The year of compromises
is finally ending
And just like that here comes the last column of the year and what a year it was. Starting with Vijai Sardesai's decision to make a "good compromise" while the rest of the state was left wondering: "If that is good, then what must bad be" to the latest "compromise" we have come a long way.
Sandwiched between the two mega compromises were several events large and small that made us, if anything, more disillusioned than ever. Of note among these smaller events was the "compromise" undertaken by Taleigao weak man (we can hardly call him strong after that, now can we?) in which he decided against fighting against Manohar Parrikar in the Panaji by poll after losing the same seat some months earlier. He is yet to be duly rewarded for this compromise, mind you.
The year of compromises is then, coming to a close, with no indication whatsoever that the year 2018 will be any different.
And while the clocks change at midnight tonight, we can only hope that 2018 isn't just a different number. Let's hope then, that at least 2018 does not leave the State's populace apathetic and disillusioned in its wake.
Not so subtle, innit?
The Archbishop's speech at the annual civic reception he hosts for the civilian and military authorities and elected representatives didn't seem to cause too many furrowed brows among the State's political class.
But was there any underlying veiled message directed at today's brand of ‘next gen' politicians?
Here's what the archbishop said: "The people look up to us for orientation, guidance and good governance. And we owe it to the people. They must know that we mean what we say when we tell them that we are with them and for them."
I don't know about you guys, but to me this is clearly a dig at politicians who frequently take U-turns, barely mean what they say and take up issues solely for the purpose of conning the people to vote for them.
Let me also remind you that the issue of "nationalisation" of rivers which was recently hotly debated in the legislative assembly was one of the issues that found itself prominently mentioned in the Church's appeal to the good sense of the faithful, prior to elections.
Who the Archbishop was referring to needs no explanation after all.
My compromise better
than your compromise...
Much has been spoken about the Mhadei issue and Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar was at pains to explain how his letter to B S (no pun intended) Yeddyurappa did not actually compromise Goa's case on the Mhadei issue because he has only agreed to talk about some undefined "drinking water" needs. (This despite the fact that Goa's stand before the tribunal is that Karnataka's demand for drinking water is a whole load of BS).
So we're not entirely sure what Parrikar is going to talk to Yeddyurappa about, if at all he does end up talking. Going by the way things are currently going it probably will only be the weather.
But we'll leave that aside for a moment. Parrikar's primary defence after he sent the letter has been that Congress has (also) compromised on the Mhadei issue.
Assuming that, that is true (and we don't doubt for one minute that it isn't), what has Congress alleged compromise got to do with anything?
Besides the fact that it is more than a decade ago, is Parrikar trying to say that he is trying to outdo the Congress with the same set of faults?
Subsequent to the alleged compromise, Goa took a stand on the issue which the present dispensation has threatened to undo.
Also, Parrikar isn't answerable to the Congress, he's answerable to the people of Goa and for the moment, the answer: "But, the Congress compromised first," isn't a really convincing answer.
Paliencar not far off the mark
Goa Forward's foot in the mouth minister Vinoda Paliencar was at it again. Barely months after he was forced to retract comments in which he said that it would be better to -- wait for it -- talk to Karnataka over resolving the Mhadei Water Dispute, Paliencar spoke up yet again on the issue but this time in a completely different environment.
This time he was defending his chief minister who basically took Paliencar's suggestion one step further.
Nonetheless, Paliencar went on to say that Parrikar's letter to Yeddyurappa was a "political stunt" only to later realise that he didn't know what that meant.
Once again he had to retract the statement at the prompting on his party supremo Vijai Sardesai and perhaps also from the BJP coalition to say that he meant compulsion instead of stunt.
Wouldn't it be better if Paliencar just stuck to his guns in both occasions, as history clearly seems to suggest that he's not far off the mark on either occasion.
Perhaps that could be one of his new year
resolutions.
is finally ending
And just like that here comes the last column of the year and what a year it was. Starting with Vijai Sardesai's decision to make a "good compromise" while the rest of the state was left wondering: "If that is good, then what must bad be" to the latest "compromise" we have come a long way.
Sandwiched between the two mega compromises were several events large and small that made us, if anything, more disillusioned than ever. Of note among these smaller events was the "compromise" undertaken by Taleigao weak man (we can hardly call him strong after that, now can we?) in which he decided against fighting against Manohar Parrikar in the Panaji by poll after losing the same seat some months earlier. He is yet to be duly rewarded for this compromise, mind you.
The year of compromises is then, coming to a close, with no indication whatsoever that the year 2018 will be any different.
And while the clocks change at midnight tonight, we can only hope that 2018 isn't just a different number. Let's hope then, that at least 2018 does not leave the State's populace apathetic and disillusioned in its wake.
Not so subtle, innit?
The Archbishop's speech at the annual civic reception he hosts for the civilian and military authorities and elected representatives didn't seem to cause too many furrowed brows among the State's political class.
But was there any underlying veiled message directed at today's brand of ‘next gen' politicians?
Here's what the archbishop said: "The people look up to us for orientation, guidance and good governance. And we owe it to the people. They must know that we mean what we say when we tell them that we are with them and for them."
I don't know about you guys, but to me this is clearly a dig at politicians who frequently take U-turns, barely mean what they say and take up issues solely for the purpose of conning the people to vote for them.
Let me also remind you that the issue of "nationalisation" of rivers which was recently hotly debated in the legislative assembly was one of the issues that found itself prominently mentioned in the Church's appeal to the good sense of the faithful, prior to elections.
Who the Archbishop was referring to needs no explanation after all.
My compromise better
than your compromise...
Much has been spoken about the Mhadei issue and Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar was at pains to explain how his letter to B S (no pun intended) Yeddyurappa did not actually compromise Goa's case on the Mhadei issue because he has only agreed to talk about some undefined "drinking water" needs. (This despite the fact that Goa's stand before the tribunal is that Karnataka's demand for drinking water is a whole load of BS).
So we're not entirely sure what Parrikar is going to talk to Yeddyurappa about, if at all he does end up talking. Going by the way things are currently going it probably will only be the weather.
But we'll leave that aside for a moment. Parrikar's primary defence after he sent the letter has been that Congress has (also) compromised on the Mhadei issue.
Assuming that, that is true (and we don't doubt for one minute that it isn't), what has Congress alleged compromise got to do with anything?
Besides the fact that it is more than a decade ago, is Parrikar trying to say that he is trying to outdo the Congress with the same set of faults?
Subsequent to the alleged compromise, Goa took a stand on the issue which the present dispensation has threatened to undo.
Also, Parrikar isn't answerable to the Congress, he's answerable to the people of Goa and for the moment, the answer: "But, the Congress compromised first," isn't a really convincing answer.
Paliencar not far off the mark
Goa Forward's foot in the mouth minister Vinoda Paliencar was at it again. Barely months after he was forced to retract comments in which he said that it would be better to -- wait for it -- talk to Karnataka over resolving the Mhadei Water Dispute, Paliencar spoke up yet again on the issue but this time in a completely different environment.
This time he was defending his chief minister who basically took Paliencar's suggestion one step further.
Nonetheless, Paliencar went on to say that Parrikar's letter to Yeddyurappa was a "political stunt" only to later realise that he didn't know what that meant.
Once again he had to retract the statement at the prompting on his party supremo Vijai Sardesai and perhaps also from the BJP coalition to say that he meant compulsion instead of stunt.
Wouldn't it be better if Paliencar just stuck to his guns in both occasions, as history clearly seems to suggest that he's not far off the mark on either occasion.
Perhaps that could be one of his new year
resolutions.
