Meet the forerunner in the race of Goa’s Chief Minister – its Health Minister and he says, “I will demolish the Congress. They will be reduced to 10 by Christmas-New Year. Save your flock”. From the ailing Chief Minister, who two decades ago brought down a popularly elected Congress government with a majority, to the heir apparent who even before ascending the throne promises to carry that tradition of horse trading, and whatever it takes to wean away people’s choice with money and coercion. These dear Goa, are the MLAs that you keep on sending term after term and they lead our State.
But there is more, this horse trading isn’t an incidental need, it is in the BJP’s genes, it is their national culture. This May, their national president Amit Shah told Goa BJP karyakartas, “We went on progressing because our organisation is affiliated to an ideology and not to any person”. An ideology of doing whatever it takes to remain in power, whether the people want you or not. Goa is no alien to the culture of party hopping but full marks go to BJP for the institutionalisation of a political culture which banks only on money buying out the mandate. From Arunachal Pradesh to Meghalaya, we have seen how BJP, despite being an underdog, uses its plush coffers to buy out people’s representative to stamp their governments. Ethics be damned but the party with a difference has proved to us that whoever we elect as our MLA from whichever party, we are at the mercy of BJP and they will buy out our MLA whatever be the cost. And no, it isn’t just about Congress MLAs or other prospective MLAs, BJP’s Big Brother approach has even its coalition partners eating out of its palm. Indeed the government that we gave is the government that we got. Goa’s financial debts have risen to a record Rs 16,000 crore yet the ruling coalition has the money to buy out opposition MLAs to stay in power. The tourist inflow has nosedived yet BJP leaders and coalition partners shuttle business class between Goa and Delhi and have their jobs taken care and even properties sold to extend a lifeline.
Democracy died an ironical death over the past 19 years in Goa and we sit twiddling our thumbs and exchanging WhatsApp messages and Facebook posts of how foolish they are.
Former US President Ronald Reagan said well, “It has been said that politics is the second oldest profession. I have learned that it bears a striking resemblance to the first”. Prostitution is the oldest profession known to man. In Goa, the resemblance between both have touched new lows and Goans are left wondering if this is what democracy is all about? What is more disgusting is looking at these Ministers and MLAs leading our State strutting their stuff as if they have brought in – stability and continuity in governance in the State with so much of hard work. Don’t forget Goa, this was a government that came to power by suitcases and sweet deals. The party that leads this government was voted out and came to power only by cobbling in a coalition of convenience. Now they want stability by buying out an opposition who were the true heirs to run the State. Was this the democracy that we believed in all these years?
No, Messrs Rane and Shah, Goa is not for sale. We didn’t vote you or your party MLAs to buy out our faith in democracy. We may have chosen a few weaklings, some fixers, fly-by-night-operators or even gold diggers but then integrity and commitment to people are what Goa voted for; not vote banks. Democracy isn’t here for sale and Goa still does not accept your notes and free lunch to vote. Goa has a spine and a conscience and you shall learn it in time; painfully.
