Latest news with #Sardesai
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Studying bullfighting, will see what can be done to legalise it: Goa CM Pramod Sawant
Porvorim: MLAs across party lines on Thursday pressed for the legalisation of bullfighting. The MLAs cited Tamil Nadu govt's decision to allow Jallikattu (a traditional bull-taming sport) to persuade Goa govt to make bullfighting legal. Chief minister Pramod Sawant said, 'Jallikattu is not a fight between two bulls. But I understand the sentiments of MLAs.' He said, 'The high court is monitoring bullfighting. We will study, and thereafter we can see what can be done.' Mandrem's MGP MLA Jit Arolkar said that bullfighting has taken place from the Harappan era and is considered a tradition in the coastal belt of Goa. He has moved a private member's bill seeking legislation to allow bullfighting only on special days like feasts, jatras, birthdays, or village festivals. 'People give bulls more care than they offer to their own children,' Arolkar said. 'Humans have pedicures done. Similarly, bull owners give pedicures to their animals.' Arolkar related an anecdote to underscore the value people attach to their bulls. A woman from her constituency had contacted him to help her son find a job, he said. But in the end, he said, 'She told me to forget about her son and take care of her bull, which is idle at home and has not been in a bullfight for two years. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Is this legal? Access all TV channels without a subscription! Techno Mag Learn More Undo This is the reality.' Independent Cortalim MLA Antonio Vas said, 'When I had one bull, I was known as the Cortalim fighter. After the high court banned bullfighting, I stopped keeping bulls.' He added, 'We have to come together to legalise bullfighting in the state.' Leader of the opposition Yuri Alemao said, 'Looking at the CM's reply, he is firm about not legalising bullfighting.' Alemao said, 'The CM should tell us whether there will be a discussion on the bullfighting bill. A former BJP CM had said that they wanted to legalise bullfighting.' Benaulim's AAP MLA Venzy Viegas said that the traditional sport must be preserved. St Andre's RGP MLA Viresh Borkar said the assembly should provide bullfighting with the status of a sport, and a stadium should be constructed to host the fights. Fatorda's GFP MLA Vijai Sardesai said govt should form an expert committee to safeguard human life and amend the relevant state act. Sardesai said that govt has to take the 'double-engine approval' and present a strong case in court. 'The Goa assembly has the full right to pass an amendment,' Sardesai said. Siolim's BJP MLA Delilah Lobo said precautions should be taken to avoid the loss of human life during bullfights.
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Govt attacked over ‘futility' of third district, land grab cases
Porvorim: Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai, during the discussion on demands for grants, launched a scathing attack on the proposed creation of a third district comprising four South Goa talukas, questioning both its necessity and funding. 'There's no demand from any quarters for the creation of this district,' Sardesai said, even as he criticised the decision by a feasibility committee comprising 'all non-Goan IAS officers'. Sardesai said people from Canacona opposed the proposal and expressed concerns about administrative efficiency. 'A new post of district collector will come into existence, and the new jobs created will be sold,' he said. He demanded to know how the initiative would improve administration when govt has already reduced the budget allocation for the revenue department for South Goa. The session was dominated by discussions on land frauds. Sardesai termed it a 'systematic racket' involving comunidade land-grabbing, citing four instances in Quepem, Bendudem (Quepem), Delem (Canacona), and Latambarcem (Bicholim). Aldona MLA Carlos Ferreira said there were systemic defects enabling land scams. He said there were inconsistencies between sale deed requirements (which mandate Aadhaar details and biometrics) and mutation processes (which don't). by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Use an AI Writing Tool That Actually Understands Your Voice Grammarly Install Now Undo Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas alleged that there were illegal agents within the South Goa collectorate building offering services like obtaining sanads, birth certificates, and mutations at 'special rates'. MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco raised concerns about the maintenance and hygiene in the South Goa collectorate while suggesting better utilisation of available space. St Andre MLA Viresh Borkar said 80% of jobs in the private sector should be reserved for Goans.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Ready to start new Konkani school if any MLA can get 20 students, says Goa CM Pramod Sawant
Porvorim: After Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai on Monday said in the House that eight of 12 talukas today don't have a single Konkani school operational, chief minister Pramod Sawant said that if any MLA can bring 20 students from an area for a Konkani medium school, then state govt will start a new school there. 'Everyone wants to speak about Konkani, but they ultimately admit their children to English schools. If any existing school wants to start a Konkani medium school, then we will give them permission without disturbing the existing system. If any MLA can take the initiative and if he is able to get 20 students, then we will start a Konkani medium school without affecting the existing Marathi school,' said Sawant, who also holds the education portfolio. To another question from Sardesai, the CM said that land allotments to Margao schools to shift to the land earmarked for the school complex in Davorlim will be finalised within the next three months. 'Like Cujira, 1 lakh sqm land was acquired in Davorlim. Earlier, five schools were told of the land allotment. Within three months, we will finalise which schools will get land at the school complex,' said Sawant. While Sardesai asked why salaries in some pre-primary schools for teachers are as low as Rs 10,000 a month, Sawant said that the process of registration of pre-primary schools was in progress, and so far, 702 have registered with the state. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Use an AI Writing Tool That Actually Understands Your Voice Grammarly Install Now Undo 'Once inspection of their infrastructure is complete, we will fix salaries to be paid to teachers of pre-primary schools,' he said. The CM said that govt-aided schools across Goa have been asked to upgrade their infrastructure in line with the National Education Policy requirements, while work has begun to provide facilities for all extracurricular activities and skill training in govt schools. Aldona MLA Carlos Ferreira asked why Goa govt has prescribed higher number of instructional hours than those recommended in the NEP. Sawant said that the hours are not only classroom hours, but also include the learning done by a child at home, including projects and assignments. 'Once the NEP is fully implemented in the state, we will do a comparative chart between the old and new system. Under NEP, there is no rote learning, but activity-driven and experiential learning. We have started hands-on activity and project learning and promoting joyful and experimental learning,' he said.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Zuari land scam amount enough to pay govt's debt: Vijai
Porvorim: Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai on Friday claimed that the Zuari land scam amounts to Rs 50,000 crore and it would have cleared govt debt. However, govt maintained its stance that there is no scam in Zuari land. Sardesai said that revenue minister Atanasio 'Babush' Monserrate has spoken extensively about the Zuari land scam, but nothing has been done by him, and now it is turning into a significant scam. He said that the House passed an amendment to the Goa legislative diploma no. 2017. He further explained that the objective of the amendment is to ensure that the purpose for which the comunidade land was given cannot be changed. The Fatorda MLA said that the purpose of giving land to Zuari Agro Chemicals Limited and/or Zuari Industries Limited and/or any of their subsidiaries was not to create plots. 'Land was not given so that Lodha should make plots or any other should make plots. 50lakh sqm land was given to create employment through industrialisation,' Sardesai said. Sardesai demanded that Monserrate should assure him that he will not issue any sanads for those plots. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Offer Valid for the First 100 Bookings Only Birla Estates Learn More Undo 'You have brought the law in 2024 and tell me now that you are breaking the same law in love of Zuari,' Sardesai said. In response to the question, Monserrate stated that this law does not apply to Zuari as it was prospective and not retrospective. Sardesai argued that the 'aforamento' cannot be changed. Monserrate countered that Zuari land has already been sold as they are the owners of the said Monserrate was seeking advice from a former advocate general, and when the advice was not in his favour, he went to another advocate because he wanted to sell it to Zuari. 'This is the biggest scam in modern Goa history,' Sardesai said. He claimed that Goa could have been debt-free with Zuari money. 'Rs 50,000 crore scam. Law was brought after it was sold to Zuari. You have brought the law after land was given to Zuari,' he said. Monserrate insisted that there is no scam, and the law was brought to prevent such occurrences in the future. Chief minister Pramod Sawant stated that they introduced the law after the Zuari incident. 'Our govt has not done Zuari scam,' Sawant said.
Time of India
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Konkani proficiency to be must for job of postal worker, says Sawant
Porvorim: Chief minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday said that Konkani would be made mandatory for appointing new postal workers in Goa. Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai said that a new postman had paid Rs 3.5 lakh to secure the job. Sawant said that Goa Post is part of the Maharashtra circle, and postal workers are appointed considering their SSC marks. 'We have empowered the Goa Konkani Akademi to issue certificates to people who want to apply for the job, certifying that they know how to read and write Konkani,' Sawant said. 'The postal service administration will change the recruitment rules, and new postal workers will be appointed based on their knowledge of Konkani.' Sardesai, in his zero-hour mention, said, 'There is fear and anxiety in the minds of Goans with regards to the non-delivery of postal letters in the state of Goa.' He urged the CM to raise the issue with the PM and protect Goan postal workers who have lost their jobs. The Fatorda MLA said that during his taluka-wise outreach programme, he discovered that 40 Goan postal workers, who had served for 15-20 years on daily wages, were removed and replaced by 50 outsiders from Maharashtra who couldn't even pronounce the names of Goan villages. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like I'm closing my shop! Last chance to enjoy 80% OFF my jewellery! Wendy Clarke Shop Now Undo 'What is happening to our Goa? Sting videos show letters taken home, addresses unknown. One recruit admits paying Rs 3.5 lakh for the job,' Sardesai said. 'Corruption has reached the central engine. They approached the CM three times. No action was taken.' Sardesai said that the CM should fulfil his assurance to mitigate the crisis of these 40 Goemkars. 'This is not just about jobs; it's about Goan identity and dignity,' he said. Sawant said that he would consider the matter of the 40 postal workers.
