WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 2024
Some have even threatened to change the political equations if the airport is not named after Goa's first chief minister late Bhausaheb Bandodkar. The question is who has stopped them from changing these equations. The public support to those who have made such remarks was revealed after they satisfied themselves by contesting elections. The reality that not everyone who attends the political meetings casts their votes to that leader should be accepted. The Assembly elections are done and dusted, people have elected their government and so the decision regarding whose name to give to the airport relies entirely in their hands.
As mentioned in this column before, regardless of whoever's name is given to this airport, in the end it will be known either as Mopa or Pernem airport. GMR, the special purpose vehicle who developed the airport, has already put up the signs which reads New Goa International Airport. Some have made the issue of naming the Mopa Airport about life and death. Out of that, the involvement of love for Bhausaheb and hatred towards former defence minister late Manohar Parrikar should be checked sometimes.
The warning of change in the political dynamics if the name of their preference is not given is inexplicable. Why is there a wait to change the political equations? There have been two Assembly Elections in 2017 and 2022 after BJP won with a clear majority in 2012. The BJP has formed the government with the help of other elected MLAs based on the mandate given by the public.
After 10 Congress MLAs and two from MGP defected to the BJP during the previous Assembly, eight have followed the same pattern this year once again. BJP leaders and their karyakartas have proven their dominance in self-governed local bodies such as zilla panchayats, municipalities and village panchayats and so, it is necessary to make it clear how they are planning to bring political evolution.
It goes without saying that to fight against the BJP, one needs to maintain consistency in their own actions if they are to earn the confidence of people. There may have been a great crowd for the meeting but it is doubtful how many of them will back the leaders when it comes to raising people's issues. There is no memory of those speaking ever so passionately about the naming of Mopa Airport raising their voice over problems faced by locals of Harmal-Panchkroshi.
The government acquired their lands, denied giving them direct compensation over the absence of their names from revenue documents. The government dragged the issue to the court despite it being very much possible to compensate the land losers through land acquisition officers after surveying the area.
The compensation amounting to the tune of Rs 70 crore belonging to the people of Mopa village is still lying with the Economic Development Corporation of Goa. Why did the ones hell bent on naming Mopa never feel the need to resolve this issue first? The question is not whether the airport should be named after Bhausaheb or Parrikar but the way it is being handled. Why did not a single MLA from the opposition feel the need to raise the issue of naming of Mopa airport in the Assembly?
The opposition does not seem strong enough to pose a challenge to BJP in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls or also the Assembly elections scheduled after that. The warning of changing the political equations sounds great on paper and during the speeches, but its legitimate potential is questionable. Are they hinting at pulling the government down? It should be made clear. Perhaps the government might even name the airport after Bhausaheb but it should be taken into consideration that they will not do it because of mere political threats. Also, it is questionable whether injustice can be done to the one who sculpted the very idea of this airport.
