GMAS to tourists: "Leave Goa by Dec 27"

shashank.aggarwal

You love it OR hate it..you cannot avoid it now !!

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Nick-H

Sad but true: I don't check to see who made them before I drink other fizzy drinks. I do avoid colas, though, as I just don't understand why this flavour took the world by storm.

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qwan

Just because of agtoau remarks, you need not make fun of this whole issue. It is very serious. People are losing their houses.(and lives). Farmers become beggars.
What they show you "economic development". You dont have compassion for people below your level as long as you get to live your life the way you want to. It does not matter how this "economic development" comes.
It is saddening to see such behaviour among us.
It is pretty obvious that agtoau has started this thread only to rake up this issue(or even bring awareness just depends on the way that you look at it).
Doesnt mean that this issue is meaningless or trivial.
I can guarantee you that you will continue to drink your beer, tea or chai even if these Sez do not come up. So dont bother. Thats the best you can do, rather than attack someone who is trying to fight for a just cause.

And I am starting a new thread and please dont merge it with this thread. I just want to know if it is safe to travel to Goa on the 31st by train. I will not be attending any parties but rather spending new year at a friends place.
thank you

York Stiller

agtoau, I don´t know where your mind is, but surely not where it belongs if you come up with quotes like the one above. Mind you, never bring up the Nazis as an argument in a regular discussion as long as a German is on board. It´s a killer argument and all too often sloppily used by those who actually never understood it´s consequences. Regardless, it´s a defamation of the Nazis´victims too.

Only for your information: The Nazis destilled the horror from the horror in order to achieve the utmost and pure horror only as a proof of being the better, the master race. And though it´s more than sixty years ago, these still unbelievable actions that took place along with it are a legacy for all Germany and I´m a son and the heir of the holocaust my ancestors initiated, even brought up to perfection in the so called 3rd Empire. And it´s good I am. Though I personally do not owe, my Nation does for sure as a whole.

So please, struggle, fight, use words, curse, swear - do whatever you think you have to do, but never ever come up with the Nazis. They were and still are another league - of death.

Maybe off topic, but an affair of the heart.

York

Nick-H

qwan, I can understand your impression gained from the last few posts --- but you'll find me very serious on this sort of subject in other threads.

I enjoyed your post 45 in this thread. Substituting 'humans' for lions in your jungle metaphor takes it out of the realms of analogy, becoming a simple and horrible reality.

Nick-H

BTW... Yes, do start the other thread.

The fact that it is for information and advice only will be strictly supported by the moderators.

capt_mahajan

First, what the TV is saying -and qwan, I would suggest don't start another thread (even though you are free to)- you might get all the info in one place like this.

What I know
-One TV Channel (timesnow, from the Times of India group) said last night that the agitation was on.
-Another (CNN/IBN) said it has been postponed till after the new year
-The big shot of this GMAZ setup has been charged by the Goa government for threatening tourists. (CNN/IBN)
-The BJP is supporting the GMAZ from 'behind' (Timesnow, BJP Goa head soundbyte)
-Remo Fernandes (another voice, often heard by the youngsters in Goa) says he is against SEZ but is also against tourist targeting in any way.(Timesnow)
-The big shot charged (Saldhana I think) says on TV we want tourists to show solidarity with us. (My comment to the TV screen, yes, at the point of a knife?)(Timesnow, interview)
-The Goa CM says a) tourists are welcome, we have taken all security measures and b) he will take everybody's opinions on the SEZ issue. (maybe stonewalling, short interview with CM both channels)

My take? If I had plans of going to Goa, I would go without second thought. If I was driving into Goa today/tomorrow, I might choose a more busy route entering Goa, or I might not, if it was much longer.


And to agtoau: Joining a board with a single point agenda, and then telling its members and moderators (in offensive language) how the board is to be run, is self defeating, as you are finding out.

Besides, you have had at least one other identical thread running elsewhere on the web parallel to this. Maybe you should concentrate on that one, if the members or the setup here is not to your liking.

Just a member's comment.

julesa

if i listened to every flimsy warning about not travelling somewhere, made to advance someone else's political agenda or other motive, i'd never have left home, much less visited magnificent india.

just saw this:

the irony is, targetting innocent 3rd parties is arguably the most efficient means of destroying any movement's credibility. it makes them look like thugs.

sfelts

As much as I agree with keeping Goa from becoming too built up and spoilt and keeping it as we all know and love, threatening voilence is not the answer here, petition by all means peaceful protest and get a list of names to hand to Government, and I think there should be more done to address another major environment disaster namely the River Princess nearly 6 years on and major damage to coasts of Fort Aquada and Coco beach completely eroded, why hasnt there been major protests about this issue that has already caused damage and maybe more to come if the princess breaks up in monsoon what about the oil inside.
The SEZs are not yet built and may be stopped but the princess rusts in peace on a glorious beach which is suffering after years of calamic attempts to remove her,good idea get the anti-sez group out to the princess with lots of rope and drag the princess ashore to break up sell pieces of boat to tourists for printing off no more SEZ leaflets.

raindrops

Hi...am planning to go to Goa on the 1st of Jan - I have a wedding to attend on the 5th, and will leave on the 6th. I guess I'm a little worried, though various hotels and Goans have reassured me that my trip will be hassle-free. Hopefully I'll have a clearer picture by the weekend and decide if my trip still stands. If anyone has any advice regarding areas likely to be targeted by the agitators or anything else, I'd appreciate that a lot!

Sadanand Kamath

Without going into the pros and cons of SEZ, to use tourists (and other travellers) as baits to resolve SEZ issues is very unfortunate.

Sadanand

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Nick-H

I absolutely agree, but I also wonder how people can get the message out.

This is sticking my neck out dangerously, but I suspect that the majority of short-term tourist visitors (and maybe many of the longer-term travellers too) have little or no knowledge of Indian politics and socio-economic affairs.

If, for instance, I was to mention Nandigram, how many charter-flight tourists would have even heard of it, let alone have any idea about what has happened there recently? It would not surprise me to be able to find an entire plane-full of people who had not.

I have no idea if this current scare has received any overseas media mention? My experience of my own mother country's coverage of India is that, apart from major riots and natural disaster, it likes to use India as a source of 'look what these funny people are doing now' stories. You know, the 7-yr-old marries dog type stuff. Now, OK, it is true that my country is notoriously disinterested in the rest of the world.

Obviously there are many different types of tourists and destinations, and there are many contributors to IndiaMike who are neither politically naive or ignorant (many are very well informed), who are regular visitors to Goa --- but, sticking the neck out again, I'd suggest that those who head off to party in the sun in any country may very well be unlikely to take in interest in such matters. That is a pity, because it may well mean that they will not be able to lie on their tropical-paradise beach the next year due to the industrial effluent.

If anyone thinks I'm getting at tourists here, I'm not out to offend anyone. Generalising tends to mean that the description doesn't quite fit any individual (best way to upset everybody ) --- and people are entitled to a holiday anyway.

himadventures

I did not wanted to hurt someone but expressed what I feel about such a historic and scenic place India have. Still, I feel that GOA should not be a catapult in hands of men in white.

SEZ has nothing to do with beaches and tourists- and this was what prompts me to write what could be another reason for keeping GOA down !

once again- I feel bad that my lines created pain...had MOD deleted my post..I could have said 'Thanks'

lubu13

Hi,

Is anyone in Goa right now? What's the situation like there?

fizzy2

Whilst I am only a humble visitor to Goa (11 visits), I can assure everyone on here that although I may not fully understand the intricacies of Goan/Indian politics, I can sure as hell see what is going on. I love Goa, but hate the destruction of what was once a beautiful state of India. I believe that Goa needs to diversify in order to survive as tourism alone cannot sustain it's working population for ever. However, any and all so called improvements should be PLANNED PROPERLY with the long term interests of it's people and environment being considered and addressed first. As a visitor to Goa I have observed the additonal buildings/hotels/factories being erected at a fast pace and with what seems little planning. It is spoiling Goa not just for tourists but for it's own populace. The infrastructure cannot cope under the weight it is becoming burdened with. I DO have a vested interest in what happens as I have 2 Goan God children and I want them to have a happy/healthy and prosperous future in their own homeland. It doesn't look to me that this will be possible considering events of recent years. Goa is fast becoming a victim of it's own popularity, the GREED of real estate developers and corrupt politicians. I have friends who's home (a very poor 3 roomed house) is at risk due to the development taking place within feet of their front door so I know how this is impacting on the lives of the more vulnerable of Goan society. Improve Goa, but not at the expense of it's people and environment. Many regular tourists to Goa certainly sympathise with the cause of the GMAS and would help if they could - much better to use us in a positive way than to target us with violence.