A country that cannot take care of its heritage sites is not fit to rule, period. No one gives their antique crockery to the maids to clean: they do it themselves because they value them. Hence, the present BJP shows its true colours of feeling no value for any of the heritage sites. This has been their hallmark as they have none of their contribution to any of the same. They would gleefully ‘export’ Gandhi to South Africa if they could. They desperately seek to ‘capture’ past leaders and label them BJP.
Will the Pvs/Public corporates spend without getting any returns? Never: Nothing is given free by them. Whatever they give to Society is claimed as tax benefits by them. Now, instead of the Government taking the tax from the companies and utilising part towards the upkeep of the Heritage sites, the Companies will use the same directly towards the upkeep of the same. The only difference being, the Government will conveniently turn a blind eye to the way they do the same with Modi displaying his trade mark stoic silence.
Recently, the Statues of Ambedkar were painted red. Since the same were under the care of the Government, the statue could get back the original colour. Had these been in the custody of pvt organisations, it would have remained saffron. All heritage sites belonging to the minorities will be handed over to Hindutva sympathisers. They can paint the same any colour and no one can overturn the same. Imagine, after Drishti, the PM’s favourite – Ambanis – are handed over the Old Goa sites. What is to stop them fixing mobile antennae on the Churches – to protect – the same from terrorists? What is to stop them organising all kind of different religious functions/weddings/private parties in the same? All this will cause utter turmoil in the lives of the locals who will have to spend their precious time fighting all this. While their attention is diverted here, the Government will continue other pro- Hindutva agenda with ease.
Do the pvt. corporates/public sectors have enough time to see to the business affairs of the company and take care of Heritage sites? No, unless this is gifted to them to use exclusively as their own property.
We have seen FC Goa change hands from local to outside. The same was pre-planned to avoid protests from locals: first ask the Ambani related local to start the same and then withdraw. We know also the colours have been deliberately selected by the two local owners who have been quite blatant while supporting BJP. Why do the new owners not change the same?
Yes, we cannot allow the Old Goa Churches or other sites to be handed over to Corporates: who in India are basically private owners. Their job is to run their business profitably: if they do this they cannot have time to take care of monumental Heritage sites. Maintenance of the sites has not been the primary concern of the BJP while binging in this rule.
