I was not present there in Panjim but seeing the pictures in the TV, it looked to me that hell was opened there for the Goa Police to do what they want without any compassion for the innocent persons just standing there, I cannot understand why Police resorted to the Lathi Charge even against those few who were not involved in any confrontation.
During the Janata Party rule, there was a morcha organized by the opposition instigated by the architect of the emergency rule, i.e. Indira Ghandi who was out of power then. Morarji Desai in capacity as premier of India gave an instruction to the Police “not to raise and use your Lathis against the demonstrators unless they confront you physically” and stressing more upon the Police force to take maximum care to avoid the use of lathis. And if you see, the demonstration went on smoothly because the Police force ignored even the major provocation. I feel if the Government had to instruct the Goa Police force to be more careful then things would not have reached to this miserable end. The rage of Police force was so brutal to beat the people mostly those who were not involved in confronting the Police that it looked these Policemen are come from the jungle and they not civilized but like barberians.
Once it happened in the occupied Jerusalem in Palestine when unarmed Palestinians were assaulted by the Israeli Jewish Police. Within 48 hours some Palestinians who were assaulted earlier by the Jewish Police, caught 5 Jewish Policemen who 48 hours before involved in beating the Palestinians, in civilian clothes after their duty hours without weapons in their hands and took them to some lonely place and assaulted them so much that their mutilated bodies were seen floating in the sea after a week. Just because they got the order for using Lathis the policemen cannot act like wild animals. First they are human beings and for that matter they are civilized human beings and then they are Policemen and for that matter they are not wild animals and not barbarians. Such a barbarity was not even committed by the Portuguese. Precisely because of this Jayprakash Narain called upon Indian Police force not to blindly follow the instruction of Indira Gandhi and act brute.
Secondly, the Chief Minister cum Home Minister of Goa Parricar is sleeping on his sick bed in America and Goa like an orphan is neglected. At moment orphans are better looked after by their guardians but Goa is totally neglected leading to total chaos. It is surprising why Parricar is reluctant to hand over his power to somebody in his Cabinet. Or is he afraid of any mischief on the part of his follower? May be because he knows all those who supported him from outside in the formation of his government are first class crooks and traitors. And because they are so genuinely, they abandoned their earlier promises. Why meantime Parricar is suffering? Is it the punishment for him from God for harassing the minority community like Christians who are a very peace loving community in India?
This incident occurred somewhere in 1957 when some Taxi drivers joined together and shouting slogans marched towards Governor’s residence. From distant the Governor saw them and sent his Secretary to talk to them and the reason for their marching to him. When the Governor got their message, he immediately sent them back with his one SENTENCE saying “I will solve your problem of giving you suitable parking place for your cars within 48 hours”. And as a matter of fact he fulfilled his promise.
In India in general and in Goa in particular there is no commitment for our leaders, these leaders of ours are kiddy and as such they don’t want to solve the people’s problem leading the people to come on to the street. It is a pity that unless we come on to the street none of our problems are solved This is because or leaders are not fit to be the leaders but they are fit only to rob the people by extracting money from them by selling public services.
A.Veronica Fernandes.