their mafia group is free to unleash reign of terror on Vanxim residence to sell off their house plots to Ozone jus as they have gone about with Paddy fields. Declaration of Vanxim (and also Tiracol) as Eco-tourism site are only green pretexts of Land Grab.

7.       Can the Office of the Archbishop absolve responsibility to Vanxim? There are arguments put forth by few that once the Archbishop’s house sold Vanxim to Mahendra Gaunekar role of the Archdiocese is over and those who are protesting over Vanxim must not talk of Vanxim. The argument further extends that office of Archbishop is not responsible for the fact that Mahendra Gaonekar has sold Vanxim to Ozone corporate. This is not a valid argument. The Agreement to Sale of Vanxim of 1999 itself is clear on this. It binds Archdiocese to sell Vanxim even directly to the Corporate. The fact that Archdiocese has not done so and sold Vanxim Paddy fields to Mahendra Gaunekar does not exempt diocese of its responsibilities towards Vanxim. From the Agreement to Sale it is clearly deductable that Archdiocese was fully aware that Vanxim is going to be transferred to private corporate and consented to it. Storm has to be raised against the office of the Archbishop of Goa and we are sure clean – up is round the corner. Vanxim episode demonstrates clearly that mafia is ruling the office of Goa Archbishop for past several decades and Vanxim sale is a fruit of it. We cannot run away from this reality and pretend as if all is well.

8.       Who sold whose Paddy fields? Several people who sold paddy fields to Mahendra Gaunekar and Ozone corporate did no belong to them. So many of them were given to them only for cultivation purpose. Tenancy law created the situation in which rights were bestowed on those who are cultivating the paddy fields in the decade of 1960’s. There are many such people who have entered into commercial deals with Gaunekar and Ozone signed their papers away for lakhs of rupees.

9.       Paddy fields for commercial housing and tourism for the super rich? What is the logic that justifies allocation of paddy field spaces on Vanxim Island in the middle of Mandovi River for housing and tourism for the super rich of the world? What is the nature of this development? Disgusting. This is possible because of the nexus of the office of the Goa Archbishop. Setting up of fast track courts to solve tenancy cases have more to do with facilitating land grabs all over Goa than to grant rights to tenants.

10.   Ozone and Gaunekar, destiny makers of Vanxim? These entities have common interest to gobble up Vanxim. They are seen actively involved through proxies to support, propose and oppose various people as candidates for the forthcoming Panchayat elections. For the past Assembly elections Ozone and Gaunekar lobbied with Manohar Parrikar to get Pandurang Madkaikar into BJP and he got elected as the scarecrow of EVMs in Cumbharjua constituency. This is a very sad reality and the office of Goa Archbishop is responsible for getting Gaunkar and Ozone involved in Vanxim and they are blaming Vanxim People for Catholics leaving the Church. Goa Archbishop’s office is centre to sell off Catholics today. Tsunami has to be raised against the office of the Goa Archbishop for their deeds in Vanxim and we are sure it is take place and wipe everything clean and new reign take over.

11.   Archbishop responsible for Vanxim Sale alone? No. Fr. Noel D’Costa in a mass e-mail circulated few moths ago clarified that Archbishop is not the only one who is involved in decision to sell Vanxim. These are others involved too. So Archbishop cannot be held responsible alone, others too must be named. Investigations have revealed that currently rules of the Church after Vatican II stripped off Archbishops of their autonomy in decision making. Perhaps this is what Fr. Noel D’Costa is hinting at. If Archbishops are caged parrots in post-Vatican II church then they must revolt against it like Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre have revolted and his ordained priests and Bishops are carrying the age old tradition as per writings of St. Paul’s call to keep up to the tradition. There is tremendous resistance going on all over the world. Let Goa Clergy too join in.  If Vanxim episode calls for the revolt of Archbishops, Priests and Laity of Goa against the Vatican II rules so let it be. We cannot tolerate what the Office of Goa Archbishop has done in Vanxim.

12.   Towards retaining autonomy over Vanxim: No Political Party, no Corporate body can steer Vanxim out of present crisis. Political Parties are only there to use people for gaining of power. Once they gain power they discard their voters. Present and past government formations is an example testimony to this effect. Very often those who get elected get co-opted financially and even ideologically. Present member of Malar Panchayat Greeta Vaz is an excellent example. She was proposed elected with a mass public support to be a voice of Vanxim revolt in the Panchayat. Yet she betrayed. She did not push for a single resolution opposing Ozone project in Vanxim. She did not get Malar Panchayat to pass a resolution against declaration of Vanxim as Investment Promotion Area. Instead she has become a voice of corporate Ozone! Ridiculous. What lessons we learn from here? Democracy essentially is method for division and strife in the village. This division has come to a boiling point with the Ozone and Gaunekar in the picture. They would have never been in the picture if not for the stupidest decision making by the office of the Goa Archbishop to sell Vanxim. Looking at all this scenario there is only one direction visible. Vanxim islanders have to shun the Political Parties for good and take responsibility for the island like the ancestors did and cared and developed in a way they wanted.   Panchayat is currently defunct body and Chief Minister is the Chairman of Investment Promotion Board deciding pace of Land grabs all over Goa. Elected member from Vanxim has important role to play: an unceasing voice in defense of Vanxim from Corporate Land grabs. Same is the role of every one on the island as vey often elected members get co-opted : to be an unceasing voice in defense of Vanxim. Those running after money, parties, power, self-glory, pride etc are only speeding up their self destruction.

13.   What if other Church deals get affected with Vanxim agitation? This is a question fielded at us often pointing towards similar unethical practices followed by the office of the Goa Archbishop in other places in Goa like dealings with Models Constructions in Taleigao Souto Maior lands meant for welfare of local tribal people. We are not bothered as to what impact Vanxim agitation is to have on other similar dealings irrespective of culprit’s geographic identity. Ethically correct dealings will have no negative impact of Vanxim agitation. It is only unethical dealings in land leading to grabs by locals and outstation actors that are bound to be affected negatively and their credibility questioned. So be it. Souto Maoir dealings once again proves Advocate John Fernandes right that Office of the Goa Archbishop cares a damn for tribal people of Goa – Gawdas, Velips. Questions on Vanxim deal will continue to be raised in public domain irrespective of what impact it is having on other deals of land grab involving office of the Goa Archbishop. With the Consecration of Goa Archdiocese it is natural that the suppressed and the oppressed must rise up with their voices and rich must go away with empty hands.  No one is focusing on how Leading Hotels opposed by Church in Tiracol is allowed to enter in land deals in Nuvem. No one examines roles played Fr. Victor Rodrigues there in Nuvem and while he was Procurator of the Diocese and signed agreement to Sale on Vanxim. No one examines role of Aldona Parish Priest Fr. Arlino D’Mello while served as Procurator and sold Vanxim. There are too many and too dangerous skeletons in the office of Goa Archbishop they have to be dealt with by the respective Church Authorities instead of waiting for Public fury to dislodge them.

14.   Intellectuals as Parasites: Even though so may intellectuals are aware of the layers of scams relating to Vanxim land deals they are silent. Few poke up and they for mysterious reasons got silenced. We will not name them but hopefully they will make their finding public without fear immidiately. Now that Goa Archdiocese is consecrated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary there is no scope of fear. Mary takes away all fears make us all new and undoubtedly with consecration of Goa Diocese to her Immaculate Heart Mary is set to pull down Bamon Raj and other existing satanic kingdoms and dominions. Anyway, leaving these intellectuals aside we continue to speak up, we continue to confront, we continue to fight our battle in forthright manner.

Treasured Memories Dearest Daddy Ligorio Silveira, Vanxim

Rich treasured tributes to most loving daddy on your 20th death anniversary. You were very practical, bold with high integrity and as one Vanxim villager described, you were a 'medicinal plant died today' ("Aiz ek voktachem zadd melem."). This happened 20 years ago on the 13th February 1997. Daddy, your footsteps is all that we follow and will continue with your inspirational values of simplicity, modesty, sense of Justice, forthright attitude and the devotional values of Christianity, imbibed in us will always be cherished. Great you lived and your greatness of character, discipline, responsibility, commitment, dedication and above all your integrity is all that you taught us. 

Your bold and practical outlook made it all, when someone came to you for help with any of their problems. You went all out to see that whoever the person, whichever religion he/she came from the help was rendered as per the situation. Simple you lived and peacefully you passed off 20 years ago from us. In all our situation of life we feel your presence.

Thank you for everything dearest Daddy. Pray for all of us in our family. Your letter on Vanxim Paddy fields and corruption in Tenant Association of Vanxim continues to be relevant even after more than two decades. Here is the link.

We had a thanks giving mass for the soul of late Ligorio Silveira at Jesuit House, Panjim today.

Maggie n Seby

Response to Fr. Noel D'costa on Vanxim land deal

Fr. Noel D'Costa, Convenor of the Apostolate of Inter-Religious Dialogue, Archdiocese of Goa has sent group email to around 48 emails on Vanxim and Bharat Mukti Morcha discourse on the sell out affairs suspecting secrecy, fraud and other unethical practices. This mail having serious public importance as they are being circulated to much broader audience and has raised many voices and messages to us asking for our response. Fr. Noel we know is not involved in Vanxim deal in any way on record. BMM places on record our appreciation and gratitude for Fr. Noel for speaking out at least this much and giving us opportunity to respond. After perusing the said email text here is our brief response:

False information

Email claims that part of Vanxim is tenanted property and as per law it cannot be sold. Archbishop's office has not sold the same but only transferred rights to Mahendra Gaunekar. This is wrong. Besides the sale deed there is clear letter from the then Procurator of the Archdiocese of Goa Fr. Victor Rodrigues about the sale of tenanted land in Vanxim. Letter was written by Fr. Victor Rodrigues and sent to Mahendra Gaunekar. Mahendra Gaunekar then sent this letter to various people in Vanxim and it is this very letter that served as major document against People of Vanxim in the Court of deputy collector, Panjim. Fr. Noel's further arguments does not hold ground as the base argument itself falls flat with this evidence. Here is a scanned copy of the letter :

http://bharatmukti.blogspot.in/2016/07/frvictor-rodrigues-letter-on-vanxim.html 

Manipulating Past

Fr. Noel D'costa has claimed that Paddy fields in Vanxim were cultivated only till 1970 and after that they were left fallow and used for fishing purposes by letting Mandovi water into paddy fields. This is not true either. The exact nature of this anomaly is placed on record by former President of Tenant Association of Vanxim late Ligorio F. Silveira. He filed written complaint against Tenant Association of Vanxim with the Mamlatdar of Tiswadi in 1995. With the hindsight it is possible to deduct that there was long term plan to destroy Vanxim Paddy fields. The cultivation continued well in late 1980s and in few cases even in early 1990s. To claim that Vanxim Paddy fields were not cultivated from 1970 is wrong and amounts to manipulation of past in order to control the present and future. You may know the content of this letter. In addition there are complaints from Tenants Association of Vanxim office bearers against Narayan Bhosle who did not hand over charge to new committee and State Administration did nothing about the same. The date of cited N.O.C matches these times of scandal. Scanned copy of those letters is as follows: 

http://bharatmukti.blogspot.in/2016/07/documents-of-vanxim-tenants-association.html

Continued secrecy

Fr. Noel has not disclosed (1) Who gave Vanxim to Santa Monica Fund, and under what Obligations and which year. (2) What is the reason as to why so-called N.O.C from Tenant Association of Vanxim dated 26.02.1996 kept secret till date? Why the signatories of this N.O.C are covered up by the office of the Goa Archbishop?

Comments on Fr. Bismarck

Fr. Noel commented "Fr. Bismarck was wrongly informed by someone that the residential houses were sold." This sound like Fr. Bismarck was living in an illusion from 2010 till his murder in 2015 and was working only on hearsay. This is not the case. Joint Development Agreement between Ozone and Mahendra Gaunekar of 2009 very clearly states that it will take over entire island including the residential houses and Goa Archbishop is going to facilitate this process. Here we share link for your ready reference: 

http://bharatmukti.blogspot.in/2016/08/how-ozone-corporate-plans-to-take-over.html

Accusations on secrecy on Eight other sale deeds

BMM never hidden eight other sale deeds on Vanxim. Their details are made known again and again. One of the sale deeds is carried on by close kin of late Dr. Jack Sequeira who was the leader of the Opposition in First Legislative Assembly after Goa was annexed to India. Here is the links:

http://bharatmukti.blogspot.in/2016/08/part-by-part-land-takeover-details-of.html

Who is the valuer?

Fr. Noel informs that Valuer valued Vanxim land at certain cheap rates. What is the name and address of this valuer? Why name is kept secret?

Secret Agreement

Agreement to sell Vanxim signed in 1999, according to Fr. Noel. Yet the question remain as to why People of Vanxim were not informed? Announcement in Church not made? Why in this agreement clause included for selling Capao directly to corporate included if nexus with corporate was not prevalent? Here is the link to the Agreement to Sale: 

http://bharatmukti.blogspot.in/2016/07/vanxim-agreement-of-sale-of-1999-text.html

Gaunekar's conditional benefits

Fr. Noel contemplates on prospects of Gaunekar's benefits. He observes that Gaunekar stands to benefit in case Ozone project takes shape or he stands to loose. Whose side you are fighting Fr. Noel? This question is important since Fr. Noel takes up case for Mahendra Gaunekar directly he ask "People are not told how much Mr. Gaunekar must have spent on lawyers while fighting the various cases pending with regard to the land at Vanxim?" More important matter is how much office of the Archbishop stands to loose on Vanxim deal after unanticipated opposition since 2010.

Suspected bribes to amend or change laws

Fr. Noel makes very important remark "And who knows about possible inner costs involved to pay bribes at different levels in order to amend or change the laws to convert the said areas to development zone?" This is very good question and CBI investigation is needed to ascertain the actual status.

Defend the super rich

Fr. Noel's shares the theme of his last November inter-religious meet "Together we protect the nature and defend the poor". The theme is good and BMM has no issues with the same. However praxis followed by the office of the Archbishop in case of Vanxim is opposite. It is only defense of the super rich and kick on the residents of Vanxim by branding them "unauthorized settlers" and use of the term "so-called tenants". Fr. Noel too uses this very word. Fr. Noel is grossly wrong informed on facts about Vanxim.

Diocesan Finance Committee

Who are members of Diocesan Finance Committee and College of Diocesan Consultors that took decision on Vanxim that Fr. Noel discussed in his email. The minutes and names of people involved must be made public immediately.

Press dispute

BMM takes no responsibility for the Sunday Herald Review report dated 07/02/2016 criticized by Fr. Noel for its article on Vanxim. Certainly there are few errors in it. However to attribute intention that article was published to tarnish the good name of the Archbishop and the Church while encouraging Catholics to leave the Church and join fundamentalist sects is wrong. 

Why Catholics leave Church?

The reason Catholics are living the Church and joining the sects are different and well known to the hierarchy of the Church. If Fr. Noel or anyone else seriously wants to address this then beginning has to be made. The best way to begin is along with prayer is study and publicly discuss encyclicals of various Popes on this matter beginning with Pascendi, here is the link : 

http://w2.vatican.va/content/pius-x/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-x_enc_19070908_pascendi-dominici-gregis.html

Explanation and elucidation is in this book: 

http://www.todayscatholicworld.com/catechism-on-modernism.pdf

Beating around the bush and accusing few individuals who raise their voice will not help nor any short cuts would be useful.

Objectionable Eloquence

We have to face the Truth and Truth shall set us free, Bible has taught us. Fr. Noel has observed that BMM is very eloquent on social media and see red in Vanxim deal. Eloquence in this case is problematic. This can best be dealt by recourse to Jacques Rancière's book Disagreement: Politics and Philosophy(Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1998) Pp 99-100. Rancière notes "When speech is acquired by those whose right to speak is not recognized they can produce spatiality and temporality that disturbs hegemonic representations of time-space constallation, namely 'who are we?' and 'where are we?'" Office of the Archbishop is certainly Hegemonic in nature that believes in asserting its moral and intellectual superiority over dissenting voices even if it is on wrong side of the Truth, hence feel disturbed.

We can now very well explain the roots cause of use of terms like "disgruntled elements", "conspiracy theory specialists" and "fundamentalists sects" by Fr. Noel D'costa. Alternative voice is intolerable as status quo founded on falsehood stands disturbs. So be it.

"Goenchi Mati" versus "Goencho Chikol"

BMM is not opposed to the idea of "Goenchi Mati" idea that Fr. Noel speaks in his email. BMM has opposed mining and supported active combat of affected people across the state of Goa. This does not mean BMM will conform and get seduced to "Goencho Chikol" getting grafted and crafted in the Office of Goa Archbishop over Vanxim deal. BMM will continue to speak up in forthright manner with malice towards none.

Caste Role 

Fr. Noel asks another question: "Does Caste of a person decide the goodness or badness of a land deal?" Fr. Noel must ask the question in reverse : What role does caste played historically in Society and particularly the office of Archbishop? Last Portuguese Governador had twenty advisors. All of them Catholics, all of them Bamons according to information given by Anthony Veronica Fernandes from Candolim. Catholic Bamons were so bad in treating their tenants that entire Goa's Bhahujan Samaj hated them. They treated badly catholic tenants too. This gave rise to hatred of Catholics by non-catholic bhahujans equating Catholic Bamons with Catholic tenants. Goa's first Chief Minister of post-annexation Goa Dayanand Bandodkar brought in Tenancy Act in order to break the hegemony of Bamon Raj. We leave this to your reflection. How caste influences land deals and history of nations can be best understood by reading Dr. Ambedkar's book "Revolution and counter revolution". Or must consult Archbishop in charge of Dalits at CBCI as listed on CBCI directory. How did Bamons became Bhatkars asserting control and authority over land?

Satanic Capture

What has happened in case of Vanxim deal in the office of Goa Archbishop is much more than Caste. Its complete satanic hold that has held office of the Archbishop captive in order to make People of Goa captive. Vanxim is not beginning with several cases before that. Current Archbishop Ferrao executed the Vanxim sale through Fr. Arlino D'mello in 2006 while former Archbishop Gonsalves authorized Fr. Victor Rodrigues to execute Agreement to sell Vanxim in 1999. One is Bamon, the other is not yet both implemented agenda of bamanism that is agenda of satanism.

Morally wrong, Legally right?

Fr. Noel denies that Archbishop has ever made statement that he is morally wrong but legally right in selling Vanxim. Archbishop has not made written statement through any of the Pastoral letters that he is morally wrong and legally right, he should now do. But Fr. Noel cannot deny his oral statement either. This has been widely discussed in press and Fr. Victor Ferrao has even spoken about it in public like at his talk "Beings a Goan Christian" at Pedro Arope Institute in Raia two years ago. 

Inter-religious dialogue

Fr. Noel must move ahead and organize inter-caste dialogue. Solutions would flow. Also there is need for Priests to retain their identity all the time: Cassock. Priest without cassock suffer from identity crisis. Unfortunately we see so many priests in Goa going though this malady. Fr. Victor Rodrigues is seen for so many years without Cassok in civil clothes in Courts. Some lawyers has observed that in the morning he is in Courts in Panjim and in Afternoon in Courts in Margao in civil clothes. Priest without Cassock not only makes Priest vulnerable to temptations of sins but also closes any scope for inter-religious dialogue. For priest his cassock is his living sermon. Anyone understand preached Jesus from the Cassock Priest wear. Cassock is like uniform of a military soldier. Priest in cassock is full fledged soldier of Christ. Fr. Noel and other priests may well do to keep this mind before next inter-religious meet on January 29, 2017. This will do lots to make sure not only retain Catholics within Church but also attract those outside faith to the calling of Jesus. This is what Inter-religious dialogue is. For a Priest inter-religious dialogue in civil clothes is no dialogue at all. It is an abject surrender to modernism that we stand to resist.

One question we leave : Why did Fr. Noel D'Costa did not directly initiate dialogue with those who continually raising Public objections on the way Vanxim sale is executed by Archbishop's office? Is method of dialogue not applicable to People in Vanxim? 

When will office of Goa Archbishop break out of Vanxim Scam

Attempt to escape responsibility

Over the past six months we have been receiving a single statement from the hierarchy of the Church in Goa with regards to Vanxim sale. While BMM has been stressing the need for the office of the Goa Archbishop to act decisively on Vanxim land scam there are serious attempts at escaping the responsibility to act and speak out. We are often told that once the Church sold the land in Vanxim we are not responsible as to whom the buyer further sells the land. The utterances from certain priests presumes the innocence of the seller, in this case office of the Goa Archbishop as to whom the buyer further sells the land. However, this is not the case.

On record hobnobbing with corporate

Even though Ozone Leisure and Tourism Pvt Ltd are not named in the agreement to sale of Vanxim in 1999 there is clear hobnobbing with the corporate world. Though this Agreement to Sale of Vanxim is between the Goa Archdiocese and Mahendra Gaunekar the indicators are prevalent in the document that Archdiocese would sell Vanxim (Capao) not only to Mahendra Gaunekar but if needed would enter into direct sale to corporate on the recommendations from Mahendra Gaunekar. This is very serious situation considering that now the attempts are ongoing to brainwash public to establish innocence of the office of the Archbishop.

Why brainwashing now?

We however are baffled as to why certain priests are hell bent on brainwashing public to announce non-existent the innocence of the office of the Goa Archbishop. The issue is even more surprising since the brainwashing attempts are being made after Goa Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao already went on public record that Vanxim land sale by his office is morally wrong. What exactly few priests want to establish by these assertions is not known. Do they wants to prove Goa Archbishop was wrong in asserting that Vanxim sale is morally wrong? If yes, then would not this amount to rebellion against the Authority of Goa Archbishop? Are these priests regretting that Archbishop publicly stated Vanxim sale is morally wrong? Revelations from God in due course of time may help us to know this rather strange behavior of priests engaged in brainwashing public particularly Catholics.

The deeper plunge needed

It is a common sense that when stakes are as high as Vanxim land parceling out to 5 star hotel and for housing for the super rich the lure of mammon would be tempting specially for those in various leadership positions. This is particularly true of Church leadership even though there are signs that God has not abandoned his Church to be lured away for money and restoration work and wrestling with the mammon is ongoing. The statement of Goa Archbishop that Vanxim sale of paddy fields and bunds is morally wrong is one such indicator to reclaim the unruly affairs at the office of the Goa Archbishop. The statement invites us towards deeper plunge in reflection on the morally wrong state of affairs inside the office of the Goa Archbishop. Archbishop’s statement admitting moral wrongness of the Vanxim sale deed has confirmed what many had suspected for decades: all is not well within the office of the Goa Archbishop and things have gone towards extreme situation prompting Goa Archbishop to describe one of its fruits as morally wrong. It is most common knowledge that Vanxim sale is not the sole fruit of the affairs of Goa Archbishop that has turned to be morally wrong. What is currently needed is a deeper plunge to reflect prayerfully, honestly and trace out the roots of moral wrongs going ons at the corridors of power within Church apex body in Goa.

Resisting temptations to silence in the face Justice

There are most powerful temptations of every possible evil to maintain status quo that perpetuates moral wrongs in the office of the Goa Archbishop. There are many who are aware but has stayed away from initiating any firm action to change. This is so much unlike Jesus Christ whom the Church and particularly the Priests are supposed to preach. There is no smoke without fire even though for a time being fire may not be visible. If people in the corridors of power do not take measure to change the situation Public intervention is inevitable. Not only because the tree that bears morally wrong fruits has grown big but also because it has been acknowledged by the Authority as senior as the Patriarch of the Indies and the Archbishop of Goa Daman and Diu. When such high authority speaks out it is very important that it needs to be redressed very sincerely and honestly, and what is needed to be done be effected without delay on priority basis, bravely. If this is neglected by the clergy and the laity then not only this will ruin the public morals in Church and Society but also accumulate sins of omissions. It is therefore gravely dangerous to maintain silence in the face of injustice. Or else the morally wrong tree that has grown in the office of Goa Archbishop will spread its roots in the heart of every person in Goa. This is going to be very tragic situation comparable only to moral suicide of a civilization.

Tracing the traces of scam in Tenants Association of Vanxim

One of the most cited document by the office of the Goa archbishop is the NOC to sell Paddy fields given to a ‘Goan Firm’ by Tenants Association of Vanxim on 26.02.1996. However what is surprising is that even though this document is cited as the most prized document justifying sale of Vanxim till date it has not been made public and still top guarded secret. One may question as to why this lid of secrecy still not removed? Why the names who signed the document not made public? In normal way of dealing this documents would have been easy to share publicly. Yet secrecy around this turns the entire affair as a skeleton in the cupboard at the office of the Goa Archbishop. It is well known now that the office of the Archbishop has kept this secret as the signatories of N.O.C are not the legitimate office bearers of the Tenants Association of Vanxim. 

Narayan Bhosle systematically collaborated with vested interests, breached boundaries of the paddy fields and allowed Mandovi water to flood Paddy fields but also refused to hand over the charge to the new elected committee composed of Paulina D’Souza and Chandrakant Volvoikar, both of whom lodged separate complaints with the State administration followed by another one by Ligorio F. Silveira with Mamlatdar of Tiswadi in 1995 itself. It is the Tenants Association of Vanxim illegitimate office bearers that have most probably signed the N.O.C. on 26.02.1996. As long as this document is maintained in secret nail of suspicion against the office of the Archbishop will not go away despite innumerable attempts towards distraction. 

Breaking out of Vanxim Scam

Office of the Goa Archbishop has to take a call on Vanxim scam. After taking first step by labeling Vanxim sale as morally wrong, it has to move on to rectify the wrongs. Committing a scam is bad. Persisting in scam is worse. And after recognizing scam publicly to persist in the same is worst. Currently the office of the Goa Archbishop is in the worst state. After admitting that sale of Vanxim was morally wrong they have continued in a scam state. This must change. There is a felt need for the office of the Archbishop to take on pro-active stance and to break out of Vanxim scam. Few steps are needed. Most important step is to criticize the Goa cabinet decision to declare Vanxim as Investment Promotion Area. Forty six survey numbers from Vanxim are notified in the gazette notification and most of them office of Archbishop is involved through sale deeds. For this it has to overcome the current inhibitions blocking such action.

Overcoming inhibitions

The inhibition currently is: how can the Office of the Archbishop criticize Vanxim five star hotel cum luxury housing for the super rich when they themselves are involved in selling Vanxim to Gaunekar who then sold the same to Ozone corporate.  Office of the Archbishop has a primary duty to break out of this scam and it has to speak out with all its might. Selling of Vanxim was carried on in secrecy and sale was kept in secrecy for over four years from February 2006 to February 2010. This was done so that time limit for challenging sale deed passes off. Now the systematic collaborations with corporate and the brokers has caused so much damage to the reputation of the Church, Crisis of Faith and spiritual disarmament. Perhaps it is the spiritual disarmament that has boosted up the office of the Goa Archbishop to sell off Vanxim. Vanxim sale deed does not place any condition of silence in the face of injustice.  One day that Sun will rise and sent rays so powerful into the office of Goa Archbishop that Prophets will do what Council for Social Justice and Peace (CSJP) has failed: Criticize fearlessly, publicly. Void caused by murder of Fr. Bismarck Dias will be filled up. Lets pray for disarmament of those predators who prey on Vanxim and Goa and the native people of Goa.  

Responsibility to speak out boldly to expose Vanxim scam

Status of Vanxim land grab

Official Gazette, Government of Goa, Series II No. 40 dated 5^th January 2017 published notification from Department of Industries bearing no. 3/10/2016-IND regarding demarcation of Capao (Vanxim) Island’s 46 survey numbers under the Goa Investment Promotion Act, 2014. Notification mentions that corporate entity M/s Ozone Leisure and Resorts Pvt. Ltd. had applied for setting up of an integrated 5 star Resort and Villa Estate Development in Capao on September 03, 2015, two months and two days before Fr. Bismarck was killed and disposed off in Mandovi River on November 05, 2015. Vanxim too stands in Mandovi River. Goa Investment Promotion Board had granted in principle approval for this project on December 14, 2015, forty days after Fr. Bismarck’s gruesome murder and suppression of evidence.  On December 16, 2 016 - after 13 months and 10 days of Fr. Bismarck murder and its cover ups - Goa Cabinet cleared the project on behalf of Goa Government. And now on  January 05, 2017 after exactly 14 months of Fr. Bismarck’s killing official notification is published on Vanxim (Capao) Island. Certain reflection is warranted as this is not only a legal fraud but an ultimate moral fraud as well as it was born in the Office of the Goa Archbishop in 1999 with Agreement to Sale Vanxim to Mahendra Gaunkar or to any corporate.

Silence of the office of the Archbishop

After admitting that Vanxim sale was morally wrong publicly Goa Archbishop has maintained silence on the issue of criticizing the Goa Cabinet decision on Vanxim. Admission on the part of Archbishop that Vanxim sale is immoral makes entire Vanxim venture immoral including Cabinet decision. Although there are environmental grounds on which this contest is proceeding in the Goa Bench of Bombay High Court – to which we do not object – the happenings in the office of the Archbishop are totally suicidal as the lobby of priests has been intensely involved in all round manipulation and liquidation of Church lands all over Goa. Future generations are robbed off precious lands granted for community use in past. The office of the Archbishop that is meant uphold the morals have dedicated to doing away with them. Frankly speaking this Vanxim scam is begins with Archbishop Raul Gonsalves in the decade of 1990s. Agreement to sale of Vanxim was signed in 1999, now 18 years has passed by. That means the scam is visibly in existence for at least two decades. Immorality of the office of Goa Archbishop has engulfed Goa Cabinet in most certain way. There is need, an urgent need to address the rot going on in the office of the Goa Archbishop for so long. Vanxim sale besides being an ecological scam is also a moral scam. Jesus Christ -whose body the Church is- has been taken over by Satanists and being robbed off its splendor and Glory. Priests may have made some money for sure but time has come for Fr. Arlino D’Mello, Parish Priest of Aldona to publicly apologize to selling Vanxim and come out openly on what is going on. Same is required to be done by Fr. Victor Rodrigues, Parish Priest of Nuvem who signed agreement of Sale with Mahendra Gaunekar.

Emeritus Archbishop Raul Gonsalves too has duty to speak up publicly and shed his cover of silence as he had authorized Fr.Victor Rodrigues to sell Vanxim. Similarly Goa Archbishop Filip Neri Ferrao too needs to come out boldly condemning the Goa cabinet decision to include Vanxim under IPB Act. Public condemnations of Cabinet decsion from the Church authorities at various levels are what are needed. If Church authorities persist in their way of silence then their divine punishment is inevitable. The behavior of Church authorities has caused tremendous confusion and demoralization amongst mass of people.

Taking responsibility for irresponsibility

The affairs in the office of the Archbishop have sunk all time low. Over the past few decades degeneration has cropped in and damage that is caused to the diocese and to the social fabric of Goa through manufacture of scams has generated tensions of faith and livelihood. The irresponsibility is not only visible in Vanxim deal but over several more instances in different parts of Goa. The tentacles of corruption have taken cancerous proportions and money and greed decides the affairs at the office of the Goa Archbishop and can be confirmed from the Vanxim deal in secrecy. Over several years these things has remained without rectification and even have worsened. Now however things have reached towards the limits of tolerance and blood of Fr.Bismarck Dias cries out for Justice. Before things go out of hand any further there is an urgent need to reverse criterion of decision making of leadership at the office of the Archbishop.

It is a good admission to begin with from the Archbishop Ferrao that Vanxim sale is immoral. However it is not enough to say this is immoral. Every priest and every catholic and every citizen in Goa must be made aware as to how Archbishop’s decision to sell Vanxim Island is immoral. Secondly one cannot stay in a state of immorality once you admit it. Archbishop has to take responsibility and change the trends. He has to call all the priests in Goa and direct them to condemn Goa Cabinet decision on Vanxim to convert it for the luxury tourism and super luxury housing with personal example. Archbishop has to question himself and put himself in introspective mode and reflect as to what Jesus Christ commands him to do to rectify the situation of immorality that he has led Archdiocese of Goa into. Perhaps its God’s will for a radical action to pull out Goa diocese from the immoral state and Vanxim is only one proven and admitted case, perhaps the key to access to hidden secrets to gory affairs behind the scene.

Council for Social Justice and Peace (CSJP) is surprisingly silent at the moment. They have given up the fight in order to avoid uncomfortable questions on Vanxim. As a Church wing to uphold Justice it is supreme irresponsibility to let the Goa Cabinet decision to unchallenged publicly by Church authorities. Silence on part of CSJP also gives wrong signal that it will let the affairs at office of the Archbishop without scrutiny. This is not the spirit of Justice by any standard. There is an old saying that goes “Charity begins at home!”  and so the battle for justice begins at home. For CSJP the home is the office of the Goa Archbishop. In fact even though Vanxim scam came to public knowledge in August 2010 for the past seven long years there is not even single statement of condemnation from the CSJP on Vanxim. One fails to understand as to what prevents CSJP from taking aggressive stance on Vanxim even though Archbishop Neri himself admitted that Vanxim deal is immoral. What prevents CSJP leadership from moving on and wracking up the corrupt trend founded on Vanxim affairs? Is it because so many priests are involved? If Priests and Archbishops march to Hell does it mean that that leadership of CSJP too has to follow the suit to their doom? The silence of CSJP makes the mockery of the notion of Justice.

Time for bold witness

It is time for courage witness to uphold Justice by all. Fr. Bismarck Dias is already there as luminous star before us. He used his speech to uphold Justice. He deployed his music and Guitar to rebuke unjust system. He physically and symbolically stood courageously before oppressive regime. He has left behind the legacy so potent and powerful. Any sensible heart on fire with Justice will pick up his flames and march on. Bharat Mukti Morcha will continue to speak up without compromise.

Goa Cabinet nod to include Vanxim island as ‘Investment Promotion Area’ is an abuse of Governance

Jai Mulnivasi!

Bharat Mukti Morcha (BMM) strongly condemns 16/12/2016 decision of Goa Cabinet to declare 82,595 sq. mts of paddy fields, water bodies and Khazan lands camouflaged as ‘Orchard’ into ‘settlement’ to facilitate construction of five star hotel and luxury villas by Ozone Leisure and Resorts Pvt. Ltd. The roots of this tragedy however are traced to brazen craze to liquidate Church lands all over Goa at the Office of the Goa Archbishop. BMM is not opposed to the Church nor to the Catholic Faith and but is totally opposed to the existing long term criminal nexus with real estate dealers. In fact BMM continues to carry forward this struggle by employing various tools of analysis available in Bible (Ephesians 6: 12) with regard to Vanxim. BMM continues to place itself against principalities and powers controlling the Office of the Goa Archbishop, against the rulers the world of this darkness in Goa Cabinet and against the spirits of wickedness in the high places in the office of the Indian Minister of Defense, Manohar Parrikar that remote controls Goa Government.

Cabinet decision is massive fraud not only from the office of the Archbishop but also from the Goa State. A complaint of fraud in Vanxim Association was filed by late Ligorio Silveira with Mamlatdar of Tiswadi as early as 17/4/1995 (See: http://bharatmukti.blogspot.in/2016/07/documents-of-vanxim-tenants-association.html). Office of the Archbishop claims that it based its decision to sell Vanxim on the N.O.C from Tenants Association of Vanxim dated 26/2/1996. Goa Government was already intimated and urged to crackdown on existing frauds and how boundaries are breached to destroy paddy fields by team headed Narayan Bhosle. Office of the Archbishop further acted against interests of the tenants deliberately (See http://bharatmukti.blogspot.in/2016/08/whats-aim-whats-game-goa-archbishops.html). Goa Cabinet decision has placed itself on par with the office of Goa Archbishop thereby raising them into twin towers of corruption. This twin tower of corruption currently looks invincible with even CBI refused to investigate in spite of letter of BMM disclosing details.

Late Mathany Saldanha was totally opposed to the conversion of Vanxim Paddy fields for tourism purpose. He had declared shortly before his death that this project will never come up in Vanxim. At a meeting in Delhi organized by Delhi Goans Association discussion Vanxim he had uttered that Goa Archbishop’s office is the office of business bureaucrats.  

BMM Calls for abolition of land titles granted to Ozone Leisure and Resorts Pvt. Ltd and revocation of the said cabinet approval to declare Vanxim as Investment Promotion Area. IPB Act as colonial enterprise with imperialist designs. Declaration of Vanxim as ‘Investment Promotion Area’ shift powers to the Secretaries to the government who are IAS officers sent to Goa by Central government with directions from Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). Declaration of Goa Cabinet means direct imposition of rule of Central Government with PMO as an epicenter of Corruption.

IPB Act has been passed to enforce what is blatantly illegal. In case of Chapora River judgment of Nation Green Tribunal (NGT) it has been clear the Governance in Goa is an exception while abuse of Governance is a rule. Passing of IPB Act in Goa Assembly is a law meant to institutionalize this abuse of Governance. It can best be compared to the assembly of robbers gathering in the centre of town and passing a decree declaring their activities usurping of Goa’s lands as legal. Vanxim thus is handed over to the gang of dacoits where their dark rule of darkness reins. BMM will always stand against this in bold and uncompromising manner.

The consequences of this way of political governance will be “terrible as an army set in array” (Canticle of Canticles 6:3). BMM calls upon members of public to prepare for the long drawn wrestles against the powers that rule with wicked intentions, who pass laws that make land grabs legitimate. BMM will continue to raise its voice and requests people of Goa to contact us directly to shoulder responsibilities in organized manner. Please contact us directly in order to build up the momentum in numbers and take the movement across the State of Goa.

What's the aim? What's the game? Goa Archbishop's office statement on Vanxim

Vanxim land scam has grabbed major attention of the office of the Goa Archbishop in Goa. After reckless collusion of land mafia the Archdiocese of Goa though the office of the Archbishop has gone about convincing the public that its secretive deal on Vanxim beginning from 1992 was correct. This statement published in official church bulletin "Renevacao" of January 16-31, 2016 is rather surprising considering that Archbishop Ferrao himself has declared that Vanxim sale deed is morally wrong. In spite of lengthy statement the names of those who signed Tenants Association of Vanxim N.O.C dated 26/02/1996 still remains undisclosed. 

Office of the Goa Archbishop after tolerating eco-terrorist attacks on bunds of vanxim and flooding of paddy fields now wants to ascertain view of Vanxim villagers on the genuine development of Vanxim and how many are willing to cultivate paddy fields. This means if the Vanxim people are willing to cultivate the Paddy fields office of the archbishop will support them even though rice fields are sold twice already; first by Archbishop on February 11, 2006 to Mahendra Gaunekar and next by Mahendra Gaunekar to Ozone Leisure and Resorts Pvt Ltd from Bangalore on August 05, 2015. By the way why entire people of Goa were not consulted before selling Vanxim?

This issue of the newsletter has cover page depicting Santus Cristus Church in Vanxim and google map of Vanxim used for promotional purposes by Ozone Leisure and Resorts Pvt Ltd. The satellite image of Vanxim was published online advertising sale of luxury villas in Vanxim at the rate of Rs 40 crore each. The links was as follows : http://googleweblight.com/?lite_url=http://zoperty.com/properties/ultra-luxury-bungalows-ozone-vanxim-island-goa-ultra-luxury-bungalows-villas-zoperty-40-crores-onwards/&ei=ML-QbA8i&lc=en-IN&s=1&m=130&host=www.google.co.in&ts=1465957985&sig=APY536yK8KFlIG_FlD18bjJCXGG8-dQvtA

However after the links began to be viewed by people of Vanxim and details of loans advanced to Ozone from various banks became known the advertisement was quickly withdrawn in May 2016.

This picture of Vanxim shown luxury villas in Vanxim. What's the aim and what's the game of this advertisement on cover page? Office of the Archbishop got to answer.

There is no explanation of cover page by the editors and editorial team of Renevacao. Its editor is Fr. Francisco Caldeira and Editorial board consists of Fr. Olavo Caiado, Adv. Dr. F. Edgar Noronha and Mrs. Maria Helena Souza.

We however agree with the quote from Laudato Si' 219 that reads on index page "Social problems must be addressed by community networks and not simply by the sum of individual good deeds." This is the reason this is put up here for networks to debate and act. Yes, this posting is an invitation to participate in this debate and act. This is the way we could contribute to rescue not only Goa and Vanxim from the Bamani clutches but also rescue the office of the Archbishop itself. Its aims and games are contrary to Gospel as well as contrary to Christian stewardship and on selling spree. This trends must be arrested immediately.

Fraudulent activities carried out by Ozone Leisure and Resort Pvt Ltd through Vaxi self help group to pass the Project in Investment Promotion Board

18^th August 2016

To,

The Chief Minister and the Chairperson,

Investment Promotion and Facilitation Board,

Secretariat, Porvorim, Goa

Subject: Fraudulent activities carried out by Ozone Leisure and Resort Pvt Ltd through Vaxi self help group to pass the Project in Investment Promotion Board

Sir,

We have already conveyed our strong objections to bring Vanxim Island under the purview of Goa Investment Promotion Act 2014. We have made our point clear in two of our letters to you dated April 11, 2016 and May23, 2016. We are also in receipt of letter from Chief Executive Officer, Goa Investment Promotion & Facilitation Board (Goa – IPB) dated May 11, 2016.

We have also written our objections to letter dated December 12, 2015 from Vaxi self help group. However in response to our letter dated May 23, 2016 criticizing the contents of the Vaxi self help group we have come to know of and examined another letter to Goa - IPB office dated June 02, 2016 by the name of “The Villagers of Vanxim (Capao)”. In this respect we wish to submit the following:-

1.    We have examined Memorandum of Association of “Vaxi self help group” from the office of the District Registrar, North Goa, Panjim. This group is registered on October 24, 2011 under The Societies Registration Act, 1860 and bears registration number 1076/Goa/2011.

2.    The memorandum of Association of Vaxi self help group has address registered as Mansi M. Parab, H.No.39, Sao Mathias, Post office, Piedade, Diwar, Vanxim-Ilhas-Goa.

3.    We have also taken note of the address on the letterhead of the Vaxi self help group letter dated 12/12/2015 addressed to the Chief Minister of Goa with the subject “Representation to favorably consider the proposal made by Ozone Leisure and Resorts Pvt. Ltd. for the Hotel and Resort Project at Village Capao, Taluka Tiswadi”. The address mentioned here is different from the address in the registration documents cited above. Here the address of Vaxi self help group is recorded as c/o House no.72, Vanxim, P.O. Piedade Ilhas, Goa – 403403.

4.    This House no.72, Vanxim as per records of the Sao Mathias Panchayat is recorded in the name of Mahendra Gaunekar who has stakes in proposed Vanxim tourism projects of Ozone. In addition it is Mahendra Gaunekar who is involved in controversial land deals with the office of the Archbishop of Goa to purchase and sell the same to Ozone Leisure and Resorts Pvt. Ltd. It is clear that Vaxi self help group has been hoodwinked by Mahendra Gaunekar and Ozone Leisure and Resorts Pvt. Ltd in combination with each other in order to manufacture support for the corporate misadventures on our island of Vanxim. This is a case of direct manipulation in favor of Mahendra Gaunekar and Ozone Leisure and Resorts Pvt. Ltd. The dictionary meaning of the word ‘manipulation’ is as follows: “A change made for ones own purpose or advantage”. There is no other explanation.

5.    This tie up of Vaxi self help group with Mahendra Gaunekar - Ozone Leisure and Resorts Pvt. Ltd is not only unethical but also illegal violating group’s memorandum of association Aims and Objective no. 07 that seeks “to promote co-operation and friendly relations with the other societies with the object and aim similar to this society.” The Ozone Leisure and Resorts Pvt. Ltd is not a society but a Company. Hence this is violation of Vaxi self help group Memorandum of Association.

6.    We also note that considering writing of letter dated 12/12/2015 to Chief Minister of Goa in support of Ozone Leisure and Resorts Pvt. Ltd is beyond the legal limits of activities of Self help group. It is understood that Mahendra Gaunekar and Ozone Leisure and Resorts Pvt. Ltd is using the letterhead of Vaxi self help group to manufacture public support for themselves.

7.    Further we have observed from the letter dated 11/05/2016 from the Goa IPB Chief Executive Officer addressed to Ms Maggie Silveira, Bharat Mukti Morcha that in-principle approval to convert Capao (Vanxim) land as settlement zone to set up five star hotel and villas by Ozone Leisure and Resorts Pvt. Ltd was granted in a the 8^th meeting of the Goa Investment Promotion Board held on 14/12/2015. While the letter of the Vaxi self help group is addressed to Chief Minister of Goa in this regard is dated two days prior to the meeting i.e. 12/12/2015. There is no date of entry as to when this letter from Vaxi self help group was received by Chief Minister’s office and how this letter landed up in the file of records without official entry. So there is high level of manipulation evident from the dynamics of the process of in-principal approval granted which is a big fraud.

8.    We have also noted the description of Vaxi self help group offered on record by its President Mrs. Manasi Parab. In her letter dated 23^rd May, 2016 to the Police Inspector, Old Goa Police Station, Old Goa, Goa. Mrs. Parab is on record to state that “Sir, we around 25 ladies have formed the VAXI SELF HELP GROUP ILHAS since year 2011 and the same is duly registered under Registration No. 1076Goa/2011 and are engaged in earning our livelihood by making and selling Jute bags though the VAXI SELF HELP GROUP.” There is no mention of any official collaboration with Ozone Leisure and Resorts Pvt. Ltd. So logically it can be concluded that VAXI SELF HELP GROUP is carrying on making and selling of Jute bags from the house owned by Mahendra Gaunekar who is collaborator of Ozone Leisure and Resorts Pvt. Ltd. And Mr. Gaunekar and Ozone Leisure and Resorts Pvt. Ltd manipulated VAXI SELF HELP GROUP to serve corporate interests. (This is a corrupt way to function as a self help group. The vigilance department must investigate this fraud which is a must when it comes to truth of what Bharat Mukti Morcha stands for.)

9.    When in a letter dated 23/5/2016 Bharat Mukti Morcha exposed VAXI SELF HELP GROUP with signed letter of 78 villagers, the said VAXI SELF HELP GROUP did not defend itself as it is totally guilty. Instead some new group calling itself “The Villagers of Vanxim (Capao) wrote letter dated 02/06/2016 to the Chairman, Investment Promotion Board. This letter is without letterhead and without House number in its address as no one in Vanxim island want to take responsibility to the contents of the letter that is highly manipulated for corporate interests. This letter has 82 signatures. We consider it our duty to expose this letter as well since it seeks to defend contents of the VAXI SELF HELP GROUP letter to the Chief Minister dated 12/12/2015.

10. This letter dated 02/06/2016 from the villagers of Vanxim (Capao) has 82 signatures we wish to place before our observations in this regard.

a.    82 people has claimed “that Bharat Mukti Mukti Morcha and its President Ms. Maggie Silveira gave us insufficient information and forcefully took our signatures”. Our letter has just 78 signatures. It is absurd for 82 people to claim that they have signed. This has happened because of Mahendra Gaunekar and Ozone Leisure and Resorts Pvt. Ltd manipulations in the background of Vaxi self help group being exposed in our letter to you dated 23/05/2016.

b.    Secondly of these 82 people only 15 people have signed on Bharat Mukti Morcha letter dated 23/12/2016. The remaining 67 people has no right to claim that even they have signed Bharat Mukti Morcha letter by force or otherwise.

c.    15 people who has signed Bharat Mukti Morcha letter dated 23/05/2016 are those who signed the villagers of Vanxim (Capao) letter dated 02/06/2016 at the serial nos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 42, and 53. If Bharat Mukti Morcha has applied force on these 15 people to sign letter dated 23/05/2016 then why have they not mentioned the nature of force applied against them – gun point? Knife point? Threat to life? In the absence of satisfactory disclosures on these key issues it can safely be concluded that these 15 people are manipulated by Mahendra Gaunekar and Ozone Leisure and Resorts Pvt. Ltd to manufacture consent for its ill conceived tourism project by destroying agricultural paddy fields and water bodies, khazans, mangroves, mud flats etc.

d.    The villagers of Vaxim (Capao) letter to Chief Minister dated 02/06/2016 also claims that Bharat Mukti Morcha and its President Ms. Maggie Silveira has given insufficient information as well as false information. This letter however does not mention which information according to the above mentioned 15 people is false and in sufficient. These claims of insufficient information and false information are totally vague in nature and this is one more instance of how corporate bodies are attempting to manufacture support for their corrupt dealings on Vanxim.

e.    We also wish to bring to your attention that Villagers of Vanxim (Capao) letter dated 02/06/2016 addressed to you has signatures of six minor children at serial nos 64, 65, 66, 70, 75 and 76. Three signatures are forged at serial nos 81, 22 and 23. In one case surname of the signatory is missing at serial no 20. Fourteen people are who signed are not registered on voters list in Vanxim. They have signed at serial nos 27, 28, 50, 51, 54, 59, 67, 68, 69, 78, 79, 80, 81 and 82.  All this is done by Mahendra Gaunekar and Ozone Leisure and Resorts Pvt. Ltd in order to manufacture support for its proposed tourism project in Vanxim consisting of five star hotel and Villas - housing and pleasure for the rich.

f.     The last two paragraphs of the villagers of Vanxim (Capao) letter dated 02/06/2016 to Chairman, Investment Promotion Board are meant to distract focus from Vaxi self help group whose letter dated 12/12/2015 has crumbling foundation. 02/06/2016 letter claims support of entire village of Capao, Vanxim supports endeavors of Ozone Leisure and Resorts Pvt. Ltd. This very essence is direct evidence of corporate involvement after being frustrated by local and wider opposition Vanxim paddy field destruction issue has generated. More evidence is in last paragraph.

g.    Last paragraph compliments and thanks the Goa Investment Promotion and Facilitation Board for giving Ozone Leisure and Resorts Pvt. Ltd for setting up a 5 – star Resort and Villa Estate Development at Capao village (Vanxim). The last part of last sentence of the letter vents out corporate frustration and vengeance against single individual “strongly urge and request you not to consider or fall prey to the false statement and lies being spread by the said Ms. Maggie Silveira as any representation made by her is not the view or demand of the general majority of the villagers of Capao, Vanxim, who want the development and fully support the project.” This letter is meant to give impression that a single person is opposed to the tourism project that too through false statements and lies. However we wish to place on record that not a single false statement and lie has been mentioned in this letter of villagers of Vanxim (Capao) dated 02/06/2016 attributing to single individual mentioned. Why not even one false statement has been mentioned with an example? Why not a single lie is pointed out with an example? It is because they could not locate single false statement or single lie. This is so because entire exercise of collecting these signatures is manipulation in support of the corporate.

Due to above mentioned points letter from villagers of Vanxim (Capao) dated 02/06/2016 cannot be used as supporting document post facto for the decision to include Vanxim under the purview of the Goa Investment Promotion Act 2014. Moreover this document is one more example of extending fraudulent activities carried out by Ozone Leisure and Resort Pvt Ltd through Vaxi self-help group to pass the project in Investment Promotion Board.

The Vaxi Self help group (most of the People are from outside Vanxim) what’s so ever has no authority to write a letter to the Chief Minister of Goa to consider favorably the proposal made by Ozone Leisure and Resorts Pvt. Ltd. for a Hotel and Resort Project at Village Capao, Taluka Tiswadi as per the Societies Registration Act, 1860. There are no provisions for such letter to be written as per the Rules and Regulations of Vaxi Self Help Group Ilhas.

Complete fraud and total disastrous manipulations involved in writing letter dated 12/12/2015 to the Chief Minister of Goa and based on this letter the in-principle approval was given for the project in Vanxim that too without making inward entry to Chief  Minister’s office or the Secretariat. High level of frauds involved in Goa – IPB.

You are therefore urged to take note of the above objections and issue following directions:-

1.    Immediately revoke in-principle approval granted for setting up of a 5 Star Resort & Villa Estate Development at Village Capao (Vanxim), St. Mathias, Tiswadi.

2.    To withdraw and cancel recommendation to the Government to grant the project ‘Investment Promotion Area’ status.

3.    Stop and cancel conversion of the property from Orchard to Settlement Zone to the extend of 82595 sqm.

4.    To cancel recommendations to the concerned authorities / Departments of the State Government for the approval of change of use of land from Orchard to Settlement to the extend of 82595 sqm. No CRZ clearance be granted for this project.

5.    Direction be issued towards declaring land titles in favour of Ozone Leisure and Resorts Private Limited on Capao island (Vanxim) as null and void and restitution initiated to restore the rights of tenants deleted by foul play.

6.    Stop facilitating to get permissions for this project from various authorities/ departments of State and Central government.

7.    Withdraw recommendation to the Electricity department to release power load of 2000KVA and Public Works Department to release water requirement of 230KLD to the said unit.

8.    Block recommendation to concerned authorities / Departments of the State Government and Central Government to grant the necessary permissions / clearances for the said project proposal.

Thanking you,

Yours faithfully,

         Sd/-

Maggie Silveira

(President – Goa Unit)

 .Copy to :

1.    Pratapsingh Raoji Rane, Leader of the Opposition, Secretariat, Porvorim, Goa

2.    Minister for Industries, Secretariat, Porvorim, Goa

3.    The Principal Secretary (Industries), Secretariat, Porvorim, Goa

4.    The Under Secretary (Industries), Industries Department, Secretariat, Porvorim, Goa

5.    Principal Secretary (Environment), Secretariat, Porvorim

6.    The Secretary (Panchayats), Secretariat, Porvorim, Goa

7.    The District Registrar, North/ Inspector General of Societies, Junta House, Panjim

8.    The Director, Directorate of Industries, Trade & Commerce, Government of Goa, Udyog Bhavan, Panaji, Goa

9.    The Director, Department of Tourism, Government of Goa, Paryatan Bhavan, Patto, Panaji, Goa

10. The Chief Town Planner, Town and Country Planning Depart, Patto, Panaji, Goa

11. The Collector (North Goa), Panjim, Goa

12. The Dy. Collector & SDO, Tiswadi, Goa

13. The Chief Electrical Engineer, Electricity Department, Panaji, Goa

14. The Principal Chief Engineer, Public Works Department, Altinho, Panaji, Goa

15. The Member Secretary, Goa State Pollution Control Board, 1^st Floor, Dempo Tower, Patto, Panaji, Goa

16. The Chief Engineer, Water Resources Department, Porvorim, Goa

17. The Member Secretary, Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority, 3^rd Floor, Dempo Tower, Patto, Panaji, Goa

18. The Chief Executive Director, Investment Promotion & Facilitation Board (IPB – Goa), Cabin no. 20, Ground Floor, Secretariat, Porvorim, Goa