We, the Goans, have been exposed to the greatest ‘uncertainty’ of our lifetime. Matters have now gone out of hand, and the conscience and soul of Goans have been awakened, I pray. All we needed was a leader to guide the people’s movement and save Goa from further destruction. Goans indeed need a revolution to stem the rot that has been running deep ever since the BJP took over the reins. Misleading statements from the CM’s own mouth have hurt the sentiments of the people. There is no doubt that this is of our own making because we trusted the present crop of politicians for far too long. Now we are paying the price. In any other state, such a government would have been forced to resign or toppled overnight. But we fall prey too easily to a dangling carrot. This government has proved that money can buy anyone and everyone.
The present scenario of loot and plunder should not have been allowed. Those guardians who were supposed to protect Goans’ interests, including the fourth estate, failed miserably. Had their voices been more vociferous, things would not have reached such dire straits. Instead, they turned into the mouthpiece of the present government. Now that the voice of the people has echoed into the corridors of power, it has resurrected some hope. It remains to be seen how much of our lost paradise we can regain. The resurgent voice of the people should prevail, provided unity amongst Goans shows the willpower to say ‘enough is enough’. There has been much wrong since the BJP gained the upper hand by buying out Congress MLAs. Goans have been at the receiving end, with the wholesale selling of land, rivers and hills to crony capitalists and outsiders. Goa has little land, and we do not want highways to match cosmopolitan cities. We want our villages and towns that define our uniqueness.
Tourism has brought many vices ” drugs, burglaries and kidnappings. When the government itself lacks discipline, how can tourists behave responsibly? We need discipline in traffic management and urgent action on employment, garbage and road safety. The quality of road works is alarming. Developing Goa is one thing; selling Goa to outsiders is another. With TCP playing havoc and constant zone changes, wrongs went unabated. The media failed to lead from the front. Today, there is hope in ex-Justice Ferdino Rebello. It is now or never for Goa and Goans.
