Politicos have suddenly abandoned core issues affecting Panaji and are focused on the disappearance of an alleged rape victim. Against the backdrop of larger issues that need attention, this in fact is of very little concern to the Panaji electorate for now. The court is still to decide on framing of charges against Babush and there is no tearing hurry to produce the girl in court at this juncture. Creating a panic situation and linking the girl’s disappearance to the accused at this moment only shows how hollow politics can be.
Now that the girl is missing and police clueless, the immediate question that crops up is who is responsible? Taking this argument a little further, who should be held responsible if the girl, who is a consenting adult now, decides to move out late in the night, that too with an unidentified male accomplice. And how does the BJP connect the dots and link it to the alleged accused Babush Monserrate?
This is not the first time the girl has gone missing from the rehabilitation centre in South Goa. There are three other previous instances where she did the disappearing act, only to return a few days later. Why was there no concern then? And where was the political class that time?
Surprisingly, when Panaji is grappling with over a dozen pressing issues directly connected to its people, political parties are indulging in a smear campaign only to score brownie points and divert attention. This is the same Babush with which BJP shook hands before gifting him with the Greater Panaji PDA for his supreme sacrifice of giving Manohar Parrikar a walkover at the 2017 bypoll. And it was during this very honeymoon period that the girl did three other disappearing acts. If the BJP is genuinely serious about the case, it should have rather raised questions over its slow progress against the backdrop of even Supreme Court seeking speedy justice to rape victims.
Politics very often shows its bizarre side. The BJP mahila morcha, with Babush around, has suddenly started feeling a sense of insecurity in women. Perhaps they have forgotten that the Congress candidate has resided in the same constituency as that of the former chief minister even after being booked a good three years back. It is obvious that notoriety comes only when you are in the opposition.
In the greater interest of Ponjekars, it would make sense if parties focus on the issues at hand. Contrary to the ‘Panaji shinning’ picture that is being projected outwardly, there is a list of issues that expose the dark underbelly of a city that is in a state of pandemonium. Garbage, parking, casinos, market chaos, St Inez creek and jobs are areas where the promised vikas is not visible. Given the high standard of living in the capital city, jobs should have been on top of the agenda of any MLA representing Panaji. And it makes an even stronger case if the representative turns out to be the CM. It’s time Ponjekars stand up for their city and be counted.
