BJP's Empty Rhetoric

(Published in Gomantak Times, 18 Jan 2012)
The 'Good Friday' adventure of yester years seems to have come back to haunt the BJP in the run up to the polls. Mr. Parrikar in his desperate bid to clinch this elections by demolishing the Congress in Goa seems to be once again resorting to empty rhetoric. He blames the absence of minorities with the BJP for the mistake in issuing a circular to cancel the Good Friday holiday. Did he not have Mr. Francis D'Souza, MLA of Mapusa and his close ally Mr. Mathany Saldanha of UGDP to guide him before he took on this anti-christian adventure? And what about his attempt to abolish October 2 and December 3 as public holidays? Does Mr. Parrikar believe in his heart that he can control the religious fanatics once the BJP is in power? Is BJP really concerned about minority sentiments? If so, what is its stand on the minority institutions wanting grants for English primary education? What is its stand on setting up of a Minority Commission in Goa? What has it to say on the plight of minorities in the BJP ruled States of Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh?
The political history of the BJP makes the game plan quite obvious. Suspend minority bashing and first weaken the greater obstacle, the Congress, by using the minorities themselves. There will always be another day to settle the score with the minorities, isn't it?
-Soter D'Souza