It was Agacaim MLA Vishnu Wagh, who “tipped off” the media about a bull fight happening in Mandrem, the chief minister’s constituency, but it was the poor ex- spokesman of the Congress, Durgadas Kamat who faced the butt of a new horse on the race track, the new chief minister’s son, Rishi Parsekar.
Kamat, who is away from the spotlight after his removal as spokesperson following a change of guard in the Congress, posted photos of a bull fight in progress with a note that the CM’s son was present. “Dhirio in presence of CM’s son,” Kamat posted while appealing to animal lovers to condemn the fight.
The young Rishi Parsekar shot back, according to a report in IANS, “Dear Durgadas Kamat, Please reveal the rest of the photos too … let me see myself at a venue when actually I do not exist there. I seriously won’t tolerate this kind of shit. Please take a note of it..!! boss DK (i mean to say Boss durgadas kamat) (adds a smiley), get correct information first and then post on fb! Regards, ‘CM’s Son’.”
Later, while hash-tagging another friend into the comments section, Rishi says: “This gona b last warning for him.. if again he does then I won’t waste time showing him real me (adds smiley).” (this paragraph is taken from the IANS report)
Notwithstanding the veracity of Durgadas Kamat’s post, which was for all practical purposes is incorrect since Herald received ground reports that this bull fight was not connected to the Mandrekar’s, are we seeing the emergence of a new powerful son, Rishi Parsekar, who will flex his muscles by clearly stating that he is the CM’s son. If that is the case, Goa will witness for first time, an offspring of a chief minister getting into a public space and taking on opponents.
We hope for Rishi’s sake that his targets are limited to the Congress and other opposition parties and does not transcend to the media and the common man. Chief Minister Parsekar will do well do to reign in his enthusiastic son, who is enjoying the fruits of being a “power son”.
However, a clash between the Parsekars and an increasingly vigilant media will be imminent if the Facebook warning moves from the virtual to the real. While the media in Goa did have run ins with former Chief Minister Parrikar, there was also a deal of bonhomie bordering on friendship.
Laxmikant Parsekar, to be honest ,does not quite share that rapport with the English media and needs to build it. While the Facebook incident is not related to the media, it is surely a red flag to most of us that there is a brash young junior Parsekar waiting.
The BJP will realize to its own peril that Goa is allergic to what is now come to be known as “family raj”. The term denotes the tyranny of powerful families that have ruled the political landscape. If there was a single reason why the Congress lost so much ground was because the people felt that family members and that too in the cabinet went against the basic essence of democracy. The baba and baby culture, a term coined when star sons and daughters called the shots in the Congress, should not permeate into the BJP. Rishi Parsekar has emerged as the first ‘baba’ within the first week of his father becoming chief minister.
As he begin’s his innings as chief minister, Mr Parsekar is again advised to keep a low profile, solve the bread and butter issues and let his work do the talking. He shouldn’t have the time or the inclination to get in either bull fights or any fights with anyone.
