The outpouring of grief at the death of Fr. Bismarque Dias, the sense of disbelief at his sudden and tragic end and the genuine anger at the callous but predictable behaviour of the police, should steer us to carry on the flame that he lit to protect our environment, our land and our people and fight with greater tenacity, vigour and courage to achieve these noble goals. Murder or drowning, the powers at play will never find the real truth. Goa Police are known for their incompetence, shoddy investigations and casual and insensitive approach to any issue. Possibly taking a cue from their former master, now in Delhi, they are perhaps better known for their vindictiveness, evidenced mainly in Tejpal’s case but also in Digambar Kamat’s. CM Parsekar needs to explain why he backtracked on his assurance of CBI probe in Berger case.
The general and main accusation against the activists is that they are against development. And I would emphatically say: Yes, genuine Goans are. We are, because development, for this and past Governments, is neither Goa nor people centric. It is money and vote-bank centric. In fact, most proposed projects are against the environment, the demography and the interests of Goans. Parsekar could possibly be genuinely interested in getting more jobs for Goans, but that is secondary to him, as his main concern is to get funds for his party to win the next elections. Let me assure the CM and my fellow Goans that job situation for the latter will never improve unless and until the Government and the people become more forceful and perhaps more aggressive towards those preferring or importing outsiders.
Increase in FAR for 4 & 5 Star resorts, the dictatorial ordinance permitting ‘temporary’ constructions in eco-sensitive zones, development of 20 lakh sq. mtrs of agricultural land in Mapusa with 2.5 FAR, the electronic city at Tuem, abusively depriving poor Amarnath Naik of his land, the Mopa land scam, the golf course at Tiracol, the Defence Expo bulldozing Gram Sabha resolutions and last but not the least the most atrocious, unconstitutional and highhanded proposal of regularization of illegal structures on Government Comunidade and even private land – a pet project of the villain from Dabolim – are among the many proposals and projects meant to generate funds for the party. If the previous Government was corrupt this one is now legalizing corruption and further needs to be labeled as anti-Goan.
Its main objective is to bring in laws and take steps aimed at marginalizing Goans and have more outsiders to change the demography and character of this State. Faced with severe crunch of funds, this Government is also looking for avenues to collect money, by cheating and fleecing Goans, left, right and centre.
I will come back to that, another day, but meanwhile, power and water consumers should have their bills thoroughly checked, as some are grossly inflated. Protest and refuse to pay them, until rectified.
The BJP has realized the discontent among the people and knows that the only way to sail through at the next poll is to have enough money to distribute and to put up candidates to divide the anti-BJP vote.
It was strange to read Luizinho Faleiro’s initial statement that Congress would go it alone. Perhaps he was emboldened by the results in Bihar.
Later, he spoke of a grand alliance of like-minded parties. Congress’ decimation in Goa is of its own making. Faleiro must remember that people repeatedly reposed trust in the Congress but were systematically betrayed and taken for granted. Instability, with every MLA wanting to become CM or Minister and consequently development being a casualty was most resented.
Faleiro should check the ground reality whether people are still prepared to forgive the Congress. In my humble view, our main aim must be to oust this Government at the elections and hence anti-BJP forces must come together, as it happened in Bihar. However, such a proposition is rather difficult, mainly because politicians in Goa can rarely agree on anything and the greedy ones like those from Varca and Betalbatim are ever willing to walk into the BJP net, to avail of the crumbs that will be thrown to them.
It is for the people to pulverize their political ambitions by making them lose miserably The BJP seems confident that not even a miracle can work out an alliance against them. Division of anti-BJP vote will be catastrophic and another term for BJP fatal for Goa.
Fr. Bismarque was a great crusader for every good cause. His love for the environment, for the people and for Goa was a greater vocation that his priestly one that he had embraced. His courage and tenacity inspired us all. Perhaps if we, who mourn his death, had joined him in his struggles, he may have still been with us today.
At least in death, let us pay him the most fitting tribute he always dreamt of: join hands to bring all true Goans together to safeguard the interests of our people and ensure that Goa does not go down the drain any further. Goa thanks you, Fr. Bismarque, for you have loved her more than anything else. Goans will always have you in their hearts for all that you endured on their behalf and for their sake.
(The author is a retired banker)
