log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline MONDAY FEBRUARY 19, 2024 GOA Margao’s neglected, crumbling MPLAD projects raise questions Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 12 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME IX, NO.242 2 GOA Efforts on for Goa-Ayodhya direct flight to boost spiritual tourism: CM 3 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 Makeup myths debunked! Ram Rajya in India for next 1,000 years: BJP resolution MODI EXUDES CONFIDENCE OF RETURNING TO POWER MODI SPEAK PTI NEW DELHI The Bharatiya Janata Party's national convention on Sunday passed a resolution on the Ram temple in Ayodhya, asserting that this heralds the establishment of "Ram Rajya" in India for the next 1,000 years. The resolution noted that the temple where a grand consecration ceremony took place last month, has become a temple of "national consciousness" and will play a decisive role in fulfilling the resolutions adopted in building a "Viksit Bharat". "The construction of a grand and divine temple of Lord Shri Ram at his birthplace in the ancient holy city of Ayodhya is a historic and glorious achievement for the country. This heralds the establishment of 'Ram Rajya' in India for the next 1,000 years with the beginning of a new IN SHORT >> Goa had nearly 10K excise raids in 4 yrs PANAJI: Goa has witnessed nearly 10,000 raids conducted by the Excise department to keep a check on illicitly produced, traded or stored liquor within the State over the last four years. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who holds the finance portfolio under which the Excise department is administered, said that 9,465 raids were conducted and cases under the Excise law were booked against 982 individuals.  >> See pg 3 Tension in Areal over Shivaji statue MARGAO: Amidst sloganeering Shivaji Maharaj ki Jai and Jai Bhavani, a life size statue of Maratha warrior Shivaji Maharaj was installed at Sao Jose de Areal village on Sunday, triggering tension in the locality after locals raised property issues and ground cleaning work in one property to pave way for the statue installation in another property.  >> See pg 2 WEATHER >> Max: Min: Humidity: 35 C 23 C 87% TIDES Low: 00:47 High: 05:23 13:13 21:12 Prime Minister Narendra Modi being garlanded by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP President J P Nadda during the BJP National Convention 2024 in New Delhi on Sunday. 'Kalachakra'," the resolution said. "This convention of the Bharatiya Janata Party heartily congratulates the leadership of the prime minister (Narendra Modi) for successfully conducting the consecration of Lord Ram," it added. Modi asserted that the BJP's return to power with a strong mandate is the first condition for India to realise its big goals as he exhorted thousands of party members to work with renewed energy, vigour and enthusiasm for the next 100 days to ensure a big victory. Addressing nearly 11,500 BJP delegates from across the country at Bharat Mandapam, he said he is seeking power „„We have to reach out to every section of society during our campaign „„BJP members have to work with new energy, enthusiasm for next 100 days „„Country has to take big leap to develop in next 5 years „„Dreams of crores of women, poor, youth are Modi's dream not for “satta bhog” (enjoying power) but for the country's benefit, and slammed the opposition, especially the Congress, saying they make all kinds of false promises but lack a road map for making the country developed. This is something only the BJP can do, he said, exuding confidence about his return to 9 INFO power while noting that many foreign countries have invited him for engagements in July, August and September. This suggests that these countries also know that “aayega toh Modi hi” (Modi's re-election is inevitable). In his 65-minute valedictory speech at the BJP's national convention ahead of the Lok Sabha elections expected in April-May, the prime minister stuck to the message of the country's growth and rising global standing besides his government's measures for empowering every section of society, especially the poor. He asked BJP members to connect with all sections of society, including those who have not been inclined to the party, saying they have to earn the trust of everyone. When everyone makes an effort, then BJP will win more than 370 seats and the NDA led by it 400-plus seats in the 543-member House, he said. PANAJI Goa University, the State's sole varsity, has been selected for the prestigious multi-disciplinary education and research universities (MERU) under Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA). As part of this intervention, the University has received approval of Rs 100 crore from the Union Ministry for Education. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Sunday took on X to make the announcement. He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for sanctioning Rs 100 crore for Goa for upgradation of Goa University as Multi-Disciplinary Education & Research University (MERU) under Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan. "It will definitely strengthen Goa University's capacity to enhance educational, skill-oriented courses under the New Education Policy 2020," Sawant said. Out of Rs 100 crores sanctioned, Rs 82.34 crores are sanctioned for construction of three new hostels, academic school buildings for Physics, Biochemistry Marine >Continued on P5 12 SAWANT HOLDS MEET WITH SHAH, GETS ASSURANCE THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Sunday said that the Union Home Minister Amit Shah has assured to resolve the issue of reserving seats to Scheduled Tribe (ST) population in the Goa Legislative Assembly. Sawant, who is currently in Delhi, held a meeting with Shah requesting him to expedite the matter of reservation of seats in Goa Legislative Assembly for ST population. "Home Minister has assured to resolve the matter," Sawant said. The Chief Minister further informed that the delegation of ST community could not be part of the meeting owing to last minute exigency. He however, said the home minister would meet them on next occasion. The Goa delegation led by the chief minister had on Friday met Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Arjuna Munda demanding constitution of Delimitation Commission for Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Home Minister Amit Shah during their discussion on reservation for STs in Assembly on Sunday. CM meets Gadkari on infra projects PANAJI: The Chief Minister on Sunday met Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari and discussed various infrastructure projects. Sawant held discussion on projects including reimbursement of works of Margao western Bypass, G-20 related works and granting sanction to Missing Corridor/Stretches of 4 laning of Cortalim-Verna, Karmal Ghat, Khandepar and other projects. reserving Assembly seats for scheduled tribes in the State. The delegation included Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar, Tribal Minister Govind Gaude and ST leaders including former Minister Prakash Velip. “Submitted a memoran- dum demanding the Constitution of Delimitation Commission for determining the seats to be reserved for ST in the Goa Legislative Assembly,” the CMO said. >Continued on P5 57-year-old loses life in mishap; 5 deaths in 48 hrs PM-USHA aims to transform higher education, ensure quality and equity and foster innovation, research, and employability in alignment with the NEP and Earth Science as well as for construction of Research Labs, Sports facilities and DDLI building. Also, as per approval, the GU said that Rs 5.25 crores are sanctioned for purchasing high-end equipment while Rs 7.4 crores for audio-video and multimedia laboratories, software for Library, smart boards and computers as well as for High Performing Computing Facility. "Goa University under Rashitra Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan received a grant of Rs 20 crores twice in last seven years for infrastructure development. After that, this is the major grant the Goa University has received from Ministry of Education based on its academic performance and community engagement," the Varsity said. Indian women clinch historic gold in Badminton Asia Team C’ships STs get a ray of hope on quota in Assembly polls Goa varsity to be upgraded, Centre grants `100 crore THE GOAN I NETWORK SPORTS THE GOAN I NETWORK India made a mockery of England scoring their biggest test victory by runs in the third Test of the five-match series, smashing the visitors by 434 runs in Rajkot on Sunday 12 Jaiswal hit a dozen sixes in his unbeaten innings of 214, equaling Wasim Akram’s record for most sixes in a Test innings BIGGEST WIN „„This is Team India’s biggest win in terms of runs in their 577 Test history „„This is also the first time that India won by a margin of 400 runs or more „„ Jaiswal scored consecutive double centuries to join Vinod Kambli & Virat Kohli „„Contributions also came from Rohit and Jadeja JAISWAL THE STAR „„His unbeaten 214 off 236 balls was the cornerstone of India's second innings „„He is now the leading run-scorer in ICC World Test Championship „„Jaiswal also breached the 500-run mark in only the third Test of this series MOST SIXES IN A TEST India hit a total of 28 sixes against England in Rajkot, breaking the previous record of 27 against South Africa >> REPORT ON PG12 PERNEM In yet another tragic accident, the life of a 57-year-old man was snuffed out when a car rammed his bike at Poraskade-Pernem junction on Sunday. This is the fifth death in the last 48 hours. The incident occurred around noon when Ajit Vasant Chari was riding his bike along the National Highway at Poraskade-Nhaybag junction when a car hit him from behind. The impact was such that Chari was flung on the road and suffered severe head injuries. Locals who rushed to the spot managed to shift him to a nearby hospital but doctors declared him dead on arrival. Of late several accidents have taken place at the same junction. Two days ago, a huge container had turned turtle and a resident was killed some days ago. Locals in the area have time and again demanded a flyover at the junction but their pleas have fallen on Chari was flung on the road and suffered severe head injuries after a car hit his bike from behind. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but doctors declared him dead on arrival deaf ears. The gram sabha had also passed a resolution regarding the same, but officials are yet to take any action. On Saturday, two cousins had died in accident at Arambol while two young friends from Sanvordem were crushed under a truck day before at Curtorim. All five victims were riding two-wheelers. Meanwhile, two Telangana residents have been booked under culpable homicide in the accident that killed two youngsters at Arambol. 24-years-olds Naresh Ganthula and Mandi Rajshekhar both residents of Karimnagar-Telangana have been booked under different sections of IPC and the MV Act. Suspense over Kamal Nath’s Thousands partake in walking pilgrimage at Sancoale Cardinal Ferrao exhorts people to be united, not be agents of division BJP move; Cong says ‘no’ AGENCIES NEW DELHI Amid uncertainties over Congress leader Kamal Nath’s next step following speculation of him and his son, Nakul Kamal Nath joining the BJP, party colleague Jeetu Patwari called it a “conspiracy” against the former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister. Meanwhile, Congress sources said Kamal Nath “assured” them he won’t leave the party. “It’s a conspiracy against Kamal Nath. I spoke to him he said he is a congressi and will remain one. When the time comes Kamal Nath will himself come out with clarity over it,” Madhya Pradesh Congress President Jitu Patwari said. “Once again, it was shown how BJP misuses media to question faith of anyone. I have talked to Kamal, and he told me that all these speculations are just conspiracies, and he is, was, and will be a Congress leader,” he added. However, earlier in the day, Congress sources said while Kamal Nath himself might not join the BJP, his son and some other party leaders might. Congress leader Sajjan Verma, who is a close aide of Nath, said he has “not thought about anything like that”. “I had a discussion with him (Kamal Nath). He said that right now his focus is on how the caste equations will be on 29 Lok Sabha seats in Madhya Pradesh. He said that he has not thought about anything like that (of leaving the party)…” Verma said. The latest development comes a day after Nath said, “I will inform if anything like this happens”, to rumours of him and his son Nakul Kamal Nath joining the saffron party. SPIRITUALLY ENRICHED, SAY PARTICIPANTS >> See pg 3 THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI he annual Lenten Walking Pilgrimage was held at Sancoale in the early hours of Sunday to initiate the spiritual preparation for Lent. The theme for the pilgrimage was “Let us journey together on the path of Penance and be Proclaimers of Hope.” The Pilgrimage is a help for the faithful to begin the Holy season of Lent with penance and sacrifice reflecting on the love of God and our response to His love. Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrao, priests, religious and Catholics as well as some people from other religions participated in T A group of pilgrims on their way to Sancoale on Sunday. this walking pilgrimage. Highlighting the sacrificial aspect of the walk, Cardinal Ferrao, reminded the faithful that all of us are pilgrims in this world. “We do not bring anything with us while we are born and neither take anything back after our death. What is more important is giving first place to God, who is the giver of life and living selflessly for the good of others”, he said. He cautioned people against being selfish and giving more importance to the worldly things. He also exhorted people to be united and not be agents of division. He further envisaged that we need to be instruments of peace, truth and justice and to shun away corruption, deceit, and injustice. People began their journey to the venue from as early as 12 am. They moved in from three Centres in the South and two in North. The Archbishop himself walked with the people from Bambolim to Sancoale. As more and more people experienced blessings and miracles during the previous penitential walk, people from different faiths too participated in this event praying to Mother Mary for good health and blessings upon them and their loved ones. This in fact brought to fore the age-old unity among Goans. At the end of the Mass Fr Ligorinho D'Costa, the Convenor of the event thanked Holy >Continued on P5