As the State awaits the High Court order on the dual citizenship case involving Benaulim MLA Caetano (Caitu) Silva, two statements over the weekend by the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister indicate that there is no clear thinking in government circles on the issue. In fact the contradictory statements of the two top political figures of the State show that there is little application of mind by this government on the subject that affects a large number of people – as per some estimates anywhere between one and two lakh Goans – who could have had registered their births at the Central Registry in Lisbon, the first step towards acquiring a Portuguese passport.
On Friday, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar vowed to protect all those Goans whose births have been registered in Portugal. His words were: “They are my people and I need to protect them.” He admitted that those who have gone ahead and surrendered their Indian citizenship and opted for some other citizenship, would have to be dealt with differently. But even then he went on to say: “I will also see, what can be done to protect those Goans who have surrendered their citizenship. Ultimately they too are my people.” Here, on Friday we had the Chief Minister taking a sympathetic view of the issue, even spreading out his arms wide to embrace them.
On Saturday, Deputy Chief Minister Francis D’Souza sang a very different tune. In his statements, there appeared to be no sympathy for those who have obtained citizenship of another country. He said: “You cannot stop anyone from taking another nationality or going for Portuguese passport. If they want to leave the country, let them go. These people are major in age and know what they are doing and what could be its repercussion.” The thousands of Goans who on one day must have breathed a little easy on reading the Chief Minister’s words, must have experienced a moment of surprised indignation on reading what the number 2 in the government had to say on the same issue.
Here is a case, where the Chief Minister uses the term ‘my people’ and wants to protect the people, while the Deputy Chief Minister says ‘let them go’ as they are adults who know what they are doing. What this government has to understand is that statements like these, made without thinking and contradictory in nature, are what has led to many Goans to look at a future beyond the borders of Goa and even overseas. There has to be consistency in what this government says and does.
The indecisiveness in this government does not bode well for the future of Goa. When the Chief Minister says something, it should be the final word and the entire cabinet should adhere to that thought process. It is just not happening in Goa. This is not the first such case. There have been instances in the past when the Chief Minister has had to call the attention of his ministers on certain issues, like the Medium of Instruction for instance, when ministers were airing out their personal views to the media which were contradictory to the government stand.
An indecisive government, one that can’t make up its mind or take a clear stand on an issue, displays signs of weakness. Goa stands at a point of time when it needs a strong government, one that can take firm decision and turn around the fortunes of the State. This government is showing itself incapable of doing so. It has strength in numbers but no strength in decision making and sticking to decisions taken. The ‘U’ turns have been numerous and they show no signs of ending. The loose comments by ministers have also not stopped. Unless this happens, nobody will take the government seriously.
