*Mathany Saldanha misses to create awareness on the fundamentalist RSS Raj*
http://www.epaperoheraldo.in/Details.aspx?id=2341&boxid=6216187&uid=&dat=2/12/2012 Mathany’s door to door campaigning was more focused on criticising the Congress for promoting ‘’Family Raj’’ which we all Goans are already aware and fed up too. However he preferred to be ‘’Holier-Than-Thou’’ and missed to create awareness on the dangers of giving RSS backed fundamentalist ideology a second chance. Newspapers also reported that Mathany went even further and acknowledged that some mistakes were there (I'm sure he means the BJP and him) and assured that they will not be repeated. These statements from Mathany speak volumes of double standards and opportunism. This is politics indeed, the dirty acceptable politics. Not all are untouchables. And it is about survival even if it means kissing and adoring RSS. Mathany’s entry into BJP has been viewed by Catholics purely as opportunist. They appear betrayed and crucified with his actions of embracing the BJP ideology which has in the past tried to cancel the holiday on Good Friday and whose polices don’t hold any favorable relevance in other north and central Indian states where Catholics have undergone harassment and torture several times at the hands of the RSS backed fanatics and governments like the Bajrang dal, Shiv Sena and other senas. Mathany within BJP will never have any voice and will blindly endorse the party views, even if it means going against his very own Catholic community, I have rarely heard Mathany opposing unfavourable policies of BJP government from 2002 to 2005. BJP is well poised to exploit his entry into their fold and put up a good promotion campaigning generalising the Catholic community’s change in views and support toward BJP which is hard to digest and a sham. BJP’s election tricks are no surprises to the Goan electorate which is a clear white wash to hide what lies beneath. The very fact that Parrikar failed to apologise to the Catholics on the issue of cancellation of holiday on Good Friday besides resorting to several minority related policies during his controversial tenure, indicates that he is not at all a changed soul. Such utterances are akin to the likes of Narendra Modi, who some months ago went on a “ Peace fast” with great fanfare, failed to apologise to Muslim parents of deceased children killed in the communal riots. Apparently there are some parallels which can be easily drawn on this election eve and the only difference is in magnitude and brazenness. Besides that the well-known BBSM with people like Nagesh Karmali whose speaches are totally communal have pledged to support the BJP. Mathany never had a voice against such people when they entrusted a forced bundhs and hardships on Goans especially the school children. It is true that Arrogance and Ignorance go hand in hand. The question is why can’t Mathany find something better to do? Is contesting on BJP’s ticket the only way to Save Goa and restore its losing glory? The people of Cortalim constituency including the relatively underdeveloped places like Sancoale area are literate enough and notably this mission to fool and misled cannot succeed here. BJP’s rule of good manipulation which is promoted as good governance can never be in the best interest of progress and prosperity for ethnic Goans. Can Mathany list out his achievements for his constituency and its people when he was in the BJP’s cabinet? Can he list out his stand on the MoI which has seen the BJP’s primitive and stone age stand with regard to English language whose proficiency and fluency is mandatory at all international levels? As a former MLA can he list out his achievements for the people especially the Ramponkarrs affected by the illegal sand extraction at Tirakol? And though he called hurried press conferences and sent many letters to parliament demanding special status for Goa/ ethnic Goans, can he spell out the progress made and further course of action? Can Mathany sort out the more important issues of the people of Cansaulim and Cuelim from his very own constituency who are tormented and harassed by non Goan builders like Abu Bakr Sheet for developing mega housing projects which are never a welcome to this peaceful and serene village? And finally is special status for ethnic Goans and Goa an election manifesto of the BJP and if not, then will Mathany nail the BJP ……….. ? Rupert Coutinho UAE --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Protect Goa's natural beauty Support Goa's first Tiger Reserve Sign the petition at: http://www.goanet.org/petition/petition.php ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
