Goa, being comparatively a very tiny state, have had relatively negligible representation in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha and in today’s number game it is considered to be in-effective to exercise pressure on asking for bigger share of representation in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha or step up pressure for lucrative portfolios.
All Goans will agree with me that for the first time in the history of Goa, solid representation had been given by Modi while forming his own government in the Center. Getting inducted Parrikar as a Defence Minister in his council of Cabinet Ministers shows Modi’s confidence in Parrikar, the powerful Defence Portfolio is in no way a small gift to Goans. This is the first time Goa had a powerful minister at the Center and being a Defence Minister naturally he maintains closer ties with all Ministries in Delhi.
Earlier, in Congress regime, very few faces were visibly seen at the helm of affairs in Delhi and they could hardly exercise any pressure for getting benefits to Goa from the Center. If any past governments wants to boast about their achievement in Goa, particularly Congress, it will be a sheer waste of time to debate. Yes, indeed, all Congress leaders flourished over a period of time, leaving the people of Goa deprived of many benefits that they rightfully deserved.
I appeal to Parrikar for not doing the same mistakes as Congress leaders did in the past. Being a Defence Minister of India, his reach and contacts are wider in different ministries in Delhi and it is certainly easier for Goa government to approach and get more benefits from the Center. All Goans have felt proud when Parrikar became the Defence Minister. People of Goa have pinned higher hopes and greater expectations from Parrikar and he must leave upto their expectations. Being in the Center as a Goan – Defence Minister he must do lot of good things for Goa, in co-ordination with the present Goa government led by his own Party – BJP, which should bring progress in Goa and good name to Parrikar. Let the Goa Government take the advantage, prepare a list of demands and put forward through Parrikar without any hesitation. If not now then when?
