For all the protests and tough-talk, the Greater Panaji PDA finally lay trimmed and the TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai too should get his due for walking his Easter-day talk. When the TCP minister said “my duty is to make sure not only what’s good for the State is good for the people but also what’s good for the people is good for the State,” there is a general feeling of the first move to let bygones be bygones. The talk of constant re-evaluation of laws and provisions and plans to even revisit the TCP Act of 1974 could well be the first broad hints of going into the 73rd and 74th Amendments of the Constitution.
Come to the Regional Plan 2021 and the entire canvas changes. The TCP minister hums a different tune altogether. Despite all the din, protests and dharna, the need to choose a debate in the Assembly and call a ‘right forum’ for discourse is questionable. If Assembly is the right forum where people’s voices are most clearly and powerfully heard, what about the voices of the people outside the boundaries of the Assembly.
While the TCP minister’s announcement that he will not shy from taking strong steps in line with the aspirations of the people certainly appears bold, one cannot fathom why he chose to have a debate on the floor of the House.
While questions are being raised on the intention of seeking a debate on the floor of the House, a closer look reveals a political story behind the script. Firstly, Vijai understands that the agitation against the RP21 is driven by a political party with the tacit backing of a religious group. Add to this the Congress belatedly joining the bandwagon. Taking the debate to the Assembly will effectively mute all these voices, which may not have a fair representation in the House.
Secondly, majority numbers in the House are expected to favour operationalisation of the Regional Plan 2021, this includes the government itself. Thirdly, since the Regional Plan 2021 is the Congress’ baby, Vijai would have all ammo ready to fire at the Opposition and expose them with all the possible evidence on record. Alexio Reginaldo’s argument of signing the cut motion and not talking will not hold. Even in an eventuality of voting in the House, it is Vijai who will have the last laugh.
The intentions are very clear. While Vijai may be ready to blink on scrapping of the Regional Plan 2021, it will not be before he settles a score with the Opposition and certainly not before he proves his point.
Keeping the Assembly debate aside, the TCP department, who in this case are law keepers, cannot be mute spectators. There is enough evidence provided against the beneficiaries for the five-member committee to proceed. Let’s accept Vijai’s claim that he has no stake in RP 2021, or that he has no role in its planning or notification. In such a case it should give him even more reason to pursue these cases vigorously. Here is a case where necessary information has been provided about beneficiaries and yet nothing moved. Lack of intent to go into these cases is as clear as daylight.
