************ TEN QUESTIONS: MINORITIES TOTALLY EXPLOITED BY GOA'S POLITICAL PARTIES-Soter D'Souza ************
TILL A FEW days back, Porvorim-based Soter D'Souza (42) was the general secretary of the BJP's Minority Morcha, the 'minority' front of Goa's ruling party. In a chat with FREDERICK NORONHA, he explains why he quit the post, just before a critical Goa elections. ************ FN: What prompted you to quit the BJP and it Minority Morcha? ************ Minories were not being taken seriously. All the more, the Gujarat riots and certain local incidents (not just the Socorro Muslim prayer hall arson but two other unreported incidents) had led me to review my relations with the BJP. ************ FN: What led you to join it in 1998? ************ The failure of the Congress, both nationally and locally, created a void. I came in contact with (Goa chief minister) Manohar Parrikar and getting to know his vision and attributes. I saw some hope for Goa and Goans. ************ FN: How would you rate Parrikar today? ************ I still feel he has administrative abilities and discipline. But certain compulsions of politics perhaps influenced his decision-making process. The zeal with which he started his tenure, specially his fight against corruption and other illegalities, has almost died out. ************ FN: Looking back, what was the BJP's main achivements and failures in this period? ************ Initially, the BJP was able to show that corruption could be curtailed. Discipline in government administration was another plus. Even the Dayanand Social Security Scheme was a good venture, but it was stretched too much for political reasons. On the other hand, the drive against corruption was not total, leading people to feel that only political opponents were targetted. Instead of contempt for the corrupt politicians, people started sympathising with them. There was not enough effort to break the communal or fundamental image that has been painted of the BJP by the Opposition. In fact, certain incidents have only further substantiated this. ************ FN: In your view, how should the BJP be dealing with the minorities? ************ Unless the BJP seriously reviews its opinions and approaches towards all sections of the minorities, then it cannot be trusted. ************ FN: What is your view of communalism within the minorities? ************ Actually, I do not favour a thinking based on minority lines. It not only sends out a wrong signal, but is also a sort of an inferiority lable. It acts as a means for certain politicians to corner votes. On the other hand, it is also for the majority community to give up their attempts to form communal cliques. It's a two way process; when minorities feel secure, that's the time they will maybe change. ************ FN: As someone who studied for priesthood, what do you feel should be the role of priests, when it comes to politics? ************ A priest should not impose his ideas. Whatever evolves from the democratic process, he should learn to accept it. They should also encourage voters to support good, efficient and sincere candidates, regardless of religious affiliation. Some priests lack in exposure to the feelings and thinking of the majority community. ************ FN: What do you see as in store for the BJP in Goa? ************ If the BJP does not do serious soul-searching to recognise its shortcomings, they're heading towards political rejection. If they do seriously review their strategies and ideologies, they could still hold promise to this state and the country because of their work ethics, discipline and cadre. ************ FN: What's the involvement of minorities in politics in Goa today? ************ The minorities in Goa are totally divided. As a result they have been exploited by political parties. They have allowed themselves to be taken for granted. Many decisions taken by the minorites too might have not been rational, but emotional. Any alternative in Goa should not be built on majority-minority lines. The times require all peace-loving Goans -- from whatever community -- to come together and prevent disruptive forces from getting hold of the political and social fabric. ************ FN: Your reading of the impact of the Gujarat carnage on the Goa polls? ************ Although some political parties claim the Gujarat riots will not have an impact on the election results, I beg to differ. The nervousness from some quarters is forcing them to involve Section 153(A) of the IPC to stop filming of certain video-cassettes (about the anti-Muslim violence in Gujarat). It is enough proof that what happened in Gujarat will influence the voter of all communities, cutting across religion and caste. I would not be surprised if a Gujarat-type situation occurs in Goa, and certain statements of inciting of communal disturbances is pointing towards that, while blaming it on the Congress.(ENDS) ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ To unsubscribe from Goanews Send a mail message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: 'unsubscribe goanews'
