The poet Charles Baudelaire once quipped that, “The finest trick of the devil is to persuade you, that he does not exist,” and that is exactly what the Government of Goa did for so long when it came to the DefExpo 2016. Despite the people of Goa being against the DefExpo, the Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar’s handpicked puppet government arm twisted and went to great lengths to please the U-turn Defence Minister. This can be seen among the remarkable unity displayed by his ‘specially favored’ in the government and personal friends “cronies” when it came to supporting the DefExpo.
The DefExpo fiasco saw the government assuring Goans in every press conference that the DefExpo venue was not a permanent one. Activists and press red carded the government’s assurances by putting across facts and figures showing that the DefExpo venue was a permanent venue. The Quitol Village Panchayat had also categorically stated that the government had not taken permission from them to hold the event. The Goa government turned around and shot down these facts, stating lies were being spread by activists, villagers as well as the press and that facts put out were incorrect and deceiving. On March 18 a leading daily stated, “Papers tabled on the floor of the House reveal that the State had already passed a resolution to give land in Quitol on a permanent basis to host DefExpo and Aero show,” the fiasco concluded. This brought to light that the Goa government intentionally tweaked information and hid from the Goans the ‘Truth.’
Again on March 24, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar has been quoted saying that Quitol would be made the permanent venue, “Only after speaking to the people. “ This statement is contrary to a letter written on July 7, 2015 by Under Secretary, Industries, of Goa government to the Secretary, Department of Defence procurement, “Conveying in principle approval of the Goa government for the allotment of land ‘on a permanent basis’ for organizing both the Defexpo and the Aero show.”
Why does Parsekar want to talk to the people now about Quitol being a permanent venue or not? In the beginning when villagers and activists approached him, he was not ready to speak to them or take into consideration their views. Parsekar and the BJP-led government have forgotten that it is the people of Goa who voted to bring them to power; and they need to reciprocate the trust of the people by taking them into confidence. It is not upto the government to decide if the venue for the DefExpo should be permanent or not at Quitol, but the people.
Further it was surprising to hear the defence secretary, talking about the Quitol land rather than the DefExpo exhibition. This makes me wonder, if the Government of Goa, understands what an expo is or is just trying to manipulate to give land to the Defence like it has done in many parts of Goa. In my articles in the past I have clearly mentioned that the DefExpo can be held in Goa, but in areas where infrastructure is already in place. Like arms and ammunition can be displayed at the Dabolim airport which is partly occupied by the Navy. Similarly there are many areas around Goa which are occupied and unused by the armed forces, which could have been utilised to hold the DefExpo, rather than re-inventing the wheel. Nowhere in the world have defence expos’ been held a particular place or one location.
From the beginning Parrikar and his circle sought to create a regime ruled by a close-knit section, when it came to the DefExpo. There are many questions that have been left unanswered. Like how many Goan companies are involved or are participating in the DefExpo? The Government of Goa and the Goa Chamber of Commerce (GCCI) should have held an open discussion with Goan businessmen about the feasibility on the type of ‘Made in India,’ Goa or Goans would be involved in during the DefExpo event or after it. One cannot help but wonder if the DefExpo event is an opportunity for Parrikar and his cronies to have exclusive participation.
On Infrastructure, initially it was informed that the Goa government would not be spending any amount on organizing the DefExpo. Later it was learnt that the Goan taxpayers’ money was being spent to create infrastructure for the event. What right has the government got to spend our money? When we are not going to get anything in return. Was there a proper business plan in place? What revenue will the state receive from the DefExpo in return for the expenditure it has done as of today? The GIDC further lost an opportunity to generate revenue for itself, when instead of floating an event company to handle the DefExpo, it handed over the event management to the Defence.
The government when confronted with the truth denied everything. Even worse, they mocked their accusers and their findings. It is pathetic; that the peoples’ representation holds no interest of the government.
For Parsekar, being a crony of Manohar Parrikar got him the golden throne of Chief Ministership; and to keep it, he had to prove his loyalty, which he did when it came to the DefExpo. But what Parsekar does not realize is that people of Goa cannot tolerate being lied to.
In the end, may the interest of the state supersede personal ego and may common sense prevail!
(Vito Gomes has also been actively involved in many business ventures globally – where the core business has been aviation.)
