Chief Minister Pramod Sawant of late has been making statements that don’t seem to go well with Goans.
Apparently, emboldened by his second stint as CM, he has been making statements that have ruffled feathers.
First, he announced that Hindu temples destroyed by Portuguese will be restored at their original sites. He has also made a provision of Rs 20 crores for this. When there is no official documentation for destroyed Hindu temples, I fail to understand how this exercise will be carried out.
The Governor has also wisely sounded caution against stirring the hornet’s nest and that it is not the way to move ahead.
Secondly, he has spoken on religious conversions. This issue had never cropped up in a peaceful state like Goa where all Goans lived in religious harmony.
His statistics sound hollow to be taken serious note of. The reasons he cited -- poverty, need, illiteracy -- can be best be tackled not by threatening statements but by financial layout and outreach programmes.
The Bhumiputra Bill which is in cold storage was another attempt to introduce communal divide.
Winning elections with wafer thin margin when 70% of the electorate has voted against BJP does not assure of voters embracing Hindutva ideology to divide Goans on communal lines.
Another controversial issue is of court judgements in Konkani. Why not start it at administrative level first and strictly enforce knowledge of official language for government posts at all levels without relaxation? Why not ban English in Assembly proceedings?
CM should get his priorities right for the good of the State. He should enforce a people’s agenda for all round development and not try to divide Goans on communal lines.
