[Goanet] Democracy attains a new low in India
Democracy attains a new low in India By Nisser Dias nisserdias at gmail.com SMS to 9422437029 The recent development over toppling games of BJP led Karnataka government has its fall-out on democracy and sadly our democratically elected politicians irrespective of political party they belong, demonstrated that they will stoop to any level or even act undemocratically to either grab power or cling on to it. But in this case the Congress led government in Goa bled democracy further by refusing leaders of BJP unit in Goa to meet their own partymen at a luxurious hotel in south Goa. 16 MLAs had rebelled against Karnataka chief minister B S Yeddyurappa and withdrawn their support to his government. The rebel traveled from Karnataka to Chennai to Bombay and finally arrived in Goa and set their tent in Goa. It was but natural for the BJP party bigwigs to urge its partymen in Goa to convince or even induce the rebels not to topple its government. But the government had no business to thrown a security cordon of police around the villa of the resort where the MLAs were housed. If the rebels did not want to meet their partymen or the party emissaries for a dialogue they could leave instruction with the hotel staff that they needed absolute privacy, if the rebels felt that they still would not be safe they could have requested for additional security near their villa. Now lets us consider that the Karnataka rebel MLAs including the independents requested the Goa government for police protection, the government could well do by posting some policemen or police officers in the lobby of the hotel to deter troublemakers. But dispatching most of the top brass of police officers from south Goa along with a huge contingent of police with direction to throw a cordon around the villa making it a virtual fortress was unacceptable. This very fact made the Congress led government in the state an abettor to defections and the presence of Home minister Ravi Naik, PWD minister Churchill Alemao and Power minister Alexio Sequeira at the resort in company of the rebels endorsed the BJP’s claim that the Congress party was involved in the toppling games in another state. The politicians might say that this is politics but we should not forget that we live in a democratic country and just as the disgruntled rebel MLAs have a right to dislodge its government and the opposition parties have the right to support such a move, party leaders of rebels have equal right to convince them not to topple the government. But what the Congress led government in Goa tried to do is drill another nail in the coffin of democracy by trying to deny BJP leaders in Goa to meets its rebel party, this is not acceptable. This is an indication that Congress party crucified democracy. Actually we should not raise eyebrows at the presence of Home Minister of Goa Ravi Naik being present at the hotel with the BJP rebels as he too thrives or rather gets kicks out of toppling games. I say this because he has distinction of being the shortest serving chief minister of Goa. After a successful coup against then chief minister Dr. Wilfred D’souza he attained chief ministership only to be ordered by the High Court to step down in just four days. Here the High Court had endorsed its mark that Ravi and gang had illegally, unconstitutionally and undemocratically toppled Dr. Willy’s government Now let us see how BJP butchered democracy to stay in power in Karnataka. After their efforts failed to convince the rebels to withdraw the letter of withdrawal of support to the Yeddyurappa government a petition for disqualification of all the rebel MLAs was filed before the Karnataka speaker who promptly within hours decided the matter and passed an order disqualifying all the rebel MLAs. Here is an indication that the speaker either acted in a biased manner or was forced by the top party bigwigs as it was unfair to disqualify the independent MLAs. Even in the case of BJP MLAs they have rebelled and not defected to any party so where is the question of defection. Secondly it is very rare that petitions before the speaker are decided in such a hurry. In some case disqualification petitions are never decided at all and when the five year term of elected representative ends the petitions become infructuous. The Karnataka government seems to have taken a leaf from Manohar Parrikar’s book. In 2005 when his government had lost majority, a disqualification petition was filed against then independent MLA Filipeneri Rodrigues as he was the part of the group that withdrew support to the BJP led government. On the day the motion of confidence was to be placed in the house, the speaker disqualified Filipeneri Rodrigues and asked him to leave the house. When he refused policemen were called to bodily lift out of the house. As commotion prevailed the motion was put to vote and decided in Parrikar’s favour. It was in 2002,
[Goanet] Democracy attains a new low in India
Truly this is a sad state of affairs and should not be allowed to succeed any longer. I do agree with you that we in Goa too are to be blamed as we keep on re electing the same corrupt and dishonest scoundrels into office. It is high time that we kick them all out and elect truly trustworthy and honest people to represent us in the legislature. Manuel (Eddie) Tavares.
Re: [Goanet] Democracy attains a new low in India
PLE of Goa FOR POLITICAL SANITY. If this comes about, then there will be no holes left in Goa where the Alibaba and his 40 thieves could ever hide. THE MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION IS : ARE THERE ANY TAKES ??? Cheers floriano GSRP/GEAG/PPS/MNE www.goasu-raj.org - Original Message - From: "floriano" To: "Goa's premiere mailing list, estb. 1994!" ; "Goanet" Sent: Wednesday, October 13, 2010 3:18 PM Subject: Re: [Goanet] Anti-Goans for Elections Very true, indeed. And that is exactly what is going to happen. UNLESS UNLESS There is a fool proof alternative sound and fool proof and effective 'SOLUTION' which needs to be put on the road in a jiffy. However, I shall spell out the SOLUTION in my next post. - Original Message - From: "manuel tavares" To: Sent: Monday, October 18, 2010 3:27 AM Subject: [Goanet] Democracy attains a new low in India Truly this is a sad state of affairs and should not be allowed to succeed any longer. I do agree with you that we in Goa too are to be blamed as we keep on re electing the same corrupt and dishonest scoundrels into office. It is high time that we kick them all out and elect truly trustworthy and honest people to represent us in the legislature. Manuel (Eddie) Tavares.
Re: [Goanet] Democracy attains a new low in India
PLE of Goa FOR POLITICAL SANITY. If this comes about, then there will be no holes left in Goa where the Alibaba and his 40 thieves could ever hide. THE MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION IS : ARE THERE ANY TAKES ??? Cheers floriano GSRP/GEAG/PPS/MNE www.goasu-raj.org - Original Message - From: "floriano" To: "Goa's premiere mailing list, estb. 1994!" ; "Goanet" Sent: Wednesday, October 13, 2010 3:18 PM Subject: Re: [Goanet] Anti-Goans for Elections Very true, indeed. And that is exactly what is going to happen. UNLESS UNLESS There is a fool proof alternative sound and fool proof and effective 'SOLUTION' which needs to be put on the road in a jiffy. However, I shall spell out the SOLUTION in my next post. - Original Message - From: "manuel tavares" To: Sent: Monday, October 18, 2010 3:27 AM Subject: [Goanet] Democracy attains a new low in India Truly this is a sad state of affairs and should not be allowed to succeed any longer. I do agree with you that we in Goa too are to be blamed as we keep on re electing the same corrupt and dishonest scoundrels into office. It is high time that we kick them all out and elect truly trustworthy and honest people to represent us in the legislature. Manuel (Eddie) Tavares.
Re: [Goanet] Democracy attains a new low in India
Dear Floriano, These are very salient points and you have my full support in your efforts to bring some semblance of the democratic principals of Government being of the people for the people and by the people. I hope that every Goan who has the well being of Goa at heart turns up and lends their support to the movement by turning up for the gathering on December 19 2010, and that on election day, they all turn up to vote (THIS MUST BE STRESSED AS IMPERATIVE TO OUR SUCCESS) and throw out the corrupt and selfish people who are currently in power in Goa. A movement which engulfs all well meaning Goans surely must prevail against an autocratic and corrupt lot who are bent upon enriching themselves at the expense of Goa and Goans. I humbly suggest that as in the U.S. and Canada, persons who are elected to office declare their Assets and liabilities and those of their closest relatives on assuming office and on relinquishing office in order to achieve transparency. This is important as any discrepancies discovered on relinquishing office must be explained. Any unexplained or fraudulent or wishy washy transactions must be investigated and if necessary the individual must be prosecuted in order to dissuade future electees from indulging in dubious transactions. Wishing you every success on December 19 2010. RegardsManuel (Eddie) Tavares. - Original Message - From: "floriano" To: "Goa's premiere mailing list, estb. 1994!" Cc: "manuel tavares" Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 2010 10:31 AM Subject: Re: [Goanet] Democracy attains a new low in India Dear Manuel, Your post has wound me up to do what I promised to do. Therefore, here it is. 1. Goa 'NEEDS' a Political Solution. 2. This Political Solution must be spelt out first so that it is swallowed 'bait-hook & sinker' style by the People of Goa who seem to be fed-up of this MESS. 3. As an alternative to all existing Political Parties, Goa needs to field all 40 candidates who have never been elected before... aka fresh faces. 4. It does not matter if they are Saints or Devils. The Political System which will be spelt out will not allow itself to be bent or marginalized. Therefore, the Devils will fly into outer space leaving Saints and mostly hypocrite Saints to be dealt with. 5. Before too long, Goa needs a massive people's MOVEMENT which can safely swallow their pride and come to terms that Goa requires 'political sanity' like 'yesterday' 6. This massive MOVEMENT of the people must be like the movement we have seen in the past on 18 December, 2006 at Azad Maidan... the GBA Movement. 7. The closest date for this MOVEMENT to take shape is 19 December, 2010 as there is not much time left until the next elections in 2012 or earlier. 8. This MOVEMENT must have a charismatic MASCOT where the people will leave everything and just flock in numbers and nod their heads, a mascot that will remain the mascot until the end of the MOVEMENT, no matter what, and no matter who tries to pull it down. 9.Immediately after the 19 December 2010 , there must be a full-fledged CONVENTION of the people with invited DELEGATES et al. 10. All of Goa's political Parties must be invited for this CONVENTION to give their PARTY PRESENTATIONS, warning them that their survival in Goan Politics henceforth will depend on this PRESENTATION,. 11. The CONVENTION shall deliberate for one or more days (if necessary) and come out with its finding before the CONVENTION is closed as to which political party in Goa it will support OR if it will go ahead and take the job of doing the necessary by itself at the next elections with all 40 candidates. 12. If this be the case, a very very strong signal will have been sent to the people of Goa that they can now expect a real change. That is because one or two well meaning and self-less persons cannot clean the ROT and there are chances that the ROT will engulf them too. With all 40 in the fray, chances are that there could be a chance to get absolute majority, to say good-bye to blackmailing coalition politics which only works for itself and for their kin and friends. 13. Those who get elected shall be controled by this people's MOVEMENT on the basis of the blue-prints which has been accepted by the people --- which by-the-way will be the ' SYSTEM OF FUTURE GOVERNANCE OF GOA'. The recalcitrants shall not only be dropped like hot potatoes but also be shamed and blacklisted for life. 14. The 'No Second Term' which will be enforced with an iron hand shall see to it that vote-bank politics will vanish in thin air for once from the sacred Goan soil. 15. Soon after the Convention - the MOVEMENT shall identify and bring in people who will take the lead (for once) ... who have been long time activist for 'good-effective-governance'. These people should come forward automati