During last week's assembly session former minister and Congress legislator Sanjay Bandekar created a stir in the house when he offered to donate an eye to any soldier injured in action in the Kargil conflict. ``Both my eyes are fit and useful,'' he said in a statement issued while the session was in progress. While every one praised the former electricity department employee for his action, quite a few of his colleagues reminded him that Indian laws do not allow the transplant of a cornea from one living person to another. Of course, Bandekar's colleagues had far more uncharitable comments to make on his offer, off the record that is.

Net Nationalism

That there are more Goans outside Goa than within is common knowledge, but Goans seem to have only gained from this brain drain. Expatriates from this little state are linking up over the Internet to help their cousins back home. Recently an organisation called Goans International set up over the Internet began linking upformer sons of the soil from across Africa, Australia, Europe, America and Asia. Elections to the body were conducted over the net and efforts are on to inaugurate programmes which could reverse the brain drain in the state. Considering the high penetration of the Internet in Goa, that does not seem to be a tall order.

Changing nature

How much can a title change the behaviour of its holder? Ask former chief minister of Goa and present speaker of the assembly Pratapsinh Rane. As CM he was a man of few words mildly intervening in the debates of the house when required. His dry, matter of fact replies were in sharp contrast to the occasionally boisterous behaviour of his colleagues. The only time he revealed his oratorical capabilities was when he lashed out at defectors who brought down his government last year.

This time as presiding officer of the Assembly a far more assertive Rane is in evidence. Not only did he lay down the rules for the legislators' conduct during zero hour, he pulled up quitea few of his colleagues from the Congress on his very first day as speaker. Only the leader of opposition Manohar Parrikar seems to have been spared, but then these are early days yet!

Tailpiece

The Goa government may be broke, but that is no excuse for a newly victorious chief minister from distributing largesse? This time it was the turn of journalists covering the government beat who got the goodies. Soon after the budget was presented, every journalist at the press conference which followed was given the budget papers in a briefcase. Unfortunately, there was nothing new to report since the budget had already been passed by Parliament when the state was under President's Rule. The new government only ratified it!