In Goa, since liberation, we have seen various agitations in public interest by the electorate against the govt. of the day. The issues for all these agitations have been different but the crux of all the agitations were anti-common man decisions of the ruling set-up.
However one wonders if these agitations actually benefit the ruling dispensations. Going by the past records of these agitations where people are brought to the streets to get the govt. to understand the fallacy of their decisions, the govt against which the people have revolted and agitated have been re-elected by the same crowd whose interest was not taken into account in the first place.
Let us analyze some of the major agitations in Goa since being liberated from the Portuguese rule. The first major agitation that Goans witnessed was the historic Opinion Poll movement ( Anti Merger agitation 1964). It was the MGP govt which was at the helm of affairs when this emotional issue was debated. Loads and loads of people across the state irrespective of their caste and religious biases joined hands to counter the mood of the ruling party. The ruling party intended to have Goa merged in the state of Maharashtra. There were meetings at every nook and corner of the state by the stalwarts of the movement educating the Goan folk about the ill-effects of the govt. decision or mood. This agitation was a victory for the Goan populace as Goa remained a separate entity much against the wishes of the govt. However, when the very people, who were on the roads agitating, cast their franchise in favour of the same dispensation in the state elections that followed. The MGP govt was re-elected.
The next major agitation was the Konkani agitation ( 1986-87). The movement was to accord Konkani the recognition as an Official language of the State of Goa. This agitation was primarily against the govt. for giving the language of the majority of the state population its rightful status. The govt. was not swift in taking into account the mood of the state and thus what resulted was a confrontation which saw people shed blood on the streets. This issue too had an emotional quotient. Following long drawn bandhs and violence the govt heeded to public pressure and accorded Konkani its rightful place in 1987. However, Congress govt. got re-elected in the 1989 elections. The public ire was nowhere to be seen.
There were numerous agitations from 1991 to 1998 be it Nylon 6,6 agitation, Meta Strips or some other. A major agitation was the seen in December 2006 in response to the proposed Regional Plan 2011. This saw the participation of almost the entire spectrum of Goan population under the banner of Goa Bachao Abhiyan. Religious institutions across the board were at the protest rallies. There was an obvious anger against the govt which was seen as speaker after speaker were seen spitting fire against a seemingly anti Goan govt. Ultimatums were given for the withdrawal of the regional plan. The govt. acceded to the demand as it was an election year and the people rejoiced forgiving the very elected representatives or the party which formulated such a draconian plan. The electorate forgot the issues which had got them on the streets shouting and protesting. Some of those speaking on the GBA platform were seen soliciting support for the Congress party.
Post elections the same GBA was protesting again. This time against the SEZ policy of the same Congress govt which had got elected with covert support of the same GBA. Since then there have been various other issues which have driven the citizens of the state on the streets. There was the Pre-employment scheme ( PETS ) fighting against the injustice done to them, Anti-Casino followed by the Pro- Casino, Anti CMZ regulation etc. Lately we have seen people protesting against the High Security Registration Plates that add to the hassles of citizens with no obvious benefit.
There is one exception to what we have generally experienced. One was the students’ agitation demanding 50% fare discount for all students traveling in public transport in Goa. This agitation had the student leaders forcing the Sashikala Kakodkar led MGP govt. to agree to their demands. The mood of these protests were probably carried over to the next assembly elections where MGP had to face defeat.
The only regime in Goa since Liberation which has not got the people on the street was the one led by Manohar Parrikar. We saw 51 months of clean, effective, people friendly administration. His govt. was toppled mid-way by his detractors. However in the elections which followed, Parrikar led BJP wasn’t returned to power as was logically expected. It was the Congress, which was at the centre of controversy, that was given the mandate to loot. An imaginary fear of communalism was crafted by the media and his detractors to trick people into voting for the Congress.
Why is it that the ire of the public not carried over to the polling booth as should be done in a vibrant democracy? The general public have a short lived memory. During elections they forget that they are voting for the very people against whom they spent months of their valuable time agitating. People are made to believe that the govt accepted their demands and hence it is people-friendly. However, they ignore the fact that the govt made an irrational and unfavourable decision in the first place. Apparently it is not people friendly, effective administration which pays in politics. There are probably other considerations which decide the way we vote, ones that involve money power. Genuine voters who have Goa’s interest to their heart get outnumbered by migrant vote banks that are driven by nothing more than money. Then there are others who are driven by biased religious and caste sentiments.
What people do not realize is that our beautiful state Goa is falling in the hands of administrators who are inefficient, incapable, corrupt and that affects our own lives. That we desire a non corrupt govt is probably a myth. Its time we introspect on the issues raised above or else we will always be on the street agitating against some or the other decision of the so-called govt of the Aam Aadmi.
However one wonders if these agitations actually benefit the ruling dispensations. Going by the past records of these agitations where people are brought to the streets to get the govt. to understand the fallacy of their decisions, the govt against which the people have revolted and agitated have been re-elected by the same crowd whose interest was not taken into account in the first place.
The next major agitation was the Konkani agitation ( 1986-87). The movement was to accord Konkani the recognition as an Official language of the State of Goa. This agitation was primarily against the govt. for giving the language of the majority of the state population its rightful status. The govt. was not swift in taking into account the mood of the state and thus what resulted was a confrontation which saw people shed blood on the streets. This issue too had an emotional quotient. Following long drawn bandhs and violence the govt heeded to public pressure and accorded Konkani its rightful place in 1987. However, Congress govt. got re-elected in the 1989 elections. The public ire was nowhere to be seen.
There were numerous agitations from 1991 to 1998 be it Nylon 6,6 agitation, Meta Strips or some other. A major agitation was the seen in December 2006 in response to the proposed Regional Plan 2011. This saw the participation of almost the entire spectrum of Goan population under the banner of Goa Bachao Abhiyan. Religious institutions across the board were at the protest rallies. There was an obvious anger against the govt which was seen as speaker after speaker were seen spitting fire against a seemingly anti Goan govt. Ultimatums were given for the withdrawal of the regional plan. The govt. acceded to the demand as it was an election year and the people rejoiced forgiving the very elected representatives or the party which formulated such a draconian plan. The electorate forgot the issues which had got them on the streets shouting and protesting. Some of those speaking on the GBA platform were seen soliciting support for the Congress party.
Post elections the same GBA was protesting again. This time against the SEZ policy of the same Congress govt which had got elected with covert support of the same GBA. Since then there have been various other issues which have driven the citizens of the state on the streets. There was the Pre-employment scheme ( PETS ) fighting against the injustice done to them, Anti-Casino followed by the Pro- Casino, Anti CMZ regulation etc. Lately we have seen people protesting against the High Security Registration Plates that add to the hassles of citizens with no obvious benefit.
There is one exception to what we have generally experienced. One was the students’ agitation demanding 50% fare discount for all students traveling in public transport in Goa. This agitation had the student leaders forcing the Sashikala Kakodkar led MGP govt. to agree to their demands. The mood of these protests were probably carried over to the next assembly elections where MGP had to face defeat.
The only regime in Goa since Liberation which has not got the people on the street was the one led by Manohar Parrikar. We saw 51 months of clean, effective, people friendly administration. His govt. was toppled mid-way by his detractors. However in the elections which followed, Parrikar led BJP wasn’t returned to power as was logically expected. It was the Congress, which was at the centre of controversy, that was given the mandate to loot. An imaginary fear of communalism was crafted by the media and his detractors to trick people into voting for the Congress.
Why is it that the ire of the public not carried over to the polling booth as should be done in a vibrant democracy? The general public have a short lived memory. During elections they forget that they are voting for the very people against whom they spent months of their valuable time agitating. People are made to believe that the govt accepted their demands and hence it is people-friendly. However, they ignore the fact that the govt made an irrational and unfavourable decision in the first place. Apparently it is not people friendly, effective administration which pays in politics. There are probably other considerations which decide the way we vote, ones that involve money power. Genuine voters who have Goa’s interest to their heart get outnumbered by migrant vote banks that are driven by nothing more than money. Then there are others who are driven by biased religious and caste sentiments.
What people do not realize is that our beautiful state Goa is falling in the hands of administrators who are inefficient, incapable, corrupt and that affects our own lives. That we desire a non corrupt govt is probably a myth. Its time we introspect on the issues raised above or else we will always be on the street agitating against some or the other decision of the so-called govt of the Aam Aadmi.
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What we really need is meaningful dialogue on issues of public importance, whether these are held in the legislature or in the media. Let coherent arguments and comments place before the public the various facets on the issue, so the government's decisions draw the deserved accolades of brickbats. Our 'educated' intelligentsia who are more prone to armchair sermonising should openly participate in this public discussion. The electorate is not stupid or incapable of understanding complex issues, and ought not to be treated as such.