After years of being called a communal party by the Congress, the Bharatiya Janata Party in Goa is returning the compliment. Chief Minister Luizinho Faleiro provided much ammunition to his rival party last week when he accused `Brahmin' priests from the Catholic Church of trying to topple his government. Faleiro felt that upper-caste members of the clergy were instigating the flock against his government over the construction of a metal-processing plant. (Despite their conversion to Christianity 500 years ago, members of minority community in Goa still remain caste-conscious).

The BJP's leader of the opposition Minohar Parrikar soon hit back saying the Chief Minister was whipping up communal passions! So where does all this leave Faleiro still dependent on the minority community for survival? Na ghar ka, na ghat ka!

Tax collecting bizmen

In Goa the nexus between sections of the industry and the ruling party are well linked. So when the state government suddenlywithdrew the 100 per cent sales tax exemption on industry it came as no surprise. But what surely raised eyebrows was the Chief Minister's decision to set up a committee to improve tax collection. Representatives of industry are well placed in the body. No wonder the common man sees a prominent business house in Goa as a tax collector for the government. Citizen Joe will of course be doing the paying!

Arre bus karo!

Six months back when the government of Goa under president's rule decided to nationalise major bus routes in the state there was a hue and cry by the vehicle operators. Today with diesel becoming dearer the shoe is really pinching Goa's cut-throat transport operators.

Last week they held a public meeting where they offered to hand over their buses to the government in lieu of compensation. Looks like this is the opportunity everyone is waiting for - a reliable bus service from the government.

Tailpiece

Come New Year's day, all persons caught smoking on the streets ofGoa would be fined by the authorities. The state has even appointed a committee to put in place the machinery to implement the ban. Only, it is headed by chief secretary Ashok Nath - a chain smoker!

-- SHIV KUMAR