Don’t rake issues that are 5 centuries old; but those that haven’t been solved for Goans for the last 5 years

We are less than two months away from the Assembly elections. All Goans are looking forward and praying for governance which is all about them. A people’s government that would address issues that many proud Goans do not speak up about, because of their dignity, but shed silent tears in private. And these are issues that matter Dear CM. And we hope you know about them, and they matter more than rebuilding temples by the Portuguese, a project that you have asked the support of Goans.
No government from the time of Dayanand Bandodkar and to the current BJP government has given a call to rebuild temples destroyed by the Portuguese, 500 years ago
Firstly, all Goans cutting across communities are left wondering why an issue which is five centuries old, which has mixed opinions and strong ones, irrespective of what the real ground situation was, has become a priority for the Chief Minister knowing fully well these two things: a) Rebuilding temples desecrated by the Portuguese has not been a part of the political discourse of the BJP or any party, in any elections they contested in this century. No government from the time of Dayanand Bandodkar and through the years to the current BJP government has given a call to rebuild temples destroyed by the Portuguese regime and b) With its clear religious overtones, a statement like this will strike a sensitive chord between communities and has the potential to cause worry and disturbance in society among communities. Will
the Chief Minister himself want even a small section of Goan society which is disturbed and feels polarised?
Importantly, we are not looking into the real facts of history and doing fact checks on the issue of the destruction of temples because historians, political scientists, heritage conservationists, and scholars in Goa and Portugal have delved deep into this. That is not the purpose here. It is specifically and solely on why Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, had to bring this issue up at a time when he should be preparing to answer questions, he will face about the way his party has governed in the last five years. It will be fair to ask if a sensitive issue that could polarise sections of two communities, was deliberately floated to take the attention away from more real and serious questions about governance.
Goa’s peace and harmony are well established. Goa’s commitment to love and not hatred has been established.
Governments headed by Chief Ministers and ministers of different faiths have worked harmoniously. This Chief Minister’s own government had a majority of minority MLAs. Why did no Chief Minister, including those governments ruled by the MGP ever think of raising it? And the reason is simple. Everybody who wanted a Goa of the future where progress, prosperity, identity, growth, and the fulfillment of aspirations, looked ahead and not behind. They looked at the present and the future and not the past. Was dragging an issue of the past bang in the middle of an election campaign, under the cover of Goa’s 60th year of Liberation, the right thing to do?
The Chief Minister may also have not had any intention to do this and had meant that beautiful temples like Shri Mahalasa Narayani Temple in the Verna Industrial Estate should be built. But the context that was the backdrop of this statement of the Chief Minister, made at the Mangueshi temple, was about setting right a centuries-old wrong, according to him. An occupant of that Chair would have been better advised that a CM of Goa, is bound by oath and convention to speak about just one culture – a people’s culture (Sanskriti) and not Hindu or temple Sanskriti.
So, what is the Sanskriti that the Chief Minister should have asked the people’s support for instead of support for a temple or Hindu culture?
A culture of no corruption, employment, protection of identity, jobs, love, and no hatred. A culture where Goa’s environment, the protection of its forests and rivers, of its hillsides and beaches, protection from megaprojects that suck the groundwater and lead to the construction of gated communities, with homes that Goans cannot afford to buy. A culture where hardworking Goan parents would be confident that a good education would secure the right career in Goa and even government jobs given on merit and not by paying bribes which would make them lose all their life’s savings. A culture where Goans working here would not leave their jobs and go out of the State to earn more and live in tough conditions abroad and send money back home. A money transfer economy is a sign of a State which does not provide opportunities for its people. Should that be a bigger priority for any government?
Shouldn’t the CM also think of promising a culture of no corruption?
Goa is known as one of the most corrupt States. A sitting Governor and former Governor of Goa has called this government corrupt on all fronts. Corruption has eaten into our very system where bribe giving and taking is the norm and not the exception. Corruption has taken merit out of the system replaced by the power of money and only money. Goans would have really loved and respected the CM if he had said that he would like the people’s support to remove the culture of corruption from Goa.
Honourable CM, a true Goan doesn’t like anything that causes disharmony, this is a time for unity, not division
Goa and all Goans must be the topmost priority for any head of State or government. And for that, you need social fusion and togetherness. It is now for the CM to decide and introspect if his remarks have contributed to harmony or distress or towards raising the real issues concerning Goans.