Aikat, aikat, aikat; mogall bhavam ani bhoinninu, ho avaz Goencho! This sweet sound of Konkani campaigning will soon come to an end in Goa a few days from now and we shall be walking to our respective polling booth to vote for a new government that will ensure us good governance upholding democracy and constitutional freedom. We have seen what Goa has gone through for the last five years. It’s now time to say: Enough is enough. Let us eliminate discrimination, fanaticism, communalism and deception. These have no place in our civilized educated society which embraces secular thinking and harmonious living as human beings that must coexist with love and touch of humanity.
Should we reflect on the number of speeches our politicians were making, we will realise their pattern hasn’t changed to bring about a change in good governance, instead what one will infer is that they have made good speakers, par excellence, to convince the electorate to fall for themselves to vote them to power after which they will forget what they have spoken and go their ways doing the things they want to do to satiate their vested interest. Hence what one needs to do is study a candidate worthy of being voted who will serve the State and deliver governance to the people as per their expectations.
We observed politicians of different hues have fragmented in various groups to form parties of their own with misleading manifestos that doesn’t spell out common interests for the good of Goa and Goans. Our interest is unity to live with a common agenda to protect our identity, language, culture and future of the next generation that is coming; development that will protect our nature and environment for the future generations to remember us with gratitude and be thankful for the inheritance we pass unto them to inherit.
A keen observer remarked: We have seen the strength of our country on Republic Day, we heard our President and the Prime Minister speak; what they didn’t spell out was peace, the most powerful weapon to keep India and its citizens united in love and brotherhood.
Here is our choice: the 2017 assembly elections. It reminds us, as well, of 1967 when Goa was in a dilemma, but we made the right decision. This election too, having walked that long, 50 years, we realise instead of progressing, our politicians have deteriorated in quality. Let us vote decisively not swayed by speeches, schemes and self interest, but with unanimous mind in the interest of Goa and for the future of Goans.
