Aam Aadmi Party on the roll…. Their latest catch is BJP’s Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha! She was welcomed by Aap’s national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, Goa in-charge Rahul Mhambrey and Valmiki Naik.

THE political scene in Goa is getting like ringa ringa roses till we all drop…er…dead. Or say it is golmaal all around with the much-maligned Congress of course trying to hold its ground – if you’re asking me the Congress is more sinned against than it has sinned. I’m come around to thinking that corruption is fine and punishable but corruption plus deep-rooted communalism will drag the country down to religious tit for tat scenarios and who wants that? Not me.
In a democracy one should not in principle let family dynasties take over our states or the country — we don’t want the politics of Mr and Mrs and Ms 50%, 25%, 10%, 5%…if not 100%, do we? It will destroy the country and whatever it has achieved so far. But I must confess I rather like Rahul Gandhi and especially when on one of his trips he told Goans that their environment was precious and it must be protected at all cost.

I ALSO have a sneaky respect for AAP’s convenor Arvind Kejriwal for he got it right when he said money is the ultimate empowerment and women need money more than men – these days he is in and out of Goa so frequently and in his latest visit he came up with his fifth guarantee (the word promises has become obsolete now, guarantee sounds so much more promising!): If AAP wins in the forthcoming assembly elections in Goa all women of 18 years plus, plus will get Rs1,000 deposited in their accounts every month! Plus, there’s a bonus thrown in because he will increase the current Griha Adhar scheme offering Rs1,500 to Rs2,500 per month.
What a windfall! Imagine if there are five women or more in a family, look Ma, we’ve got Rs5,000 dole per month, plus almost doubled Griha Adhar! Cool. I can think of many women who would appreciate this kind of monetary assistance – perhaps not the well-to-do women who have enough for their needs, wants and even greed! It’s the women lower down the economic order who’re suffering the brunt of the Covid-19 pandemic and its lockdowns which are not over yet. With runaway inflation life and so much loss of jobs, income and life – for those who continue to live, life has becoming tiresome.

THE ruling government may be trying valiantly at the last moment to make up for merriment of lootmaar governance – the people may be dazzled by celebrations and promises for some time but not all the time. The bottom-line is still look around and you want to see a swept, washed, clean village, town, city first thing in the morning when you step out to do some business or shopping. Roti, paani, kapda, bijli, sadak, makaan — first class free education and health care – are priorities for most citizens living in their own homes or rented homes or in rented holes in the wall. So is sewage and dry and wet garbage disposal problems of gigantic proportions. Rapid capsule public transportation would reduce pollution from horrendous traffic jam-ups down roadways.
QUITE simply, do you notice how all the political parties new or old make promises, offer guarantees, doles, alms, inflation aids …but none promise a sweeping makeover of a public primary infrastructure which is sorely dilapidated and nightmarish nowadays? AAP has promised cheaper water and power but it’s still promises, promises to be redeemed only if they come to power in Goa. Before and after we know what happens to politicians drunk on power!
I think we, the people, should be able to take politicians past, present and future to court if they do not deliver on their pre-election promises and guarantees once they come to power – non-delivery or delivery in biased half-measures, and especially non-delivery to those who need help the most should be declared as a crime. Roti, kapda, makaan, sadak, paani, bijli and naukri…till such time as citizens themselves say, we’re fine, nothing to complain about, yeh sarkar zindabad!
It would be a green letter day when any government of India, Bharatdesh, whatever, no longer lives off the public treasury like badshah, maharaja or just plain and simple strangulating parasites. On that note my dears it’s avjo, poitaverem, selamat datang, au revoir, arrivedecci and vachun yetta here for now

— Mme Butterfly