Appeal by Editor of Gomantak Times
In the court of the people.
Open Letter
Dear Readers,
Ever since Gomantak Times has been pursuing a steady path of probing, investigating and unearthing unpalatable truths about the functioning of the Goa police, I have been at the receiving end of a barrage of nasty and unpalatable letters from DySP S.M.Sawant, the Public relations officer of the Goa Police. We have published most of them along with my comments, keeping in mind basic norms of journalism that any letter of protest must
be given space.
So far so good. However, the barrage doesn�t seem to cease. Nay, it is getting far worse. Now questions are being raised about my alleged link with some commercial giant on whose behest I am ostensibly writing editorials attacking the police for the detoriation of law and order.
Before I react, I would like to share some absolute gems from the latest of the Sawant salvos.
�Well meaning changes can be brought about only through genuine praise and restrained pointing out of faults� (criticizing others can) at best produce negative feelings in the minds of readers at large. The day will not be far when they turn abhorrent of seeing such writings�. Sawant further writes
�You tend to succumb to your habit of deciding attacks on the police, not based on situations or circumstances but comes of your compulsion of commercial interest and thereby resorting to a kind of black mail�.(grammatical errors in the letter have not been corrected).
He also says that it was heartening that I �realised by mistake of branding abuse as sexual abuse� (ref: The vasco case where policemen have been suspended for abusing young boys). Further in the letter, Sawant insinuates that I have abusing the print medium to attack the police.
Then, dear readers comes the portion of the letter that directly concerns you and is the cause of me writing an open letter to you. He says �You also have no authority to misuse or abuse the medium of print publication otherwise you will also have to face trial in the court of readers in the same fashion as in the case of officials who have to face departmental action if they misuse or abuse their authority� He then states that I �torture� my readers mentally each morning�, by what I write.
A letter of this kind does not even deserve contempt. Because contempt is an extreme feeling of hurt caused. I am not hurt but scared. Scared that the Goa police has an officer who shouts his mouth off devoid of ground realities even as they stare at them in the face. I am scared that if this is the way the police reacts to a paper that is simply presenting facts, what happens to the common man. But I will do what Sawant has asked me to
do. I am putting this up to the peoples court. Your court. I am inviting readers to pass judgement. Do Sawants allegations hold true? Is it a fact that I torture you every morning with my editorials on police functioning?
Do you feel that when I attack the police for not being able to stem the flow of rapes, molestations and child abuse, I do so because of my �contractual obligation to a commercial giant� (Sawants words). And do I abuse the paper by writing about the wrong doings of the police. I am willing to face an open trial in your court. Please write to me. And your responses will be carried as a series on page 1 of the paper, honestly and truthfully. Because it is your paper and you have a voice. Let me hear it.
The editor of Gomantak Times, Sujay Gupta, has been doing wonders ever since he took over the editorship of the newspaper some three months back.
It has been revamped and everyday one can read interesting local news and articles, as well as exposes on the rot and sloth that has infected Government Departments.
It has been revamped and everyday one can read interesting local news and articles, as well as exposes on the rot and sloth that has infected Government Departments.
In yesterday's (28th September 2004) edition of the Gomantak Times Sujay made an appeal to the public on the Front Page. The appeal is posted below verbatim. Please post your reaction and send a copy to [EMAIL PROTECTED].
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In the court of the people.
Open Letter
Dear Readers,
Ever since Gomantak Times has been pursuing a steady path of probing, investigating and unearthing unpalatable truths about the functioning of the Goa police, I have been at the receiving end of a barrage of nasty and unpalatable letters from DySP S.M.Sawant, the Public relations officer of the Goa Police. We have published most of them along with my comments, keeping in mind basic norms of journalism that any letter of protest must
be given space.
So far so good. However, the barrage doesn�t seem to cease. Nay, it is getting far worse. Now questions are being raised about my alleged link with some commercial giant on whose behest I am ostensibly writing editorials attacking the police for the detoriation of law and order.
Before I react, I would like to share some absolute gems from the latest of the Sawant salvos.
�Well meaning changes can be brought about only through genuine praise and restrained pointing out of faults� (criticizing others can) at best produce negative feelings in the minds of readers at large. The day will not be far when they turn abhorrent of seeing such writings�. Sawant further writes
�You tend to succumb to your habit of deciding attacks on the police, not based on situations or circumstances but comes of your compulsion of commercial interest and thereby resorting to a kind of black mail�.(grammatical errors in the letter have not been corrected).
He also says that it was heartening that I �realised by mistake of branding abuse as sexual abuse� (ref: The vasco case where policemen have been suspended for abusing young boys). Further in the letter, Sawant insinuates that I have abusing the print medium to attack the police.
Then, dear readers comes the portion of the letter that directly concerns you and is the cause of me writing an open letter to you. He says �You also have no authority to misuse or abuse the medium of print publication otherwise you will also have to face trial in the court of readers in the same fashion as in the case of officials who have to face departmental action if they misuse or abuse their authority� He then states that I �torture� my readers mentally each morning�, by what I write.
A letter of this kind does not even deserve contempt. Because contempt is an extreme feeling of hurt caused. I am not hurt but scared. Scared that the Goa police has an officer who shouts his mouth off devoid of ground realities even as they stare at them in the face. I am scared that if this is the way the police reacts to a paper that is simply presenting facts, what happens to the common man. But I will do what Sawant has asked me to
do. I am putting this up to the peoples court. Your court. I am inviting readers to pass judgement. Do Sawants allegations hold true? Is it a fact that I torture you every morning with my editorials on police functioning?
Do you feel that when I attack the police for not being able to stem the flow of rapes, molestations and child abuse, I do so because of my �contractual obligation to a commercial giant� (Sawants words). And do I abuse the paper by writing about the wrong doings of the police. I am willing to face an open trial in your court. Please write to me. And your responses will be carried as a series on page 1 of the paper, honestly and truthfully. Because it is your paper and you have a voice. Let me hear it.
I know, dear readers what your sentiments are. That gives me confidence to address you. But it takes a heart to understand sentiments. If people like Sawant or the Goa police (that runs on taxes paid by you and me), had a heart, your wife, daughter, sister or mother wouldn�t be running scared. Of rapists who roam free because there is no fear of the law and of the police
that has treats criminals and victims alike. In Porvorim, the father of the girl who was molested was thrown in the same lockup as the alleged molester.
Sawant writes �Well meaning changes can be brought about only through genuine praise. What does Sawant want praise for? �For a rape a day situation in Goa. For the Vasco police who abuse young boys they arrested.
And for his information, two of the four boys said that they were even sexually abused. But in deference to a request made by DGP Amod Kanth (who said �I believe that there was no sexual abuse but since two of the boys talked of it, the issue will be examined), we did not refer to the abuse as sexual abuse thereafter. Does Sawant want praise for the five year old girl
in Margao who was raped twice by a drunk brute.? Does he want praise for the continuing presence of paedophiles in Goa? I say this with utmost humility Mr Sawant. I cannot give you praise. If the people of Goa, feel you deserve praise, I shall humbly concede that I was wrong and you were right.
One more point before I leave the matter to the peoples court. The Director General of Police Mr Amod Kanth confirmed that he has not read or seen this letter in question and that this was Sawants own initiative. I have only this to say to the otherwise well meaning DGP. Sir, if you let officers use the pen with as much gay and irresponsible abandon as they wield the police
lathi, you will have to pay. Not to Gomantak Times but to the people who you are paid to serve.
Let us await the verdict of the people of Goa.
Readers, please respond by ordinary post or email at [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sujay Gupta,
Editor.
that has treats criminals and victims alike. In Porvorim, the father of the girl who was molested was thrown in the same lockup as the alleged molester.
Sawant writes �Well meaning changes can be brought about only through genuine praise. What does Sawant want praise for? �For a rape a day situation in Goa. For the Vasco police who abuse young boys they arrested.
And for his information, two of the four boys said that they were even sexually abused. But in deference to a request made by DGP Amod Kanth (who said �I believe that there was no sexual abuse but since two of the boys talked of it, the issue will be examined), we did not refer to the abuse as sexual abuse thereafter. Does Sawant want praise for the five year old girl
in Margao who was raped twice by a drunk brute.? Does he want praise for the continuing presence of paedophiles in Goa? I say this with utmost humility Mr Sawant. I cannot give you praise. If the people of Goa, feel you deserve praise, I shall humbly concede that I was wrong and you were right.
One more point before I leave the matter to the peoples court. The Director General of Police Mr Amod Kanth confirmed that he has not read or seen this letter in question and that this was Sawants own initiative. I have only this to say to the otherwise well meaning DGP. Sir, if you let officers use the pen with as much gay and irresponsible abandon as they wield the police
lathi, you will have to pay. Not to Gomantak Times but to the people who you are paid to serve.
Let us await the verdict of the people of Goa.
Readers, please respond by ordinary post or email at [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sujay Gupta,
Editor.
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