http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=11669&n_tit=Goa%3A+Election+Special+-+from+Rupesh+Samant+in+Panaji+-+May+26
from Rupesh Samant in Panaji for Daijiworld News Network - Thursday, May 26 - 7
pm IST
Sushma Alleges Breach of Promise by Congress
Panaji, May 26: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday said that the
Congress party had promised dissolution of Goa assembly after declaring
by-elections and later withdrew their assurance.
BJP's senior leader Sushma Swaraj who is touring Goa campaigning for the
by-elections said that Prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh and home minister
Shivraj Patil both had promised the BJP leaders that they will dissolve the
house.
That is the reason why BJP supported President's rule proclaimation on the
floor of the house, she said.
Briefing presspersons here, Swaraj said,``later Shivraj Patil expressed his
helplessness to dissolve the house as according to him the Goan Congress
leaders did not favoured it.''
Accusing Congress of trying to grab power in all the states where rival
political parties rule, Swaraj cited the instances of Goa, Bihar and Jharkand.
"The party which swears by sacrifice of its president actually is hell bent to
gain power,'' she said.
Sonia Gandhi directed all the toppling games, she said adding "prime minister
Dr Manmohan Singh cannot be left aside from the drama as he acted in it.''
Swaraj addressed four public meetings in Goa. She also released the party
manifesto for the by-elections.
Talking about the highlights of the manifesto, former chief minister Manohar
Parrikar assured employment to all youths above 21 years of age by 1 January
2006, if BJP comes to power.
He also declared interest free loans to schedule tribe and schedule cast
population. Implementation of universal mediclaim to all Goans also figures in
the BJP's manifesto.
Church to Desist from Issuing Election Guidelines
from Rupesh Samant in Panaji
Panaji: This by-elections, Goa Church will not issue any instructions guiding
its parishioners.
`"Very short time left for elections. Also, last time there were instances of
misinterpretations of guidelines,'' contended Fr Valerian Vaz, director
Diocesan service centre for social action.
The office-bearers of Diocessan met recently and decided not to issue any
guidelines this time.
Goa Church has a tradition of issuing guidelines for its parishioners during
elections. The church has always been propogating against the defectors and
communal forces.
The guidelines were centre of controversy last time when then BJP chief
Venkaiah Naidu in a press conference had castigated the Church.
Admitted Fr Vaz,"Last time, the guidelines were misinterpreted. Normally we
speak about principles which are eternal. It is nothing to do with the
political parties''
He said that the there are past messages which are still valid. "There are
certain principles given for good and there are certain principle coming from
universal church. Parishioners can follow those principles,'' Fr Vaz added.
Going by the earlier stand of Church not to vote for defectors and communal
forces, the Goan electorate is in a quandry. While Congress has fielded all the
candidates who have left BJP, the latter has been termed as communal often by
catholic religious leaders.
The Church had termed BJP anti-Catholic when controversial Goa liberation
documentary was produced.
Fr Vaz admitted that there are challenges and dilemma before the Goan
electorate this time. `"But there is always third option in some places and
people can opt for it,'' he added.
Frederick Noronha 784 Near Convent, Sonarbhat SALIGAO GOA India
Freelance Journalist TEL: +91-832-2409490 MOBILE: 9822122436
http://fn.swiki.net http://www.livejournal.com/users/goalinks
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