log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline TUESDAY DECEMBER 17, 2024 >> See pg 3 Unfazed by ADHD and autism, this boy bags gold at World Kickboxing Championship 11 Indians found dead at restaurant in Georgia TBILISI: Eleven Indian nationals were found dead at a restaurant in Georgia’s mountain resort of Gudauri, the Indian mission in Tbilisi said on Monday. Georgia’s ministry of internal affairs said the initial inspection found no signs of injury or violence. All victims died from carbon monoxide poisoning, local media reported, citing police. The Indian mission in Tbilisi said that it was saddened to learn of the unfortunate passing of eleven Indian nationals in Gaudauri and extended its deepest condolences to their families. IN SHORT >> Report sought on sewage in Mandovi Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 14 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 180 SAYS OPPN ACTING LIKE SULEMAN ‘BHAKTS’ DANCING WITH HIS PHOTO AND TRYING TO PROTECT HIM THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has come down heavily on the Opposition for questioning the integrity of the government and the police department in connection with Suleman Siddique Khan’s viral videos while promising a thorough investigation into its origin. “Will the word of a thief be accepted as truth just because he wants to come out of cases against him? He may accuse anyone in the department or even an MLA. The source of the videos, who it was sent to, from where it was sent and who is behind it will be investigated. Are they trying to protect Suleman?” Sawant said on Prudent Media’s Head On. Sawant, who also holds the Home portfolio, was responding to concerns raised over Police summon Kauthankar PANAJI: The Old Goa police on Monday issued summons to Congress leader Sunil Kauthankar in connection with fugitive Suleman Siddique Khan’s viral video. The notice issued under section 179 BNSS directed him to remain present before the inquiry officer at 10am on Tuesday. “The undersigned conducting investigation...upon complaint of Sarvesh Khandolkar, HC Crime Branch Police Station, Ribandar. Therefore you are directed to remain present at Old Goa PS on December 17, 2024 at 10am for investigation before the undersigned...” reads the notice issued by Old Goa PSI Sudden Redkar. North SP Akshat Kaushal clarified that the notice is to understand the source of the video. “The notice which has been issued to Sunil Kauthankar is limited for understanding the possible source of the video in which accused Suleman Siddiqui is seen,” he said. the reputation of the police department after recent incidents involving police personnel. Asked whether he was ‘seriously worried’ about the department’s image, Sawant said, “action has already been taken against IRB constable Amit Naik and others involved will also face consequences.” Recalling the formation of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on land grab cases, he took a dig at the Opposition claiming the latter ridiculed it. Telangana man held for harassment MAPUSA: A 52-year-old man from Telangana was arrested on Monday for allegedly harassing a woman and attempting to seek sexual favours at a resort in Baga. The accused reportedly approached the woman at the resort's reception area.  >> See pg 5 WEATHER >> Max: 33.5 C Min: 19.4 C Humidity: 77% “Yet, the SIT registered 100200 cases and exposed massive land fraud wherein both private and government properties were illegally grabbed,” the CM added. Referring to Suleman’s involvement in several cases of land grab, Sawant accused the opposition of supporting him. “Now, like ‘bhakts’ (followers) they are dancing around with his photo. Is he their relative? Or are they planning to take him into their party fold? The Opposition seems to believe the allegations of a thief. Who are they trying to protect?” he asked. Sawant assured the public that Suleman would be brought to justice. “He will 100 percent be caught. Once that happens, everything will be revealed. My team is working on it,” he said. >Continued on P5 Tabla maestro Zakir Hussain’s ‘beats’ go silent PTI NEW DELHI MMC rakes in `  2L 3 from feast fair ECHOES OF ART: Artistes perform at The Arena, Nagalli Hills, Dona Paula, as part of the Serendipity Arts Festival on Monday. The Bells offers a unique theatrical experience featuring live art and captivating performances.  Narayan Pissurlenkar Govt refloats Unity Mall tender THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) has re-floated tender for construction of Unity Mall at Chimbel in an area of 12,000 sq mtrs. The project is estimated to cost Rs 175.94 crore. Earlier in August, the GTDC had issued tender for the project at a cost of Rs 124.7 crore. The mall is expected to be completed within two years and will feature 36 shops showcasing products from each state and union territory, along with outdoor exhibition areas, a children’s play area, an amphitheatre, and conference rooms. Funding for the project is expected to be provided by the Centre under the scheme >Continued on P5 PG14 Indian batters falter against Australian pace attack RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 Sawant vows to get to the root of Suleman’s videos PANAJI: The Secretary Environment, who heads the River Rejuvenation Committee, has sought a detailed report from the Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited (IPSCDL) on the status of steps initiated to disconnect the direct discharge of raw sewage into river or nalhas/ creeks as a pollution abatement measure of Mandovi river.  >> See pg 5 MARGAO: With curtains coming down on the Old market feast fair, Margao Municipal Chairperson Damu Shirodkar on Monday said the Civic body was richer by Rs 32-odd lakh by way of revenue collected during the week-long fair. >> See pg 2 Instagram.com/thegoanonline Tabla maestro Zakir Hussain died in a hospital in San Francisco, US, his family said on Monday. He was 73. Hussain died from complications arising out of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, the family said in a statement. He had been in hospital for the past two weeks and was shifted to the ICU after his condition deteriorated. Hussain's sister Khurshid Aulia said he passed away “very peacefully”. “He passed away very peacefully after the ventilation machine was switched off. This was 4 pm San Francisco time,” she told PTI. Regarded as the greatest tabla player of his generation, Hussain is survived by his wife Antonia Minnecola and their daughters -- Anisa Qureshi and Isabella Qureshi. Born on March 9, 1951, he was the son of legendary tabla master Ustad Alla Rakha. Palekar had filed Suleman’s bail plea before he fled ORDER ON BAIL PETITION LIKELY TODAY THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI In a bizarre twist to Siddiqui Suleman Khan’s escape saga, the accused had applied for bail about 48 hours before fleeing police custody. The bail plea, ironically, assured the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC), Mapusa that he would not abscond if granted bail. Filed on December 11 through Advocate Amit Palekar and Associates, the plea filed in response to Mapusa land grab case was scheduled for hearing on December 13. The JMFC issued notices to the Special Investigation Team (SIT) (Land Grab) and the Assistant Public Prosecutor (APP), Mapusa but the accused fled from lock-up hours before the hearing around 10 am. JMFC heard the matter in his absence and reserved the order for Tuesday. KEY NOTINGS „„Bail plea filed in land scam probe on December 11 „„Hearing was scheduled on the day he escaped „„Adv Palekar received pen drive containing the now-viral video ON PAGE 3 Lapses come to the fore, DGP says investigation in progress BJP goes silent on allegations against deputy speaker Suleman, master of disguise, has 8 cases in 2 States, 1 UT Incidentally, Advocate Palekar was the first to receive the pen drive containing Suleman’s video. In his application, copy of which is in possession of The Goan, Suleman claimed innocence stating he was falsely implicated. He assured the Court that he would comply with all conditions. “He is innocent and he has not committed any offense as alleged against him or otherwise. The applicant states that he has been falsely implicated/ arraigned in the matter and he has no connection of whatsoever nature with the alleged offense,” the application by his Adv stated. Goa’s fiscal deficit surges to nearly 800% in 20 yrs OUTSTANDING DEBT @ `  4,758 CRORE 3 THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Despite a jump in revenue surplus, Goa’s gross fiscal deficit increased by more than 785 per cent in the last two decades, since 2004-05, as the State’s outstanding debt stood at Rs 34,758 crore by end of March 2024. To meet its expenditure on social welfare schemes and infrastructure development, the State has relied on borrowings that have pushed Goa's outstanding liabilities from Rs 4,417 crore in 2005 to Rs 31,758 crore in 2023 and further to Rs 34,758 crore by end of financial year 2023-24. According to the information tabled in the Lok Sabha by the Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary, the State debt amounted to about 38.3 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). He said that the data is based on the Reserve Bank of India’s report titled ‘State Finances: A study of Budgets DEBT DILEMMA: FACTS & FIGURES „„For social welfare schemes & infra State relied on borrowings that have pushed outstanding liabilities from Rs 4,417 cr in 2005 to Rs 31,758 cr in 2023 „„State debt amounted to about 38.3% of GDP according to RBI report titled ‘State Finances: A study of Budgets of 2023-24’ „„Report says ratio of interest payment to total outstanding liabilities of State Governments for the year 2023-24 (BE) ranges from 4.215 to 7.01%. „„During 2018-23, outstanding debt of State increased from 28.41 to 31.57 % of GDP, breaching target of 25% of GSDP „„For the current financial year, State has borrowed almost 30% of its full-year target „„As on September 30, govt raised total of Rs 1000 cr through auction of govt securities of 2023-24’. As per the data available in the Report, the ratio of interest payment to total outstanding liabilities of State Governments for the year 2023-24 (BE) ranges from 4.21 per cent to 7.01 per cent. During 2018-23, outstanding debt of the State Govern- ment increased from 28.41 to 31.57 per cent of GDP, breaching the target of 25 per cent of GSDP set by the GFRBM (First Amendment) Act, 2014. As per the CAG report 2023, tabled by Goa government during the monsoon session, (Data tabled in Lok Sabha) >Continued on P5 Greens oppose translocation of SSC here to stay; CM brushes off internal ‘dissent’ PRAMOD SAWANT: TOUGH TALK 200-yr-old trees in Porvorim THE GOAN I NETWORK THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA The Goa Green Brigade has strongly opposed the proposed translocation of six ancient trees -- five banyan and one papal -- by the State government and its agencies, citing the high risk to their survival and the irreversible environmental damage such a move would cause. In an appeal to the State government, Forest Department, and Public Works Department (PWD), Avertino Miranda, Convenor of the Goa Green Brigade, emphasized the ecological and cultural importance of the trees. These trees have been adored and worshipped for generations. Any harm, cutting, or translocation could hurt religious sentiments,” —Avertino Miranda “Past experiences of translocation have been marked by complete failures. These 200-plus-year-old trees provide crucial habitat for birds, reptiles, insects, butterflies, plant species, and numerous micro-organisms, besides offering shade and oxygen to human beings. Their removal would cause immense and irreversible environmental harm,” Miranda said. He also highlighted the religious significance of the trees, which are revered by people of various communities. “These trees have been adored and worshipped for generations. Any harm, cutting, or translocation could hurt religious sentiments and potentially lead to a serious law and order situation,” he warned. The Brigade has urged the village panchayat of Socorro to oppose the PWD’s proposal >Continued on P5 PANAJI mid speculation about a demand from within BJP Ministers to scrap the Goa Staff Selection Commission (SSC), Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday ruled out putting an end to SSC even in future. Speaking during Prudent Media’s Head On, Sawant further assured to take action against everyone including politicians in the cash for jobs scam, if anyone names a political leader who sought money for providing jobs. Sawant said that the recruitment to fill departmental positions through the SSC has already commenced and the fresh vacancies for the next A „„I am not bothered what Ministers feel about SSC... the decision is in the interest of the State and the people „„SSC has proved to be a transparent process… SSC will never be scrapped and it will continue „„SSC is set up as per policy decision of PM who has asked all States to set year are also being sought from the concerned departments. “I am not bothered what Ministers feel about SSC... the decision is in the interest of up such an independent body for recruitment in a transparent manner „„Providing jobs to voters is not a criteria for getting elected… people elect you after seeing your work „„Defamation case will be filed against Opposition for accusing me and my family in jobs for cash allegation „„If any person comes forward and says that he paid money to politicians for govt jobs, then action would be initiated „„FACT FILE: Nearly 1900 posts are to be advertised through SSC over next one year, of which process has already started to fill 280 vacancies the State and the people. SSC has proved to be a transparent process… SSC will never be scrapped and it will continue,” Sawant said responding to the question that within the Cab- inet there is strong objection to SSC. The Chief Minister also said that SSC is set up as per the policy decision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who JOBS-FOR-CASH SCAM has asked all States to set up such an independent body for undertaking recruitment in a transparent manner. CM RULES OUT LEADERSHIP CHANGE; SAYS CABINET RESHUFFLE WILL HAPPEN >> See pg 3 When pointed out that some Ministers feel that recruitment through SSC will harm their political prospects, Sawnat said “providing jobs to voters is not a criteria for getting elected… people elect you after seeing your work… you have seen that every election 40 per cent of new MLAs are >Continued on P5