DR. JOE D’SOUZA
It is well known that the 2019 Parliamentary Elections are extremely crucial both for the people of Goa in particular and for the people of India at large.
On the all India scenario Narendra Modi assumed power in May, 2014 amidst disenchantment and disgust amongst the people of the country towards the perceived, “series of scams” indulged by the UPA-II government under Manmohan Singh. The Congress between 2009 - 2014 was perceived as a corrupt and a non-performing political party, and thus their strength in the house of 543 members of parliament was reduced to a mere 43 MPs.
Even so, as an opposition party, out of power, it played its role well to keep the all-powerful Modi government (with over 286 seats and commanding an absolute majority) on their feet.
It must be acknowledged too that in 2014 the people of India not only decisively “voted” the Congress out of power, but voted Modi government with great hopes and aspirations. Whatever Modi proclaimed and assured then to the people of India, made much sense and his promises seemed plausible, as Modi’s oratory, style of speech delivery, interaction with the crowds seemed to resonate, vibrate and finally stick in individual Indian’s memory.
That India had finally found a Messiah and a prophet of good governance was our belief, upto mid-2018. The BJP then was riding high on the Modi tidal wave. Even the disastrous demonetisation exercise of November 2016 did not disillusion Indians at large. Although people suffered hardships, torture, loss of jobs and even their lives and livelihoods, people felt that India in the long run would benefit at large, as black money and terrorism would be nipped in the bud.
But by March 2019, sadly each and every utterance of Modi prior to 2014 and upto mid-2018, seemed dubious and hocus-pocus.
No black money had been recovered but those with black money and involved in banking loots like Nirav Modi and Vijay Mallya are today living luxurious lives in a foreign country. Let alone the Rs 15 lakh of black money into our individual accounts, over lakhs of crores of money deposited even by the poorest of poor of our country, have been usurped by banks as charges for not maintaining a minimum balance. The zero balance accounts which were opened by Modi to help the poor enter the banking system has in reality used by the banks to wipe off their NPAs or deposits.
Depositors were later told to keep minimum balance else lose the money they deposited, which in reality was a “Jan Dhan” disaster for the poor of our country. Almost all the currency notes issued by the RBI of over Rs 18,00,000 crores entered the banking system. What was worse is that even the black money was made into white, through “shell company” dealings. None of the hundreds of slogans and schemes which Modi introduced were in the interest of the people more specially the common man.
Aadhar and GST which Modi condemned whilst in the opposition, was introduced with a vengeance against the will of the people. Fundamentalists, pseudo nationalists were left loose to torture and even kill the rationalists.
All Indian institutions are today left with their autonomy and freedom to perform in the interest of general public totally threatened. With fascim slowly rising and showing its ugly head in almost all aspects of governance, there is an easy calm all around. The skill India is today a “Kill Indian economy, culture and diverse identity.”
Monolithic and unilateralism seems to be the new mantra, wherein we are told what we should eat, or how we should dress.
If the present dispensation is allowed another 5 years of governance our Constitution itself would sought to be changed. On the Goa front too we have two issues to deal with“ problems in the national context and those on the local front.
It must be fully understood that the single most important game changer in the ensuing Parliamentary elections is the dubious Rafale deal. If the 2G and coal gate scams unseated the WPA-II in 2014, the chowkidar chor hai mega scam would surely catapult the BJP out of power in the 2019 elections.
In Goa too, the writings on the wall are clearly visible. The people of Goa will surely not forgive the BJP for taking them for a ride. The mining imbroglio, nationalization of rivers, dubious Sagar mala project which is polluting Goa is a serious problem.
The greenfield airport at Mopa surely does not address the problems of the locals as well as the impact it would have on the ecosystem and environment of Goa. The mega garbage treatment plant at Saligao which treats 100 tonnes of garbage for a price of Rs.13,00,000 per day, leaving entire Saligao and four coastal villages in Bardez in a quandary would also come to haunt the BJP in these elections. Finally the CoP terminal at the public jetty, enabling the gambling industry to proliferate would also adversely affect the BJP in the ensuring elections. Putting up a building on the seaward side of the main road leading towards a river is wrong and illegal especially in a Heritage Zone of Panjim. Sadly, might seems right for the incumbent BJP government.
Both the MPs of the BJP, too, have failed miserably to meet people’s aspirations. Hence the people packing off of the BJP both in Goa as well as at the Centre now seems a distinct possibility.
