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The Rediff Interview/Manohar Parrikar

'We prefer good Catholics
to corrupt Hindus'

Fortyfive-year-old Manohar Parrikar, a cadre of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, has become Goa's first Bharatiya Janata Party chief minister.

After emerging as a major Opposition group, with 10 legislators in the 40-member House following the assembly polls in June last year, the party became a partner in the coalition government, when former chief minister Francisco Sardinha split from the then ruling Congress in November.

After eight more legislators split from the Congress and joined the BJP last week, the saffron party withdrew support to the Sardinha government and came to power with the help of three legislators from outside. Parrikar spoke to Sandesh Prabhudesai about his plans and stand vis-à-vis controversies raised by the RSS and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad.

What are your priority areas?

To make the administration people-friendly, root out corruption and improve the state's financial condition. These top my agenda for the first 100 days. I know it is difficult to weed out corruption totally. But you can definitely keep a check on it.

Goa's economy is in quite a bad shape. Payments towards interest on loans itself have gone up to Rs 220 crore this year, leave aside the principal amount of around Rs 2000 crore. But the state revenue is not in a position to take care of salaries and interest payments. That's why mopping up revenue and curbing wasteful expenditure become prime tasks.

Which are the areas of wasteful expenditure have you identified?

Obviously, a jumbo cabinet is one. I have already withdrawn the ministers' Baleno cars and plan to reduce expenses by 10 per cent in the next fiscal year. But this is not a major area as is being projected. Even with Rs 1 lakh expenditure on a minister every month, it does not reach Rs two crore annually.

Most government jobs are literally auctioned, either by ministers or top bureaucrats. If brought to my notice, I will crack down on it. Some recruits do not even know how to draft a simple letter or behave with people. I plan to recruit youngsters -- at least 1000 in the first 100 days -- who will be paid stipends and imparted training. We are getting a good response for the voluntary retirement scheme, but no vacancy against it will be filled.

Revenue leakage is another area where the state is literally plundered. If salvaged, the state could easily mobilise at least Rs 50 crore to begin with. Wastage of funds in the developmental field also needs to be controlled.

What other financial measures you plan?

Rather than hike taxes, I plan to reduce some, especially the sales tax on petrol and diesel. From Rs 29.75 per litre, I want to bring down petrol prices to at least Rs 28.50.

The local industry is behind you to abolish entry tax, especially on raw materials imported...

I will not abolish it. But rationalisation is on the cards by reducing the rate of tax as well as exempting more items that may not give us substantial revenue or cripple some industries.

Will you consider the proposal of the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry to impose entry tax on all tourist vehicles not registered in Goa?

That could be called a tourist tax. The proposal is difficult to implement now.

You have been consistently saying that Goa does not have an industrial policy.

The Cooper report is pretty reasonable, except for some minor modifications required. We will have green and red channels. It is part of my 100-day agenda.

But what is the use of any industrial policy, if education and employment policies are not being tuned to it?

Who says I am not going to do it? But we are spending too much on education. I propose controlled private participation, token fees after Standard VIII and also closure of several primary and middle level schools not having more than 15 students, and adjusting them with schools within two kilometres.

With the BJP having different views on Indian culture and ethos, do you propose a different tourism policy for Goa?

I have not gone into depth on it. But we are not getting the right choice of tourists, due to which Goa is being defamed. We need amusement like Disneyworld as well as hinterland green tourism, for tourists to spend more than three to four days. I also want to stop the way they are being cheated and looted. Infrastructure, of course, is an immediate priority.

Does Goa need casinos and golf courses?

I have no problem with casinos as long as they are out of reach of the common man here. Why should I stop a rich person spending lakhs in a casino? I want high quality entertainment, where narcotics will have no place. Why not a golf course, if it can be set up by recycling saline water?

Are you also going to follow the trend of your predecessors to go abroad to attract tourists?

The first thing we decided at our first informal cabinet meeting was that no minister will go abroad for such things at the cost of the exchequer.

A primary reason you cited for withdrawal of support to the coalition government was Mayem, the village which continues to be evacuee property of the Portuguese. Since you were siding with the locals there, how do you propose to resolve it now ?

Let me take legal opinion, but I promise to solve it. Scrapping the Silva Commission (probing encroachments by locals) may not be feasible. But it is up to us to accept its recommendations. The legislation which I moved to give ownership rights of land they are tilling and houses they are living in will be implemented. It is part of my 100-day agenda. Regarding the other land, if required, the government will acquire the village from the custodian.

What is your stand on the controversial Meta Strips project in South Goa, which is being opposed by locals as well as the Church?

Being a metallurgical engineer, I am convinced that it is not a source of pollution. We will strictly follow all recommendations of the expert committee. I will appeal to the locals to form a monitoring committee, along with experts.

What happens to the official language amendment bill, in which you had proposed official status to Marathi along with Konkani?

It is a completely different set-up now. I do not intend to restart the controversy. Ultimately Konkani is our language and Marathi has always helped us. The BJP has never considered language a serious issue.

Fighting for Konkani and Marathi is foolish. We have more serious issues like law and order and administrative reforms to tackle.

With eight habitual defectors in government will you be able to provide stability?

There is a misconception that lust for power is a major factor for defections. The most important factor is human relations. Chief ministers humiliating legislators and political leaders sabotaging each other lead to splits. I will take all 21 into confidence before taking any decision.

But what will be the BJP's strategy in case there is a similar revolt leading to a split in your government also? Will you demand that the House be dissolved?

If it happens, I would prefer going home.

Along with party colleagues?

It is for the party to decide. But that will be my advice to the party.

How do you look at the BJP with its 'Congressisation', after admitting eight Congressmen?

It is not 'Congressisation'. It is reality. Society will always be reflected in any political party. If society has any wrong tendency, how do you expect a political party to be like a saint? Yes, we are ready to face any consequence if you point fingers at those leading the party, stating that they are corrupt.

What is it if not a 'Congressisation'?

As the BJP grows, pure idealism cannot survive. This is the tragedy of Communists all over the country. They got frustrated. We are not. I will not impose my principles on colleagues.

Should we call it a compromise or politics of convenience?

It is neither. We represent society. If society has no moral values of high standards, I cannot enforce the values which I believe in. The common man cannot have that high standard.

In such a situation, how will your agenda of Hindutva survive?

What is Hindutva? There is no contradiction. I am a proud of being a Hindu because it is my religion. I do not hate other religions.

But do you subscribe to the views expressed by the RSS or the recently held VHP meeting in Goa?

I will not go into details. There is communal harmony in Goa. If there is any complaint by any person belonging to any religion, they can come directly to me. There will be no favour or punishment based on caste or religion.

When the RSS gave a call for a swadeshi church, how do you look at the church in Goa today?

The RSS statement is being misinterpreted. It is up to the Catholic community to accept it or not. Nobody is forcing anyone.

Do you agree with that statement?

No, I will not make a statement because it will lead to a controversy. My concept of swadeshi is totally different. The Goa church is swadeshi. It conducts mass in Konkani. According to me, the problem does not arise in Goa. There are a few families, among Catholics and Hindus, still owing allegiance to the Portuguese. But 99 per cent Catholics in Goa are not pro-Portuguese. Are all Hindus patriots?

That is why we prefer good Catholics to corrupt Hindus, who wanted to join the BJP. Even Dayanand Narvekar wanted to join us along with four others. With this combination, more Catholics will come to the BJP.

During the Lok Sabha polls, the church was very sympathetic to the BJP. With the Congress in a shambles today, will you try and win over the Church during your rule in Goa?

The church is a religious institution and should not be tackled at the political level. For political equations, the church does not represent more than 50 to 60 per cent in Goa. I will try and win over Catholics at large. But I will call on the Archbishop next week and request him to judge us on merit.

But is it not contradictory that you say this and then go and attend the VHP rally in Ponda that spoke vehemently against the church?

I do not think anybody can curb freedom of speech or listening to anybody. I don't subscribe to views expressed by few extremists, but that does not stop me from listening to some others. They did not attack the Goa church, but the role of the church in the north-east.

The VHP stand is not the BJP's stand. We do not mix with religious issues.

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