TEAM HERALD
Panjim: As the Goa assembly session begins today, the opposition Congress should have been well armed to taken on the BJP- led government, as it completes half its tenure.
However, the Congress appears to be divided right through the middle and does not seem to be in any shape to take on the government and the BJP, buoyed by the resounding victory in the recent Lok Sabha elections.
The leader of the opposition, normally not very vocal or critical of the government, faces two FIRs and is in court trying to get anticipatory bail.
The lack of will or preparedness of the Congress was evident in its decision to shelve its ambitious plan to prepare a charge-sheet against the government and carry out agitation programmes during the session.
But there is indeed much to discuss, agitate against and oppose. Your newspaper has divided the issues the Congress should have raised but may not quite and leave it to independent opposition MLAs like Fatorda MLA Vijay Sardesai in 3 categories- issues that “Can’t wait, “Need urgent attention”, and “Need attention”. While the latter two categories will evoke some heat and discussion, Manohar Parrikar needs to realise that he needs to answer to the people of Goa on the “Can’t Wait” issues. They are the new Mining Policy, Regional Plan, the compensation paid for Land Acquisition for the Mopa airport and supply of power.
