The BJP came to power in the country with many slogans, including one of “minimum Government and maximum governance”. At the moment, there seems to be neither, particularly in Goa. Tall promises remained mostly unfulfilled, except perhaps of so-called “development”, which many people rightly claim is nothing but destruction, for the benefit of a few industrialists, close to corridors of power. General Elections are only a few months away. As we draw nearer, we will see sops and reduction in prices. But, the unquestionable fact remains that this Government made the lives of people miserable by spiraling prices of essential commodities, particularly aggravated by rise in costs of petrol and diesel, which have now found a small Central relief of Rs 2.50. During BJP rule, Central Excise duty on diesel and petrol rose by 126% and 330% respectively from Rs 3.56 and Rs 9.48 to Rs 17.33 and Rs 21.48, when prices of crude oil dropped to USD 46 in 2016 and are still around 25% less than 7 years back. Costs of LPG cylinders have also doubled. With share markets crashing, trade deficit increasing, rupee weakening by the day, the economy is surely not looking up. And yet, the Government, undeterred by the criticism from all quarters, continues blowing its trumpet that everything is fine. They count on their well fed blind supporters, particularly from the electronic media, who keep beating the drums that nothing could be worse than the UPA II rule, as if this Government was brought to power to continue the misrule and go back on all promises including the overemphasised “acche din” blown full lungs out of 56 inches chests. The only preoccupation of this Government seems to be development at any cost and amassing enough funds for elections, by squeezing or sucking the poor and the middle class to the maximum, least concerned about how the common man will manage with such high costs of living.
The fleecing that takes place affecting every citizen does not end with rising prices. The swindling of the common man is omnipresent. Among the complaints one hears regularly are exploitation in hospital treatment, unstoppable rise in medical insurance, perhaps prompted by overcharging by hospitals when insurance is available. Blatant daylight robbery by those involved in a noble vocation!
LIC offers a better rate of interest than banks on some special deposits for senior citizens but a heavy GST claim dissuades the depositor, thus defeating the very purpose of such an offer. General Insurance companies have now doubled their premium for vehicle/3rd party insurance. These companies are a bunch of merciless mercenaries and swindlers who, ever reluctant to settle claims promptly, force people into fights and arguments when accidents occur. Pollution certificates for vehicles are another racket to feed the issuers, for there is no correction if pollution levels are exceeded. The chores people are forced to undertake and their woes are endless, with no respite whatsoever in making their lives easier and exactly the contrary happening..
Coming specifically to Goa, the less said the better. The State is in such terrible mess that one is losing count on the unfortunate happenings occurring and issues cropping up every day. The mis-governance seems to have reached its peak, as never before possibly because the leader is ailing. Surely people cannot be made to suffer because the leader wants to stick to his chair, so that the BJP does lose the grip on the State. Goa seems being ruled by a bunch of incompetent, inefficient and irresponsible people, totally unconcerned about the problems that people keep facing every day and which are echoed in the Press, electronic media as also in Gram Sabhas and in the streets of Goa. Frequent power cuts are taking the sweat out of people and seriously affecting the working in offices and industries. The loud mouthed PWD Minister, who promises 24 hour water supply to Goa in less than 2 years, is unable to supply water for even 10 minutes to certain areas in Margao who went without water for over a week, both because of shortage as well as low voltage and power cuts to operate the pumps. People in other parts of Goa, including Verem, Reis Magos, etc have come up with similar complaints.
Surely the worst of the problems Goa is facing is of adulteration of food items and health threatening methods used in improving the yield, preserving or ripening edibles. We had never witnessed the horrendous spectacle of people avoiding the most coveted item in our plates, because it could be laced with formalin. The Health Minister has forfeited the trust of the people, as he failed to initiate action against the fish mafia – the potential murderers of Goans – and taking convincing and stringent steps to avoid recurrence of formalin use. Such an affront will never be forgiven by Goans. Unfortunately, the reaction of the people has been too mild for the magnitude of the crime. Viswajit Rane must realise that hundreds of Goans, including some close to him, are succumbing prematurely to the dreaded cancer and this ought to have worried sensitive humans. But that doesn’t happen because power has gone to their heads. The day may not be far when cancer may hit some of us too. People’s curses could be quite powerful. Let the rulers not invite them upon themselves…
(The author is a
retired banker).
