MARGAO
As the dust raised over the passage of the controversial Goa Bhumiputra Adhikarini Bill 2021 refuses to die down, life goes on as usual in the bastis of Moti Dongor, inside the migrant colony at neighbouring Pajifond and in the lanes and by-lanes of the commercial capital.
And, so is the case with politicians of all hues in the twin constituencies of Margao and Fatorda, which plays host to these migrant-inhabited colonies on Comunidade and government land.
BJP-led government’s decision to pass the controversial Bhumiputra Adhikarini Bill in the just-concluded Assembly session ought to have evoked support for the Bill from the party rank and file in the ruling camp in these two constituencies. And, one has not come across any vocal protests from the Congress and Goa Forward to these bills on the streets of Margao and Fatorda.
Indeed, the Bhumiputra Adhikarini Bill, 2021 has left politicians of the ruling and opposition parties in Margao and Fatorda treading a cautious path, wary that their statements (for or against) the Bill may leave the Niz Goemkars as well as the migrant vote bank antagonized.
Political observers say not just the ruling BJP, but the opposing Congress and Goa Forward find themselves in a predicament over the controversial Bill. All the three political players can neither afford to support nor oppose the Bill on the streets of Margao and Fatorda.
Take note, the Opposition Congress and Goa Forward were quick to raise their voices against the Bill in the state capital, right up to the doorsteps of the governor’s palace at Cabo, but the same has not been echoed in the commercial capital so far.
The reason is not far too seek. At stake is the migrant vote bank, which no politician can afford to antagonize. And, neither can the politicos afford to rub the Niz Madgavkars and Fatordekars the wrong way.
Take the case of Margao. Leave alone the migrant pockets in the constituency, the Moti Dongor basti atop the hillock owned by the Aquem Comunidade alone plays to around 2500 votes. These voters have traditionally backed the Leader of Opposition and Margao MLA, irrespective of his party label.
BJP’s attempt to storm Kamat’s Moti Dongor bastion since 2005 when the MLA quit the ruling party to embrace the Congress had come a cropper inviting flak from the party leaders. The Opposition leader came under fire for banking on the migrant vote to rule over the city.
City BJP leaders seem to be treading a cautious path on the Bhumiputra Bill and so is the Margao MLA. BJP Margao mandal president Rupesh Mahatme, who had taken on the Margao MLA in the Assembly election in the past, said he has nothing to say on the Bill because he has not gone through the contents. Other BJP leaders also tried to play safe. The Margao MLA too appeared cautious in his comments on the Bill. He knows well he cannot afford to antagonize the migrant vote bank, which had stood by him all along in his close to 30-year-old political career.
The MLA only referred to the Congress party’s
decision taken today and the plan to call on the Goa governor, but was not strident in his opposition to the Bill, only accusing the BJP of passing it to fool the people.
