log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline SUNDAY NOVEMBER 9, 2025 Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 16 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME XI, NO. 142 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 MOVIES »PAGE 16 GOOD LIFE »PAGE 12 PLAY & PAUSE »PAGE 13 Actress Deepika Padukone says she represents India internationally on her own terms Breathing beyond survival Playing by rules A recent etiquette incident at a five-star hotel highlights how rules work SPORTS »PAGE 8 Jurel stakes claim for Test berth with second ton in a row Priyanka Chopra Jonas confirms joining Rajamouli’s next film Finding the order in chaos GETTING BORED IS HEALTHY India clinches series against Australia as rain washes out 5th T20I >> SEE PG 2 THE MIGRANT MATH IN GOAN POLITICS Job scam accused remains silent after exposé threat MYSTERY DEEPENS AS POOJA FAILS TO KEEP 24-HR DEADLINE TO NAME MINISTER, OFFICERS INVOLVED THE GOAN I NETWORK MAGAZINE MAGAZ 09 Temple jatras: Goa’s blend of faith and festivity Made in Saligao: Where community, creativity, Goan spirit come alive Aldona: The village of heritage, faith and fertile traditions When public records decay; a duty to preserve State papers 11 IN SHORT >> Karwar MLA’s Goa property attached Rewiring stress and wellness through mindful oxygenation PANAJI The jobs-for-cash scam in Goa which had got a new twist with prime accused Pooja Naik alleging that a minister, an IAS officer, and a PWD engineer were involved in the Rs 17 crore recruitment racket in a televised interview on Friday and threatened to reveal names within 24 hours if money was not returned, failed to follow through. The episode, however, has intensified the acrimony in the State’s political arena. Pooja had claimed that over 600 job aspirants paid cash for promised government posts, which were allegedly facilitated by the trio. While she claimed the IAS, PWD official and a minister were involved, she withheld the minister’s identity, citing safety concerns. “I sold everything to repay people from whom I collect- Inquiry will continue, assures CM PANAJI: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, late on Saturday, stated that the investigation into the Pooja Naik jobs-for-cash scam is still in progress. “The investigation in the Pooja Naik, jobs-for-cash scam is ongoing,” Sawant said adding, “no one will be spared. All will be behind bars”. Sawant also said he has instructed the police to arrest everyone involved in the Morjim murder case. ed money,” she said, adding that she had repeatedly approached the accused for reimbursement without success. On Saturday, well beyond her own 24-hour deadline, Pooja has however failed to follow through with her threat to name those involved. The channel also said that efforts to contact the officials and get their side of the story proved futile as there was no response to telephone calls or Whatsapp messages. The channel on its 8 pm show also said that although the public wants to know the names, these cannot be revealed based on her claims due to legal implications. Pooja’s claims have meanwhile triggered a storm of reactions from political leaders. Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Amit Patkar demanded immedi- PANAJI: A Goa-registered shipping company owned by Karnataka MLA Satish Sail has come under the Enforcement Directorate’s scanner, with the agency attaching assets worth Rs 21 crore over alleged illegal iron ore exports under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.   >> See pg 3 Container Ops to resume at Mormugao Port after 7 yrs Police keep vigil on scrapyards VIKRAM NAYAK THE GOAN I VASCO PANAJI: Stating it is a proactive measure to curb property-related crimes and ensure public safety, Goa police on Saturday said the North district team has verified 105 scrapyard owners and 221 scrap collectors within its jurisdiction.  >> See pg 3 ‘Educate Girls’ wins Magsaysay award NEW DELHI: Non-profit organisation Educate Girls has won the Ramon Magsaysay Award, one of Asia’s most respected honours. The group dedicated this award to its thousands of volunteers, coordinators, and mentors who have worked tirelessly to bring millions of girls back to school in rural parts of the country. WEATHER >> Max: 30.5 C Min: 24.6 C Humidity: 90% FIRST VESSEL TO DROP ANCHOR ON NOV 20 After years of watching ships sail by, Goa’s Mormugao Port Authority (MPA) is finally back in the container game. The port, which last saw container movement in 2018, is all set to welcome its first container vessel by the end of November — marking the end of a seven-year dry spell that had forced exporters to rely on expensive and time-consuming road transport. According to sources at the port, the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) has been finalised as the feeder vessel operator for the service. The announcement has triggered cautious optimism among trade circles that had long demanded the revival of container operations from Goa. Vishnu Prasad, senior business development manager at Delta Ports (Mormugao Terminal Pvt Ltd), confirmed that SCI’s vessel SCI Mumbai will make its maiden call to the port on November 20. “This is a huge breakthrough after years of persistent follow-ups with various feeder operators and shipping lines. The first container ship will call on its maiden voyage at the port on November 20, and it is indeed a big day for Goans and industries alike,” said Prasad, visibly buoyed by the development. 7 years and a costly detour The last container ship to berth at the port did so back in 2018. Since then, exporters and manufacturers in Goa were left with little choice but to send their cargo by road to Jawaharlal Nehru Port (Nava Sheva), Mumbai — at a steep cost. “Transporting a dry container by road cost around Rs 80,000, while a reefer container (for perishables) cost nearly Rs 1 lakh. With this sea route, exporters can save close to 60 percent of that amount,” Prasad explained. The new service promises more than just cost savings. It offers faster, cleaner, and smarter logistics. The sea journey from Goa to Mundra Port >Continued on P6 US may bar visas over obesity, diabetes PTI WASHINGTON oreign nationals applying for a visa to live in the US might be rejected if they have health conditions such as diabetes or obesity, according to a government directive issued by the Trump administration. The guidelines were issued by the State Department, which says that people with issues could become a "public charge" and potentially drain the US resources. The guidelines were sent through cable to American embassies and consulates. While screening for com- F 175 inquiries launched into H-1B visa abuse WASHINGTON: The Trump administration has launched about 175 investigations into H-1B visa abuse, including lapses such as low wages, non-existent work sites and the practice of “benching” employees. According to the US Department of Labour, the probes were part of a broader effort for the protection of American jobs. As part of our mission to protect American Jobs, we’ve launched 175 investigations into H-1B abuse, the Labour Department said in a post on X. It added that under the leadership of President Donald Trump and Labour Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, the agency will continue taking action to put American workers first.  municable diseases, checking vaccination history, infectious diseases and mental health conditions have always been part of the visa application process; the new guidelines add new medical conditions to be considered. According to the report, the cable says, "You must consider an applicant's health. Certain medical conditions – including, but not limited to, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, cancers, diabetes, metabolic diseases, neurological diseases, and mental health conditions – can require thousands of dollars' worth of care." Visa officers have also been instructed to assess if applicants are capable of paying for the medical treatment. However, a senior attorney for the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Charles Wheeler, has said that although the guidelines are for all visas, it will likely be used only for permanent residency cases. ate action and protection for Naik. “This is not just a scam, it’s a betrayal of public trust. The government must ensure her safety and conduct a fair investigation. We cannot allow powerful individuals to escape accountability,” Patkar stated. Goa Forward Party President Vijai Sardesai echoed the demand for transparency. “This is a test of the government’s integrity. If the accused are truly influential, then the administration must prove it is not compromised. We demand a judicial probe monitored by the High Court,” Sardesai said. Meanwhile, Congress MLA Carlos Alvares Ferreira expressed skepticism about Naik’s motives. “Is this a genuine confession or an extortion attempt? Corruption remains a crime >Continued on P6 Apex court’s order on stray dogs sparks outcry in Goa NGOs point to ground reality, say Goa does not have long-term shelters for stray dogs THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Animal welfare groups in Goa have expressed deep concern, and some frustration, over the Supreme Court’s directive ordering that stray dogs be removed “forthwith” from schools, hospitals, railway stations, bus stands and similar public spaces, and kept in designated shelters after sterilisation and vaccination. The order, pronounced on Friday by a three-judge bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and N V Anjaria, further states that the dogs “shall not be released back to the same location” and has directed uniform implementation across the country with compliance reports due in eight weeks. But in Goa, NGOs working on the ground have argued that the order overlooks the most basic reality -- Goa has no long-term shelter capacity for housing dogs permanent- „„NGOs say Goa has ment ‘detached from only centres to ground reality’… sterilise and warns that stray vaccinate dogs will suffer, stray dogs, no NGO VOICES and urges permanent ON STRAY govt to seek shelters to more time and DOGS house them funding „„WVS feels „„Shaun Moitra a Goa’s system cannot dog trainer terms the support SC order... new order ‘impractical and infrastructure would be outdated’… advocates needed community-based care instead of shelters „„WAG calls the judgly. Shelters exist only for sterilisation and release. The Worldwide Veterinary Services (WVS), which runs sterilisation programs in the State, stated bluntly that the current system in Goa cannot support the Court’s direction. “Goa only has shelters where dogs are sterilised and vaccinated, after which they are released back to their ter- ritories. There are no longterm holding shelters. If the Supreme Court says these dogs cannot be released, then a completely new infrastructure is required under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act,” WVS said. Atul Sarin, Founder of Welfare for Animals in Goa (WAG), said the judgment >Continued on P6