Save Goa Front to disrupt international film festival in Nov-Dec

Panaji, Sep 10 (UNI) The Save Goa Front (SGF) today vowed to disrupt the 37th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), scheduled to be held between November 23 and December 3 here, in protest against the failure of the government to initiate action to preserve the Goan identity and check corruption in public places.

''By stalling the proceedings of the IFFI-2006, the SGF would highlight the plight of Goans to the whole world,'' the Front convenor Advocate Aires Rodrigues told a well-attended meeting of the organisation here today.

The Front, he said, would go all out to preserve the Goan identity, root out corruption and prevent further degeneration of the state's cultural and moral fabric.

Outlining SGF's seven-point charter of demands, Mr Rodrigues sought immediate recall of Goa's Governor S C Jamir for his ''cosmetic and partisan role''.

Providing security cover to the Governor costs a whooping Rs two crore a year which was an undue and highly exorbitant burden on the state and national exchequer, he said.

Scrapping of Corporation of City of Panaji's plan to have a garbage disposal plant at Bainguinim, a religious and heritage site, scrutiny and review of all ration and voter cards issued, closure of all polluting industries were the other demands raised by the Front.

Mr Rodrigues also warned against opening of more casinos in the state as they will ruin many families.

Highlighting the rampant corruption, he demanded an immediate enquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Income-Tax authorities into the disproportionate assets of all the present and former ministers.

The SGF demanded a ceiling on the extent of land a non-Goan could buy in the state, and also demanded an immediate stop to all unnecessary extensions of service beyond the retirement and contract appointments.

Speaking on the occasion, former Margao Sub Divisional Magistrate Suresh Pilarnekar stressed the need to save Goa by imbibing high human values through spiritual education.

Noted politician Nirmala Sawant, Soter D'Souza, Dr Gorson Fernandes, Cyril Fernandes, Satish Borkar, J J Mascarenhas, Joel Morais and Dumo also spoke on the occasion.

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