For Shri Digamber V Kamat 54, a Saraswat Brahman, native of Assolna domiciled
in Margao, a realtor, the "consensus" Chief Minister of Goa, heading the
INC+NCP+MGP+Ind+unattached combine ruling the State since 8th June, 2007 the
fifth session of the 5th Goa Legislative Assembly commencing tommorrow 18th
August, 2008 with a short 10 sitting will be the last test of survival if he
manages to get the 2008-09 budget passed.
Having had his initiation in politics vide the right-wing Hindu
fundamentalist party as a "khaki half pant clad" "Shahar Kharyava" -City
Secretary in the early 70's (1975) and then suddenly at the time of Emergency
joined the cadres of the INC, then into the BJP and finally back both to the
INC in 2005, though appearing meek as a lamb he has been a shrewd astute
manipulator and outwitted the IITian leader of the Opposition Mr Manohar
Gopalkrishna Parrikar. 53 a Saraswat Brahmin, who is avenge the volte face of
his then No:2.
No doubt Mr Kamat has to woo the minorities Catholic Moslems and the migrants
not owing to any love for this segment (as many of his voters would discreetly
confess ) but only to safeguard his vote bank since majority of the Saraswat
Brahmins have alienated him notwithstanding his attempts to break bread with
them; but even heading the present dispensation Mr Kamat is slowly but surely
pursuing his social engineering agenda to relegate the largest minority
community the Catholics to second class status a far cry from the status they
enjoyed pre-Liberation 1961. This is a fit case for representation before the
National Minorities Commission and to seek redressal before it is too late.
To achieve his discreet objective he has successfully ensured that either by
allocation of portfolios or otherwise the 8 Catholic community in the Velhas
Conquistas (Old Conquests) 1510-1961 ( P.S. there are a no Catholic MLA's in
the Novas Coinquistas (1763- 1961) fighting each other overtly or covertly.
This is the unfortunate fate of the INC in Goa who could otherwise in the 22
constitutencies of the Velhas Conquistas have had all 22 MLA's belonging to the
minority community with a couple of seats in the Novas Conquistas of Pernem,
Canacona, Quepem and Sanguem, instead of the present 8 and one in the BJP fold.
In the game of politics however one must credit Mr Kamat for his survival
instincts, he managed two successfully averted a third due to inter squables
and could easily pass the present test, having timed the entry of the "enfant
terrible" Mr Atnasio (Babush) Monseratte he got severely spanked " family and
all " enough to leave an indelible mark on Monseratte's psyche until eternity
and then like a strict Headmaster brought him under his fold like the
Biblical "prodigal son" and bestowed upon him the Education portfolio.
Mr Kamat knows too well that Tourism Minister Mr Francisco (Micky) Pacheco
NCP, and ex Ministers Mr Dayanand Narvekar, Pandurang Madkaikar can only make
noises but could not muster courage to destabilise him and hence the calculated
move to induct Mr Monseratte on the eve of the Budget session.
On the fiscal front there is no fear to Kamat's kitty for the excellent
performance of the ex-Minister for Finance Mr Dayanand Narvekar has earned the
State the highest allocation of funds from the Centre for the first time in the
history of the State.
Even earlier the CM in January, 2008 had enhanced the Contingency Fund from the
then Rs.30 crores to a phenomenol increase of Rs.200 crores to tide of bad
times --- a lesson he learnt from his previous mentor the now Leader of the
Opposition Mr Manohar Parrikar.
Then there could also be sops to the MLA's planned for "developmental
activities in their respective constituencies" on lines with the MP's Fund, or
further rise in allowances to keep in tune with the windfall bonanza vide the
VI Pay Commission hike put in force at the Centre which inevitably has a snow
balling effect on our State given its earlier UT status until 30 May 1987.
Despite the threat of the Opposition to now come forth demand repeal of the
the amendments to the TCP Act 1974 sec 16 & 16A which keeps Governmental
projects out of the purview of the TCP Act, 1874 Mr Kamat knows to well that
the notification withdrawing the RP 2011 retrospectively since 10/08/2006 and
keeping in force the RP 2001 will suffice to pursue his agenda, now that the
Task force has yet not come out with its final report expected in June 2008.
On the language issue front it must be said to the credit of the coalition that
they have been receptive to the "vox populi" forces of pro Roman script since
June 2005 for in the Budget proposal 2008-2009 the government has acknowledged
that there will not be discrimination to the Konkani language solely on grounds
of script.
It was only expected that some MLA from the Opposition takes up the amendment
to the Official Language Act 1987 section 2(c) to introduce a private members
Bill to demand the deletion of the word "devanagari" as this would put the real
intentions of the Government notably the INC to test if they are since on "One
language - diversity in scripts"
Should Mr Kamat get the Budget passed which he appears to; then he can easily
unfold his hand of steel to brow beat his opponents as sooner or later he would
prefer to have fresh elections with the Lok Sabha Polls due somewhere in Oct -
Dec alongwith other states.
Since the delimitation of constituencies will be in force (23 seats North Goa
and 17 seats South Goa ) (Porvorim Dabolim Sanquelim Nuvem added and Dhargalim
Poinguinim Pale Loutolim scrapped merged or re-named) Mr Kamat would prefer to
opt for filling the Pale vacancy (which will then be Sanquelim ) as Mr Kamat
has in mind atleast four BJP MLA's of the Hindu community who he would prefer
to contest on the INC ticket at the coming hustings to ensure his reign in the
INC as the BJP led NDA prospects will appear dim after the Nuclear agreement
is signed.
It is therefore for the minority community to close ranks anongst themselves
and with the Hindu Bahujan samaj to work out an agenda how to stall the agenda
pursued by a community heading the Ruling and the Opposition which represents
just 3% of the Goan population.
GODFREY J. I. GONSALVES,
BORDA, MARGAO, 403 602, GOA. (INDIA)
+91 98221 58584 (24 HRS)
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