24 Jan,2012

Goans, when will we ask the real questions 
rnIn an election which for the moment, is too close to call, it’s important to keep the personalities, the differences, the egos, and the humungous self proclamation aside to look at the core issues that should form the basis of these elections. And it’s important for all parties, especially the Congress and the BJP to outline their specific stands on the core non negotiable.
rnIn case all of us have forgotten, the entire nation united as one against corruption. Anna Hazare’s movement hit home in the remotest villages of Goa. From grandmother to grandchild, from the podder to the government servant, everyone reacted to Anna’s fasts in Delhi with the same passion. In a matter of three months, this fire could not have been doused. But it needs to be stirred. The apprehension is  that deal making and pettiness of the election process will take over leaving little or no room for real issues. But the onus lies on us. If corruption needs to be an issue, then every candidate has to spell out his stand on this and this needs to begin by a clear demonstration that this will not be about humungous spending. The sad truth is that this looks unlikely.
rnSecondly Goa needs to seriously ask what the fate of the Regional Plan will be. A movement which united Goans across the state against a plan which affected their identity and future when it was meant to do exactly the opposite, should not wither away. There is work to be done. Under pressure, the government opened a window and invited clear suggestions once again. The Congress needs to specify how it will take this forward.  The BJP on the other hand needs to clarify its approach to the Regional Plan in its manifesto and campaigning. Does it plan to put it on hold? Does it plan to stop all construction permissions under the plan or will it take the radical step of actually de-notifying it.
rnOn mining, the issue will resurface as soon as the elections are over. First the Congress. Let it begin by putting on the table its plan to recover mining royalty which has not been paid. Let it begin by explaining why the royalty of Rs 30 crores paid by Savordem MLA Anil Salgaocar has not been en cashed. Moreover someone needs to ask, why the department still has no answer to why it did not have details of 63 traders who exported iron ore in 2010-11. Incidentally an RTI application filed by Herald to this effect three months ago has not been replied to. Well, we will go after them soon to extract an answer or at least confirm to our readers that the department has no clue of the source of so much ore exported.
rnOn the other hand, the BJP needs to go beyond Manohar Parrikar’s  one liners saying he has a solution and will put it into action as soon as he returns to power this solution needs to be spelt our pre poll. To start with, Parrikar needs to promise that he will go public with his findings as PAC chairman and then follow it up with an ‘action agenda” against illegal mining.
rnThe list will go on but these are bread and butter non negotiable. The parties should know it, but do we as voters know it?
rnAnd are we willing to finally hold the parties accountable. Or will we wait for nightfall and wait for the goodies of politicians to arrive as part of the poll circus.