January 27, 2019 will be historic for both Goa and Tamil Nadu. It’s a day when Union Minister for Surface Transport Nitin Gadkari inaugurated the cable-stayed third bridge across the Mandovi and named it Atul Setu, in memory of Late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. In Tamil Nadu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the prestigious All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Madurai.
Both events are of monumental significance to respective States, but were accepted differently. In Goa, the people of the State put all differences behind and flocked to witness the imposing signature bridge thrown open. There was grandeur and an air of positivity in the capital city with the bridge lighting up the Mandovi and captivating onlookers. If Gadkari raised the pitch on water resources, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar’s first public address in a long time stole the thunder. Interestingly, even the Congress plan to boycott the inaugural went awry with party spokesperson and Curtorim MLA making his presence felt at the bridge.
However, in Tamil Nadu the scene was distinctly different. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in for a major embarrassment when he was greeted with black flags and social media going berserk with #GoBackModi tweets and Facebook posts.
Suddenly old scars began to show in TN. A huge section of people expressed their angst over Modi not visiting the districts when cyclone Gaja ravaged the State rendering over 3 lakh homeless and crippling life and property. Modi’s alleged silence over the Sterlite shooting in Tuticorin in which 13 anti-Sterlite protesters were shot dead by the police and the injustice to the State on Cauvery water dispute, all came back to haunt.
A milestone for the State soon took political overtones. At a time when fast-paced development initiatives are linked to the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, people began to question the long delay in laying the foundation stone to the premier medical institute. BJP’s move to build bridges with the people of Tamil Nadu has been met with stubborn opposition.
Cut across to Goa and there is a vast section of people away from the capital city spotlight patiently watching in silence with a host of issues simmering behind. There were no chants of #GoBackGadkari, neither were there black flags. The people of Goa rose in unison to celebrate. The mining-affected people who once threatened not to allow central leaders into the State have remained muted in hope, just the way they did for nearly a year.
It’s time the central government stands up to its promise to the mining-affected. It’s time to give clarity. A ‘judicious solution’ which Modi promised cannot take forever. Once again there is an assurance from North Goa MP that a solution is around the corner. And the time is ticking. Betraying the trust of the people doesn’t bode well for any government.
