WHAT SHOULD THE PEOPLE DO? For Goan Christians, particularly, the BJP should be like a red flag to the bull – but no! Mathany Saldanha will not see it that way for he’s been so outraged and disgusted with the craven Congress and his own buy-sell, opportunistic UGDP that he’d rather sell his soul to the assassins of the Mahatma and still make poixe. BY BEN ANTAO.
WHAT SHOULD the citizen do? Dr. Francisco Colaco of Margao’s Lok Shakti has forwarded his views. I’d tell him and others not to despair, not to yield to the temptation of the grave, but to think with logic and act with purpose to change the currently corrupt and communal political environment in the state of Goa. It’s true that distance lends perspective to the view for I can see clearly from Toronto the solutions to the problems of clean governance in Goa. Now before you jump to dismiss me as overly optimistic, carefully consider the following: Since in a democracy the people are supreme, they must ensure that the politicians they elect to form the government are people of integrity, those burning with passion to serve the needs of the people. Because the power of the people is vested in the politicians, the people must only vote for candidates who will guarantee, for example, that the civil service works efficiently and on time. No citizens should have to pay for any service for which they have already paid through their taxes. Corruption It so happens that the system of government all over India today is rigged with corruption. Even after 57 years of independence, a citizen cannot get anything done unless he knows somebody in the government department or unless he’s prepared to bribe. Goa, too, is now in the loop of this crooked system, 43 years after freedom from the Portuguese rule. What can the Goan citizen do to change this culture of corruption? I say make the politicians accountable and, if necessary, change them. "But how can I do that? The politicians have their vote-banks," you say. Okay, let’s look at the history of vote banks and see how the determined citizen can outfox them. I read recently that in any election held in Goa in the past 20 years the vote bank contributed 90 percent of the votes cast and ensured the candidate’s win. But interestingly enough, the vote banks represented only 27 percent of all the votes cast. How can a candidate win with a sure 27 percent of the vote, you ask? Easy. If less than 54 percent of the registered voters exercise their right to vote in an election, the candidate with the vote bank (bought with money, drugs, drinks, chicken, sex, scooters and other staples that make life sussegad in Goa) is laughing his head off while gambling in his newly built mansion. Now the voter turnout in the last 20 years has been estimated at a high of 42 percent to a low of 30 percent. That is, more than 50 percent or half the eligible voters are staying away from the polling booth, saying “shee-shee, I’m not going to vote for that goonda.” This is why the same defective and defected politicians get elected! As I listen to Goans complain about the dirty games played by elected politicians, I ask them why they don’t do something to change it. "What can be done? They’re all crooks. It’s a hopeless case," I hear. When I reply that they should vote for decent and honest individuals, I’m told: "What for? They’ll never get elected because they have no money. You need money, crores of it, to win elections in Goa." Whoa! The reader has heard all this before, for sure. And yet, the attitudes of apathy, cynicism, despair, and wringing of hands will not change the political culture, a culture unworthy of Goans. What will change is this. The people must do the following: At election time, whether at panchayat, zilla parishad, municipal council, or assembly level, at least 90 percent of the registered voters must come out and vote. Seek out, nominate and vote in honest individuals (not aligned to any national parties like the Congress or BJP) to the panchayats and see that panchayat rule is conducted in a fair manner, in the best interest of the village community, with no hanky-panky of bribery and other influence. This may seem tough in the beginning, but a beginning has to be made. Here is the test of democracy at the grassroots level. If the local sons are away in the Gulf, the women should take up the slack and participate in the panchayat elections. Don’t yield to apathy and who-cares attitude. Don’t dwell on the caste distinctions but work together with all the people, for the good of the village. If you live in the city, get involved in the municipal elections. Support and encourage good people to run for civic elections, people with no overt or covert ties to corrupt political parties. Concentrate on the issues of traffic and parking in the cities of Margao, Vasco, Panjim and Mapusa. Take a serious look at garbage disposal, water supply and sanitation in the hotels, restaurants, and other eateries. Look at the state of cleanliness in your local hospitals. Are the public hospitals a health hazard? Rise Up! All this will involve a hefty dose of re-education in the villages and towns. But the people must rise up to the challenge, although the road is steep and the progress will be slow. The movement of Lok Shakti or people power must be harnessed, organized and unleashed throughout the villages and towns. Establish Lok Shakti groups or cells to educate the people about their civic duties and political responsibilities, the key being to vote for the upright candidate who will serve the people (at the village or town level) and not enrich himself at the cost of the people. "But the politicians have the people in their pockets, nothing is going to change," you say? My answer is that nothing will change if you, the voter, will not change the politician whom you know to be corrupt. Remember now: the dishonest politician does not have all the voters in his ward or constituency in his pocket. He only has the vote bank that makes up only 27 percent of the total vote. That leaves you with more than 70 percent to defeat the bad guy. Are you willing to bite the bullet and take the bad guy out? You can do it if you don’t despair and think of the grave. Study the municipal election rolls or the state assembly rolls. Have your election committee contact the voters. Be sure to get at least 60 percent of the vote out, who will vote for the just and upright candidate, not for the one who is throwing money around and making wild promises, promises that you know he can’t possibly keep. Oh, yes, I’ve heard the lament made after the ball was over. "We were sick and tired of the Congress, the corruption and the self-serving politicians whose only interest was to build mansions for themselves. We saw the mansions and felt betrayed. So out of desperation we switched to BJP and now we’re sucked into this communal whirlpool." I understand – it’s called jumping from the frying pan into the fire! Hey, don’t feel bad, my fellow Goan. You see both the national parties are corrupt to the core. However, the politicians pushing the Hindutva agenda down the throats of Indians are a clear and present danger to India whose constitution enshrines the shining principle of secularism in an India that welcomes all communities and minorities, the Dalits, Muslims, Christians and Buddhists to live and grow and prosper in the land of Mahatma Gandhi. The Hindutva and RSS types don’t want to hear the name of the Mahatma. Distant Hope For Goan Christians, particularly, the BJP should be like a red flag to the bull – but no! Mathany Saldanha will not see it that way for he’s been so outraged and disgusted with the craven Congress and his own buy-sell, opportunistic UGDP that he’d rather sell his soul to the assassins of the Mahatma and still make poixe. Indeed politicians the world over shack up with strange bedfellows. But the Lok Shakti has it within its power to change the political culture; so can the Goa Suraj Party of Floriano Lobo. Therefore my friend, Francisco Colaco, despair not. Instead of bemoaning as if helplessly, get together with Goa Suraj and contest the by-elections that will soon come up. You don’t have to worry about forming the government for the first time. You only need a few good men and women in the Assembly. Even a lone ranger will do, for a start, just to prove that people can revolutionize the government if they put their mind and heart into it. This I believe - Goans can and shall overcome. (ENDS) The above article appeared in a recent edition of The Goan Observer (http://www.goanobserver.com), the online edition of which is subscriber-based
