As a grand gesture and as a mark of respect
to the stalwarts of the Opinion Poll, Colva circle was re-named as Opinion Poll
Square with much fanfare.
38 portraits of the leaders who spear-headed
the movement to stop Goa being merged with Maharashtra were encased in frames
along the narration of their role in the historic event.
Though it was a good idea, but it not thought
true and true and it’s very evident that it was implemented in a tearing hurry
in a bid to gain lost credibility and popularity by the present generation of
so called leaders.
Instead of maintaining the sanctity of the Square,
respect and stature of the tall leaders some of whom are still amongst us, dogs
and rag-pickers are allowed to sit and sleep at the base of the frames.
The disrespect is allowed to be manifested
on the true leaders of Goa by the so disgraceful leaders of this generation is
unpardonable.
These so called leaders of this era want to
float or rather heighten their status on the reputation of tall personalities
of the Opinion Poll.
But that will not happen as there is huge
difference between the leaders of yesteryears and now. The leaders of
yesteryears had character and commitment, personality and social-standing and above all they had integrity, they
were devoted and loyal unlike the leaders of today who have none of these
traits. Leaders of today cannot even sustain themselves without being in
politics. The sole motto of the leaders of this generation is to be in power to
fatten not only their bank accounts but also of their kids and relatives.
Hence, however much the present set of
leaders may try to make a public show of venerating leaders of yesteryears, the
general public knows the method to pick the grains from the chaff.
Former MLA Teotonio Pereira who participated
in the Opinion Poll and attended the function is on record stating that there
is a big difference between the present MLAs and those of his time and added
that even the common people are speaking about the degradation in politics. Who
else would be in a better position to point out the difference?
Recently one of the sons of the great departed
soul whose late father’s portrait adores the Square made an appeal to
government to remove all the frames and install them elsewhere. He had a valid
reason that while the present leaders sleep in posh houses with all the bills being
paid by the exchequer, the frames are left at the mercy of vagrancies of the weather
besides dogs and human scavengers making it their home.
If at all the present dispensation had the
respect and reverence for the Opinion Poll leaders they would not have resorted
to such cheap frames or modules to install them.
I have my doubts whether the planners of the
Square have even visited the site after it was inaugurated on 16th
January this year. Instead police constables are posted there to keep
miscreants away who wanted Goa to be merged with Maharashtra. It is rather a
sad state of affairs.
Infact, Town and Country Planning minister
and Fatorda MLA Vijay Sardessai who was the brain behind this Square reacting
to the citizens inaugurating it before the government did it had said that it proved
once again that Goemkars haven’t lost their spirit or enthusiasm about India’s
only referendum that prevented Goa’s identity from being stolen. Which if
interpreted means there was and still is opposition to the Opinion Poll and
hence the presence of police through day and night. And it seems that
opposition to Goa being a different identity hail from the ruling dispensation
itself.
People who inaugurated the Opinion Poll
Square a day before the Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and TCP Minister Vijay
Sardessai did so demanded that both of them apologise before late Dr. Jack de
Sequeira for their quest to merge Goa with Delhi by allowing nationalization of
rivers, for trying to sell Goa’s land through regional plan 2021.
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| Nisser Dias |
In stark contrast to the vision and
fore-sight of Opinion Poll leaders of what they wanted for Goa, the present set
of leaders want to sell Goa to the highest bidder available.
In conclusion there simply cannot be a comparison
between Opinion Poll stalwarts and the present set. It is an insult to our
yesteryear leaders that current dispensation is trying to build their reputation
through a public show. Our erstwhile leaders wanted Goa to be maintained with
its pristine natural beauty encompassed with its culture and tradition while
the present lot wants to fill their coffers by gnawing at the very seams of our
beloved Goa.
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