The residents of Sao Tome Ward behind the Panaji Post office had taken a very laudable initiative this year to have a Carnaval do Povo (People’s Carnival). It would have brought back memories of the traditional Carnival of yester years.
But the Panaji MLA Babush Monserrate and his son Mayor Rohit Monserrate with vested interests in mind have flexed their political muscles to scuttle this move. They have pressured the authorities not to give clearances to hold the proposed People’s carnival. Infact, Mayor Rohit Monserrate on 13th February wrote an official letter to the North Goa Collector requesting her to issue all necessary permissions for this People’s Carnival on 18th February. But within a day made a U-turn realising that the loot and plunder was at the State sponsored Carnival being organised near the Municipal Garden.
The MLA and Mayor have now tutored the Police to deny permissions citing traffic issues. If closing two small roads behind the post office is a traffic hindrance, what about the roads near the Municipal Garden which will be closed for four long days? What about the many roads closed with dangerously gaping holes and dust in a corrupt and defunct Smart City initiative? What about the roads that get closed for longer when any VIP lands in Goa for a BJP event and not for the common good causing hardship and inconvenience to many people? What about the chaos on the roads of Panaji facing the Mandovi every evening caused by the eyesore Casinos and their clients? The police owe an explanation on this bizarre anomaly and an apology for acting as puppets of the political bosses instead of their duty of protecting and enhancing the lives of the people, their paymasters.
The people’s carnival would have had no financial implication for the State as citizens were organising it out of their love for the city and to bring back the old traditional carnival. But the MLA and the Mayor with devious motives chose to instead support a huge State sponsored Carnival partly funded by the Casinos. This betrayal by the MLA and Mayor is outrageous and condemnable. It should have been the endeavour of those in Power to encourage the restoring of old traditions to keep the unique Goan flame and the true meaning of Carnival alive.
The Carnival is a public event held annually by people not by politicians, a festival of parades, public street parties, revelry and feasting just before the fasting and praying during Lent, which allow people with elaborate costumes and masks to set aside their everyday individuality and experience a heightened sense of social unity badly needed under this divisive Government. It is a people’s festival not a Politician’s, big money providers or Police event. But sadly, they have lost the plot and hijacked a People’s event.
