Development is a word
that always attracts us and rightly so, as it generally makes life simpler and
easier for us and often also provides jobs or self-employment, particularly for
our youth, who are otherwise constrained to move out in search of livelihood.
However, it is imperative that such development be sustainable and not in any
way destructive or beneficial only to selected few.
It is unfortunate
that we are often selfishly concerned about development of our own constituency
or surroundings, while least worried about damage caused somewhere else. In
Goa, we cannot afford to overlook the substantial additional influx of migrants
in a State already bursting at its seams, solely for creation of politicians’
votebanks or further demographic changes or steps detrimental to our
environment. It is here that the views of the Government clash with those of
the people – because unfortunately for our Governments, development means
massive constructions and grandiose projects which would bring accounted and
non-accounted revenue for the Government, its Ministers and bureaucrats and
only minimal benefit to the people.
Keeping the people in
the loop of Government plans and understanding their genuine problems and
feelings are the essence of democracy and ought to be the tenets of a people
friendly administration. However, almost every project of the Government or
supported or promoted by it with an eye on the cuts it will get, runs into
rough weather because either the people have not been taken into confidence or proper
procedures have not been followed or are in contravention of established laws.
Where on earth does
one see Governments regularly flouting
or subverting their own rules and regulations and going ahead with projects
throwing to the winds all the laws, which they would normally insist on being
implemented by private individuals? Why is the Government waving or making a
mockery of Environment Impact Assessments on big projects? Is it not because it
knows that they would hit a roadblock if proper EIAs are done? Are we not
watching helplessly thousands of trees being felled for road widening,
particularly in Salcete, while general directives of the Supreme Court to plant
five times new saplings to offset the damage are not being followed? Does it
cost much to thus protect our environment from possible adverse consequences?
Narendra Modi’s
Government is in mighty hurry in going ahead with development in the country at
any cost and at the fastest pace possible. There is nothing wrong in that,
though environmental issues cannot be overlooked, just to please his
industrialist friends. The consequences could be tragic, as have already been
experienced by various States. People are not averse to development though they
are, at times, oblivious of its possible unpleasant consequences. But they are
now turning apprehensive that “development” and the so called “welfare of the
poor”, which the Government so much brags about, are only a cover for the
regressive and dictatorial policies this Government is indulging in , which
only confirm the predicted fears that we are marching towards a totalitarian
State. Modi’s Government record on transparency has been uninspiring and in
fact abominable. Anonimity in political funding, delay in appointment of Lokpal,
attempts at diluting both the Lokpal & the Whistle Blowers Protection Acts –
these are yet to become operational, even after three years of being notified -
proposed increase in fees for filing applications under RTI and charges for
obtaining documents, Taxation Laws allowing search and seizure of properties by
tax authorities and giving them sweeping powers to open cases as early as 1962
and much more that would be long to enumerate – are some of the steps this
so-called “democratic” Government needs to be credited with.
Remarking on the
failure of this Government in the appointment of Lokpal, the Supreme Court
remarked that cleansing of economy “must be matched by strong steps to cleanse
public life” and that the Lokpal Act cannot remain a “dead letter” The Taxation
laws were surreptitiously introduced by Jatley in November last when the Lok
Sabha was busy debating demonetization. They were passed recently in a hurry,
without any discussion and did not have to go to RS, where NDA is in minority,
as it was a money bill. The recent murder of a trader in Alwar, Rajasthan,
beaten to death by “cow vigilantes” for transporting bovines – the 9th
ninth such murder in last three years, according to some TV channels – reported
even by international Press, was shamefully denied by Union Minister Naqvi and
is yet another example of how emboldened rowdies are getting in the present
unruly and communal set up.
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| Jose Maria Miranda |
It is now only a
question of time – once the BJP has the numbers in Rajya Sabha, there won’t be
any looking back – even the Constitution may not be spared. The fanatic
followers of BJP, whose interests seem to be mainly in the construction of Ram
Mandir, establishment of Hindu Rashtra, beef ban and perhaps even prohibition,
do not unfortunately anticipate what could be the possible consequences of
having a dictatorship with draconian powers being exercised over everyone to
stifle dissent and curb opposition. Goans must be given the credit of having rightly
rejected the BJP, perhaps for these reasons, though the Party may still be
ruling the State. Yet, my fellow Goans need to be cautious against being carried
away by small acts and overgenerous with praises to some politicians’ abilities
to perform, thus offsetting the credibility they lost for good reasons. While
we need to appreciate such acts, let us not lose sight that such individuals are
also well known for their ability to hoodwink people. They may strike when
least expected…
