FOR A KING, HIS JESTER IN TIGHTS PRANCING... FOR A MEDIA CZAR, HIS EDITOR IN CHAINS, DANCING...

'Inverted pyramid', That's a phrase all journos have probably heard of at the early stage of our careers. Its a metaphor that illustrates how the order in which the information in a news report should be layered. This mantra is handed over to a young sub or a reporter by his seniors, much in the same manner a midwife whispers words into the ears of a kid she has just helped birth.
When we read this Navhind Times report, we got wondering? You see, sometime back we did say that things were looking up for the paper on the Margao front. We featured the Margao dateline a few times too. But then we started wondering here. Has Agnelo Periera bitten the bullet? We have already picked out this Chandrakant Keni's piece which was like a suppository doing it's job on Digu. But again?
Here's how the piece begins...

NT News Service
Margao, Sept 30: The Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat said he never craved for power but always had a vision to work for the people.

You know, we couldn't but help wondering whether The Navhind Times had transferred the fluffy, virgin-looking correspondent Ramnath Raikar to Margao? Cause he is one guy we have marked for the future. He's yet another Chandrakant Keni in the making. May even outdo Chandrakant, before the first wrinkle creases his glossy cheeks.
Sorry guys, we keep getting distracted. Where were we? Ok the TNT Margao story. After we were stunned by the first sentence, we read on. This was the second quote.

“Positions are only temporary and when I go back to the people, I will go as Digambar Kamat,” he maintained. He further said that even after he became the chief minister his lifestyle has not changed.

You know we really understand that the code of conduct is in force. But such nonsensical quotes? Why has everyone been treating Digu like a Barbie doll of late? If this had to be reported, they could have used a Department of Information press note. But this was staff reporter copy!
Next, the report quotes Digu... At this stage we began to wonder if Digu is quoting from Chandrakant's article... Check out these lines and match them with Chandrakant's article. Similar content no?

Going down the memory lane, Mr Kamat disclosed that during his five-year tenure in the Margao Municipal Council, the municipality was adjudged as the most stable Council in the State. During that term, we managed to bring maximum grants for the municipality, he added.
Taking a glance at his political career, he said he never longed for portfolios, but managed to do justice to the departments that were entrusted to him.
“When I became the chief minister people from the different cultural groups called me up requesting me to retain the Art and Culture portfolio,” Mr Kamat disclosed.

Then we read on. Sandesh Prabhudessai Sunaparant editor also spoke at this function organised to felicitate chief minister Digu. Our editors... Editors... Editor... tsk tsk tsk.
And then when we read on, we almost did an Archimedes... none of us have money enough to bathe in bath tubs, but you know that Archimedes feeling... it hit us then... Couched in the last paragaph was the reason why the report was written the way it was. As soft as baby's butt cheeks. Read that... read that, the Dempo boss Srinivas aka Baba Dempo was around at the function too. He's the guy who owns the goddamn newspaper.
Its like those catalysts we used to learn about in school... chemistry... The mere presence of a catalyst can really work wonders doesn't it? And read on... who else was around... joint MD of the Salgaonkars, Shivanand Salgaonkar. So, now you know why Sunaparant editor Sandesh had to queue up to speak on stage...
For a king, his jester in tights prancing... for a media czar, his editor in chains, dancing...
If you guys think, that the NT report filed did not justify the space allotted to it, merely cause of the presence of Dempo group of companies boss Srinivas Dempo, call these numbers at The Navhind Times and tell them what you feel...
Arun Sinha -- Editor, The Navhind Times -- 0832-6651120 and 0832-6651123 (direct line)The Navhind Times news desk -- 0832-6651119
The Navhind Times (Margao bureau) -- 0832-2700997

Here's the report...


http://www.navhindtimes.com/articles.php?Story_ID=100112
Administrative reforms needed in state, says Digambar
NT News Service
Margao, Sept 30 The Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat said he never craved for power but always had a vision to work for the people. Refraining from making any announcements due to the code of conduct, Mr Kamat, however, said that there was a need to bring in administrative reforms in the State.
The Chief Minister was speaking at a felicitation function organized by the citizens of Margao. Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Mr Pritviraj Chavan was the chief guest.
“Positions are only temporary and when I go back to the people, I will go as Digambar Kamat,” he maintained. He further said that even after he became the chief minister his lifestyle has not changed.
“Whenever people go to the Mamlatdar or the Municipality’s office for some certificates they should get them within a fixed period,” the chief minister said. He said he wanted the every citizen to know that his government was a responsible and a sensitive government.
Going down the memory lane, Mr Kamat disclosed that during his five-year tenure in the Margao Municipal Council, the municipality was adjudged as the most stable Council in the State. During that term, we managed to bring maximum grants for the municipality, he added.
Taking a glance at his political career, he said he never longed for portfolios, but managed to do justice to the departments that were entrusted to him.
“When I became the chief minister people from the different cultural groups called me up requesting me to retain the Art and Culture portfolio,” Mr Kamat disclosed.
Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Mr Pritviraj Chavan assured to provide the State with all possible assistance from the Centre.
Virtually, patting the Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat on his back, Mr Chavan eulogized the State government for maintaining high standards in its educational, health and social sectors.
“We want to project the State of Goa, as a role model in India,” Mr Chavan said and vowed to take up problems faced by the State at the Centre.
Compared to the State’s contribution to the Centre by way of taxes, Mr Chavan said that the present system of central revenue sharing was not doing justice to the State.
Expressing his inability to make any announcements because of the code of conduct, Mr Chavan assured that he would do everything in his capacity to provide all possible assistance for the development of the State.
He said, Mr Digambar Kamat was hardworking, sincere and a dedicated leader with a vision of the common man at heart.
“The chief minister’s aam aadmi concept has caught on with the masses and people are taking notice,” Mr Chavan said.
India’s economy was the fastest growing economy in the world second only to China, he averred and further disclosed that the nation’s annual GDP growth was hovering between 8 to 9 percent.
But he lamented that in many parts of the country the disparity between the haves and have-nots was huge.
Home Minister, Mr Ravi Naik requested the chief minister to concentrate on all the constituencies while taking the State forward.
He said Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat was a capable leader and hoped the state will make better progress in his tenure.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Nandkumar Kamat disclosed that governance to a certain extent has lost relevance and it has become a “residual by-product”.
He disclosed that most of the governments were going through three major crises: crisis of maturity, crisis of morality and crisis of spirituality.
He said the chief minister should lead by example and only then will people back the government of the day.
"Good governance will definitely get public support,” he said and requested the chief minister to transfer people’s power to the grassroot level. Former Social Welfare Minister, Mr Subhash Shirodkar, Sunaparant Editor, Mr Sandesh Prabhudessai and Mr Datta Naik also spoke. A host of VIPs and other dignitaries and industry honchos were also present at the Gomant Vidya Niketan Hall, Margao for the felicitation function.
Speaker of the House, Mr Francisco Sardinha, Deputy Speaker, Mr Mauvin Godinho, MP Mr Shantaram Naik, former governor, Mr Mohammed Fazal, MMC Chairperson, Mr Johnson Fernandes, Housing Minister, Mr Babu Azgaonkar, former deputy chief minister, Mr Ramakant Khalap and industrialist and Chairman of Dempo Group of Companies, Mr Srinivas Dempo were present. Joint managing director of V M Salgaocar and Bros Pvt Ltd, Mr Shivanand Salgaocar was also present.