Bar Tainted Politicians If I said politics is the art and science of governance, a lot of people may agree, but if I said, politics is restoring of hope and dignity in this age and era of cynicism, I am sure a lot people will not connect with my definition, and for all that it’s called, if I say, politics should be without doubt, in simple terms “community service”, here, I am sure everyone without exception will say “halleluiah”. It is community service that is the very base or the bedrock of politics, no matter what tongue twisting words and phrases we use to analyze it, politics should always be service of the community.
Bar tainted MLA’s, in the call given by the Election Commission, is it the first time ? Nope, will it be the last time ? Nope. First and foremost, it is only appropriate that no party should give election tickets to the tainted, seasoned or aspiring candidates, it is only common sense, isn’t it ? For the future of the nation or the state and it’s people is left in the hands of these elected representatives. We are over a billion people and so why is it so difficult for the political parties to get a few hundred good, honest and dedicated people ? Here too the parties in the first place should have morals above reproach, only then can they pursue impeccable candidates. It is not just enough to say, bar tainted MLA’s, it is the duty of the EC to see that it’s call is adhered to and make sure that criminalization of politics does not take place. For the very purpose and position that he or she is elected, it is indeed of paramount importance that the candidates should be of impeccable reputation, as they are the ones that carry the hopes and aspirations of the general public, as we trust them with our very own lives and we should expect them to accomplish their duties towards the general public, without delay or impediment and with much aplomb. This should actually be the essence and the mantra of every goddamn politician. Politics as I have mentioned on a number of occasions is a noble cause, because, it directs the energy of a few, to an illuminated future for the land and it’s people, honesty and integrity as well as the authenticity of the candidates willingness to go to any length to bestow parity to the poor and the downtrodden, to uphold the law and protect the rights of every citizen, the candidates eagerness to provide sustainable development to provide employment and irradiate impoverishment, the candidates foresight to protect and preserve our ecology and environment for posterity and above all his commitment to fight and destroy the axis of evils that have maligned and destroyed the lives of people and the reputation of the land, should be the bases of selecting candidates by our political parties. Unfortunately politics in Indian and for that matter, more so in Goa, is become a business, or even family business, the noble cause has strictly become a business profession, where first they pay to get election tickets and then go on rampage to sustain and finance their election campaigns for the rest of their lives. If the Party it’s self takes money to give tickets, how can the party stop their candidates from taking money ? It is but obvious and thus the chain of corruption rolls on, we mostly say that corruption starts from the bottom and goes upwards; this analysis is not at all true, in politics the mighty chain of corruption starts from the top and spreads downwards to the whole pyramidal system. To arrest and stop corruption, there is only one way, cut at the apex body, change the system at the top and the lower rugs will fall in place. In college we use to use this phrase to tee off our college leaders and the phrase goes like this “lashkar ka sardar hi chor hai, to lashkar ka kya haal ho sakta hai ?“ which means, “if the commander of a battalion is himself a rogue, will his men be any different ?” This phrase, very much depicts our pathetic system, isn’t it ? At ever election, every candidate has to declare his or her assets and it bemuses me to no end as to why the EC does not investigate their assets, the phenomena or the journey of our politicians from rags to riches is an open secret, which today even the little kids know. Some of them even flaunt openly all their ill gotten gains and the EC plays dumb, isn’t it the duty of the EC to investigate and book these crooks ? Because of the ineffectiveness of the EC, we have guys like Madhu Koda feathering their nests with thousands of crores in just a few years. Is the EC really blind and dumb, so as not to notice these heists ? It’s is the question that the general public needs to ask the EC. In Goa, politics is an orgy, our politicians change parties, political partners and affiliations to their hearts content, there are no enemies, nor friends in Goans politics, they bed anyone and everyone as long as it suits their purpose, just yesterday there was a photo in the news paper of the two bitter enemies, the queen mother and the prince charming, in each others arms almost locked in a “lip lock”. The ex MLA from Agonda is become the shadow of the big king “Momo”, hoping for a ticket along with “Momo’s” daughter, it only goes to show the hollowness of their character, their impish political diktats and their well planned agendas. It will indeed be fun to watch the reaction of our politicians, if and when party tickets are denied to them and their family members. I am sure like the last elections, this time too there will be overnight divorces and remarriages or live in arrangements, made at the spur of the moment. Oh ! Goan politics stinks to kingdom come. It’s such a real pity that our Supreme Constitution is as porous as our national borders and these crooks taking advantages of the loopholes therein are making merry. It certainly looks like the Election Commission nor the Enforcement Directorate has the will, the inclination or the political power to tackle these rogue politicians and their parties and for this obvious reason, politics has ceased, to being community service and has infact become a means of self-service for our inapt corrupt politicians. In this age and era of extreme cynicism, I only hope and pray that some day in the near future, politics becomes a tool to restore hope and dignity of the Goan people. Freddy Agnelo Fernandes
