It is absolutely outrageous that despite the raging pandemic, Chief
Minister Pramod Sawant has decided to hold the 51st edition of the
International Film Festival of India (IFFI) this November. Is the
government off its rockers?
In 2004 the then Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar did the people of Goa and
Panaji in particular the biggest disservice by consenting to host IFFI in
the State. Over the years it has been over a week long annual nightmare
faced by Goans in the hosting of that IFFI which has in no way benefited
the State but only been a big window of opportunity for the politicians in
power to rake in huge moolah. Even the small contracts of all events have
never been entrusted to the locals.
With its crumbling infrastructure Panaji is already a very congested city
and the traffic chaos on account of IFFI is something the city could do
without. With the fun and frolic at tax payers expenses, IFFI has only
further burdened an already cash strapped State, besides the extra pile up
of tones of garbage IFFI generates and the municipal authorities have to
grapple with. The common man also suffers as the day to day government
administration takes a break with officials all pre-occupied with the IFFI
fiesta.
IFFI has been a bonanza only to the workers of the political party in power
and not been advantageous to the State. The ground reality is that what
over the years has been staged is infact International Fraud Festival of
India. Time to bid it a farewell and free Goa from this unwelcome
extravaganza.
Aires Rodrigues
Advocate High Court
C/G-2, Shopping Complex
Ribandar Retreat,
Ribandar – Goa – 403006
Mobile No: 9822684372
Office Tel No: (0832) 2444012
Email: airesrodrigu...@gmail.com
Or
airesrodrig...@yahoo.com
You can also reach me on
Facebook.com/ AiresRodrigues
Twitter@rodrigues_aires
www.airesrodrigues.com
