--------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2008 International Goan Convention Toronto, Canada
Early Bird Discount Registration closes March 31, 2008 http://www.2008goanconvention.com/regform_print.html --------------------------------------------------------------------------- This is something I had written earlier this decade... don't recall in which year, probably 2001, or 2002. FN CONGRESS GIVES UP DEFENSIVE PERCH, BLAMES BJP FOR RAVES PANAJI, Goa. Feb 9: In a blunt attack on Goa's ruling party, the so-far defensive Congress has charged the saffron party with being behind a series of illegal and controversial 'rave' parties taking place on this state's coastal belt. Goa PCC(I) president Nirmala Sawant charged that the 'raves' -- held mainly for younger foreign tourists -- were continuing unabated along the Anjuna-Caisua beach villages of North Goa inspite of the free-flow of drugs and sound pollution. Ms Sawant charged that the parties were being carried on with the participation of supporters of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. BJP ascended to power a little over a 100 days ago in Goa, after fuelling defections from the Congress and other parties, including its former alliance partner comprising a breakaway group of Congressmen. Stung by the defections, the Congress has been on the defensive for much of the time since end-October, when the BJP ascended to power in a state where it had won just 10 out of 40 assembly seats. Ms. Sawant said a Mahila Congress team had called on chief minister Manohar Parrikar demanding an immediate ban on such 'rave parties'. before the same spread "to other areas of the state". She also said she had received a memorandum signed by a number of villagers from the Anjuna-Caisua stretch, alleging that rave parties ther emeant loud music and narcotics proliferated in the area. So far, some Congress politicians and their key supporters have also been charged with being closely associated with those organising the 'raves'. Goa receives an estimated quarter-million foreign tourists, most of whom are from the UK. 'Raves' which are illegal or face regular clampdowns in some European countries, are mainly aimed at these foreign visitors. Sawant pointed out to local complaints that the raves were regularly being held in the so-called 'Bamboo Forests' and 'Disco Valley' of the Anjuna and Vagator beach villages. She charged that a "BJP rave party" was held at Disco Valley on January 3, where local party members and supporters turned out in strength. Some of those having a financial stake in organising the party were also BJP workers, Sawant added. She charged that there was a steady supply of narcotics -- including 'Ecstacy', and others with quaint names like Mitsubishi Acid, McDonald, Moon-Moon, Dragon and Acid Stamps. In the past, state governments here have taken a vacillating stance towards the 'raves', which have also been called 'acid parties'. Some governments and state police chiefs have simply denied their existence. But journalists, specially from the foreign media, have blasted the official claims, and even got taped interviews with some of the organisers, who threaten to "go elsewhere" if Goa clamps down on their parties. (ENDS) -- ---------------------------------------------------------- Frederick 'FN' Noronha | Ym/Gmailtalk: fredericknoronha http://fn.goa-india.org | [EMAIL PROTECTED] Independent Journalist | +91(832)2409490 Cell 9970157402 ----------------------------------------------------------