Elections come and go. At every election politicians promise people heaven and then they take them to hell. They promise development but they carry out their self-development. They promise freedom but succeed in enslaving us.
Every election launches us into hectic activity and expectation. Everyone from government officers to people are busy with elections and the only talk is about elections. I have witnessed all elections held in Goa since the first one after 1961. Day by day, instead of improving our quality of life, they have only degenerated us and nearly finished with our Goan land, identity and culture. Of course, some material development has taken place.
While the previous Congress government gave priority to Ravindra Bhavans, hospitals, and state of the art bus stands, the BJP gave priority to projects like Mopa, bridges and state and national highways and mostly beautification projects in the name of building infrastructure. But one observes that most of the infrastructure projects with the exception of bridges have been of quality “infra” which in Latin means below standard or sub-standard and that is why they are not lasting long.
If one analyses the election manifestos of various parties and candidates at this election, one is led to draw a conclusion that none of them have understood the governance of Goa, which is “unique” in the whole of India and these elections of 40 constituencies cannot even take place in Goa in the absence of constituted Revenue Districts which can come into existence only when the land is revenue land and our Goan land is not revenue land.
The basic question here is who is a Goan and where his distinct individuality lies. This distinct individuality has evolved through the centuries and has become inseparable from his land, identity and culture. The political parties which have not understood this can never develop Goa in the true sense. Therefore the ignorance of it leads only to distortion and destruction.
All parties owe an apology to Goa and Goans for having destroyed this “distinct individuality and identity of Goa” and unless they vow to preserve and develop it they have no right to stand for election in Goa.
In the present scenario going by the party manifestoes one finds that only one party has just an inkling of governance when they say that all decisions will be made in consultation with people. But they have failed to understand the other nuances of this Goan individuality and whether they will make a mark in Goa at these elections is a million dollar question.
The Congress has come with a promise to give special status. This is too late when they could have given it, according to Nehru’s promise when they were in power for so long.
The BJP has promised it in the last election and then did a U-turn on the issue and also on the RP21. Now whom to believe? Are we not being fooled by all these parties? Do we need special status to save our land? Our land is the safest according to the Code of Comunidades, a legislation still in force in Goa. Nobody can sell our land. It is only executing the provisions in the code of Comunidades. Goa has its distinct individuality, land and culture.
Have we Goans understood this? When will we realise who we are and who will make us aware of it. No party will do it because they want rule over us and not with us. One can only hope for better times!
