Vishwajit further diminishes himself by repeatedly declaring unwavering support for the public, vowing never to go against their wishes. Unfortunately, these promises have become tiresome refrains, only echoing when his questionable intentions are laid bare by the people.
In 2019, he made a unilateral decision to bring an IIT to Shel-Melauli in his constituency, on a sprawling 10 lakh sq. meters of land. However, when the local populace caught wind of this plan, they assembled in large numbers at the site, driving the surveyors away.
Rane infamously stated, "Opposition from the people cannot stop 'IIT' at Sattari; IIT is a feather in the cap of Goa." He then deployed a significant police force, led by his loyal police officer, Sagar Ekoskar, to accompany the surveyors. When the residents stood their ground, the situation escalated into a lathi charge by the police, met with retaliation from villagers hurling stones. Rane even sent police to disrupt a press conference held at a temple by leaders of the protest, going as far as to detain an elderly individual.
As the protest garnered support from neighbouring villages like Pali, Hivrem, Mauxi, Dhamshe, and Khotodem, Rane realized that his bluff had been called by the people. He swiftly changed his stance and requested the relocation of the IIT project, stating, "I am with the public, and I will never go against the wishes of the people."
Similar events unfolded regarding the draft zoning plan for Pernem, where Rane attempted to convert 21% of the green cover into a concrete jungle in the name of development. When the people of Pernem rose against this proposal, the Town and Country Planning minister had to sprint with his tail between his legs.
To save face, Rane initially claimed that the plan would be put on hold, awaiting a decision from the central government. However, as public pressure mounted, he reluctantly scrapped the plan entirely, all the while repeating his familiar refrain, "I am with the public, and I will never go against the wishes of the people."
The glaring question is why the people were not consulted from the outset. The answer is all too apparent; Vishwajit Rane was primarily focused on his own interests and those of his well-connected land developer friends.
The rejection of Rane's development projects by his constituents in Shel-Melauli and the people of Pernem signifies a severe erosion of his credibility among Goans. Notably, the late Manohar Parrikar, an autocratic former Chief Minister of Goa, exposed Rane's questionable intentions on multiple occasions during his time in opposition.
Another pattern observed in the Shel-Melauli and Pernem incidents is Rane's tendency to scapegoat others to push through his projects. In Shel-Melauli, he accused an individual of encroaching on government land, blaming them for the project's opposition, and promising to reclaim the encroached land. Whether Rane fulfilled this promise remains uncertain.
In the case of Pernem's draft zoning plan, he accused Mandrem MLA Jit Arolkar of building an illegal farmhouse and pledged action against it, yet the outcome remains to be seen.
Now, Rane appears to be outsourcing governance to the Centre, bringing in high-ranking figures from Delhi, such as Modi and Shah, rather than heeding the concerns of the local people. This raises questions about the role of the Goa government, Vishwajit Rane's purpose in government, and why Goans should accept the central leadership dictating terms.
If Vishwajit Rane cannot fulfill his elected role of serving the people, it is time for him to consider resigning as a minister and MLA, and perhaps retiring from politics altogether.
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