However much happy and excited we may be at the stupendous victory of AAP and particularly at the more incredible drubbing of the Congress and even the BJP, there is little we will achieve if we do not take a leaf from the example set to us by the Delhiites in voting for a party that had been portrayed in very bad light by their opponents, but on which the people reposed unlimited confidence and trust.
They voted back to power a party that had “run away from discharging its responsibilities”, exactly a year ago, a party of “activists” and “anarchists”, as described by the BJP. Yes, they decisively opted to go along with such a party, which ran away, yes, but after it found that political parties swearing by clean governance were opposed to Jan Lokpal Bill it had brought before the Assembly – a party of “activists” and “anarchists”, whose objectives were to help and protect the interests of the aam admi as against those of the industrialists and magnates, close to the main political parties. The Delhiites had voted overwhelmingly for the BJP, giving them all the LS seats, just eight months ago. However, disgusted with their performance and particularly with their attempts at polarizing the communities and destroying the social and secular fabric of the country, they decided to teach the party in power a lifetime lesson, which will take decades for them to forget.
The arrogance of the BJP derived from their continuous and massive victories at the Centre and the States, received an unexpected but well deserved beating. The authoritarian ways of BJP led them to take the ordinances route, both at the Centre and in Goa, aimed at countering the opposition to some of their moves, leaving apprehensions of a march towards fascism. This march, which the BJP felt had to be stepped up with full vigour, has now been halted by the AAP. If BJP does not want to have the fate of the Congress in the near future, it will have to tread cautiously now. With their confreres engaged aggressively in a religious “ghar wapsi”, the BJP may now engage themselves in a similar political exercise to win back the Delhiites. But if AAP performs well, it will not be an easy task.
Modi is surely shrewd and intelligent enough not to enter into a confrontation with Kejriwal over the development or other issues concerning Delhi. Delhi is not Panjim where its own MLA and Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar put spokes in its development solely to deny credit to its Mayor, Surendra Furtado. Kejriwal is capable of bringing thousands on the streets of Delhi should the Centre try its stunts. We shall see whether the AAP victory has had any impact on the Panjimites. However, many in Goa are suspicious that, anticipating a big victory for the BJP in Delhi, these election results were slated so as to influence the Panjim by-election, to be held 3 days later. Though such dates are fixed by the EC, the truth is that counting is invariably kept after any similar election elsewhere is over. The EC may have to do some explanation on these timings.
It was comforting to know that none of the AAP MLAs have any charges of murder and rape. On the other hand, not only many BJP MLAs & MPs face such charges but in Gujarat and Rajasthan their Governments have reinstated and promoted around 40 police officers, accused of various criminal charges. Though these law enforcers, in charge of law & order, are charged with being law breakers, the governments have justified their action by using the excuse that they have not yet been convicted. In fact, one of them, P. Pandey was on the run and had even been declared as absconder by the Gujarat government.
It needs no repetition that the Goans, at last, after having repeatedly voted for some of the most corrupt and unscrupulous people eventually ousted them, hopefully for good. However, the cure turned out to be worse than the disease. Some well meaning people had even directed a personal letter to Sonia Gandhi pleading that tainted candidates be discarded. It fell in deaf ears. I have no hesitation in saying that the BJP rule in Goa has turned out to be worse than the Congress. The people cannot be blamed, for they had hardly any choice. The BJP has failed Goans on every front. Not only Parrikar but even PM Modi had promised Special Status for Goa particularly to protect our land. Many of us knew it was an empty promise, but we had expected at least a person of the stature of the Prime Minister to keep his word. How can we trust such people, including on the promise of retaining Dabolim, which we are sure will never happen? If Parrikar kept making false promises and U turns, we now have Parsekar solely interested in casinos, environment clearances for mining and imposing his party candidates on ZPs, much against the wishes of the people who see in this a ploy to control elected bodies and ensure funds and development only to constituencies owing allegiance to BJP. Most governments work on similar lines and BJP in particular has this style of functioning to draw their opponents towards them. This is another way of doing away with the Opposition by neglecting their constituencies and impressing upon the people the need to vote for the ruling party.
AAP has made several attempts to establish a base in Goa, but so far it has not made much headway. Surely this victory will give a boost to their efforts. The party may have to identify itself with many of the problems which are genuine and close to our hearts. It has national leaders of repute who are highly intelligent and experienced and can guide their followers in Goa. What is imperative, however, is that we come together as one without prejudices and with a sincere desire to serve our State and our people to the best of our ability. Surely we can do it if we love our land and our people.
(The author is a retired banker)
