26 Oct 2021  |   05:38am IST

A new dawn?

A new dawn?

Every society goes through times, the good, the bad and the evil. And we Goans have had to endure every type of evil these many years with little protest, no matter which political party was in charge. But, every once in a while a wind does blow bringing with it someone who promises to bring society back on tracks. And that someone is called a messiah. Presently the country and the State are sorely in need of a messiah. But history shows that when a messiah does appear the trend is to reject him or her. The naysayers in such times outnumber the believers. And the opportunity is missed never to appear again in ages. Is such a time and leader staring at us?

Some seven and a half years ago, the country desperate for change from a corruption ridden government, massively voted it out. The voters ushered in the present regime on a promise of “ache din”. But has the contrary not happened? The country today is reeling under the weight of maladministration, leading to economic downturn and sectarian tensions, willfully created.

Take fuel prices. For me the concern is not merely the price rise but the manner in which we the people are being taken for a royal ride in the process. Just try to recollect Smriti Irani protesting with empty LPG cylinders before she became a part of the government. At that time the price of LPG refill was in the range of Rs 600, that of petrol and diesel in the range of Rs 60 per litre. But very importantly the fuel prices were revised periodically and an announcement was made indicating the price rice. And the consumers were immediately out in protest supported by the likes of Irani. The government after protracted agitation would respond by offering a price cut and the protest would peter out. The process would repeat every time a substantial price rise was announced. However, the Modi government has used the cunning trick of the trader against the very people who placed it in the position of power. It came up with a new policy and discontinued the periodical fixing of fuel prices and linked the prices to purported market forces. Consequently the fuel prices rise by a few paisa per day, not high enough for anyone to think of “fighting price rise” Thus after the new policy came into force petrol and diesel prices have gradually crossed the century mark while LPG cylinders are nearing a thousand rupees all through a small increase at a time, not worth a fight! It is something akin to the Russian game of salami. And no one is the wiser. And this, despite international crude prices being much lower now, than they were when Smriti Irani was leading street protests. How then can the price rise be linked to market forces? The consumer is being conned in broad daylight and does not realise it.

Sometime ago I happened to be in the market where I met an elderly former client with copious tears in her eyes, who said “Sir as you know we are very poor. My husband is sick and I find it difficult to make ends meet. I came here with ten rupees to buy a kilo of onions. But the shopkeeper tells me that onions cost rupees eighty a kilo. I can get only two onions at that price. Time was when I got tears in the eyes when cutting an onion. Today tears flow when I hear the price of onions!” Is this what is called “acche din”? I was indeed sorry at her plight. I purchased and gave her two kilos of onions. It was wonderful to see her eyes light up.

The present government is all for vegetarian food and brings in all sorts of obstacles in the path of non-vegetarians. But during its tenure there is a doubling of prices of every vegetable from potato to tomato, every food grain from rice to wheat. Should the government not at least control the prices of vegetarian food stuffs that are the staple foods of those who vote for it?

Can anyone notice anything positive happening in the State? Did not scores of people die due to lack of oxygen in hospitals during the peak of COVID pandemic? Has the inquiry not indicted the government for its failure? Are thefts, violent crimes, including murders not on the rise? Are government jobs not being freely marketed? Has our environment not been ruined? Has mining, the backbone of our economy not come to a grinding halt, due to illegal mining, as held by the Supreme Court? Is tourism not on its knees? Has the government done anything, to revive these vital segments of our economy? Is there one aspect of our lives, where normality reigns?

And so, do we continue to roll in the quagmire? Or do we look ahead to usher in a change that our land may survive for the generations that succeed us? How do we do it? Well, you have certainly heard of the fable where the cunning jackal took over the jungle in the absence of the tiger and began to terrorise the smaller creatures. Hearing of their plight, a tigress from a distant forest, appeared and with a single roar sent the cunning crooks scampering for cover. I hear that a Royal Bengal Tiger (which because of its combination of grace, strength, agility and enormous power been declared the national animal), from a distant land, has heard of our plight and sent the tigress to challenge the jackals that rule the roost here. Are we prepared to welcome the tigress?


(Radharao F. Gracias is a senior Trial Court Advocate, a former Independent MLA and a political activist.)


IDhar UDHAR

Idhar Udhar