MARGAO: It’s clear that the good old days are gone. In Margao, it will not be as much Viva Carnival as Viva Controversy during this year’s Carnival celebrations. And as far as the government is concerned, it will certainly not be Viva Coconut.
Just 48 hours before the Carnival celebrations can kick off in Margao, the Directorate of Tourism wrote to Margao Municipal Council’s Carnival Committee threatening to withhold the balance 50 per cent Carnival grants.
The letter has asked the MMC Committee to withdraw the theme of ‘Save Coconut Tree, Save Goenkarpon’ immediately. While the Vijai Sardesai controlled MMC claimed there is no theme for this year’s Carnival, the Fatorda MLA termed this ‘intolerance’ on the part of the government towards an issue of public importance.
The letter signed by the Tourism Director Sanjeev Dessai reached the office of the MMC Chairperson on Friday. The letter said: “This is to inform you that the article “Save Coconut Tree Save Goenkarpon” has appeared in many of the daily newspapers in Goa, where the Margao Carnival Committee has selected the said theme of the Carnival Float Parade scheduled to be held at Margao on 7th of February. The selection of the above theme amounts to direct criticism of the policies and decisions of the Goa government and has been taken very seriously.”
Dessai further warned to urgently intervene with the Margao Carnival Committee to withdraw the above theme, failing which the balance amount of infrastructure grants and prize money will be withheld by the government.
MMC has received infrastructure fund for Carnival amounting to Rs 20 lakhs which is the first installment of 50%, besides the Rs 6 lakh prize money.
Replying to the letter MMC Chairperson Babita Angle wrote, “At the outset it may be clarified that Margao Carnival Committee has not resolved to show or use any specific theme to the festival celebration either through press conference or press note that was released. Hence the said issue should not arise on any press articles.”
Angle further stated, “This committee has issued directive to its members to adhere to government rules and regulations issued from time to time and not to present any activity or gesture which is not in tandem with the State Government policy, Committee being partly funded through public coffers.”
When contacted, Tourism Director Dessai said, “The department of Tourism has issued a letter to all seven Carnival committees that there should be no criticism of government policies and decisions during the celebrations and float parades, failing which balance 50 per cent Carnival grants will not be released. In case of violations the department will recover what has been disbursed. The Carnival screening committees have also been directed to take serious cognisance of violations. Directions have also been given that there should be no vulgarity in the float parade nor should any religious sentiments be hurt.”
Ridiculing the act of the government Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai said, “The government is showing intolerance to the idea of saving Goa. The Carnival is part of Goan culture and the government is going overboard by means of these letters. The things we are trying to propagate are near to the hearts of Goenkars and when someone tries to abandon these ideas one can only understand the fate of these people in 2017,” he added.
He said Carnival can’t have rules and the municipality has to be allowed to function in its own way.
Clearly coconut politics is eating even into the Carnival spirit.
