We are on the threshold of general elections. There are genuine apprehensions in the minds of those who wish India well that democratic and secular values may suffer irreversibly if NDA comes back to power, as the trailer of such a situation is being witnessed by us already.
Deliberate misinterpretation of statements made by opposing parties has become the norm. Even our CM dared misinterpret our Archbishop’s clear direction to his flock to vote for secular forces as an appeal to vote for BJP.
Rahul Gandhi also put a preposterous question to ED as to why the CM of Kerala was not arrested in the gold smuggling scam involving his Secretary, just as Kejriwal & Soren were. Both Congress and LDF, ruling Kerala, are part of INDIA alliance. Rahul and others need to hold their tongues to avoid dissensions, when unity is most needed and when several parties, even with opposing ideologies, have come together to defeat divisive and undemocratic forces.
Modi, sadly, displays his dislike for Muslims. He chooses to misinterpret Congress statements and manifesto when he says, “They (Congress) will take all your wealth and distribute it among those who have more children … among infiltrators.”
Further, appealing to the masses’ emotions, he blatantly warns that even their gold and mangalsutras will be taken away to be distributed. Such loose and mischievous talk has unfortunately been tolerated from BJP MLAs and MPs, but to hear this from the PM of a prestigious country like India, is to stoop very low and is surely demeaning and shameful for our country and its citizens.
In Goa, Modi chose to be in comfortable non-Goan surroundings in Sancoale, as he would be uncomfortable in answering Goans’ concerns. Surely we wanted him to speak on issues which we are most worried about and which have been the cause of our regular and consistent protests, like Mhadei, transportation of coal, double tracking, nationalisation of rivers, etc. But he preferred not to touch any of them, even if it was to provide some justification, as we all know that these projects have been taken up under his directions. But neither he, nor the candidate he personally picked up, made any reference to them. Another topic which was conveniently ignored by the PM and about which his candidates in Goa prefer remaining silent is of unemployment, which has compelled the exodus of thousands of Goans to foreign countries, in search of jobs. One wonders why the PM took the trouble of coming to Goa, when he did not utter a word on issues which have been giving Goans sleepless nights and of which we all know that he is the principal architect.
The PM tried buttering us by saying that Goa has a special place for him, as it was in this State that he was selected to lead the country in 2014 elections. But Goans have surely not forgotten that it was also here that Modi himself promised us Special Status, further expressing his satisfaction that we wanted it to maintain our special identity and not for financial gains. Not only did he go back on his promise, as he did with many others, prior to 2014, but he confined to the bin the unanimous resolution on Special Status of Goa’s Legislative Assembly.
