Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar proudly announced that the government has banned sale of imported fish. But outside the precincts of the Legislative complex, a different picture emerges and fish continues to give Goans the scare. Forty boxes from Mumbai landed in Mapusa market while sacks loaded with shell fish made its way via train in Margao. Does the responsibility of the government end by just making a statement banning imports?
There is a serious enforcement failure here, and it comes soon after the fisheries department washed its hands off saying it doesn’t have an officer to test the fish for quality, and the Food and Drugs Administration admitted that it is not equipped to keep tabs on the fish imports around the State.
This only meant that the State has absolutely no control over the quality of fish, fruits, vegetables and other consumables that was being supplied to its people. Is this lackadaisical attitude shown just because formalin is known to be a slow poison and not an instant killer? Otherwise how can one justify this half-hearted approach? The government machinery should have been in full swing from the time the ban came into force. Any lapses on this count are not acceptable.
While an uneasy calm prevails outside, inside the assembly complex the mood is distinctly different. The ‘formalin in fish’ controversy continued to rock the proceedings and Day-2 of the Monsoon Session too was washed out. By the end of the second day, the core issue of fish appeared to be fading away and politics of egos and one-upmanship were jarring in the foreground.
The BJP managed to romp home holding a tactical advantage over the opposition, and Congress lost out for sheer lack of strategy and planning. This takes us back in the memory lane where BJP swiftly chalked out government-formation strategy leaving the grand old party stranded despite having the mandate.
The Speaker played smartly by the book leaving the Congress flock flustered and furious. On Day one, Speaker Pramod Sawant refused the adjournment motion on ground that calling attention motion was already listed on the agenda and Congress had not sought suspension of Question Hour. But Day 2 saw the Speaker play with a straight bat once again and refused the plea since the Congress did not seek an adjournment motion on Friday.
A belligerent Congress had the ammunition, and just at a time when they were geared to fire, it was their poor floor management that let them down. The party may be singing unity tunes, but the resurgence is not reflected in their strategies and leaders continue to talk in many voices. There should have been better coordination and only a tightly-orchestrated floor plan could have given them an opportunity to prove a point. In a touchy situation like this, there is no way the Congress can expect the ruling to change course and concede ground.
