On day four the people of Goa awoke to a spate of rumours. There were rumours in the air about an imminent bandh but it was not clear who called for the bandh. But the first signs of things to come was when the Goa Dairy at Curti in Ponda Taluka North Goa District (but under the Mormugao Parliamentary constituency ) failed to deliver milk early morning.
Then the morning bus services did come with the children teachers and workers office goers and dropped them in the Margao city most schools closed early as the skeleton bus services caused anxiety to the Managements. At Shiroda there were some road blocks and one house alleged to be stoned. But the situation was other wise peaceful and life normal. In Goa many do not risk to travel to work or school on such days of bandhs because once the public transport is not in place the autorickshaws and motorcycle pilots charge astronomical rates for the helpless. But life did appear normal as the at noon and thereafter until evening. In any case the prospects of a bandh was limited to Cuncolim and Margao until the late hours of 5th March, 2006. But at around 0800 hrs IST the first company of the Rapid Action Force police were wending through the main thoroughfare of the city of Margao with the unique siren even as school children and women looked up in surprise at their new found guests. Margao town evoked a mixed response most establishments were open and some of the prominent businessmen mainly the cloth merchants preferred to down their shutters while the main commercial market also was partially closed for the day but some shops were open. The Mahatma Gandhi Market vegetable market was open and the local councillor (brother of Manohar (Babu) Ajgaonkar r/o Margao but MLA Dhargalim) of Ward 13 earlier Ward 14 was seen at his tea shop open this gave confidence to many to keep the establishments open. The RAF was posted at strategic points in the New Market to ward off any untoward incident. Similar was the situation at Monte and Housing Board area where companies of CISF and CRP were deployed. In Cuncolim there was a bandh but buses of the KTC moved selectively . Incidentally the areas of Bali etc form a part of the Quepem Taluka and apparently since the Curchorem Cacora area also comes under the Quepem taluka the bandh. But no untoward incident was reported schools opened and closed early. The Goa Government turned belatedly wiser and put out a emergency control room : Tel Nos +91 0832 2419769, 2419472 Fax 2415201 2419657 Mobile :9850474114 9850473707 at the New Secretariat Porvorim, for the information of the public, apparently to dispel rumours. The situation at Tilamol Quepem was also calm though schools were opened they wound up by 1100 p.m. Curfew was in force in the Curchorem Cacora area but there was no untoward incidents reported and normalcy was being slowly restored as others were seen cleaning the wreckage and completing the panchanama formalities. There was some respite after the Government announced the compensation for all those affected by the arson looting and violence destruction to property. Many blame the Chief Minister Mr Pratapsing Raoji Rane who also as the Home Minister ought to have nipped the issue at the beginning when one group obtained the stay order and the others retaliated taking law in their hands. But the CM has never been known to act quickly as is his style of functioning believing that if he sits on files the issues would be solved by themselves. This time it rebounded and this creates more heartburning especially this being an emotive issue many expected him to act fast. The difference of opinion of the Police and the Administration also led to the confusion. There were others who felt that the elected representatives who should be at the helm of affairs considering their government is in power were nowhere to be seen nor could be contacted on their mobiles. This made it a free for all. Many agreed this is not time to debate as to who is responsible but clearly what followed was an organised attack selectively. Being the first of its kind post 1986 language agitation, many subscribe to the view that the Government should indeed come forth with a policy on setting up of religious sites. This has become big business of all communities to collect funds for building places of worship and hence a policy needs to be put in place. For the moment with immediate effect all powers should be placed in the hands of the Chief Secretary or the Secretary (Home) to decide on grant of permission to put up an religious establishment. There is a need for a consensus to demolish or relocate all those that encroach private or public properties. The Government should begin a dialogue with the religious authorities at once. Meanwhile an advertisement released on the local dailies in public interest stated that " a mosque was damaged " at Guddemol this is incorrect ----as this writer visited the the site Guddemol and noted that there are just two three rooms and an incomplete structure allegedly being built and which was intended for a Madrassa but ordered for demolition by the Village Panchayat and stay order granted by the Deputy Director Panchayat. There is no doubt that better sense will prevail between the warring communities in the days to come and there should be no cause for concern. GODFREY J I GONSALVES [EMAIL PROTECTED] 9822158584 __________________________________________________________ Yahoo! India Matrimony: Find your partner now. Go to http://yahoo.shaadi.com