So the Anti-'Sagres' desh premis that some months ago had accused and warned the Archbishop of Goa about the Church having pro-Portuguese sentiments, have now appeared in their new avatar as anti-corruption crusaders by taking shelter behind the innocent face of Anna Hazare. Interestingly, those who stormed the Xavier Centre for Historical Research at Porvorim to curb the freedom of expression of an internationally renowned artist are in the fore-front of the anti-corruption crusade. The jackals behind the un-called for communalisation of the Medium of Instruction issue have also perched themselves upon the anti-corruption bandwagon. We have two eyes to see a former communist student activist shaking hands with Goa's fringe elements, well known to propagate hate among communities, after the MoI shaadi of konkani-marathiwallas. Perhaps they conveniently forget that suppression of rights of citizens and generating hatred among communities for electoral gains also amounts to corruption.
Unfortunately, not every Goan is forgetful about the transgressions and aggressions committed by Goa's secret Hate spinning machines. It may be an innocent looking Anna Hazare, Arwind Kejriwal, Kiran Bedi or a Swami Agnivesh who will be paraded at Azad Maidan, but Goans cannot allow propagators of hate ideologies to ride piggy back on civic issues. The cancer of religious hatred that is spreading its tentacles in Goa needs to be arrested. The only way is for Goans to be mindful about who they support no matter how real and alarming the issue may be. Enough is enough and it is time to call a 'Spade' a 'Spade'. The ideologies of the crusaders cannot be seperated from mass movements. That is what the agents of hate are attempting to do. People who do not believe in Equality and Freedom of fellow citizens have no moral right to complain about other's corruption. Goans who believe in preserving Peace and Amity in Goa need to take a hard decision of boycotting the Anti-Corruption tiatr to be soon hoisted on innocent civilians. The national crusaders against corruption need to know that those they see as their allies in Goa do not believe in Gandhian non-violence. -Soter D'Souza
