PANAJI
While many Goan church leaders reflected the general public mood by expressing dismay at the BJP and GFP, they were also critical of Congress for having squandered the mandate of the voters, after being the single largest party in the new assembly.
In its circular in January, the church’s social action wing Council for Social Justice and Peace (CSJP) had hinted at regional parties and a fractured mandate by stating: “The emergence of new political parties and independents in the run-up to elections, leading to confusion and a split of votes, is a challenge before every citizen.”
The church circular, which was seriously considered by the Catholic voters, had even denounced political representatives as “insensitive and unscrupulous”, who are “repeatedly elected to legislate and govern every five years.”
Expressing similar sentiments, Fr Victor Ferrao, professor at Rachol Seminary: “The way the BJP is manipulating the results of our elections shows that it has conducted a coup on the people’s verdict. It is an open display of its fascist and autocratic politics. It has assaulted the honour and dignity of most Goans.”
Incidentally, the CSJP circular had even cautioned citizens of an abuse of power by stating that “governance is much more complex and is not about a few issues alone...also involves the abuse of power and the denial of transparency and accountability in governance policies.”
Another priest, who heads a leading school in North Goa, felt that the Congress should also be blamed for failing to live up to the mandate. “The mandate was clear for the Congress and not the BJP. With 17 seats, it’s shocking that the Congress did nothing to get just four MLAs to support them. Surely, Congress betrayed the voters badly this time as the voters were keen on a change. It looks like Congress has not learnt any lessons.”
“It’s a shock that Vijay Sardesai, who continued to attack the BJP, backed them up. Those supporting the BJP should have resigned and contested re-elections. The result would surely have been different,” the priest added.
Jesuit social activist Fr Simon Fernandes, who is based in Mapusa, claimed that the verdict had clearly been against the saffron outfit. “What has happened in Goa is bizarre. It is a murder of democracy by the BJP and the hungry politicians, who have fallen pray to the temptation of money bags and plump posts held before them by the corrupt BJP.”
“The people have outrightly rejected the saffron party and the MLAs, who are now aligning with them, had fought against BJP and defeated their candidates. The verdict is totally against the saffron outfit, since seven sitting ministers, including the chief minister, have had to bite the dust. It is a betrayal of the people of Goa,” added Fr Fernandes.
