A year ahead of the Assembly elections, the Goan people are deeply cynical about government, politics and the local elected leaders. Goa has become a seething cauldron of anger and frustration. The people are growing weary of the BJP’s continuous destructive policies, closed-door agendas and lies. Public discourse is the lifeblood of a healthy democracy, but when the people believe lawmakers are led by lobbyists with special interests, faith in government takes a dive. And that has exactly happened in Goa.
Currently, a majority of Goans say they can’t trust the government and elected MLAs are held in low regard. The BJP government has been working on the other side of the fence, not accessible to the general public. Most Goans want the government to play a major role in solving issues dear to our hearts to protect Goan identity, protect the environment and enhance education. Most citizens do not like the way the government has been handling many of the issues, and are critical of its handling of others too, especially concerning the destructive policies.
A few recent examples where the BJP government has bulldozed issues in its favour despite objections from stakeholders has frustrated the people. The issues of Amdai Distillery in Sanguem, the forcible imposition of DefExpo at Naqueri, Quitol in Quepem taluka, the burying of the Tiracol report that was painstakingly done exposing fraud on the part of the government, the failure to pass the Medium of Instruction Bill are some issues where the government has gone against the people’s wishes. The biggest bolt of disappointment came when the coconut tree Bill was hastily passed declassifying the tree. The coconut tree has been an iconic symbol of Goa on the international map.
The divide between the present BJP government and the people remains wider than River Zuari. Among the people a majority say they should have a major role in dealing with issues concerning Goa and its development. Currently, the voices of the people are choked or suppressed, the hidden agendas of the BJP government are exposed, bills are passed against the people’s wishes with no proper debate in the Assembly. The people of Goa should have a major role in managing the State, the government should supervise the smooth functioning of the bureaucracy but things are working in the opposite direction where government works against the wishes of the people and the bureaucracy is used as a seal of approval on their plans. The frustration has grown up over the last four years of BJP’s government.
While the present functioning of the government has exposed sharp partisan divisions within the ruling dispensation, no one dares to open his mouth due to skeletons in their cupboards. Flamboyant and pompous festivals and celebrations are held in Goa now and then, huge amounts of money are spent on decorating the streets to give it an “all well” look. But the government fails to spend on health care, education and eradication of poverty.
The State is burdened with ill-conceived ideas and autocratic implementation of disastrous projects rejected by the people. People are beginning to find the government as its enemy with badly managed policies. For years, the people feelings about the government have tended more towards frustration and anger. These sentiments have not changed over the past years, there is a huge trust deficit. Goans are now feeling like losers on their own soil.
