------------------------------------------------------------------------
Remembering Aquino Braganca (b. 6 April 1924), who fought for freedom of the former Portuguese colonies in Africa. An online tribute http://aquinobraganca.wordpress.com/ (includes many historical references, some photographs and documents) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ PEOPLES' MANIFESTO FOR POLITICIANS NT - 6 April, 2009 Agencies/Lucknow- Fed up with manifestos of various political parties ignoring regional issues, the people of drought-hit Bundelkhand region have prepared their own election manifesto and are pressing candidates in the fray to follow it up if they want their support. "We have prepared a 'peoples' manifesto' after meeting over 6000 persons spread in five assembly seats - Hamirpur, Raath, Tindwari, Mahoba and Charkhari and are pressing candidates of different political parties to follow it. The manifesto has been prepared after analyzing the need of the people of the region" the convener of the public campaign, Mr. DP Gupta said. "This manifesto is compilation of what people said during the survey conducted by us in January -February. And those who read it are welcoming the move and even voters here want this to be followed by political parties" he said. About the demands in the manifesto, Mr. Gupta said that due to droughts the region was backward and needed proper drinking water and irrigational facilities besides free education for all girls and boys up to class 12, setting up of a medical, engineering colleges and a university in the district. "As a result, issues which really concern the people are overlooked. Like areas covered under Hamirpur constituency are not covered by railway network even after 60 years of independence. It is a big issue for the local people, but it does not figure in the manifesto of the political parties," he said. Similarly, they have demanded that employment opportunities be provided to the people of the area so as to check large-scale migration. "Political parties cannot force their own manifestos on voters now. We elect our representative and they should take care of our demands and follow our manifesto", Mr Harish Kumar, a local resident of Hamirpur, who was involved in the process of preparing the manifesto, said. The manifesto is being circulated among the candidates in a bid to pressurize them to incorporate local issues in their agenda. COMMENTS The Goa Su-Raj Party set out in the year 2000 to compile 'Peoples' Manifesto' for entire GOA as against each of the 40 Constituencies, in the understanding that GOA cannot be developed as according to the whims and fancies of the elected representatives or the people of the Constituencies, since GOA has to be looked at as the integral part of the wholesome planning process. This manifesto was released on August 20, 2005 on the auspicious occasion of the celebration of the World Goa Day across the world in the form of a booklet called "The Road Map For Goa". The party has found no more need to prepare spot manifestoes at every election time since this exercise is seen as 'wanting' and a way to fool the people all the time with selective pre-planned agendas which lead nowhere. GOA has to take the cue from these UP people, more so when this party did attempt to make the people of GOA aware that the peoples' manifesto was needed to be developed as according to the wants and needs of the people of GOA through 'CITIZENS' [OF GOA] INITIATIVE'. However, this attempt has received no response at all from any quarters, especially from the the various NGOs who are seen in the forefront of fighting injustices galore. In view of the party's permanent manifesto -- THE ROAD MAP FOR GOA - we at goasuraj believe that nothing more needs to be done in terms of conserving energy and time as this peoples' manifesto is the monumental work of dedicated and committed GOANS which is ready to be put on the track right away, by not bothering to worry if there will be takers, by fielding their own candidates who will support the manfesto in a fool-proof manner without diverging to accommodate other selfish agendas once elected. This exercise is vital for SAVING GOA during the next Assembly Elections slated for 2012, but which could be declared anytime from now, and which elections, by all manner of imagination, could the the last local Assembly Elections offering GOANS the 'God Sent' opportunity to SAVE their GOA and its IDENTITY. Good humouredly, Goans need not feel 'COLD SHIVERS' running down their SPINES at the thought of what their GOA is going to become after Elections 2012, when they can take the corrective measures right away - NOW. Surely, the good people of GOA do not intend MISSING THE BUS? floriano lobo goasuraj -------------------------------------------------------------- ---Wanted for Goa--- honest ' fighters ' NOT honest ' hypocrites ' Contact: goasuraj (The Recruiting Agents) 9890470896 www.goasu-raj.org