On the all India scenario Modi assumed power in May 2014 amidst disenchantment and disgust amongst the people of the country towards the perceived, “series of scams” indulged by the UPA-II government under Manmohan Singh. The Congress, between 2009 to 2014 was perceived as a corrupt and a non-performing political party, and thus their strength in the house of 543 members of parliament was reduced to a mere 43 MPs.
It must be acknowledged too that in 2014 the people of India not only decisively “voted” the Congress out of power, but voted for the Narendra Modi’s BJP government with great hopes and aspirations. That India has finally found a Messiah and a prophet of good governance was our belief. Up to mid-2018, the BJP then was riding high on the Modi tidal wave. Even the disastrous “Demonetisation exercise” of Nov 2016 did not disillusion the Indians at large. Although people of India suffered hardships, torture, loss of jobs and even their lives and livelihoods, people felt that India in the long run would benefit at large. But by March, 2019 sadly each and every utterance of Modi, prior to 2014 and up to mid-2018, seemed questionable. No black money had been recovered but those with black money and involved in the banking loots are today living luxurious lives in a foreign country. Let alone the Rs 15 lakhs of black money into our individual accounts, over Rs lakhs of crores of money deposited even by the poorest of poor of our country, have been usurped by banks as charges for not maintaining a minimum balance. The zero balance accounts which were opened by Narendra Modi to help the poor people to enter the banking system have in reality been used by the banks to wipe of their non-performing assets or deposits. The depositors were later told to keep a minimum balance or else lose the money they deposited, which in reality was a “Jan Dhan” disaster for the poor of our country. Almost all the currency notes issued by the RBI of over Rs 18,00,000 crore entered the banking system. None of the hundreds of slogans and schemes, which Modiji introduced, were in the interest of the people, more specially the common man. The Aadhar card and GST which Modi condemned whilst he was in the opposition, was introduced with a vengeance against the will of the people.
The spying and prying on people left India scared and crying. Fundamentalists, pseudo nationalists were left loose to torture and even kill the rationalists and the creative Indian minds. The skill India is today a “Kill Indian economy, culture and diverse identity”. Monolithic and unilateralism seems to be the new mantra, wherein we are told what we should eat, or how we should dress. In short one Nation, one Culture, one Religion, one Identity. Everything directed to be in Unison and directed to conform to uniformity.
Fundamentalist Sadhvis and Sadhus specialised in polarising on religious lines and spewing venom against the minorities are fielded by the BJP in the ensuing elections. The focus on development is totally forgotten as Modi in the last 5 years increased joblessness, shielded anti-minority hate mongers and suppressed creativity, research and free speech. That HAL a public sector company was bypassed and Anil Ambani’s newly formed company with no experience in the manufacture of aircraft given the contract and the Euros over HAL’s experience tell the people of India, loud and clear that the Rafale deal is a major scam of the Modi government. If the 2G, and the coal gate scams unseated the UPA-II in 2014, the alleged mega scam of Narendra Modi would surely catapult the majority BJP government out of power.
On the Goa front too we have an uneasy calm as to the results of the four by-polls will determine.
In Goa too the writings on the wall are clearly visible. There are serious problems left unaddressed by the badly stitched government of the BJP in Goa which has assumed the name of the “U-turn” BJP government. The people of Goa surely would not forgive the BJP for taking the people for a ride on the mining issue. The nationalisation of Goan Rivers, the dubious Sagarmala project linked to coal imports which are polluting Goa are serious problems which remained on for over 7 long years since 2012. The casinos over River Mandovi are not only polluting the Mandovi river but churning out white money from the black economy
The green field airport at MOPA surely does not address the problems of the locals as well as the impact it would have on the ecosystem and environment of Goa. The mega garbage treatment plant at Saligao which treats 100 tonnes of garbage for a price of Rs.13,00,000 per day, leaving entire Saligao and four coastal villages in Bardez in a quandary and disgusting stench would also come to haunt the BJP in this election. Finally, the CoP terminal at the Panjim jetty, enabling the gambling industry to proliferate would also adversely affect the BJP. This terminal building project not only disturbs the Panjim residents but will adversely affect the estuarine and marine biodiversity, pollute Mandovi River. Putting up a building on the seaward side of the main road leading towards a river is wrong and illegal especially in a Heritage Zone of Panjim city.
Both the MPs of the BJP have failed miserably in Goa to meet people’s aspirations hence the packing off of the BJP, both in Goa as well as at the Centre now seems a distinct possibility.
Goa seems poised to overhaul and change hands of power. My crystal ball says it all. By the end of May, 2019 Goa and India will fully witness the political and the sociological churn.
(The writer is a Retired University Professor and an Environmental Activist)
