Raul Fernandes, Editor-in-Chief

Goa is gearing up for the Assembly elections and Goans once again have the opportunity to elect their leaders who will decide their future for the next five years. But do we really have a choice going by the political shenanigans that we have witnessed so far. From the politicking that has been going on, it is now very clear that both, the ruling as well as the opposition, will do anything and everything to grab power. To prove the point, take the negotiations between the two alliances that are emerging. The Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party and Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party have been talking of seat-sharing not so much of what is in the interest of Goa and Goans but what is in their political leaders’ interest.

For the last five years, Goa has not had any industry worth its name being set up as a result of which, the thousands of youth who come out of the educational institutes cannot find gainful employment in the private sector. Given this scenario, employment in government sector is the other option. However, here too, we have seen in the last five years that recruitment is done not on merit but either for a consideration or political motive. It has now become a norm for the minister in whose department jobs are created to employ people from his constituency or the one who pays the highest amount for the job. And although much is said about self employment opportunities, the ground reality is that unemployed youth find it very difficult to set up any venture unless they bribe heavily or politically connected. Little wonder then that most Goan youth move overseas to be gainfully employed while many are forced to sell their ancestral assets including properties. In fact, Goans have been made to feel helpless and hapless or as they say in Konkani, they are made lachar.

While those in power take great pride in pointing out that Goa is ranked amongst the best States at the awards instituted by national weeklies, not much is being said about the fact that Goa also holds the dubious distinction of being one of the most corrupt States in the country. In fact, corruption is embedded so deeply that it is taken for granted now and that is why those in power – whether the politicians or the bureaucrat – get away with it because there are people willing to pay the quoted price. And all this ill gotten wealth is stacked away in foreign countries with only about two per cent of it being brought back to be given to the people as largesse during the elections to induce the electorate to vote for them once again.

The Congress Party, going by the list of candidates it has declared so far, appears to be all set to take us to the times of the past where there were fiefdoms ruled by chieftains or clans. The Ranes – Pratapsing and Vishwajit – have been cleared as its candidates along with the Alemaos – Churchill and Joaquim – and Valanka also is expected to be the party candidate. So now we have to prepare to have the Sattari and Bicholim talukas to be lorded over by the Ranes, Salcete by the Alemaos and Tiswadi by the Monserrates!

On the other side is the Bharatiya Janata Party that claims to be a party with a difference. But is it really that different? Let us not forget that five years ago the Bharatiya Janata Party was willing to join hands with the very political leaders it is today calling corrupt to topple the Digambar Kamat government. And at present it is breaking bread with the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party which was tangoing with the so called corrupt Congress till yesterday as its coalition partner in government. So where is the difference? Besides, let us not forget the communal nature of the Bharatiya Janata Party that has shown its colours in other parts of the country where the minorities have been targeted by them. It would do well to remember what happened in Mangalore that is so close to us where a Church was desecrated. For those who advocate that the Bharatiya Janata Party will not play the communal card in Goa, let us not forget that the party is trying to erase all the vestiges of Portuguese influence on Goa which can be seen in the Catholic community. The vandalism at Mala was one such manifestation of its agenda. Bharatiya Janata Party is also guilty of removing many of the historical monuments and even statues that were connected with the Portuguese legacy thereby displaying not only their communal agenda but also their ignorance, as by doing so they have done irreparable damage to our heritage and legacy and also deprived us of attracting the high spending heritage tourists to the State.

No doubt it is a bleak scenario particularly as the third front has failed to emerge and the cobbling together of the United Goans Democratic Party and Goa Vikas Party is all set to play the role of spoil sport at the most. Hence, it is time for Goans to be decisive. It is clear that political parties do not matter as they are the same under different names. What will be required is to choose the best candidate in the fray irrespective of his or her political affiliation. Yes, it is sad but it is also true that Goans are being forced to opt for the lesser evil.