Former Goa governor Satya Pal Malik who stoked controversy over his reported allegations of corruption against the Pramod Sawant-led government clarified that his charge is not targeted at the CM, but was against the entire government. Interestingly, he cautioned the Opposition against using his statements to demand the sacking of Sawant.
Malik raised questions over the Opposition attack on the CM and the motive of raking it up when the nature of corruption was already known to them at that time. “Why are they making noise now? Didn’t they see what was happening?” he said. The governor implied that the Opposition was well aware of the rampant corruption.
While the silence is mysterious, it appears that the Opposition parties were only waiting for a trigger to launch an offensive against Sawant, without even getting to the root of the issue. Political parties across the spectrum, who are vouching for Goans, Goemkarponn, and the welfare of people have gone into an overdrive shooting off memorandums to Goa governor, president of India, and shouting from rooftops demanding the sacking of the chief minister. All this is based on a charge levied by Malik.
As a responsible Opposition, there is a complete failure to study this charge and seek accountability from the government. If Congress was aware of the corruption, why has it not raised it on the floor of the House? Why did the party MLAs engage in useless rhetoric and engage in walk-outs allowing the ruling benches to have a free run? Why did corruption not become an issue of debate in the Legislative Assembly? Instead, we saw theatrics, photo-ops and a happy ending.
The Opposition, by lapping up whatever is thrown at them and whatever suits their political agenda are prioritizing their electoral ambitions. We have promises of a new dawn by a party that has twice left the people in darkness and fled the scene after the 2012 and 2017 electoral drubbing. We have parties swearing by identity and the land. Why do these become priorities only at an election time?
Malik has expressed himself in no uncertain words: "I love Goa people. I love Goa government and I have a good relationship with the CM. I have not taken a contract to target anyone or cause damage". The governor's charge is surely ill-timed, but his affection to the State was reflected during his tenure since he worked selflessly without political agendas.
Goa needs leaders who are genuinely interested in the welfare of the State and its people, not those with vested political interests. We need selfless leaders who stand by us through thick and thin, and not fly-by-night operators. We want leaders who have the gumption and political acumen to constructively question the government and seek answers. The Opposition must get its act together and do its homework first. Such politricks will only backfire.
