Sardinha out of hibernation
By Nisser Dias
nisserdias at gmail.com
SMS to 9422437029
The Goa Congress Committee working president and Member of Parliament
Francisco Sardinha seems to be waking up from his deep slumber since
parliamentary elections are slated to be held in 2014. Of course he broke
his hibernation for a short while during the recently concluded assembly as
he was trying to get Congress nomination for his son. However when he failed
he immediately attracted the principle of inertia only to wake up again this
week.
Addressing the media recently he blamed the Digambar Kamat led government
for the party’s reversal of fortune at polls. It was like absolving himself
from scenario. Being a Congressman and that too senior member, of course not
a faithful one as he too deserted the party couple of times though he calls
himself a faithful soldier, Sardinha should realize he too is a part and
parcel of the Congress governance of the last five years.
But then back stabbing comes naturally to the so called Congressmen like
Francisco Sardinha who are also known to abandon the ship while it is
sinking just like rats. When I say back stabbing, he blamed his colleagues
when he lost to Alex Reginaldo Lourenco in 2007. This week for the Congress
debacle he blames mistakes of the Digambar Kamat led coalition government.
Surprising this same controversial politician was responsible for defecting
and bringing BJP to power in Goa. Does he have an explanation for that?
Today he blames the erstwhile Digambar Kamat government for mistakes like
Regional Plan 2021. I want to ask the south Goa Member of Parliament what
held him back from advising the government against notifying it. What held
him back from impressing the High Command about the possible fallout if
regional plan 2021 was notified before elections? It is alleged that the
High Command subtly managed to delay tabling of the Shah Commission report
on mining so that it would not expose the misdeeds of the Congress
government during elections. Thus holding back notification of RP 2021 would
not be a big deal for the High Command. But it would surely mean blocking
huge amounts of illegal money for the MLAs, MPs and ministers.
Having said that I wonder why former chief minister of Goa Francisco
Sardinha and one of the first ministers allegedly involved in a scandal
(marks) limits the Congress downfall to Regional Plan 2021. What about
mining, promoting family raj? Infact Sardinha was very vociferous in denying
that his party was adopting ‘Family Raj’, which has cost the Congress as
many as 6 seats, that is because he was trying to corner a Congress ticket
for his son. But that is Sardinha who thinks his ‘Olah!!!’ can do the magic
and bring the Congress government to power.
South Goa member of Parliament has gone on to say that he will seek a
special package to the tune of Rs 1000 crores to construct a new Zuari
bridge. Suddenly how has Sardinha’s ‘tubelight’ flickered on, I wonder? Is
it because the chief minister has made budgetary provisions for a new Zuari
bridge to be constructed within three years. Why did the MP not realise that
the existing bridge was weak and that there was an urgent need to construct
a new one. This is because Congress MLAs, ministers and MPs do not do their
homework. They want others to do their thinking. It would not be out of
place to say that the Congress politician are a personified example of our
government servants who do not want to work but want to avail all the
benefits and perks of the office.
Almost a couple of years have passed since Francisco Sardinha has been
elected to the parliament. Why did he not think of a new Zuari bridge all
this while? He did not care to ask his government at the centre to disburse
money for it, nor did he impress upon Congress led government in the state
the need to construct a new bridge. It is only now since Manohar Parrikar
has shown the way that this congress south Goa MP wants to steal the idea
and claim credit for it. That apart Sardinha wants to again run to Delhi
with an alms bowl and beg for money. Why does he not appreciate chief
minister’s efforts and courage to claim that his government will build the
bridge with finances generated in the state?
It is well known that finance is not Francisco Sardinha’s forte. Just to
remind my readers during his tenure as chief minister he had the opportunity
to submit one budget in the assembly. Ironically that budget was prepared by
Manohar Parrikar who was not even a minister at that time. Former chief
minister Sardinha just presented or rather read it in the House – maybe
without even understanding the nuances and nitty-gritties of what he was
reading.
Congress politicians have made it a tradition to be in power but not to
apply their mind to bring about development for betterment of the society.
They look at projects which give them benefits. They are least interested in
projects that does not add to their ill-gotten personal wealth. They are
also not interested in making the Union government pay attention to Goa to
bring about development and prosperity. Congress politician’s foresight and
vision is myopic so much so that it is always focussed on their personal
wealth and world. And the consequences are for everybody to see. Instead of
countering the state government, Francisco Sardinha may well be advised to
work in tandem with existing government irrespective of the political party
that is governing to bring about development of the state in quick time.
(ENDS)
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First published in Gomantak Times, Goa - April 12, 2012
