On December 19th, our beloved state of Goa will turn 60 – a milestone that all Goans would regard as Goa’s Diamond Jubilee year. But 2020 reminds us that while this momentous occasion deserves the honour, our priorities should be to ensure that all Goans are safe, and healthy, and that they should come first before any public gathering; as numerous Goans still suffer the medical, financial and sociological effects of COVID-19.
While I believe, Goa’s 60th anniversary of its liberation should be commemorated. We must do so by paying tribute to the countless frontline medical staff, the civic volunteers and the loved ones we lost, who have given and sacrificed their lives to ‘help liberate us from this pandemic.’ On the contrary, our Chief Minister, Dr. Pramod Sawant is celebrating Goa’s diamond jubilee to capitalize on the upcoming local elections – being completely inconsiderate to any social distancing norms and health concerns.
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As I sit back and think about Goa’s 60th year, I question; What liberation are we celebrating?
Yes, the historical facts are alive and well that 19th December 1961, is the day Goa joined the Republic of India, but the Pramod Sawant government is celebrating an illusion of our history. Since 1961, Goa as a Union Territory missed out on two ‘5-year plans’, and only became a state in 1987. Our contemporary history since 1961 showed that the PEOPLE OF GOA, and our previous government leadership irrespective of party always time and again prioritized Goa First.
Pramod Sawant is the undoer of Goa’s long-lasting efforts and hard work since our liberation. Over the past one year, his actions directed from the national BJP command in Delhi have sought to destroy and tarnish the image, soul and uniqueness of Goa.
Let’s look at the past two weeks itself. The Chief Minister gave directions to place the Ella Village of Old Goa under the Greater Panaji Planning and Development Authority of Goa. We need not be architectural experts to realize the damage this would do the existing UNESCO World Heritage sites such as the Basilica of Bom Jesus, Church of St Francis of Assisi, Se Cathedral, and the Church of Saint Cajetao. Further, how could we as a global tourism destination ever be proud of building new developments just 100 meters away from these sacred sites? Sawant’s move if gone ahead would have damaged not only Goa’s heritage, but our most key tourism offering to our global and historically curious visitors.
On national television, an esteemed journalist questioned the Chief Minister about double tracking regarding to coal transportation. Sawant as you have all seen, vehemently denied that former CM Manohar Parrikar did not oppose double tracking. Thus, came the viral video exposing the CM about his cluelessness of the state of affairs in Goa, but more so ever his cluelessness on the recent history of Goa, which I assume he was part of.
Therefore, what liberation is the CM celebrating? On this 60th year, the Chief Minister sold our river Mhadei to the state of Karnataka, he is selling our NATURAL RESOURCES which belong to the PEOPLE OF GOA, to the DELHI-APPORVED Corporations. He is selling our lands, to the DELHI MAFIA, he is selling our JOBS, AND LIVELIHOODS, to the non-Goans he adopted for his vote-bank. He has sold our treasury and finances to the Center, he is selling our health by not conforming to safety norms, but most importantly he is selling us a Future of Surrender.
On 19th December 2020, Pramod Sawant will not be celebrating our liberation, instead he will be celebrating our surrender.
On the feast of St. Francis Xavier, I was moved by the words of Archbishop Felipe Neri who said, “we need to raise our voice, we cannot say we do not care.” These words still ring loud within me, and as I look at the youth, the elderly, the working class, and the women of our state – I see the look of hope, the face of change, and the determination to improve. I know and believe that in the silence of our hearts we oppose this act of surrender, but due to the fear of political pressures of this government, the people remain quiet.
That time of silence has to end, that fear of “what if” has to go, our call, our voice should be to #SaveGoaNow. We are not going to wait for tomorrow or wait until the elections. We are going to do it NOW! And I am with you, my party is with you, and we will stand by you – until we are liberated from this government’s plan of surrender.
Before we as a people, and state become subject to the wills and fancies of Karnataka and Delhi, let us begin our modern-day journey towards liberation away from this government’s mentality and agenda of surrender. Let us walk on this journey together, and I am eager to get to be part of this ‘new liberation’ with you.
