The MGP’s announcement that is supports the complete ban on animal slaughter comes as no surprise. The MGP has merely lived up to its reputation, of making statements that fuel a line of politics which is alien to the all inclusive socially cooperative Goa, of mutual acceptance and respect.
Deepak Dhavalikar’s latest missive, where he wants the Goa Meat Complex, to be closed down and all animal slaughter banned, fits in with that line of politics.
We elaborated in our editorial in our Thursday edition, on the lack of clarity in the MGP which has called for a ban on “cow slaughter” and questioned the fact that there is already a ban on cow slaughter but not on bovine slaughter. Today we state that the issue with the MGP is less to do with the protection of the cow, but more to emphasise its position as a stand out party. It can leverage this role on the basis of winning three seats in a fractured mandate because of which it has two key departments, PWD and Tourism with the icing on the cake in the form of the Chairmanship of the GSIDC.
But the “great power comes with great responsibility” maxim doesn’t apply to the MGP. It is unlikely to work on a major policy overhaul in the spheres of the PWD and Tourism, making forward planning and transparency the benchmarks of its rule. It has instead, again, not surprisingly, sought to provoke when the party leading the government – the BJP – hasn’t. Its call to ban all animal slaughter and the closing down of the Goa Meat Complex is a knee jerk and politically immature remark. The MGP has been in power for over a decade in Goa, with representation in the previous three governments. The party has neither articulated nor made the issue of ban on animal slaughter an important point in their manifestoes or policies. Nor has a single MGP MLA raised it in the Assembly, nor has any MGP minister placed this before the cabinet. The MGP’s call for ban in animal slaughter is purely a reaction to the sounds coming from the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh. But the big ask here is, that is this what the MGP is in power for? Will it even make an attempt to make a meaningful contribution to governance? The response to this is evident in one of the first remarks of the Tourism Minister, that ‘Lamanis’ (migrants from other states) – among others – are responsible for thefts and drug trade in the beach areas. This has deeply hurt the Lamanis who have been living in Goa for ages, with no evidence of them indulging in either of the two activities – as alleged by the Tourism Minister of MGP. While drugs on beaches and prostitution, is a tourism related concern, the Home Minister, who is the Chief Minister, needs to lead this move, which is actually an ongoing problem that needs to be dealt with as a priority. But as has happened, with so many stray remarks, from some ministers, the basic issue of safety for tourists hasn’t been addressed from a well discussed policy perspective but only as off the cuff remarks of ministers.
The virus has struck even in MGP ministers. Goa Forward’s Water Resources Minister Vinod Paliencar’s, overdrive on cracking down on the drug trade in Anjuna and Morjim is indeed commendable. But he too dented his efforts by saying all late night parties on Goa should be stopped. The ramifications of this statement on tourism could be huge and therefore his real intent should have been clarified carefully.
The BJP – since it technically heads this government of turncoats – needs to handle and rein in the MGP, specially. It cannot do without its loose cannon ministers but surely can do without their loose cannon statements. Do remember that the MGP contested against the BJP with the aim to remove it from power. It aligned with the Goa Suraksha Manch wanting to deny grants to English medium primary schools. This and other issues are floating in the realm of uncertainty till the Common Minimum Programme actually sees the light of day. But if loose ministerial and party remarks of allies, especially MGP – often at variance with other allies – becomes the order of the day, the focus will shift from governance.
The hard truth is, that unlike 2012, Manohar Parrikar cannot wish away, any of the supporting parties, But he needs to handle them effectively if he has to succeed
