by admin | May 25, 2021 | News, Politics

Panaji: In a new twist, Goa’s Deputy Speaker Michael Lobo on Monday said that the swearing-in of the new Chief Minister, which was scheduled to be held at 11 pm at the Raj Bhavan, has been called off.
“There many things which are to be discussed among allies and BJP leaders. The swearing-in will not happen at 11 p.m. tonight,” the BJP MLA told reporters at a city resort near here.
Lobo, however, did not say whether the much-anticipated event had been called off or postponed.
An hour ago, the state government’s Information and Publicity Department had issued an message that the swearing-in ceremony for the new Chief Minister had been organised at 11 pm on Monday night at Raj Bhavan.
Assembly Speaker Pramod Sawant was tipped to succeed Manohar Parrikar, who had died on Sunday evening after suffering from advanced pancreatic cancer for over a year, but there were reports that the Bharatiya Janata Party’s coalition allies – the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party and Goa Forward – were not on board with the decision.
Political sources said that the decision to cancel the 11 pm swearing-in ceremony was taken because the ongoing discussions which were being conducted by top BJP leaders, including Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, with allied parties vis-a-vis power sharing and distribution of portfolios had prolonged.
(IANS)
by admin | May 25, 2021 | News, Politics
Panaji : A new scheme promoted by the BJP-led coalition government in Goa wants to promote goat breeding in the coastal state because goat-meat or mutton, does not have religious taboo.
The scheme promoted by the state’s Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services comes at a time when the price of beef has doubled in recent years, the supply of red meat has been affected due to harassment of traders by right-wing vigilante groups and also due a steep drop in fish sales over fears of adulteration by formalin, a mortuary preservative.
“The meat (mutton) is generally acceptable, delicious and of higher demand which is consumed by all communities in India and has no religious taboo,” the Department said in a gazette.
It also said that goats are prolific breeders, its milk has medicinal properties and setting up a goat rearing unit requires low initial investment.
According to the gazette, goats play an important role in the rural economy at national level and that the scheme is an effort to make the state self-sufficient in meat production, as well as to provide subsidiary occupation to unemployed youth and women.
Over the last few years, consumers have complained of scarcity of beef in the coastal state, where the beef-eating minorities account for nearly a third of Goa’s population of 1.5 million.
Last year, beef traders had gone on strike alleging harassment by vigilante groups.
—IANS