BJP BLAMES CARDINAL FILIPE NERI

THE BJP president Sadanand Sheth Tanavade has blamed Cardinal Filipe Neri for the defeat of the BJP in south Goa. When asked about it Tanavade declared that a religious leader is responsible for the defeat of BJP’s south Goa parliament election candidate Pallavi Dempo.

 The reference is to Cardinal Filipe Neri who asks Catholics to vote for secular parties. The map of the constituency-wise voting in the parliamentary elections in Goa shows that there is been sharp polarization. It is the saffron brigade which has polarized Goa and not ardinal Felipe Neri. The political map shows that the Hindu majority constituencies voted for the BJP in both north and south Goa. In south Goa the constituencies of Sanguem, Sanvordem, Canacona, Valpoi, Keri, Sanquelim, Bicholim, Pernem, Mandrem, Porvorim and even Siolim voted for the BJP candidate.

In sharp contrast the whole of Salcette including Cortalim, Nuvem, Curtorim, Velim, Cuncolim voted for the Congress. Besides the constituencies of Calangute, Santa Cruz, St Andre which are Catholic- dominated also gave Congress a lead. It should be the responsibility of all secular forces to reverse the saffron polarization of Goa.

CRACKS IN BJP

THE split in the BJP over the selection of Pallavi Dempo as the south Goa candidate has widened. The karyakarta of BJP were keen on advocate Narendra Sawaikr  being given the ticket for south Goa. However, the High Command of the BJP chose win-ability over loyalty. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is reported to have suggested the name of Pallavi Dempo, wife of Shrinivas Dempo. Shrinivas Dempo has been close to Narendra Modi.

The BJP has now admitted that its own karyakarta did not vote for Pallavi Dempo. The BJP was banking on the Congress MLAs who had defected to the saffron brigade to facilitate her election. But Alexio Sequiera, who was given a cabinet berth by the BJP, could not deliver even 2,000 votes for Pallavi. Similarly, campaign manager Digambar Kamat could not give a big lead to Pallavi. But Atanasio Babush Monserrate delivered for the BJP in both  Taleigao and Panaji and giving a lead to the BJP.

MODI SWEARING ON JUNE 8

NARENDRA Modi is expected to be sworn in as third time prime minister on Saturday, June 8 at 8 pm at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The leaders of the National Democratic Alliance including Chandrababu Naidu, Nitish Kumar and Eknath Shinde elected Modi as the leader of the NDA.

However, the alliance partners are demanding not only a pound of flash but every drop of blood from the BJP. Chandrababu Naidu has asked for the post of speaker in the new parliament and the cabinet ministry of finance and human resources development, including information technology. It was Chandrababu Naidu who initiated the IT revolution and converted Hyderabad into Cyberabad.

Bihar’s chief minister, Nitish Kumar, has asked for the home minister’s post, rural development and special status for Bihar. The breakaway Shiv Sena group led by Eknath Shinde has asked for a cabinet berth and two posts of minister of state. No doubt the other dozen member of the NDA will also demand their share.

DICTATORSHIP REJECTED

IN the light of being the head of a coalition government, Narendra Modi can no longer impose a dictatorship on the country. Modi will have to give up the politics of Hindutva. Chandrababu Naidu is strongly in favor of reservation for the Muslim minority community. This is strongly opposed by Narendra Modi. Nitish Kumar wants bigger quotas for other backwards classes and scheduled tribes. The alliance partners are also against any amendment to the Constitution. The Telugu Desam and Nitish’s groups favor a caste census which is opposed by Modi. So the going will be tough for Narendra Modi who will have to compromise if he wants to stay in power.

VICTORY FOR INDEPENDENT MEDIA

THE performance of the INDIA bloc is a tribute to the country’s independent media. While mainstream newspapers and television channels colluded with the BJP, it is the small media groups and  online portals like “The Wire” which put up a spirited opposition for Modi.

Even the now infamous exit poll was manipulated by Narendra Modi and Amit Shah. It may be recalled that all the exit polls predicted that Modi will get more than 400 seats (the “400 paar” boast). It was only Yogendra Yadav who correctly predicted that the BJP could not have got majority seats and NDA would get less than 300 seats.

PATNAIK DEFEATED

THE Odisha chief minister, Biju Patnaik, suffered a major defeat in the assembly and parliamentary election held in Odisha. Patnaik has been ruling Odisha for the last 20 years. At least in Odisha the saffron wave seems to have swept away Patnaik and his party. The BJP got all the parliamentary and the majority of the seats. Naveen Patnaik has resigned and the BJP is all set to form the government in the state.

INSTALMENT BRIBES

IN Gujarat, officials are accepting bribes in equated monthly instalments. This is to reduce the burden on the victims. The Anti-Corruption Bureau has identified more than a dozen cases since the beginning of the financial year where bribes have been accepted in instalments. A bribe of 21 lakh was sought in March for issuing bogus GST billing. An instalment of Rs2 lakh a month was accepted. A deputy sarpanch in Surat demanded a bribe of Rs85,000 for getting a villager’s farm levelled. The Sarpanch agreed to accept Rs35,000 upfront and the balance in three instalments.  According to a corrupt official “a person unable to afford a house, car or anything valuable, can now pay bribes in instalments.”

AKHILESH, THE HERO

AKHILESH was a hero of the INDI Alliance meet on Wednesday, June 5 in New Delhi. Akhilesh, who has got a record 39 seats in the UP, came to the meeting wearing his orange cap.

All the leaders of the INDIA bloc including Sharad Pawar, Abhishek Banerjee of Trinamool Congress, Pandurang Raut representing Uddhav Thackeray and MK Stalin, the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, were present. The Gandhi family was there is full strength with Sonia Gandhi  present with Rahul and Priyanka Vadra
Gandhi. Clearly Rahul Gandhi has taken over the leadership of the INDI Alliance or INDIA group.  The INDI Alliance has issued an invitation to the alliance partners of NDA to join their secular force.

STOCK MARKETS REVIVED

THE stock market which dropped sharply on Tuesday, June 4 recovered somewhat on Wednesday, June 5. However, the shares of public sector companies continue to decline. Leading the fall was the takeback of India. The IT companies and the technology sector showed an improvement. The FMCG companies did well on June 5 in the expectation of a healthy monsoon.

However, the shares of the Adani group continue to fall. The companies link to the Telugu Desam such as Heritage Food showed a sharp increase because of Chandrababu’s victory. The rupee gained 16 points to 83.37 points against the dollar. Unlike in the past, all the chambers of commerce are silent about the failure of the BJP to get the majority.

NEET EXAM RESULTS

WITH the announcement of the result of the National Eligibility Entrance Test for admission to medical colleges, the  newspapers were flooded with advertisements by coaching classes. Indeed, the first four pages including the front page of TOI, were devoted to advertisements from coaching classes.  Among the new coaching centres are the Chaitanya Techno School the Akshay coaching classes.

Goan student Tarun Kumar got 98.89% in the NEET. However, as many as 83 students are reported to have got 100% which is 720 out of 720 in the NEET exam. Tarun Kumar in spite of getting 98.81% is only ranked 2,397 in the entrance exam for medical colleges.

DEPARTMENTS AIM FOR GREENER FUTURE

IN Goa’s pursuit of a sustainable future, the importance of green technology cannot be overstated. It holds the power to significantly reduce the environmental footprint, ensuring that our land remains a vibrant and thriving home for generations to come.

This year’s World Environment Day theme was “Our Land, Our Future. We are #GenerationRestoration” and it conveys a critical message. It highlights shared responsibility to restore and protect our natural ecosystems of the state and country.

Celebrating “World Environment Day
 not only underscores the crucial importance of these efforts but also motivates individuals, communities, and nations to actively engage in environmental stewardship. It is a global call to action, urging every person to help heal our planet and emphasizing that restoration is not just possible but essential.

In this spirit, Goa’s dedication to ecological preservation and sustainability shines through the innovative efforts of start-ups and robust support from the Department of ITE&C and other departments. These initiatives showcase how technology and community action can come together to create a greener, more sustainable future.

The start-ups are developing cutting-edge technologies and practices that not only reduce environmental impact but also promote a culture of sustainability. Inovativa Waste Aid and Management  through its initiative YIMBY (Yes, In My Backyard), has established India’s first Waste Management Consumer Centre. This center empowers consumers to actively participate in waste management, promoting a sense of responsibility and community involvement.

Swachhai Technologies addresses the critical issue of waste management. Focusing on waste segregation and compression, Swachhai Technologies enhances efficiency and reduces the frequency of waste collection cycles. The Trash Company is revolutionizing the way people perceive and manage waste. It is dedicated to building an environmentally-focused organization, they provide comprehensive circular economy solutions for all types of waste through technological interventions. They develop strategies and projects to foster a Circular Economy, helping clients transition by promoting the use of high-quality recycled materials, ensuring well-documented compliance, and driving innovation in recycling and resource management.

Tersus Energy is at the cutting edge of solar technology, specializing in the manufacture of high-efficiency solar cells.

Harnessing the power of the sun, Tersus Energy provides sustainable energy solutions that reduce reliance on fossil fuels and help mitigate climate change. Arcis Clean Energy under the brand BLive, facilitates the transition to electric transportation. BLive offers comprehensive services to help fleet owners seamlessly switch to electric vehicles, thus reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainable mobility. This initiative is crucial for reducing the environmental impact of transportation, one of the major sources of pollution.

SMDpower Solutions focuses on smart electricity measurement and dynamic power-saving solutions. Their technology optimizes energy consumption, reduces wastage, and promotes sustainable energy practices. Aerflo Technologies is making a significant impact with its smart ceiling fans. These fans leverage advanced technology to enhance energy efficiency, thereby reducing electricity consumption.

Carry Your Bottle Pvt Ltd is spearheading a cultural shift towards reducing plastic waste. By promoting the habit of carrying reusable metal bottles instead of purchasing single-use plastic bottles, this initiative aims to significantly decrease plastic pollution. The focus is on creating eco-friendly, reusable products that encourage individuals to adopt more sustainable daily habits.

The Department of Information Technology, Electronics & Communication (DITE&C) in Goa plays a crucial role in supporting start-ups and promoting sustainability. Known for its minimal environmental footprint, the IT industry is often seen as the cleanest sector. By shifting processes and transactions online, DITE&C significantly cuts down on paper use and waste, reducing the carbon footprint and the need for deforestation. This move towards paperless operations, combined with the provision of various online services, not only boosts efficiency but also underscores the department’s commitment to a greener future. 

Embracing technology and innovation, nurturing sustainable practices and supporting green initiatives, Goa is making significant strides towards a sustainable future.  Together, we can ensure that our land remains a thriving home for future generations, embodying the true spirit of #GenerationRestoration.