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Modi’s progress must include Goa’s demand I t sort of rained on the Modi government's 100 days in power party when floods filled the state of Jammu and Kashmir and thousands are still stranded. It's not that natural disasters are unknown to India, but monsoons bring devastation to many parts of country. It's bad that this fury of the gods will have a negative effect on the tourist economy of J& K, a state forever in the national eye because of domestic problems and cross- border terrorism. A permanent communal discord harms the scenario of a beautiful and scenic paradise. The heart bleeds to see young children caught in this natural calamity besides being shell- shocked victims of internal fighting between different groups. It's time Kashmiris have peace and its young generation grow up in an atmosphere of serenity and without any sprinkling of blood. Kashmir is no doubt a major communal flashpoint, made worse by Pakistan's motivation to keep the state on boil. It's will be a long time -- or never -- that a solution to the Kashmir problem will ever be found. We have to live with it, not only in our lifetime but for generations to come. A splintered state between the original J& K and the Pakistan- occupied Kashmir ( PoK), the soul is split. Kashmiris are doughty people who have seen bloodshed for years and may see blood going in small streams for many more years to come. In these circumstances the will and the spirit of the Kashmiris triumph of the odds. One can only pray that they peace will descend on the valley in the near future. True, the natural calamity overhung the Modi government's march. It may be too short a period to assess the progress and from all accounts the reaction is mixed. The streamlining of certain government functions and also cracking the whip against officialdom, the Modi government has instilled some discipline in a wayward babucracy. New Delhi is, undoubtedly, perked up, and the effects seem to falling on some states. On the foreign policy front, Modi has stepped on a affirmative diplomatic path. India's hegemony in South Asia is a known fact, and the neighbours tread cautiously in dealing with India. The Pakistan- India relations will always be on a see- saw. The mistrust both nations hold against each other underpins the relationship. However, it must be acceded that both nations cannot afford going to war. In the mutual embrace of the love- hate syndrome, a jawjaw is better than war- war. As much it has done on the global stage and Modi's meeting with Obama could be the highpoint in the diplomatic stakes. Considered a pariah for such a long time because of his rule in Gujarat, Modi's elevation of prime minister of the nation has turned the tide around. No doubt, economic thrust remains the hallmark of his foreign policy, with " Made in India" or " Make in India" as calling cards to foreign investors, the foreign business could open shop in India. It's seen as a u- turn for a party that was going hammer and tongs against FDI in multibrand retail. How this plays out when the big global companies line up at India's door is to be seen. There could be no major uturns but expect some detours. The UPAled government’s economic reforms yielded some results, and Modi could build on it. No doubt much is expected on the economic front, the Modi government, especially the BJP party, hasn't adhered itself favourably to the politically- neutral population of the country. In the latest hiccup, the president of the party, Amit Shah, has been charge- sheeted for " hate speech." Modi presents a different face of the party while Shah presents another face. In between these two, there are many faces, more so the rabid yogis, who defy the law and, by extension, defy the very nature of India. The shenanigans of the wayward BJP MPs and cadre should be stopped. It doesn't matter whether one is " sickular", but secularism is the cornerstone of the Constitution and, therefore, a sacred face of the nation. One cannot forget that some elements in the BJP said the former prime minister Vaypayee was just a " mask" of the party. Vajpayee's tolerance and his stand on communal issues wasn't welcomed by the hardcore party- members. And now he's in the doldrums, as much as the old guard who sustained the party for years. It's the new face of the party, a face that can change colour in an instant. Since Centre- State relations are always fraught with tension, the Modi government has had its hands full in dealing with some states. In this respect, Goa was supposed to be in the friendly arms of Modi, since he got leapfrogged onto the national stage from Goa. On his crowning glory as PM- candidate for the party, he made promises galore, among them Special Status for Goa. The case for Special Status has been hanging fire for such a long time that it came as a shock, albeit a failure of promise, when the government rejected the Specail Status case. It gave ammunition to those forces which again resorted to calling Nehru a " liar" and other things. I believe Nehru was sincere for he believed in Goa being different than the rest of India in many ways, especially culture. However, he could have have faced Constitutional stringency and also those in the party who didn't seem favourably to his aspiration ( since it wasn't written in stone). It was unfortunate that Nehru passed away after a couple of years following Liberation, and with him his dream died. One must remember that Nehru commanded moral authority over the party as no one else who followed him, including his daughter, Indira Gandhi, who ruled with an iron hand, did. Even today, the Constitution acts as a stumbling block to Goa's Special Status demand. How to achieve it, if the Constitution needs amendment though the government has clearly stated that the state has laws to prevent certain irritants such as migrants and landpossesion by " outsders", is for the Parrikar government to lobby his " master" at the Centre. Those looking at " special status" as something of a watered- down version of " self- determintion", once a cry of some Goans leaders during the Portuguese regime, are sadly mistaken. Goa, for all reasons and seasons, is ruled by Goans. A carrot- and- stick policy worked well at the election, but today Parrikar has to bite the reality. If Special Status is now considered a " lost" issue, then the voters must remember what to do at the next election time. Parrikar has gone through half his term. Parrikar and Modi must bang their heads together if they wish to save Goa for BJP. Modi's ongoing march towards progress must included Goa's demand. ( Eugene Correia worked for the Free Press Journal and The Hindu) and together xxx---xxx Image [Bookmark and Share] Modi’s progress must include Goa’s demand I t sort of rained on the Modi government's 100 days in power party when floods filled the state of Jammu and Kashmir and thousands are still stranded. It's not that natural disasters are unknown to India, but monsoons bring devastation to many parts of country. It's bad that this fury of the gods will have a negative effect on the tourist economy of J& K, a state forever in the national eye because of domestic problems and cross- border terrorism. A permanent communal discord harms the scenario of a beautiful and scenic paradise. The heart bleeds to see young children caught in this natural calamity besides being shell- shocked victims of internal fighting between different groups. It's time Kashmiris have peace and its young generation grow up in an atmosphere of serenity and without any sprinkling of blood. Kashmir is no doubt a major communal flashpoint, made worse by Pakistan's motivation to keep the state on boil. It's will be a long time -- or never -- that a solution to the Kashmir problem will ever be found. We have to live with it, not only in our lifetime but for generations to come. A splintered state between the original J& K and the Pakistan- occupied Kashmir ( PoK), the soul is split. Kashmiris are doughty people who have seen bloodshed for years and may see blood going in small streams for many more years to come. In these circumstances the will and the spirit of the Kashmiris triumph of the odds. One can only pray that they peace will descend on the valley in the near future. True, the natural calamity overhung the Modi government's march. It may be too short a period to assess the progress and from all accounts the reaction is mixed. The streamlining of certain government functions and also cracking the whip against officialdom, the Modi government has instilled some discipline in a wayward babucracy. New Delhi is, undoubtedly, perked up, and the effects seem to falling on some states. On the foreign policy front, Modi has stepped on a affirmative diplomatic path. India's hegemony in South Asia is a known fact, and the neighbours tread cautiously in dealing with India. The Pakistan- India relations will always be on a see- saw. The mistrust both nations hold against each other underpins the relationship. However, it must be acceded that both nations cannot afford going to war. In the mutual embrace of the love- hate syndrome, a jawjaw is better than war- war. As much it has done on the global stage and Modi's meeting with Obama could be the highpoint in the diplomatic stakes. Considered a pariah for such a long time because of his rule in Gujarat, Modi's elevation of prime minister of the nation has turned the tide around. No doubt, economic thrust remains the hallmark of his foreign policy, with " Made in India" or " Make in India" as calling cards to foreign investors, the foreign business could open shop in India. It's seen as a u- turn for a party that was going hammer and tongs against FDI in multibrand retail. How this plays out when the big global companies line up at India's door is to be seen. There could be no major uturns but expect some detours. The UPAled government’s economic reforms yielded some results, and Modi could build on it. No doubt much is expected on the economic front, the Modi government, especially the BJP party, hasn't adhered itself favourably to the politically- neutral population of the country. In the latest hiccup, the president of the party, Amit Shah, has been charge- sheeted for " hate speech." Modi presents a different face of the party while Shah presents another face. In between these two, there are many faces, more so the rabid yogis, who defy the law and, by extension, defy the very nature of India. The shenanigans of the wayward BJP MPs and cadre should be stopped. It doesn't matter whether one is " sickular", but secularism is the cornerstone of the Constitution and, therefore, a sacred face of the nation. One cannot forget that some elements in the BJP said the former prime minister Vaypayee was just a " mask" of the party. Vajpayee's tolerance and his stand on communal issues wasn't welcomed by the hardcore party- members. And now he's in the doldrums, as much as the old guard who sustained the party for years. It's the new face of the party, a face that can change colour in an instant. Since Centre- State relations are always fraught with tension, the Modi government has had its hands full in dealing with some states. In this respect, Goa was supposed to be in the friendly arms of Modi, since he got leapfrogged onto the national stage from Goa. On his crowning glory as PM- candidate for the party, he made promises galore, among them Special Status for Goa. The case for Special Status has been hanging fire for such a long time that it came as a shock, albeit a failure of promise, when the government rejected the Specail Status case. It gave ammunition to those forces which again resorted to calling Nehru a " liar" and other things. I believe Nehru was sincere for he believed in Goa being different than the rest of India in many ways, especially culture. However, he could have have faced Constitutional stringency and also those in the party who didn't seem favourably to his aspiration ( since it wasn't written in stone). It was unfortunate that Nehru passed away after a couple of years following Liberation, and with him his dream died. One must remember that Nehru commanded moral authority over the party as no one else who followed him, including his daughter, Indira Gandhi, who ruled with an iron hand, did. Even today, the Constitution acts as a stumbling block to Goa's Special Status demand. How to achieve it, if the Constitution needs amendment though the government has clearly stated that the state has laws to prevent certain irritants such as migrants and landpossesion by " outsders", is for the Parrikar government to lobby his " master" at the Centre. Those looking at " special status" as something of a watered- down version of " self- determintion", once a cry of some Goans leaders during the Portuguese regime, are sadly mistaken. Goa, for all reasons and seasons, is ruled by Goans. A carrot- and- stick policy worked well at the election, but today Parrikar has to bite the reality. If Special Status is now considered a " lost" issue, then the voters must remember what to do at the next election time. Parrikar has gone through half his term. Parrikar and Modi must bang their heads together if they wish to save Goa for BJP. Modi's ongoing march towards progress must included Goa's demand. ( Eugene Correia worked for the Free Press Journal and The Hindu) and together