When he assumed office on 9th March 2012, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had rightly pointed out that Goa’s exploding population needed to be frozen. But his government has done nothing whatsoever towards achieving that end, except keeping Goans entertained with the empty talk of Special Status for Goa. Infact Manohar Parrikar has been drafting in more ‘migrants’ and even posting them in high positions despite there being no dearth of qualified Goans available for those posts.
In an apparent bid to seek and arouse passions over the issue of Special Status for Goa, Manohar Parrikar had last year expressed concern that Goa was on the brink of ethnic dilution as the uncontrolled migration into Goa was diluting the State’s ethnic character. "Unrestricted migration and whole-scale transfer of land is beginning to submerge the unique Goan identity” is what Manohar Parrikar had exactly said. Mr. Parrikar had further stated that "The apprehension is that Goans will become an alienated microscopic minority within their own State" The same devious Manohar Parrikar a week later amidst much fanfare inaugurated the Dawoodi Bohra's residential colony at Socorro in Porvorim. In his speech there Manohar Parrikar said “As 80% of your community members are into business, I would like to invite and welcome more people from your community to come to Goa" while assuring them all help in their endeavours in Goa. Such double talk by Mr. Manohar Parrikar has now become the order of the day. Fortunately, the people of Goa including some of his own cabinet colleagues and party MLAs are now opening their eyes and may no longer be fooled by such empty deceptive talk. The electoral promises are mere rainbows. Despite having a clear mandate in Delhi, if BJP and specially Manohar Parrikar cannot deliver, God help Goa. Perhaps the foreign junkets are aimed at distractions, to enable Manohar Parrikar to fiddle to glory while Goa is burning. The skewed decisions of this government are on account of the tailor made and politically vitiated legal advice being given by the flamboyant Advocate General Atmaram Nadkarni whose very close links with the Mining barons, the Casino lobby, and the builders is no secret. That Special Status may remain a mere illusion forever. We can save for posterity whatever remains of Goa by urgently having the required laws in place to protect our land and identity. For this to happen and get those laws drafted, we first need to have on a priority an honest, sincere, and knowledgeable Advocate General who would have only Goa’s best interest at heart. Will the Chief Minister stop shedding crocodile tears and bite the bullet by taking this first much needed step to salvage Goa’s wreckage. Aires Rodrigues Advocate High Court C/G-2, Shopping Complex Ribandar Retreat, Ribandar – Goa – 403006 Mobile No: 9822684372 Office Tel No: (0832) 2444012 Email: airesrodrigu...@gmail.com Or airesrodrig...@yahoo.com You can also reach me on Facebook.com/ AiresRodrigues Twitter@rodrigues_aires