Unique austerity of the Govt.
Sandesh Prabhudesai
28 June 2002
Goa's Bharatiya Janata Party-led coalition
government is practising a different kind of austerity
culture, thanks to the 'rich' background of its ministers.
When chief minister Manohar Parrikar
took over in November 1999 during his last term, the
first thing he did was to withdraw posh Maruti Baleno
cars, which his predecessor Congress government had
bought. The ministers were back in their Maruti Esteems.
It is a symbolic gesture to let people
know that the BJP is not for 'mauj maja' at the
cost of public exchequer, said Parrikar. In fact 'new
cars with every new government' had become an issue
in Goa, which has been witnessing new government every
new season for over a decade now.
Parrikar has now once again come to
power after May elections, but with the support of three
men from the United Goans Democratic Party and two from
the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party. Except one UGDP
legislator Mathany Saldhana, obviously, the rest are
his ministers holding key portfolios.
But three among them have decided not
to use even government cars, but their own cars. But
the reason is not to upheld Parrikar's austerity principle
or even save money from the state treasures. It's simply
because they are not used to sit in the Esteems…
Tourism minister Mickky Pacheco, the
NRI -turned politician, uses his Mitsubishi Lancer whereas
town and country planning minister Babush Monseratte,
known to be a loan shark till yesterday, continues moving
in one of his 15 cars - the Hyundai Assent.
Besides these two UGDP men, MGP's newly
elected transport minister Pandurang Madkaikar, one
of the leading builder of the state, prefers to use
the Opel Astra. Other 'poor' ministers, however, still
continue using Esteems while the Balenos are pulled
out of garage only when the union ministers come down…
Poor Goa !
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