The State government’s decision to cancel official Shigmo parades because of the rising cases of Covid-19 stands in contrast to the lenient view it has taken on rave parties, weddings, political celebrations and social gatherings all along. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s fear can be comprehended with daily positive cases mounting towards 200, but he has to take full responsibility for the situation which Goa is currently in because it was his conscious decision not to tighten protocol.
Tourism Minister Manohar Babu Ajgaonkar takes pride in announcing on the floor of the House that the government is concerned over a second wave of Covid and that the health of Goans comes first. Mr Tourism Minister, why are you not concerned about the full-blown chock-a-block rave parties which are happening every weekend in the coastal north from Morjim to Calangute? Why did you announce Carnival with such fanfare when there was fear in the air? Why did you not react when tourists have been crowding the beaches on weekends openly violating all Covid protocols? And how do you plan to approach Holi revelry?
The decision on Shigmo celebrations is not justified when other forms of crowded celebrations like weddings and parties have been allowed without any checks. If we may recall, a high-profile wedding held recently in Panaji threw up a scare with many left infected and admitted to a private hospital at Dona Paula.
The State government has been arguing that the economy will be hit without tourism. Despite concerns and appeals from his cabinet colleague, the CM refused to re-introduce Covid-negative certificates for visitors. It is bizarre that the Health Minister, who was a strong proponent of this idea, now argues in the Assembly that a Covid-negative certificate can be purchased at a price defeating the purpose of this protocol. We understand that the Health Minister only tried to salvage himself from an awkward situation when the focus briefly shifted to the differences he had with the CM.
If there is any concern over the virus, it should be targeted towards those visiting the State, more especially tourists from the Covid-infested States like Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala. We can’t afford to risk lives in our desperation to revive the economy through tourism. Over 820 people have already succumbed to the virus, and that is not a small figure for Goa.
The CM’s assurance of tightening protocol is hollow, and the scenes on the floor of the House show how callous the legislators have been. In such grim times, members of the legislative assembly should have set an example. On the contrary, what is seen is a rampant violation of protocols with members mostly going full steam without the use of masks and mandatory distancing.
Lastly, there has to be some sanity in the thought process, especially in declaring micro-containment zones. On Thursday, a residential complex at Salvador do Mundo was sealed, and then within 24 hours, the CM announced that the positive patients will be shifted to a hospital and restrictions on the area eased off. These are sensitive issues involving the lives of people and have to be handled seriously. Random decisions like these make a mockery of protocols.
