State unit president of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Jose Philip D’Souza says the party is looking at like-minded parties including the Congress as its natural allies; however, it is up to the Congress to take a call. In an interview with ROQUE DIAS, D’Souza, who is firm on contesting the forthcoming election, either from Vasco or Dabolim, says killing the environment for concrete jungle and cemented structures is never an option for development
Q. How do you intend to tackle the weaknesses in your party…organisational weakness and differences with the lone legislator of the party?
The question of organisational weakness does not arise, as there are absolutely no differences of any sort within the party. As far as Churchill Alemao is concerned, I am the party president and he is our lone MLA and we have always been and are united as far as our party organisation is concerned. I share a good rapport with my good friend and our lone legislator Alemao since I had inducted him into the party after convincing the party’s senior leaders prior to the 2017 assembly elections. We have been together when discussing our political strategies and unitedly we will take our party forward.
Q. Will there be an alliance if your party comes to power?
The NCP has been vocal on the alliance front since a long time. While our senior leaders have always looked at the Congress party as our natural ally, the party being secular in nature, it is up to the Congress to take a call on alliance now before the assembly elections. People of Goa are upset with the present BJP governance and, therefore, the parties must make their stands clear to the people. We have our presence in all the constituencies but some constituencies are our stronghold areas. While we have the capacity to field candidates in all the constituencies, we are trying to lay more stress on our stronghold areas. We are confident that this time, we will get a good mandate from the people. After the assembly elections, we may not be able to make an offer of alliance to any party that did not entertain us prior to elections. The best that we can do after the assembly elections is brief our seniors about the political scenario in Goa. Our leaders can then assess the sentiments of the people and based on that, take a call on whether we should make an offer of alliance. Our top priority now is to get our candidates elected from many constituencies in Goa with or without an alliance.
Q. If elected, what will be your strategy to get the economy back on track, generate employment and promote industries?
Economic development and employment generation are of crucial importance to any governance. There are many avenues that need improvement in Goa. As far as the industries are concerned, they have said the government has been lackadaisical in its approach. Moreover, many of the issues of the industry have not been addressed by the government. The industry has even levelled charges of corruption and red-tapism against some departments. Industries must be given support so that they can create employment and generate revenue. We have to address the mining issue that is pending for a long time and this can create self-employment and revenue generation. We also have to look towards other avenues like the tourism industry, which is also blaming the government of harassment. We can promote new startups and look at more sustainable developmental projects. The state needs a different approach as far as development is concerned. Killing the environment for concrete jungles and cemented structures is never an option. Development should not be carried out by cutting hills, chopping down trees and destroying mangroves and sand dunes.
Q. How would your party have handled the COVID situation better than the BJP?
The BJP has made a mess of the situation and we have already lost so many lives. Lockdown was the need of the hour but it was not implemented when the first case was detected. The government should have definitely gone with the people’s demand of implementation of an immediate lockdown with borders of the state closed. A stitch in time saves nine. Moreover, there was a lack of steps like mass testing and sanitisation of public places. It is a shame that Goa went on to be listed among states with the highest positivity with positivity rate of 51 per cent.
The government has also failed in handling the infrastructure and it took us so many deaths to realise the issue of oxygen supply. The government has been caught with multiple scams and that too in the health department, which is vital for saving lives. Even the vaccination drive of the BJP government has failed. Our government would have never allowed such a disaster to happen and would have put into force an immediate lockdown with the state’s borders closed soon after the first case was detected. Later, it is about mass testing, sanitisation of places, mass vaccination, infrastructure preparedness, which are the main steps to be taken.
Q. How will you assess the mood of people ahead of the assembly elections?
As far as the mood of the people is concerned, it is evident that the people are looking for a change. The people are fed up with the present dispensation and seeking to throw the BJP out of power. This time, the BJP may not be able to cross the two-digit figure for sure because people are fed up of the constant lies and their fake assurances.
Q. Is the NCP president contesting the forthcoming election? If yes, from which constituency? Vasco or Dabolim?
As of now, my supporters are asking me to contest from Dabolim since the major part of my stronghold is now in the Dabolim constituency. I have been a Vasco legislator and hence enjoy good support of the people of Vasco. However, I will take a call on which constituency to contest the election from, in the days to come. But I am firm on contesting the election.