Goa Education department releases mafia on RTI applicant Durgadas Gaonkar

RTI applicant Durgandas Gaonkar is faced with mafia threats released by Goa's education department. Durgadas Gaonkar is a president of Gawda, Kunbi, Velip and Dhangar Federation (GAKUVED) and this is his first letter under Right to Information Act that was devised to bring about transparency in the governance process and to checkmate rising corruption in the Government functioning.

Durgadas first filed application under RTI as the president of GAKUVED but the education department rejected the application on the ground that President of any Organisation is not legally entitled to file the application. Then he filed again as individual but was rejected on the ground that it is not caring Court stamp fees.

Then on Saturday September 19 a four wheeler Maruti car landed near his house in Dhulapi with man and a woman in it doing various inquiries on Durgadas and his family as well as his profession.

Then on September 20 at around 7.15 pm a man walked into Durgadas's Panjim venue and threaten Durgadas to withraw his RTI application in education department within next 5 days. Durgadas refused to do so. Then Durgadas was warned of dire consequences if he does not withraw the application. Durgadas fearlessly told him to do whatever he wants to do immidiately.

Durgadas' hang out place - Goa Store - opposite Cafe Bhonsle was visited by 3 member mafia team on morning of September 22, 2008 but Durgadas was not there. This visit was meant to instill fear in Durgadas.

In the meanwhile GAKUVED team that is spread all over the State of Goa has taken strong note of the mafia released by the Goa State Education department and demanded to know as to how mafia got the information of the RTI letters with the Ministry. There is clearly nefarious nexus between the Education department and Mafia in order to cover up the deep rooted corruption and irregularities.

GAKUVED has launched the campaign to defend the right to defend freedom of speech and expression and condemns Goa State Education Ministry for their mafia links.

The campaign that will unfold in the days to come includes requesting citizens to fight mafia assault on freedom of speech and expression in the form of pressure tactics on Durgadas Gaonkar making large number of applications to the State Education Ministry as it pricks mafia in their uncomfortable zone. We need to rescue constitution of India from Goa's hoodlums that are threatening ordinary citizen's right to expression.

Please go throught the letter below that attracted mafia attack and file as many RTI as possible. Please include your own dates on the applications in your names. Citizens of India from all over India are requested to file this RTI in your names.

Come let's join hands to defeat mafia in Goa!



From:
Durgadas G. Gaonkar,
381, "HARI SMRITI"
Dhulapi, Corlim, Ihas - Goa.

Date: 15-09-2008

To,
The Public Information Officer,
Asst. Director of Education (Planning),
Directorate of Education,
Panaji - Goa.

Sub: Request for Information under Right to Information Act, 2005

Sir,

This is to request you to furnish the following information under Right to Information Act, 2005.

1) Certified copy letter No.DV/HSS72/08-09 dated 03-06-2008
2) Certified copy of letter No.DE/HSS/PLG/294/pt. V(2)/474
3) Certified copy of the Minutes of Departmental Selection Committee selecting Mrs. Sebastiana Dias as Tr. Grade-I
4) Certified copy of Proforma I, II, III, IV & V sent vide letter No.D.V.H.S.S./118/08-09 dated 24-06-08.

The necessary fees as required shall be paid. Kindly do the needful at the earliest convenience.

Thanking you,

Yours faithfully,

sd/-

(Durgadas Gaonkar)

Sebastian Rodrigues