Is the CM losing his grip over the motley crowd that constitutes the ruling dispensation in Goa today? Hailed as a wizard who could resolve the most complex of situations with a wave of his magic wand, the CM appears to be a fish out of water juggling the interests of his coalition partners each demanding his own pound of flesh. Not only the alliance partners, even his own party colleagues have learnt to come out of their shells to express their displeasure over the present run of things. Let us take the private-taxi owners’ imbroglio for instance. For once the Goans were in for some cheer with the state government taking a very tough stand against the striking private taxi operators. The manner in which the Essential Services Management Act was invoked and large contingents of KTC buses were pressed into service to combat the strike, it was assumed that the government would leave the taxi operators no other option but to comply with the SC strictures vis-Ã -vis installation of speed governors. The stand-off between the two promised a lot, especially from the perspective of the general public who expected the taxi operators to climb down from their high horses with regard to exorbitant rates and unruly ways on the roads. But after three days, it was surprising to have the government blinking and holding out an olive branch to the striking taxi union. Whatever face-saving gestures the government is indulging in now is entirely farcical and holds no relevance. Moreover, a matter as grave as that of the striking tax-union being addressed by the Chairman of the GTDC and not the state’s Tourism Minister is an astounding factor. A few legislators trying to act as mediators to diffuse the situation was indeed welcome but when one of them acting as the voice of the government gave written assurances on its behalf, one was sure that the government is only interested in furthering its populist image.
PACHU MENON, Margao
