As Goa is approaching its assembly elections, the pitch of political dialogue has become more and more loud and sharper. As days go by, it will be worse and even worser. Hope this high pitch rhetoric and the resultant spread of hatred does not end up in some political murders and black mailing as it happens in some of the States of India, Goa seems to be approaching this kind of public venom spitting and enmity.
In the last 60 years of Goa’s journey in democracy, Goa has been subject to 12 assembly elections. During this season, Goa also experienced President’s rule at least five times. If during these 60 years’ time if anyone could categorise some elements of good governance in Goa it was only for a short period of 120 days of President’s rule, during the tenure of Lieutenant General Jack Farj Rafael Jacob, as the Governor.
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This speaks volumes about Goa’s politicians, their intentions and their abilities, attitudes and capabilities, despite all their hyped up propaganda otherwise.
Time has come, when all these political gimmicks have become intolerable to the common people of Goa, That’s why every family or small social gatherings or civic receptions the conversation invariably turns around the fact of destruction of Goa by their politicians. Unfortunately in recent times these discussions on such occasions and now in social media is bordering around hatred and condemnation of people and communities merely based on their idea or support to a particular outfit. It’s no longer a friendly chat, but enmity and hatred is being built up. This has to stop.
Now with the next Goa assembly elections approaching, the pitch of all these discussions as a result of the elections phenomena of more and more political parties emerging in Goa and, new candidates coming up, newer and newer allegations against each other, the pitch has become so high and dangerous that people generally are not only fed up but disgusted with all these hyped up propaganda and the most unfortunate aspect being, those who have indulged in the raunchiest of corrupt practices as crying horse at the present ruling disposition about corruption.
From all these discourses, one thing is crystal clear, not just the major issue but the only issue in Goa is really corruption. One wonders did Goa ever have a non-corrupt Government?
Look at the manifesto of the political parties in Goa for the past 123 elections, none of them have ever fulfilled even 50% of their promises but yet they continue to make manifestoes? What for? The only answer seems to be, that, it is the only accepted way to hoodwink or fool the electorate.
Yes, all their election rhetoric was to be limited to their manifesto at least the whole exercise of electioneering would have been within the tolerable limits. The normal process is that the manifesto is released with much pomp and publicity at the beginning of the electioneering, in the presence of some party big wigs, then in the constituency level campaigning the manifestoes are forgotten, what remains is the continues spitting of venom against the other candidates, then it trickles down to caste, community religion, etc, and finally elections days or nearby days , there is huge flow of cash, some places some goods and even booze, some occasions even threats.
The question is why the electorate should be victimised with all these torturous procedures election after election?
After six decades of democracy in Goa and after seven decades in other parts of India, time has come for the electorate, we the people to lay down the rules of this game of election.
Once at the 25th year of the Republic while addressing a public meeting a famous lawyer, late Nani Palkivala stated “I wonder, how our politician managed to keep a country so endowed with natural resources, and abundant human resources of diverse nature, so poor even after 25 years of its freedom” (The writer was personally present at the gathering as an audience).
The only reason for the country’s continued poverty and destruction of a rich State like Goa is corruption.
The only time the citizens can act decisively and collectively, is at the time of election and any attempt at any other time will be futile.
Goa is a small state with plenty of resources but grossly mismanaged, Goa does not require experts, or financial wizards to bring its economy on track, Goa only requires honest decision makers, who will not consider their personal interests while deciding State’s interests. Goa needs politicians who are non-corrupt, who will not derive any sort of personal benefit by the exercise of their powers, either for themselves or their family. Goa needs politicians who will be fully happy and satisfied with the salary they are entitled and of course the allowances. They need to promise by solemn oath and in public and in writing that they will not derive any sort of personal benefit, what so ever during their term except what they are legally entitled. They need to assure the people that they will derive absolutely nothing else using their position.
The people of Goa, should now insist from every candidate contesting the election a solemn written promise that they will not receive any, and absolutely any person benefit or favour and if found doing so they will quit their position within 24 hours. The people should display a notice in their locality and in their houses informing that any candidate who does not make such a solemn promise, not to approach them for their votes.
If the Goan electorate can do this Goa will be the first State in the history of India to have a non-corrupt government.
(The writer is a
professor of law)
