During Yuletide coastal Goa would otherwise witness
huge contingents of "desi" and "videshi" local and
foreign tourists in Goa but this time round Goans
heaved a sigh of relief from the madding crowds.
There were several reasons attributed to this a) the
exhorbitant board and lodge rates which now
essentially eye the charter flights ( read high
spending tourists ) b) the garbage litter all over
which causes a scare with health conscience tourists
"videshi" c) the extortion by transporters of any kind
and d) the extortion by some traffic policemen almost
at every nook and corner and at odd times too.
It must be remembered that a planned itinery for
visits to the State by foreigners take atleast over
three months of preparation i) obtaining leave ii)
visa formalities iii) hotel bookings and anciliary
sight seeing sojourn .. For locals the time limit is
shorter as many prefer to drive down to Goa and bask
in open fields under the skies ... that's a lot of
savings.
This time round the political atmosphere was not all
too pleasant ever since the formation of the
Government on 7th June, 2007 then there was that
sudden outburst on the IT Habitat which sent shock
waves to many given the extensive cover it received on
the national and international audio visual media.
There was also the anti Special Economic Zones
agitations with various political combinations and
NGO's extending support to do away with all the 18
SEZ's.
Be it Keri, Verna, Sancoale Quitol Quepem etc the
people anger was palpable and it became a hot issue
for the politicians --viz; i) those disgruntled
groupings from within the the present ruling
dispensation --a coalition of sorts all waiting to
don the CM 's mantle and ii) those in the opposition
waiting for the opportunity for the ruling
dispensation to fall under the weight of their own
contradictions and then work out new permutation and
combinations to seize power.
Amidst this high drama of emotive issues there were
two large gatherings which were witnessed in Margao
the CM's Mr Digambar Kamat constitutency and the other
in the constituency of his "bete noire" Mr. Manohar
Parrikar.
But the immediate apprehension for tensions in this
festive season was the sound trashing that members of
the Youth Congress received from some unknown persons
(at the time of writing this report ) as they staged a
counter parade before the MLA Taleigao Mr Antanasio
(Babush ) Monserates palatial bungalow near St Inez
Church. The Youth Congress was supporting the setting
up of the IT habitat which infact no one opposes but
apparently they missed the wood off the trees when
they failed to see opposition from MLA Taleigao to the
IT habitat being actually being turned to become a
realators jugglery and allegations of Mr Dayanand
Narvekar the Minister for IT favouring his relatives
to benefit from the allotments of sites.
While two cases have been filed against the IT
Minister a similar case was being file against those
unknown persons that have indulged in physical
violence to the Youth Congress members. Ironically
the son of Mr Ramakant Khalap ex INC MLA Mandrem was
one of the injured.
In this heated atmosphere Goans have not taken too
kindly to the earlier Regional Plan 2011 and now the
18 SEZ's. Their annoyance is further aggravated due
to the fact that the CM on the one hand has been
preaching and professing to help the "aam aadmi". His
lip sympathy runs contrary to ground realities and now
citizens are beginning to believe his tall claims are
all a bluff. No doubt the CM has made it clear that
he takes orders from his High Command therefore he
clearly tries to absolve himself for the non
deliverance even after over six months in power.
What annoys the peaceloving citizens of Goa too
according to many citizens this writer spoke to is
that on hot issues like SEZ he claims to be studying
the pros and cons " at leisure " even though the
Nandigram West Bengal issue is a hot case study which
any school going child would be able to write an essay
on.
To add to all this the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan
Singh has been invited tommorrow 27th December, 2007
to launch the broad band network in Goa and also
attend the convocation the next day.
Finally the ultimatum issued by the agitationists
against the SEZ's IT Retreats Habitats the casino etc
have now reached the boiling point and therefore
obviously the tourists were advised against staying in
the State for the New Years revelry as a discontent
lot of Goans could obviously not be expected to "leap"
into the New Year 2008 with threats to their land
holdings.
With several political decisions awaited one relating
to the Dhavalikar brothers and the forthcoming short
duration Assembly session on 10th January, 2008 for
those waiting to pin down the government for non
governance this is time opportune as the Indian
National Congress is at its lowest ebb given their
dismal performance despite their much hyped propoganda
in Gujarat.
Unfortunately, criminal cases have been filed against
the ex MLA of Cortalim Mr Mathany Saldanha a man who
can easily be created of taking up issues dear to Goa
way back in 1974 under the Jagrut Goenkarcho Fouz --
remember when cow dung was flung on tourists arriving
the state, the Ramponkar issue and the anti Zuari
fertilizer plant issue Goans much before the later day
politicians some of whom could easily be his students
now ruling the State and destroying the edifice of Goa
.. His reported warning the tourists to leave the State
has left the Government no alternative but to blame
him for the poor turnout of tourists.
According to one source in the Congress Party it is
not certain whether the PM' visit would be in place
tommorrow and many apprehend that the Government under
the threat perception have the likes of Mr Mathany
Saldanha and others arrested tonight on grounds of
security of the PM.
But many feel that the PM's visit could be deferred
given the tensions among the Goans and therefore the
issue of the RP SEZ's and casinos need to be settled
before any other celebrations.
The message needs to be sent out loud and clear that
Goan hospitality should not be translated into
gullible attitude of Goans. No doubt most elected
representatives have earned the reputation from North
Indians and others as well that they are too ignorant
of the nitty gritty of "die hard" politics and can
"easily be bought over" and a direction from the
party "High Command" or those looking after the Goa
desk can dictate directions and orders to the elected
representatives in Goa the CM included on his own
admission.
Obviously the audio video media too has taken note of
the developments in Goa and as tension rises high
depending on the tactics adopted by the ruling
dispensation Goa is now a hot boiling volcan ready to
erupt at the slightest provocation according to
several persons that this writer spoke too this
evening.
Meanwhile many tourists in the State have been
browsing to the local dailies to ascertain the ground
realities. Others have been asking questions of the
impending event .. Cancellations are not clear but
that there is a poor inflow is evident in the local
market places.
GODFREY J. I. GONSALVES,
BORDA, MARGAO, 403 602, GOA. (INDIA)
+91 98221 58584 (24 HRS)
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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