FRIDAY, MAY 03, 2024
Radharao F Gracias
I have been an activist for the greater part of my adult life; activism, by necessity is directed against those in power. And thus it has come to pass, that I have been mostly pitted against the Congress which had created and sustained a monopoly on power for decades, through decadent administration.
It was inevitable that a new dispensation would someday oust the Congress; it happened in 2014 but the remedy has turned out worse than the disease. I could clearly visualise the danger that Modi manifested, so I campaigned for the Congress (lesser of the two evils!) in the last two Lok Sabha elections, despite my reservations about that party.
My prognosis has been proved accurate, by unfolding events and by Parakala Prabhakar, the husband of BJP leader and India's Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman who in a recent video has said that if PM Modi becomes Prime Minister again in 2024, India will never witness another election process. Ek aur chunav ki ummed mat kijiye.
The economist husband of Nirmala Sitharaman also claimed that the Constitution and map will change if PM Modi and his cabinet return to power. Modi himself will give a hate speech from the Red Fort.
Why is the BJP so strong on rhetoric and so weak on performance? India Today reports Minister of State for Defence, Ajay Bhatt, saying India’s three armed forces are facing a shortage of around 1.55 lakh personnel, with the Army accounting for the maximum 1.36 lakh vacancies. The minister went on to say that the Indian Army has a shortage of 8,129 officers; the Navy, there is a deficiency of 12,428 personnel; the Indian Air Force, has a shortage of 7,031 personnel.
These are the official figures in the 10th year of BJP rule in India. The BJP claims to be the biggest political party in the world with 18 crore karyakartas. Why do these karyakartas not fill up the vacancies?
But not everything is lost; there are patriotic young men outside the 18 crore BJP cadre. Take the case of Captain Viriato Fernandes who after a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Goa Engineering College in 1991 had a standing offer to join the Merchant Navy as marine engineer. Impelled by his nationalist feelings and deeply hurt by the failure of young men to join the call of duty, the patriot in him rejected the merchant navy for the Indian Navy, despite the lesser salary and greater danger. The crowning glory of the illustrious career is the Vijay Star and Vijay Medal awarded for his role in the Kargil war (how a naval officer landed on the snowy heights of Kargil is an aspect, left for another narrative); he retired as a Captain and returned to the land of his birth. He did not rest on his oars; he put his experience on the high seas to row against the tide and challenge the rampant destruction in his home State. A chastised Congress having recognised its own frailties and the strength and merit of the Captain has rewarded him with the South Goa Lok Sabha ticket. Will his election not encourage young men to flock to the armed forces?
Strangely, the BJP appears to be on a different trip. The first elections in Goa took place in the year 1963. Among the Congress candidates was Vaikuntrao Dempo contesting from Pernem; Modhu Timblo was fielded in Margao at a later date. Both lost badly. Decades later and into the third generation, descendants of the two losing candidates have moved from Gandhi and Nehru to Savarkar and Modi, from Congress to the BJP.
The Portuguese conferred the title Barão Dempo on Krishna Govinda Rayú Sinai Dempo in 1873. The Govt of India conferred the Padma Shree on his descendant Vasantrao Dempo in 1991. Similar awards, same family, same contribution, only different nations! Vaikuntrao Dempo was nominated MP of Portuguese Parliament at the time of liberation. I hear, he never resigned even as he contested from Pernem! And now Pallavi Dempo is vying to be MP in India!
Vishwajit Rane is the most powerful minister in the Goa Government and almost certain CM, some day. He is married to Dr Divya Rane (née Timblo) the MLA from Poriem. Digambar Kamat former CM and BJP MLA from Margao has Raj Dempo as his son-in-law, to which joins Pallavi Dempo (née Timblo). The mining firms represented by these families are among those indicted in the 35,000 crore mining scam by the Shah Commission. Digambar Kamat was the minister for mines at the time.
Now, move to the North Goa seat. Much before Manohar Parrikar (Bhai) became the leading light it was Shripad Naik (Bhau) who slogged to build the BJP. After Bhai was elevated to the Union Ministry Bhau was the natural choice to be the CM, but it was Parsekar who was anointed. And when Bhai died Bhau was again ignored; Pramod Sawant took over. Of course, no one can say that Bhau was not made CM because he is a bhandari nor can anyone say that the Dempos and Timblos are upfront because they are Saraswats.
Bhau is winner for the last five terms. By all means he is amiable, always ready and willing to help; he has been re-elected on account of these qualities. But, abruptly Mauvin Godinho announces that Pallavi Dempo will be a union minister. Considering that Goa will not have two union ministers what does it imply? Is it not that BJP is sure Bhau will not win or if he wins will not be a minister? Either way, Bhau has rendered great services over five terms. Is it not time for the voters to give him a resounding farewell at the end of five terms rather than see him languish on the back benches?
The other candidate is silver haired Ramakant Khalap, suave, knowledgeable, and articulate, many times MLA, a former Dy. CM and Union Minister for Law, fielded by the Congress. He too has great credentials. Does he too not deserve a resounding farewell? Must the voters not vote him such that his farewell is timed to the end of the ensuing five year term?
(Radharao F Gracias is a senior Trial Court Advocate, a former Independent MLA, a political activist, with a reputation for oratory and interests in history and ornithology)
