The latest mini storm in a tea cup is the ‘R’ word uttered by Defence Minister Parrikar at a meeting in Mapusa, after inaugurating the 200th Branch of Lokmanya Multipurpose Cooperative Society. The ‘R’, or retirement word was supposedly uttered during his speech. He according to one news report in a local daily said, “At the age of 60 there is a need felt to think about retirement. On December 13, I’m turning 60. I had started thinking about retirement two or three years ago. I have to intensify it now.” There is no reason at all to think that the daily got it wrong.
As the Goa countryside went into a speculative tizzy, the trademark morning after denial, or “correction”, happened on twitter from Mr Parrikar’s own handle which was – as expected, completely contrary. It went (in two messages) “My correct statement – At the age of 60, normally people think of retirement and perhaps I would have also but I had to take bigger responsibilities at Centre & I assure you that I will come back only after finishing the task I’m given”.
Even the cost of micro analysing Parrikar’s every word – something which the Defence Minister should be prepared for – the retirement card is normally played by politicians seeking to redeem and reassure themselves of their popularity. His statement in Mapusa (either the one he reportedly made and there is no reason to believe he said just that) was also dovetailed with another remark, which he hasn’t “corrected”. (He never says denies, he just corrects) which goes “If the Goa govt goes on wrong track, I’ll get it on track”.
This sends out two clear signals. a) He is just doing an assigned task in Delhi, whereas his personal unfinished task is in Goa, b) In his mind, there can never be another de-facto Chief Minister. It is only him and if there is a problem with Goa, he will remain the Mr Fixit, never in the shadows but very much in your face, spending time on the weekends discussing affairs of the state with the Chief Minister and others in attendance, and inaugurating bank branches, malls, and the like.
His remark “I’ll get it (Goa) on track” may be seen as arrogant, but that is certainly no folly in his court, as long as he is committing it. More significantly, it’s a back handed acknowledgement that things may be off track and those running this government will need him to repair wrongs. This begs the question – Doesn’t a remark like this, come as a dampener to the confidence of the State government led by its Chief Minister? And doesn’t this indicate every clearly that while Manohar Parriakr’s job lies in Delhi, the place he would like to get up each morning and go to work is Goa?
But there is a small issue here. The governance of Goa cannot be left to the life choices of one politician, even if he is the Defence Minister of India. And while he toys with retirement and offers to put Goa on track, Prime Minister Narendra Modi may want to ask a few performance related questions to his Defence Minister, since his elected government pays his bills.
All that the BJP in Goa needs is a clarity on its tallest leader’s plans. There is no doubt that the party hinges around him and it will have to go to 2017, with him leading the campaign and not Laxmikant Parsekar. If that is the case, then the shift back to Goa should happen completely rather than give Chief Minister Parsekar only a notion of power. The BJP must tell the people of Goa clearly, whether Laxmikant, is another Bharat of the Ramayana looking after his brother Ram’s kingdom as his representative, or does he occupy the centre of power. But to even do that, it will again have to go back to – you guessed it – Manohar Parrikar.
