Published in oHeraldo on July 27, 2019
The latest breakaway group of 10 Congress MLAs to join the BJP, whether a defection or a split makes no difference, has once again exposed the deteriorating level of politics in the State of Goa. The right-wing nationalists seem obsessed with breaking world records, they now also hold the record for the political defections or splits engineered by them in the State of Goa. It’s all about the ‘party with a difference’ indulging in dirty politics differently, by giving it a progressive label of ‘national interest’. Some Goan politicians deserve to be conferred with an honorary doctorate in this sophisticated art of betraying the people’s mandate. The naturalness and frequency with which such political betrayals occur, makes these purgings appear more like a ‘diarrhoea’ almost like an uncontrollable urge to answer nature’s call. Political defection seems to have become another Goan festival among the several ‘festam’, probably inspired by the Sao Joao tradition of jumping in the well.
The reasons for MLAs resorting to defections and toppling games are not so black and white as the mass media makes us believe. All noises of protest and condemnation against such defections are not necessarily above subjective interests of competing political forces. The craving for Vitamin M (money) may not be the only reason for defections. There could also be several other political compulsions of survival as a politician or other inherent demands of nurturing a constituency. The negative perception created against certain politicians, may have a lot to do with selfish agendas of political parties, caste groups and corporates, depending on whose business interests are blocked, or how much of an obstacle he/she (the politician) is to the existing social and political set-up. As Franklin D Rosevelt said, “nothing happens in politics by accident. If it happens, you can bet that it was planned that way.”
Unfortunately, the goenkarponn software has no default settings for civility and objectivity when it comes to political discourse. Mere derogatory comments against politicians on Whatsapp, social media and in ‘tiatrs’ and nothing beyond such knee jerk reactions, only reflects the impoverished political mentality in Goa. It has become a recurring feature that every time such defections occur, they trigger hysterical outbursts in sections of the Goan populace, more like an attempts for a reasoned discussion simply gets flushed down the drain. The politicians too are convinced that such rantings are temporary as public memory is short, and Goans have proved this time and again. Had Goans demonstrated even a little political maturity to objectively understand their political plight, they could never have been repeatedly manipulated by the machinations of the political, casteist and corporate cartel in this State.
Goans just cannot play innocent and pretend to be victims of the various ills afflicting Goa’s politics. Our democracy is still alive and kicking, even though there are sufficient signs of this country slipping into a fascist rule. The People’s Representatives in our Parliament and Legislative Assembly are not imposed on us, but are elected by a majority of citizens themselves through a reasonably free and fair electoral process. The rot in Goa’s politics only reflects the prevailing hypocrisy and contradictions within society. The crumbling of value systems is visible within the Goan family and the society at large, and not in politics alone. Unreasonable demands and often unlawful expectations of citizens from their elected representatives in local bodies or the legislature, particularly when MLAs are in the opposition benches, actually reinforces such unhealthy politics in the State. If not, how does one explain the re-election of the unscrupulous politician time and again? What is it which gives the MLAs such confidence to even resign their seat and get re-elected on another party ticket? Can any politician with principles and statesman-like qualities even dream of saving his election deposit, leave aside winning an election?
So, before Goa’s ‘aam janata’ plays ‘I’m OK, You’re not OK’ when it comes to moralising on defections and the toppling games in politics, it needs to take a closer look at its own political behaviour. The beeline of citizens outside the MLAs’ residences or constituency offices for sponsorships, donations, doles, protection of illegalities and such others, are hardly exposed by anti-corruption crusaders. Citizens have no problem in receiving favours and ‘puraskars’ (awards) at the hands of such dirty politicians, nor does the unscrupulous politician face any form of social boycott for his/her anti-people activities. The samaj politics and religious polarisation which drives politics in the State has a lot to do with this mess. These days we see how the Hindu upper caste in Goa is suddenly claiming to be a victim of discrimination. The moral crisis runs deep in our society and the politician too is a product of such schooling.
The filth we see in Goa’s politics is nothing more than the natural and logical consequence of political thinking and behaviour of Goans over the last decade or more. The betrayal of public trust by the MLAs probably has its origin in ‘WE the People’ taking our democracy for granted. It’s about the public disregard for fundamental rights and fundamental duties spelt out in the Constitution of India which we see all around. When individualism and populism drives political thinking and action, such consequences are obvious.
Social media only helps in compounding the insanity. To arrest this rot, the Goans need to stop reacting emotionally and start responding rationally. For a more objective view of our political crisis, perhaps it could be helpful for the ‘aam admi’ to take a cue from what Winston Churchill had said, “I no longer listen to what people say, I just watch what they do. Behaviour never lies.”
(The author is a social activist)
source: https://www.heraldgoa.in/Edit/Opinions/Goa%E2%80%99s-political-sickness/149250.html
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