GFDO PRESS NOTE
GFDO wondered why CM Parsekar was so willing to accede to the demand of the
Union Defence Minister that 6 lakh square metres of land be allotted to the
Defence Ministry for Defexpo and other related events in Betul. As the Chief
Minister of Goa, it is Mr. Parsekar’s bounden duty to look after and protect
the interests of Goa and Goans. Surely CM Parsekar is aware that tiny Goa has
very scarce land resources compared to other states like Bihar, Maharashtra and
Uttar Pradesh among others. Therefore, as CM, it is his responsibility to not
only halt further unwarranted acquisitions, but work tirelessly to recover the
large parcels of precious Goan land that have been needlessly occupied by the
Defence forces as Mr. Parrikar himself had time and again pointed out as
Leader of Opposition and subsequently Chief Minister of Goa.
However, in yet another U turn, the former Chief Minister has declared his
Defence Ministry’s intention of swallowing even more of Goa’s scarce and
precious land for the purpose of holding Defexpo which will in no way benefit
either Goa or Goans. It will be recalled that as CM, Mr. Parrikar himself had
said in the Assembly that ‘It is easier to get the army to vacate from Lahore,
but not from even an inch of land in Panaji. I completely support the army and
navy, but I cannot understand this possessive thing they have about land. This
is not right. We will not give land for a naval enclave in Mopa.” Mr. Parrikar
should tell Goans what has changed since then.
If Mr. Parrikar genuinely has the interests of Goa and Goans at heart, he
should put an end to the stifling of Dabolim Airport by the government and use
his good offices at the Centre to ensure that the shoddy and unsafe
construction of Dabolim Airport Terminal is repaired and restored to good
condition. After all, it is a matter of safety of passengers and staff that is
at stake and of course Rs.500 crores of taxpayers’ money that has been used to
construct the terminal.
As Union Defence Minister, right at the helm of affairs in the Defence
Ministry, Divine Providence has placed Mr. Parrikar in a perfect position
wherein he has been endowed with the capability to fulfil his own request made
in December 2013 to Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh on the occasion
of the inauguration of the new Dabolim Airport terminal to “consider us (Goa)
also a part of India and give us some extra land at Dabolim.” What stops Mr.
Parrikar as Defence Minister from sanctioning the extra land that is so
vitally needed for growth and development of Dabolim Airport? Does he himself
not consider Goa a part of India?
For the people of Goa, this is the decisive moment that will test the
credibility and sincerity of Mr. Parrikar. It is distressing that although Mr.
Parrikar spoke as a Goan in his past avatars both as Leader of Opposition as
well as Chief Minister, he appears to have made a very quick and smooth
transition to the Delhi mindset. It is sad when Goans forget their roots and
look upon their home state (Goa) as fair game to lubricate and further their
own career prospects at the centre of power, even at the cost of their
homeland.
Fr. Eremito Rebelo Convenor
