BJP trying to give our land away for votes to stay in Power.

By Saturnino Rodrigues - Seraulim

The decision of the Cabinet on tabling the Regularisation of Illegal/Unauthorized Structures and Encroachments Bill in the ensuing Budget session of the Goa Legislative Assembly is nothing but a vote bank politics. The government’s clear intention to implement it before the 2017 elections explains it’s shoddy nature and intention, it tries to woo these migrant voters on its side to remain in power and destroy Goa till nothing is left of it.

This exercise will give our precious land to the migrants and others who have dwelt illegally on it and made it their bastion. For the political wizards, this is nothing but a vote bank through a ‘stick and carrot’ method. One could easily identify the intention of the politicians and the present regime is to create a vote-bank on the basis of giving our fertile land to these encroachers’ without fore-seeing the future consequences of such an effort.

Analysis of election results suggests that the concept of vote-banks is a myth. Earlier, the political parties constantly engaged themselves in creating vote-banks based on caste and religion by offering them various incentives or keeping them in fear, subjecting them to certain terms and conditions. The idea was to showcase their political mastery, project themselves as saviours and maintain a complete dominance on these poor individuals.

Intention to garner votes is a part of the strategy of any political party and consequences are never taken into account. It will be too late when the government will realize that the vote bank they created is no longer faithful to them and sometime later becomes an asset of their opponents. This time, they may start targeting them in one or the other form to succumb to their political tactics. The present beneficiary or voter can be the momentary sufferer but Goan land in his legal possession is an asset added to their own value, they may not wish to care for those momentary sufferings.

Slums at Zuarinagar

In the present situation where our land will be given on a platter if the Bill is passed in the Assembly, Goa will be at a great loss. Here, no caste or religion involved but all stands on one common ground – illegal dwelling. The politicians well know that they can catch a variety of voters irrespective of caste or creed in a single net. Those who occupy our land illegally are presently living in common fear that they will be evicted from illegal occupation. If the present government could make their stay legal, it is surely a reciprocating “thank you” in the form of votes for the present government no matter what religion or caste one may belong. There is a vast variety of populace in Goa specially migrants who have occupied our prime Communidade and other government land where they have built shanties, named them as different “Nagars” as if the piece of land was brought from their native place. This is evident from the outskirts of Vasco, Zuari, Margao, Chimbel and other vast parts of Goa. They have a huge vote populace and is a sure vote bank of those politicians who mushroomed them in these areas. Remember once Shri. Digambar Kamat said about Monte Dongor that his voters from the area are enough to get him safely elected, he do not depend on the votes of the actual Goans. Another example of the dependent on such voters is Mauvin Godinho, like many other politicians. Attributing victory to a vote-bank in such circumstances is a valid conclusion.

Monte Dongor in Margao

The present government’s political strategy may intend to create a vote-bank in favor of their party that rules Goa at the moment. The major beneficiaries will be the occupants of our land in clear understanding that favour is done for votes only and not with the intention of providing them shelter or for their welfare. However, it should be recognized that power hungry personality-led political parties try to create their political bases along caste and community lines but now on the basis of free land in the form of legalizing the illegal occupation of these individuals.

Goans must realize from the move of the present government to regularize the illegal structures that it is working in its own interest to secure the vote bank. The present government has miserably failed to respond to the popular demands of the general public. The Medium of Instruction Bill that it promised to pass in early January, 2016 is deeply frozen. Its promise that it will remove the Casinos from River Mandovi within two years of coming to power is yet to see the light of the day. The voice of the people is suppressed.

Are we slowly seeing the reflection of Indira Gandhi’s days of Emergency? Isn’t it true that the present government is working against the wishes of the people? Take for example, the issue of MOPA Airport, the DefExpo, Helicopter joy rides, Tiracol land grab and so many other issues concerning Goa, the welfare of Goans are not taken into consideration. The government has failed to open a dialogue with the people. It has alienated the Goans from itself but want to embrace the migrant vote bank solely to remain in power. And it has identified that the only way to do it is to compromise our prime land, deliver it on a platter to the illegal dwellers and squatters to get their votes in return.

Once the deed is done, we shall see that the same being sold to the builders and no one will be able to stop these beneficiaries from selling the same and earn a lucrative amount of money. And then encroach on another piece of land, somewhere else once again. They know that the politicians will return back to them to legalize it once again when politicians run out of votes and moral ethics. Votes from illegal settlers can be an assurance against political bankruptcy for the politicians and political parties. For politicians, this is yet another game with sure dividends.