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Contact Rosario Fernandes +1 (905) 858-0871 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a response to Tomazinho Cardozo's article which propagates the debateable belief that electoral politics can redress people's movements. Here's my take. It is highly pertinent to note that the electoral politics are based on equations of caste and religion. Money and muscle power are used extensively. And it is a myth to presume that only the uneducated and poor are vote-commodities available for trading. Even the self-proclaimed educated trade their votes in exchange for getting their buildings painted or their roads tarred. Let's get it straight. it isn't just the politicians who are corrupt. so is a substantial section of the people! But I am no cynic, just a pragmatist! We need to underline the debate that took place before independence: what should come first. social reform or political freedom? In today's times, it translates as. what is of greater priority. strengthening of people's movements or electoral cleansing? We appreciate clean and genuine politicians like Tomazinho, but the fact is that even he cannot imagine himself contesting from his constituency. If he, or somebody as sincere as him, contests from my constituency I shall vote for him. But, I won't pin my hopes on him winning (just look at the long list of illustrious Goans who never won any elections) nor on his performance if he wins (just look at Mathany or even Tomazinho). The rogue politicians, the shrewd bureaucrats and the lewd businessmen will never allow anyone to get the better of them. It is only pressure created by people's groups that can diminish, if not defeat, the nefarious designs of the obnoxious nexus. Regarding "not voting" being a violation of our constitution, let me cite my own example. Ever since I got a chance to vote, I have been going and rejecting all the lousy options on the ballot paper. All that changed with the voting machine. It has no option that says none of the above. So much for those e-mails that tell you that the law guarantees you the democratic right to reject all the candidates if they are unworthy to be elected! Another myth is that the Congress is corrupt and the BJP is communal. Both are equally corrupt and communal. Both have no qualms about selling their mother or motherland to the highest bidder. Both pay lip service to democracy. All the remaining parties, including the colluding Communists, are ever ready to oppose the two major parties and yet support their dangerous intentions. And of course, we have seen how some self-styled "secular and clean" activists jump from Congress stage to BJP platforms, because they know that "you real can't tell which is which" or maybe they don't care. Garv se kaho tum vested interest ho! And most importantly, the diabolic Regional-Plan is far from dead, it has just been put in cold storage. Ironically, most Goans are ignorant of the most devious aspects of RP2011 - the mining areas and the SEZs - and the irrevocable damage and subjugation that they will unleash on an unsuspecting people. The war is far from over. The GBA's relevance will lie in exposing every mask on every political aspirant who masquerades as a messiah of the masses. The GBA's success does not lie in the superficial withdrawal of a notification or the defeat of corrupt, notorious and communal politicians. The GBA's success lies in the empowerment of our men and women to first commit themselves to the cause of "Save Goa" and then "converting" the rest to the fold where humanism makes merry in the lap of Mother Nature. So let good candidates come forward. And may they not go away if they lose. And may they not go astray if they win. As for the "people's movements" may they not get distracted by the interruptions of electoral politics! Regards Pravin Sabnis