That is the question of the hour and the other side of the story: government, central and state, often claim the contrary, people are against all plans of the government. But let us look at the facts.
The latest juggernaut in the face of the Goan people is the plan to take over the maintenance of heritage religious sites in Goa and hand them on a golden platter to a company which looks after beaches. Is this an admission by the central government of their inability to keep historic sites and buildings all over the country clean? Are they saying they are not smart enough to keep historical sites clean? Do they realize how idiotic they look in the eyes of the public? Some of the sites mentioned on the list are heritage religious sites and not only places of interest for tourists who visit Goa. The churches are visited by people for religious ceremonies regularly, and even by people who follow various religious faiths, Muslims and Hindus who flock to churches on various occasion, especially related to the patron saint of Goa, St. Francis Xavier. This is interference in the religious affairs of a state and community and is unconstitutional. Now, I object strongly to this line of thinking which goes against Indian culture and our traditional values of freedom of religion. And, please note, I have no religion. Is Goa no longer a state which deserves respect? We are informed how the state government was not informed on this matter. Is it the role of Delhi Raj to tell us when to sit or stand or kneel down before them. Is ours but to do and die? Do we matter only at the time of elections, and at other times we might as well not exist at all. Is this the new democracy? Goa today is a state in the middle of various political fires everywhere, on land and water, too. People appear to be expendable and laws are to be broken at the whim of politicians, and the one and true god is, of course, big money. Illegalities of all kinds are rampant, and the only light at the end of the corridor at the moment is the righteous anger the public is feeling over all kinds of ways and means to bulldoze our basic human rights on a variety of issues. The silver lining, as they say, are casino fees which have been hiked recently because of the public's antagonism to this nefarious activity. Casinos are destroying Goan lives and fueling a gambling state of mind rather than nurturing an ethic which encourages making a living through hard work. Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar wanted to use this tainted money to give a hand to the old and sick and disabled. He will return to Goa, we are told, this month. The people should ask him to help the old and invalid from the proceeds of the casinos fees and also to use a part of the money to maintain our historical buildings without interference from the government. The future of religious freedom and communal harmony in Goa is now resting on his decision. We welcome him back and look forward to his speedy and effective action. Only Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar can solve this subterranean problem.
