JOSE MARIA MIRANDA
Within six months or little more, Goa will go to the polls to elect a new Legislative Assem bly. As responsible citizens, deeply concerned about the future of our Goa, we ought to ensure that we elect repre sentatives who will look after and protect our State and its inhabitants. However, every time elec tions approach, we seem to tally unprepared to face the electorate, though we are ever keen and, in fact, determined to ensure change, as the pres ent government, far from ful filling our aspirations, has of ten and regularly been acting against our interests. Seeing the Opposition’s un preparedness, elections may even be called earlier. We are generally blamed for electing the wrong peo ple.
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However, we know it, only too well, that we have no say, in the choice of can didates, especially when they belong to a political party. Even if we express our frank views on any probable can didate, we are bound to be ignored, because other con siderations weigh more. We have often heard of some requisites imposed by some parties to allot tickets. We do not vouch for the veracity of this allegation. But, for good reasons, we cannot discard it either. Experience has made Goans sceptical about the character and honesty of par ties and ticket aspirants. We have been assured that past defectors will not be given tickets, but we also have rea sons to suspect that charac terless people and possible defectors might have their way. What happens thereaf ter is anyone’s guess, as we have learnt enough bitter les sons.
We couldn’t be happier if our guesses and suspicions are eventually proved wrong and we sincerely hope and pray they are. Of course, after the last two defections, there is no way parties can guarantee any one’s loyalty. India is going through a serious crisis of character and, to our eternal shame, Goa is considered one of the leading States in defec tions. We had also topped, in the past, among most corrupt small States. Allegations of lack of transparency, in fi nancial dealings, are quite common. Outsiders are pre ferred to Goans in allotting contracts, for reasons well known to us. The terms and conditions are generally a guarded secret. The AI traffic lights and cameras have been installed, at some unneces sary junctions, not for traffic discipline but for increas ing revenue and extortion. Major accidents occur, not on highways but on district roads, where stringent dis cipline needs to be enforced and traffic lights and cameras installed, wherever possible and necessary. Complaints in the Directorate of Vigilance against public officials aver age over one per day.
All this and much more are blots on our State, which once boast ed of high levels of honesty and integrity among its in habitants. Our concern now is not only the choice of candi dates but how united the Opposition is. It has, failed in capitalising on the huge an ti-incumbency wave, which is presently sweeping Goa. People have neither forgot ten nor forgiven the BJP for the blunders they commit ted to the detriment of Goa. But people won’t forgive the Opposition, either, for wast ing this golden opportunity of exposing the misdeeds of the government and rally ing behind the affected peo ple. There were, no doubt, a few half-hearted attempts at support, but concerted, com mitted and massive efforts at putting the government on the mat were missing on the ground. The people of Goa, without wearing any party identity, spontaneously and bravely responded to the calls of the affected. An initiative by the united Opposition to have a mam moth gathering to protest against various pressing and momentous issues afflicting us—like Section 39A, Karapur, coal, double tracking, Panjim Park, casinos, deaths in road accidents and many others— would have given the BJP the jitters. The strongest party in the Opposition, the Congress, does not seem to have learnt any lessons, despite heavy reverses, nor has it stopped taking their voters for grant ed. I will avoid dwelling much on its change of guard in Goa, which, for various valid reasons, has turned controversial.
But effecting it without informing the in cumbent or consulting the local workers and leaders was, in my view, not only highly discourteous but also a sign of arrogance and im maturity on the part of what goes by the pompous name of High Command. It would also appear that the Con gress still considers many as their mundkars, who have nowhere else to go. This flawed thinking, if it exists, must go, unless you wish to face a debacle. We beg of parties and as piring candidates to keep Goa’s interests above your own if you really love Goa and are passionate about preserving what we inherited and passing it on to present and future generations. Let us, for once, be selfless, true and faithful to our land and our people, who have suf fered enough at the hands of greedy and heartless rulers. Let us stop overestimating ourselves as likely winners, and contest, unless your pur pose is to eat into the votes of a possible winner or desira ble candidate.
To the political parties in Goa, a humble and fervent appeal, with folded hands and bent knees: Unite for the sake of our land and our people. Goa needs you at this critical juncture. Leave the past aside. Forgive and forget what has been said. Shed your egos and aspira tions. Think of Goa and make compromises and sacrifices. These are not easy, we know. Give and take, are needed for the sake of our future. Seat adjustments are extremely difficult and always the bone of contention, which may make someone walk out. Grievances could be genuine or be excuses to call off unity talks. Goans will remember the leaders’ efforts and sac rifices, if any, to forge unity. However, should this not happen, which will eventually result in handing the reins of power, on a platter, to our en emies, Goans will never ever forgive you and will never for get this treason. Goans want and demand unity, no matter the cost. We are not interested in excuses and justifications. We have been fooled enough. Stop the betrayal of Goa. Goa and only Goa matters. Beware, Goa is watching you. (The author is a retired banker)
