log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline SUNDAY FEBRUARY 9, 2025 16 pages Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 232 Instagram.com/thegoanonline CAPITAL GAIN FOR BJP   SAFFRON PARTY SWEEPS AAP OUT OF DELHI, WINS HUGE MAJORITY    SHOCKING DEFEAT OF KEJRIWAL, SISODIA   DRAWS A BLANK CONG Affidavit from Smart City officials raises eyebrows Completely contradicts ground reality THE GOAN I NETWORK PTI NEW DELHI The BJP on Saturday returned to power in Delhi after more than 26 years to sweep away the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party with a two-thirds majority on the back of a hyper localised campaign and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘’AAP-da’’ (disaster) blitzkrieg. Adding to the ignominy of the AAP that was battling 10 years of anti-incumbency was the shocking defeat of former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal himself and other top leaders including his close aide and former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, Somnath Bharti and Saurabh Bhardwaj. Chief Minister Atishi, an academic and unlikely politician, weathered the storm to retain Kalkaji seat. The BJP won 48 of the 70 seats at stake and the AAP 9 PHILLIPS’ EXPLOSIVE TON POWERS NZ TO 78-RUN WIN OVER PAK >> 8 RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 MAGAZINE MAGAZ 11 Valentine week: A celebration of love and affection Turning passion into a place called ‘Culinary Delight’ >> SEE PG 2 WINTER SESSION: GOVT DODGES DODGY OPPN IN SHORT >> Jobs-for-cash: Third chargesheet filed PANAJI: Porvorim police filed a third chargesheet before the court in the infamous jobs-for-cash scam in relation to offenses committed by a Merces resident Gautam Asnotkar by accepting cash from individuals on the pretext of providing them a government job.  >> See pg 3 BJP 48 ON PAGE 5 SAWANT HAILS BJP'S DELHI WIN, HITS OUT AT AAP BJP LEADERS, WORKERS CELEBRATE, HOLD RALLY IN SOUTH GOA Party workers celebrate BJP’s massive win in Delhi on Saturday. was way behind with 22, according to the Election Commission website. The elections were largely seen as a bipolar contest between the AAP, which made a deter- mined bid for a fourth term, and the BJP. While the AAP had 62 members in the outgoing house, the saffron party had just eight legislators. The Congress, which had ruled for 15 consecutive years under Sheila Dikshit from 1998, came a cropper in the Assembly elections failing to get even a single seat for the third straight time. Its candi- Police enforce transfers with tough new pay rule SALARIES LINKED TO POSTING AT NEW PLACE THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI In a move to rein in errant police personnel defying transfer orders, Goa Police have issued a strict directive enforcing compliance with a warning that salaries will only be drawn at the new place of posting. Despite three major reshuffles last year, many personnel including sub-inspectors-rank have continued to report to their previous postings, often within the same sub-division. A prime example is the Panaji-Old Goa-Agassaim sub-division, where nearly a dozen personnel have been swapping posts within the same jurisdiction, effectively nullifying the intent of their transfers. The situation is also prevalent at Police Headquarters, Goa Reserve Police in Altinho, wherein over 30 personnel shuttled between the Anti-Terrorism Squad, Special Branch, Security Unit, State NO MORE HIDE AND SEEK „„Nearly a dozen personnel swapping posts at Panaji-Old Goa-Agassaim sub-division nullifying intent of transfers „„Same situation also at Police Headquarters, Goa Reserve Police in Altinho, where over 30 personnel shuttle between Anti-Terrorism Squad, Special Branch, Security Unit, State Police Control Room and Motor Transport Section CRACKING THE WHIP „„Police issue directive mandating compliance with transfer orders „„Salaries to be processed at new place of posting „„Will facilitate upcoming transfers of personnel who have served over five years in the same station/unit Police Control Room and Motor Transport Section. Now, the department is cracking the whip. Director General of Police Alok Kumar has clarified that transfer orders are non-negotiable. “This is not allowed,” he categorically stated, replying to The Goan’s question on the non-compliance. “The concerned (transferred) personnel have to get orders from the HQ to retain his/her outgoing posting. No other order will be accepted.” Sources told The Goan that the defiance of transfers persists despite the reshuffle of 1,384 personnel in the last year, covering ranks from constable to sub-inspectors. With the system prevailing even before, many personnel/officials >Continued on P6 WITH ROADSHOWS, EVENTS & EXHIBITIONS ABROAD… Goa takes `14 crore tourism gamble, but missing country-wise data fuels concerns THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA he Goa Tourism Department spent approximately Rs 14.5 crore last year to promote the State at international destinations through roadshows, events and exhibitions. Additionally, Rs 1.97 crore was allocated for a digital hoarding advertisement campaign at Times Square in New York, USA. This expenditure is significantly higher than previous years, with Rs 3.40 crore spent AAP 22 ON PAGE 3 „„State govt rules out regularisation of contract teachers, considers EPF benefits „„In 3 years, 1,125 touts fined, 792 cases of public drinking booked T in 2022-23 and Rs 1.66 crore in 2021-22 for promoting Goa internationally. Promotional activities were conducted in various countries, including Germany, Spain, Austria, France, Dubai, Singapore, Japan and Uzbekistan. However, tourists from these nations were not offered visa-on-arrival facilities. Despite the substantial investment in marketing, the department could not provide data on the number of tourists >Continued on P6 dates suffered crushing defeats with a majority of them even losing their deposits With Delhi now in its kitty after a battle of prestige given >Continued on P6 PANAJI In what could raise serious questions about the credibility of sworn submissions made by Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited (IPSCDL) to the High Court of Bombay at Goa, discrepancies have come to the fore. A key point of contention lies in the claim that the beautification and pedestrianization of the Café Bhonsle Square have been completed, which completely contradicts the ground reality. The affidavit by Chief General Manager (IPSCDL) Vivek Valke declared the completion of work at the Central Space of Café Bhonsle Square. However, until Saturday, ongoing works were evident with one lane entirely closed to vehicular movement and partial restrictions imposed on other accesses. The affidavit, copy of which The ongoing Smart City work near Café Bhonsle, Panaji on Saturday.  Narayan Pissurlenkar CASE IN POINT „„Affidavit in HC claims beautification and pedestrianisation of Café Bhonsle Square have been completed „„Ongoing works evident with one lane entirely closed to vehicular movement and partial restrictions imposed on other accesses is in possession of The Goan, outlined a two-phase project covering the road adjacent to Cunha Rivera Road (Café Ritz) and the Central Space of Café Bhonsle Square. The >Continued on P6