This first appeared in the Heraldo on 05 Sept 2021
In 2017, the Government was formed by the BJP who managed to muster the magic figure of 21. They were able to sway unlike minded parties and independents as the Congress with more seats played the usual game, “if I cannot be CM then neither can you” .
But this was not enough, a little later they welcomed a block of 10 supposedly disgruntled congress men and women and booted out their earlier support base unceremoniously. The question that always begged an answer was, why? They were already ruling, yes a few were demanding more than their pound of flesh with threats of Plan B and C, but picking 10 who could never be accommodated in 2022? Would this not upset loyal karyakatas? The rank and file were upset but discipline held sway. After all it was a decision taken in Delhi.
Today. it is clear why it was so important that the 10 be accommodated in the short term, 2022 was far away. The immediate requirement was a solid government to ensure all Central projects would go through with absolutely no opposition. The three linear projects, the coal hub, almost nil discussion or questions on the Port bills and the North/South expressway where no questions are asked despite the shoddy work and great inconvenience due to bad planning.
There is no doubt that the three linear projects and the coal hub were and are being opposed by a cross section of the people across Goa, but all pleas, representations, agitations have fallen on deaf years. We actually have a Government which is totally oblivious to the cries of its citizens, even common sense is not being used to take a decisions in the interest of Goa. The local Government has no say it appears but to ensure the Central projects go through. Come what may.
To that end, and towards the fag end of this Government we had a Cabinet decision pushing ahead with double tracking. Should it not have been an agenda item for discussion in the Assembly? Did any opposition MLA question this anti people decision. If it had been discussed in the Assembly, then the details of why it is necessary would be available.
On the Ports bill, the citizenry has not figured out the implications but the learned MLA’s did mention the pitfalls in the Assembly but chose to do nothing. A far cry from the response to the Bhumiputra bill, lots of noise in the Assembly from the opposition, but limited to saying they wanted a discussion, not one opposition member said the bill was poorly drafted and will never stand the test in court. The bill was passed but as the sentiment grew, in an unprecedented move the Government actually called for suggestion after sending the Bill to the Governor for assent.
These are positive signs that the Government is capable of hearing citizens and taking corrective actions.
The Supreme court recently brought closure to another long pending issue, the mining imbroglio. You may love or hate Claude Alvares but you cannot ignore him. Many canards were spread about him, he was an extortionist and he was out to destroy Goa etc. His foundation has faced the trial and won, won what? The court agreed that the minerals belonged to the people and thus they were entitled to a fair share and the best way to determine that share was ‘auction’. This simple concept was opposed by many, but sadly it included all MLA’s. However, the appeal made to Centre to change the law fell on deaf ears as it was not in the Centre's interest. Fortunately in this case the Centre’s interests and Goa’s were aligned.
The root cause of all the problems is this Aya Ram Gaya Ram syndrome. Despite the anti defection bill, despite the Supreme courts mandate that the Speaker has to be unbiased, all is undone by innovative ways of bypassing the law. It is the citizen who is the butt of this unholy joke. The political class has made it an art form to win even after losing.
It is highly improbable that the political class will make any rules to stop defections, it is not in their interest. On the other hand they justify defections under the guise of development of their constituency, which generally means a paved walkway or hot mixing of a road with much fanfare or building a concrete drain. The real development is in the personnel wealth of the defector, they run away from rags and suddenly become rich.
So it is going to be left to the voter to bring discipline, every voter has to make a pledge, I WILL NOT VOTE FOR A DEFECTOR. Already, many of the defectors are making plans to go back to their original party, under the supposed guidance of the often repeated excuse, “my supporters want me to”. Little do they realise or care to think, it is not supporters who made them MLAs, but voters.
Once this succeeds, MLA’s will listen to the voice of the citizens, they will think twice about switching sides after elections. We need a people’s movement to help Goa be relevant in the long term and not be treated as a piece of land for everyone to sell or use as a thoroughfare for cars, coal and trains. Goa deserves better. Viva Goa.
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