“Development” seems to be the new mantra of our politicians to justify their indignant and disgraceful merger into a party not only with a totally different ideology, but which they have been fiercely opposing for years. Goa had earlier earned a bad reputation for defections, but now appears to have perfected in this art, much to our misfortune and shame. And with most parties delighting in poaching, laws to prevent it will never change.
“Development” was also the excuse for betrayals in 2017. But with the then CM known to be keeping dossiers of all MLAs and swords hanging on the heads of the errant ones, it could well also be that they were warned of possible consequences of being on the other side of the fence. The same “development” is now being used as justification for the present merger of a Congress section into BJP by none other than the Chief Minister and Opposition Leader. This has been the bait held to pull people on ruling side. In an honest and just democracy or Government all constituencies must have a fair share of development. Funds used for this are public money and not some private feud of the ruling Party. At this rate, there will be no Opposition anywhere. This is what is being aimed at by demolishing all Opposition and heading for a one party rule. So, why then waste money on elections? Only to proclaim to the world that we are the world’s largest democracy?
What happened now was anticipated much earlier, the sole objective being to keep the earlier traitors at bay, with whom BJP was not comfortable. Though an unfortunate development, it serves them right. But it does not augur well for Goa. How dare do representatives of staunch anti-BJP constituencies merge into BJP, not only making a mockery of but treating their electorate as dirt! The cowards had no guts to resign and contest again, for they knew what their fate would be. Hence, this stunt. Such treachery is nothing short of debauchery. It should never go unpunished, irrespective of the development it may bring to their constituencies. By now, Goa ought to have risen in protest, but nothing of that sort will happen. And, instead of dispatching such people home for good, never to raise their heads again, we may even re-elect them. For us, unfortunately, what matters is our personal interest or the development of the constituency.
Our new CEO is quite young but with little experience in politics. He needs to tread cautiously, despite the brute majority he now has. There are many dissenting voices in his Party and he may now face even more. His tenure did not start on a very pleasant note. A video went immediately viral reminding Goans that a stern warning had earlier been issued to those saying “Viva Portugal”. Soon thereafter, came another caution to those saying “Pakistan Zindabad”. Since there were no reports of such slogans anywhere, many wondered why such unprovoked and unwarranted veiled threats. And it required no intelligence to decipher which communities were being targeted. In fact, the very man who had sought an apology from the Portuguese PM, during his visit to the land of his origin, did not hesitate to run to Portugal, at Government expense, apparently to study some water supply system. Further, Portugal is now a friendly country and the Government ought to be happy that Portugal is indirectly providing employment in Europe to job starved Goans and their exodus will help the ruling party better its prospects.
There is presently a feeling on uneasiness and unhappiness among Goans. This is evident in protests, Press Conferences and Gram sabhas, even in predominantly BJP strongholds. The main reason is that Goans feel they are not being taken into confidence on issues that concern and affect them and the Government tries to bulldoze its way, mostly bowing to pressures from Delhi. Another is that the trust of the people in the Government’s honesty, integrity, sincerity, capabilities, efficiency, effectiveness, etc, is diminishing by the day.
It would be long to dwell on various issues like CZMP, marinas, Mini India Park, etc, which are worrying Goans. But what should truly concern the Government is the feeling of alienation among Goans. Realising the threat to original Goans and their identity, very much evident in the promotion and appeasement of migrant vote-bank by politicians, a new outfit REVOLUTIONARY GOANS, consisting mostly of youth, have drafted and pleaded for a Bill to be tabled in the Assembly, defining Persons of Goan Origin (POGO). Though the proposed Bill may look too farfetched, considering that only those who or whose parents or grandparents were born 20.12.1961 are to be treated as POGO and eligible for most benefits, the very formation of such a group and their objectives denote a sense of dissatisfaction among a section of Goans, particularly the young, who see a bleak future for them in Goa. This feeling is not totally unjustified and cannot be ignored, coming as it does from young people who feel frustrated at the second class treatment meted out to them, in their own land. The group is not born in Salcete, where many movements start, but in North Goa, with a reasonably large following. It is definite to gather support and momentum due to its objectives. It is for the Government not to allow it to turn into a fascist organisation like some which exist in some States. If Government decides to ignore the group or its justified fears, it will do at its own risk.
(The author is a retired banker)
