GOA DIVIDED OVER ISSUES OF SECULARISM VERSUS COMMUNALISM by Dr. Joe D’Souza

There are plenty of issues genuinely dogging the state of Goa and its people. The main opposition in the Goa legislative assembly, has to pull up their socks and confront the ills which are plaguing Goan society. They should also tackle societal problems involving maladministration and the deterioration in the living standards of the people, due to increase in corruption and bad governance.

The BJP should know and feel the pulse of the common man and must not be led astray by squeals and random barking by “strays” in the Goan society. They have done nothing for the people at large, but have only specialised themselves as parasites. The Goan exchequer has been fleeced by some who pose as freedom fighters. They have also flogged the dead horse of Portuguese colonialism by using pseudo “Indian Nationalism”.

The lame duck and sterile protests patronised by the BJP. before the “anchored NRP Sagres III “ in Vasco Bay in the second week of November, while the ship was on a goodwill visit, was totally uncalled for, and at best, could be dubbed as an act of “self styled” patriotism. The BJP should realise that true, genuine patriots and freedom fighters are long dead and gone and many of whom have not accepted the “dole” from the government treasury or have demanded benefits for their children or successive generations.

The BJP should have also refrained from joining hands with “timber- smugglers,” during the erstwhile Portuguese era, who pose as freedom fighters, just because they were in jail for criminal offences, along with those who fought for autonomous Goan rule. “Tell me your company, and I will tell you what you are” is an adage, which BJP stalwarts should endeavour to learn from.

The mistakes, which moderates among the BJP forces makes time and again, is that while proposing goodwill to the minorities, it continues to dance with fanatics to the tune of rabid Hindutava and self-styled patriotism. Are Goan minorities fools or are they blind to the acts of rabid BJP elements and their associates?

I would like to stress here that it was the British that united India as a state from hundreds of its princely states and kingdoms, as much as it was the Portuguese, who were responsible to keep Goan identity and culture and retain its unique form, which makes us Goans, proud of Goa.

If Nehru has said; “Ajeeb hai ye Goa ke log”; it is because of the impressions left on our character, with our association with the Portuguese. Come on BJP, understand the realities of globalisation and liberalisation and do not go into liberation with those squinted self styled freedom fighters, who like Don Quixote, believe that the fascist Salazar rule still exists in Portugal.

While Portugal is today a strong member in the European union and Goans amongst the Portuguese nationals are treated with respect and dignity, we Goans, in free India, are slaves of the “brown sahib” rule from Delhi.

I implore on the BJP, to please liberate Goans from the shackles of corrupt rule from New Delhi, where a cash filled suitcase would determine as to who should be our legislator, or Member of Parliament.

Today, suicides, thefts, rapes, economic crimes, frauds, nepotism, murders, terrorism, alcoholism, and gambling ? which is far worse than colonialism ? is eating into the fabric of Goan society and sucking the blood of the common man. The BJP in the meanwhile, fiddles, while Goa burns. Does the BJP enjoy the status of being the main opposition party in Goa, or is it genuinely interested in tackle the problems ailing Goan society?

By leading protests against visiting European dignitaries or goodwill visitors, BJP would further sink into oblivion. We must appreciate and learn from history that mere changing of roads will not appease Goan masses. Goans need jobs, employment, dignity, good roads and road sense, safe drinking water, garbage free forests, mangroves teeming with fish, green hills with grazing cattle and not grey mega structures born out of corruption that pollute Goan waters.

Having worked with Parrikar under the administration of Chief Minister Digamber Kamat on various committees of JNNURM, I do perceive Parrikar as a mellowed down individual for those iron handed years, full of egoism and omniscient ways.

Unfortunately, even today, Goa is divided over issues such as secularism versus communalism and thus corruption and degradation of Goan society, is sadly placed on the back burner. Today, by shouting the bogie of communalism, the corrupt individuals are elected over and over again and Goan society, at large, has to pay the price of unscientific mining, lopsided tourism, degraded fisheries, butchered hills and polluted seas and land in the garb of pseudo development and empty secularism.

One can wake up a person who is sleeping, but it is impossible to wake up a person, who is pretending to be sleeping. BJP in Goa must not pretend to sleep on issues which are truly affecting the Goan masses. The elections to the assembly are a big business today and is slowly centering on families and dynasties. Even religious institutions have priests who merrily participate or tell the masses to vote for the “right candidate”. But they fail to identify the good or the right candidate, as muscles and money are used to tone down those preaching values.

This corruption, exploitation, and degradation of Goa is likely to continue unless BJP chooses to genuinely work for the Goan good. You cannot hunt with the hound (fox) and run with the hare (rabbit). The BJP needs to sail in a boat committed to Goan welfare, free from religious intolerances, to help steer Goans to prosperity.

The BJP must take on issues, which haunt present-day Goan society, without making an issue out of a non issue. Let us cherish the good work of Garcia de Orta, just as Mahatma Gandhi is standing tall in the gardens of Portugal. Let us treat Portuguese visitors and celebrate their achievements in Goa, just as Indians celebrate the Republic Day in Lisbon, in which Goans with Portuguese nationality participate and celebrate.

Let the winds of all cultures flow into Goa as long as we are not swept off our feet. Today Goans, and their unique identity is threatened not by foreigners but by the mushrooming slums generated by the vote hungry politicians. Actions speak louder than words. BJP needs to get its act together and win the hearts of the Goan masses through actions directed towards helping the struggling Aam Admi from the exploits of corruption and exploitation, by those in power.