Many students or lovers of history and there are many in the Aam Aadmi Party, may have read up on the decimation of the Third Reich by the Red Army of the Russians in the world war, as their customary poll time reading. Against all odds the pulverization of Hitler’s army by the rag tag Soviets, who threw caution to the winds and plunged headlong into a confrontation with the Goliath, turned the course of history. The biggest wall of invincibility was breached.
In Delhi, on a tectonic Tuesday, the most decisive mandate in the history of Indian politics since independence was delivered by the people, for the people and of the people, breaking BJP’s invincible wall
This was not a revenge election, since the BJP wasn’t in power in Delhi. This was not a vote for long established parties who have ruled the country. This wasn’t a vote for big names. It was simply an affirmation that power can only be in the hands of the people if the political force that is formed is created by them. And while the nature, the manner and scale of decimation of the arrogance of the BJP which has been knocked off its high horse, reminds us of the fall of Hitler, the people’s victory in Delhi ranks higher in its glory, because every common man in Delhi was a soldier as well as a general who defeated the invincible Narendra Modi army.
As their victory resounded across the country, the AAP in Goa broke into a euphoric song and dance routine. They knew they were opening up the locked alternative space that the people of Goa so badly want to get into. The space for people’s politics, the space against arrogance, the space against failed promises, the space against dangerous communal polarisation of the kind India has seldom seen, whose flames Goans fear will lap our land soon.
These are the challenges Goa faces. And does Goa have a leader, a party, a formation and lastly the collective will of the will to force these changes? Herald believes that while the answer to whether Goa has a leader, party or a formation, is not clear, there is no ambiguity about the fourth issue – the will of the people. In each of you lies the urge to have a party you create, leaders you spot, train and elect, and form policies which flow from you and not told to you. In each of you lies the dream to change the course of the river. In AAP’s victory, people of Goa will dare to dream a bit more. Then some more. Then lot’s more.
Herald, the voice of Goa and Goans for over a century wishes to merely tell you that should you wish to make your paper, a vehicle to propagate this transformation, to be with you in the process, to help plan the blueprint for this revolution, that involves picking the right people at the grassroots, inculcate a peoples agenda and build a grassroots movement, so that the people you pick can become foot soldiers and generals of that movement, your news paper will not let you down.
Newspapers have often stepped back and reported events of history unfold. Herald, as it has done before, wants to get in there, be the change agent and the vehicle to carry the intrinsic dream of peoples’ rule or swarajya. The first leader of our nationalist movement, journalist, lawyer and activist Lokmanya Tilak said “Swarajya – or self rule — is my birthright and I shall have it”.
It is a right that every person who calls Goa his land and home has. And self rule is people’s rule where we groom, nurture and elect our people and our government. We wish to tell Mr Parrikar, this is the real parivartan Goa seeks. And if the people of Goa want us to be the vehicle for this activism, we are there.
The victory of AAP in Delhi may be a catalyst but let us understand that irrespective of this victory the need for a people led change existed anyway. And a change for development and progress can take place only on the bedrock of peace, security and harmony. It cannot happen if there is no law and order, if there are rampant burglaries and break-ins, murders and rapes.
But for all revolutions, there is a tipping point. And the tipping point for Goa, was when churches started getting vandalized in Delhi. Churches and Goa have a relationship which is across religions. Churches share an intrinsic social space in Goa across communities. They and also temples are places not just of worship but of gathering, of celebration, and also places for observing solemnity. When a church or a temple is attacked, it is not a Catholic or a Hindu who gets hurt. A right thinking Goan gets hurt. And when no one from the political class reacts or protests or takes to the streets, people wonder “Are they scared to speak up, or are they too weak to speak up”. And when the Defence Minister and Goa’s former Chief Minister says that the ‘Ghar wapsi (religious re-conversion to Hinduism) would not be allowed to touch Goa, we need to hang our heads in shame. India’s Defence Minster should be speaking for the country. Why didn’t he publicly denounce it in Delhi and say that ghar wapsi will not be allowed in India, period. And why did it take the Goa Catholic Welfare Union to take to the streets or have to meet the Defence Minister for basic protection of their churches. Has it come to this?
While a true people’s government will give us a sense of safety it will also have to follow policies that we lay down. Policies on tourism, education, investments will be made and executed according to a people’s plan. No longer will taxi drivers and shack owners, our sons and brothers have to fight the same people they elected to run their businesses to survive. They do not deserve this humiliation.
If a people’s Government has come to power in Delhi by giving a slap in the face of arrogance, the same can happen in Goa. A government cannot be arrogant. Goa has to have a people’s government which boots out arrogance and brings in swarajya.
It is only then that zero tolerance to corruption will not be slogan but a reality. It is only then that a Chief Minster will not have to say that my TCP department is corrupt from top to bottom. It is only then that the Miramar-Dona Paula road will not be dug to be rebuilt at Rs 70-odd crores, and closed for a year. It is only then bribes will not be asked at every level for every work that you still need to get done.
A new people’s government doesn’t have to be Hindu, or Catholic or Muslim. Democracy has no place for religion based political power. Religious places and people should not hold the strings of political power or politicians. That sadly happens in Goa. Herald salutes Mr Kejriwal for spurning the offer of support of the Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid, saying he wanted ordinary people across religions to support him. We need a party that does the same. A people’s government in Goa will proudly stay away from any religious influence, connect or support.
Brothers and sisters of Goa, the choice is yours. If this is the kind of government you want, crave and need, then create it, then work for it, then make it happen. And as we have said, should you wish for Herald to drive this change through its journalism, we will be your proud and dedicated partners, who will not sit on the fence but be on the ground.
Let’s change Goa together.
Please mail feedback and suggestions at editor@herald-goa.com with the subject line ‘People’s parivartan’
