| [About
500 years ago, the subcontinent which today holds India, Pakistan,
Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka, was a set of incessantly
feuding kingdoms that, in large measure, were under the thumbs of the Arab,
Turk and Moghul masters. And while there were a few brave exceptions who
defied the thugs from the near West, the economy was basically in the
hands of the Arabs. They controlled the seas and they controlled the
tolls which had to be paid as trade passed through their checkpoints en
route to the markets of Europe. The sea between the subcontinent and the
Arabian peninsula was in Arab hands and hence called the Arabian Sea.
Goa became an important port for the
Turkish rulers of southern India. Because of its location on the west
coast, Mecca was "on the other side of the pond". Goa was, for
several decades, the main transshipment port for pilgrims to Mecca
and for Arabian horses to the subcontinent.
The picture changed upon the arrival
of the Portuguese in the region. The Arab navy suffered a humiliating
defeat in the decisive battle of Diu, and Goa developed into the Rome of
the East. The Portuguese left Goa in 1961 and Goa restarted its progress
within the Indian Union.
In the two decades which followed,
there were many good years.
In the early 1980s, the horse traders
reappeared. This time however, instead of the trade in those lovely
and graceful Arabian horses, the trade was in politicians who crossed
floors & political parties, while double-crossing their
constituents. These 'horses' would not fall under the
"graceful" category.
Another horse trade has occurred now.
How long this horse trade will hold, one does not know.]
Since the
absorption of Goa into the Indian Union in 1961, it has been subjected
to intense political turbulence. There were a few quiet years until the
Opinion Poll in 1967. Then came the Language struggle and the
disturbances which preceded the attainment of Statehood by Goa in 1987.
Statehood did not bring an end to the political chaos. If anything, it
appears as though the state of affairs has deteriorated significantly. Since then. Goans have been treated to a fresh coup and a fresh set
of Cabinet Ministers almost once every year .
Following a well planned and executed parliamentary coup, Manohar
Parrikar displaced Francisco Sardinha as Chief Minister. Sardinha was
touring Australia while the broth was frothing in Amchem Goem.
The Cat was away, and the Rats struck.
The removal of Sardinha was not an unwelcome one, the manner of removal,
notwithstanding. It is well known that those who ascend courtesy a coup,
descend via the same route too.
Despite the opportunity afforded to reverse the notoriety gained by the
infamous "Marks Scandal", Sardinha goofed big time with
classic Neroism. He chose to forget the primary purpose for his being
elected i.e. to represent the people who elected him. Instead, he
displayed absolute inability to do much except watch as the State
treasury was being further impoverished. He also had zero control on
Ministers within his Cabinet, some of whom were openly 'collecting' quid
pro quos.
Sardinha failed miserably and was effectively canned giving appropriate
meaning to the phrase "Sardinha em lata".
It can be argued that Sardinha had very little choice. If he had stepped
on the toes of his corrupt Cabinet colleagues, they would have just
defected and toppled him.
But Sardinha did have a choice.
He should have resigned as soon as he
realized that he was not really in control of his Cabinet. One cannot be
a Chief, if one isn't. Evidently, the only person Sardinha was truly
fooling, was himself. And he did that so very eloquently.
The singular saving grace in the entire coup was Sardinha still doing
the honourable thing by attending the Installation Ceremony of his
outsmarter as the new Chief Minister.
Goa can surely do without this ongoing instability. This is the only
reason TGF says, let us give Parrikar a chance.
Even though the people of Goa did not vote the BJP in power and even
though Parrikar destabilized a sitting Government to claim the throne,
he hasn't done anything unusual as per the norms of Indian politics. It
would be naive to accept, at face value, his stated reasons for
undermining the Sardinha Government. The reasons are just as implausible
as the reasons his predecessors used when they did the 'honours'........... rather
the 'dishonours'.
In any event, we are this point now and from all indications, Mr.
Parrikar has started well, so let us give him credit for that.
He has led by example (for the time being) in separating private
expenditure from public, by indicating that he would weed out the
corrupt officials and by promising a clean Government. How he plans to
be clean and transparent in the company of the very people he himself
recurrently labeled as corrupt, remains to be seen.
Thus far, he has remained eloquently silent about the same corrupt
politicians who are now propping up his Government. This silence and the
concomitant cohabitation with the corrupt politicians is very
disquieting indeed. It leads one to believe that Parrikar might be just
another politician - using any means to reach the end.
The new Chief Minister has also revealed that he had received
information from a 'middleman' that the Chief Minister's cut in the
Bond-float ( to have been organised by the overthrown Sardinha Govt)
would have been 1.5 crores of rupees. Until he decides to take this
information to the police and have an open investigation into the
matter, this allegation will remain just that. And aren't we accustomed
to politicians hurling mud and innuendo at each other.
Take the matter to its logical conclusion Mr. Parrikar.
This "I
will hit the right person at the right time" will ring hollow as
long as you leave it in the air.
If you are truly genuine, take the matter to the police, and if
necessary to court.
Mr. Parrikar has also made some strange initial comments. One being that
he would prefer "Good Catholics to Corrupt Hindus". What kind
of thinking is that ? I hope that this was only a slip and that the new
Government will treat Goans of ALL faiths equally.
In any event, let us afford him the opportunity to demonstrate the
application of the hitherto well touted BJP discipline and fiscal
control. It might be a turning point in Goa's turbulent post 1961
history; an era which has seen the very fabric of Goa, its civility, its
culture and environment destroyed almost beyond recognition.
If Manohar Parrikar delivers as he has promised, the people of Goa will
have him as Chief Minister till he decides to retire.
If he fails, he will be remembered as just another in a long list of
destabilizers of life in Goa. He will also be remembered for his U-turn
on many an issue whether it be META, Mauvin or Bonds !!
TGF believes that he has the odds stocked in his favour, at this
point and time. He is a smart, savvy and a determined individual.
Besides, most of the defectors who have propped up this new BJP
Government in Goa, wouldn't wish to face the electorate just yet. If
they make too many strange noises or unfair demands, all Manohar
Parrikar has to do, is to organize the dissolution of the House and call
for fresh elections.
Now, that may not be too bad an idea, would it?
On the other
hand, politicians often get "out of hand". They even begin to
truly believe their own rhetoric, and as history tells us, self
-destruct.
Time alone will
tell us.
TGF
November 7, 2000
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