Goa’s toxic political pickle -Soter

The recent medical surveys reveal a high incidence of gastro-intestinal cancers, diabetes and hypertension among Goans, but it also needs to be borne in mind that their political health is no better either. Unfortunately labeled across the country as an eat, drink and make merry community, Goans may be a little careless not only about their physical health but also about their political well being. Just as the quality of food no more matters after a dose of that intoxicating feni, so probably is the case with politics too. After feeding on Delhi’s political junk foods like ‘Aam Admi ki Rabdi’ and ‘Parivartan ki Kushboo’, Goans now seem to be tempted to introduce yet another of those Delhi toxic flavours  ‘AAP ki Tadka’ to its political cuisine. But no matter what new healthy political recipes get adopted, they are soon contaminated with the one and only highly infectious bacteria of caste, religion and economics which has been prevalent in Goa since 1961. These bacteria have mutated according to the times for their survival and have always operated in an unassuming style to bring Goan society to the mess it is in today. A change in political chefs has never helped; ultimately the Goan has remained with that same bitter-sour taste in the mouth after every buffet. It appears that these bacteria have made Goans politically impotent by manipulating the brain into politically destructive choices and low self-confidence.

A year ago, before the emergence of the Aam Admi Party (AAP) in Delhi, the buzz around Goa was for dumping the national political parties and opting for a regional party. One of the reasons for this view was that the national parties were not serious about preserving the Goan culture and environment. The national political parties are seen as the main culprits behind the huge in-flow of migrants into the State to create vote banks. The North Indian real estate developers and businessmen making having their way into Goa is resented by the common Goan. If so, then how come the opinion has now suddenly swung to entertaining a third national political party as an electoral choice, and that too from Delhi? Are Goans really in control of their political institutions? These answers can only be found if one is willing to ‘pull his own strings’ and not get swayed by the bacterial propaganda and mob mentality. Goans need to break free from the mental slavery induced by the bacterial ‘parivar’ which drives them to political suicide at every election.

For the moment, the anti-Congress segment is finding itself in limbo and left red faced after its disastrous honeymoon experience with the destructive ‘parivartan’. It is this egoistic segment which is now show-casing AAP as the political alternative. This stance serves the sectarian segment which knows fully well that the BJP vote bank is guaranteed no matter what the negative propaganda and all it needs to do is to ensure a split in the Congress and opposition votes. In the absence of any unified approach by the opposition forces, the absurdity in embracing AAP could only fuel hopes for a second term for BJP in government. If the communally-corrupt BJP is to be taught a humiliating lesson for its betrayal of the people then the logical tactic should be about voting in the very Congress which the BJP detests. Frustrating the ‘Congress Mukt Bharat’ agenda - the precursor to ‘Lokshai Mukt Bharat’ and a rabid fundamentalist rule similar to that of the ISIS and Taliban - must take priority over the bogey of corruption which is practically practiced by almost every political dispensation in various forms. For instance, is amending the law to prevent court interference in government projects not corruption? Is the abuse of State power for selective hounding of opposition politicians by fabricating cases not corruption?  Is the installing of stooges at the helm of affairs in institutes of learning merely for their ideological leanings also not about corruption? Is hiring of PR agencies by government’s at huge cost to bombard the public with propaganda not about corruption? So, let us not succumb to the myth about corruption as touted by the communally corrupt political forces intending to attack the very Constitution of democratic India. Goans should not be fooled by decoys of the sectarian forces who offer political alternatives by wearing anti-BJP masks. If at all Goans intend to show BJP the door, then by applying the maxim ‘a bird in hand is worth two in the bush’ the reasonable alternative would mean letting the Congress and allies emerge temporarily by forgetting all differences. Are we Goans so incapacitated politically that we need Delhi politicians to present us alternatives?  Or, Will Goans commit yet another political blunder and then repent it like in the case of the U.K people on Brexit?   

(This were he views sent to a local daily a fortnight ago but remained unpublished)