'If you weed out corruption, you will bring glory to Goa.'
Very few advocates hit the political spotlight as quickly as Amit Palekar has in Goa.
Within three months of joining the Aam Aadmi Party, Palekar was declared by AAP Convener Arvind Kejriwal as its chief ministerial nominee for Goa.
Palekar, who says he has all the qualities necessary to bring Arvind Kejriwal-like governance to Goa, reveals to Prasanna D Zore/Rediff.com how he got AAP's nomination for the top job in the state, his vision for Goa, and how he plans to weed out corruption.
What issues is the AAP raising to seek a mandate from the people of Goa?
We are talking about providing a clean and transparent government to the people. No single political party is talking about weeding out corruption from Goa. Only AAP is doing that.
We are talking about environment-friendly development and bringing glory to the people of Goa.
We are offering the youth what they deserve and that is scam-free governance that will offer meaningful employment, proper water supply, which is one of the biggest necessity that no political party has yet successfully given to the people of the state for ages now. We plan to give 24 hours water and electricity supply.
Goa's government schools are in the worst situation today; given the state of Goa's healthcare infrastructure, it is the worst thing that could have happened to Goa.
Weeding out corruption totally, providing scam-free governance, employment for youth, 24 hour water and electricity supply and improvement of debilitated health infrastructure is what AAP is offering as vision to people of Goa.
And how exactly do you plan to weed out corruption from Goa?
The root cause of all evil in Goa is corruption today. If we weed out corruption from Goa, we can take the state miles ahead of other states in India.
Would you have any concrete proposals for weeding out corruption? What roadmap do you have to better Goa's health infrastructure?
We have just one premium medical facility, the Goa Medical College, which is in doldrums right now, only because of the corruption and job scams that have happened in this particular institute. And all departments in the health ministry have indulged in these scams.
Almost, 90 per cent of the jobs that came out from this institute went to a particular constituency, which means you have incompetent people handling important positions.
Would you have any concrete proposals for weeding out corruption?
In every field, be it infrastructure, medicine, health, mining everything is so, so corroded because of corruption.
The Goa government couldn't start mining from last five years. What stopped them from starting it when the Supreme Court cleared auctioning of mines?
It could have been done immediately after the judgments came in, but nothing seems to have been done to bring back mining which is the backbone of Goa's industries.
In case AAP wins the assembly election in Goa, how do you plan to restart mining and weed out corruption from this sector?
It is very simple. The Supreme Court has clearly said that mines could be auctioned. You form a (mining) corporation, it is an important resource. Once you start there, the rest will fall in place.
See, I am a lawyer by profession and have been part of these matters (in the courts).
I am growth-oriented person, but having been a defence lawyer for all these years I know where the loopholes are and how we can plug them, and move ahead in the right direction by stopping all forms of corruption.
We need somebody who has strong will power and people's support to weed out corruption. It is not rocket science, and AAP will do it.
Who do you hold responsible for the rampant corruption in Goa?
The ten years prior to the previous decade, it was the Congress and after Congress in the next ten years I have seen it grow by leaps and bounds.
Didn't Manohar Parrikar provide a clean government in Goa? Was corruption rampant even when Parrikar was the chief minister?
Except for the first term that he (Manohar Parrikar) had, in the last five to seven years we have seen corruption grow by leaps and bounds so much so that we have lost so much of moneys and resources to corruption.
Corruption has peaked in Goa in the last five years (under BJP rule).
There is a price for everything; there is no ease of doing business in Goa. No new industry has come to Goa.
We do have investment promotion boards, but except for converting orchard lands into hotels and resorts -- that too involving all kinds of underhand means -- the investment promotion boards have attracted no capital to set up industry of any kind in Goa.
Nothing concrete has happened in terms of revenue generation in the last five years. This government has failed to bring order in every industry that Goa could have exploited to earn revenues and generate employment.
This government did try to start the three linear projects that could have brought employment in the state, but it faced opposition from the environmentalists and from AAP leader Alina Saldanha.
Absolutely, rightly, these projects have been opposed in Goa because we don't want such environment-destroying projects.
Why do we need coal to produce energy in a scenic state like Goa?
We have done nothing to bring in environment-friendly investments in building solar energy hubs. We don't need to destroy the environment for growth. AAP believes in sustainable development.
Initially, I too felt that these (linear) projects were needed, but when I went through the records, when I saw the destruction it will bring to Goa's green corridors and environment, I have come to strongly believe that we don't need them.
In fact, we will get rid of them and propose alternative sources of employment and power generation.
Will AAP scrap the three linear projects if it comes to power?
Absolutely. No doubt about it. We will scrap them.
What if the Union government decides to go ahead with these projects?
Against the will of the people of Goa? I don't think they should foist such environment-destroying projects in a dictatorial fashion on the people of Goa.
Let the people of Goa decide what kind of progress and development they want in Goa. Nobody should have second thoughts about it. We will continue to oppose all dictatorial decisions imposed on the people of Goa tooth and nail.
While it is easy to make such tall promises when one is not in the government, it becomes difficult not to succumb to corporate pressures when in government.
How will you assure people of Goa that AAP, and you as its chief ministerial candidate, won't succumb to the corporate templates of development?
Look at the AAP model of governance in Delhi. No corporate pressures there. We need people with strong will to ward off such pressures and Arvind Kejriwalji has brilliantly shown the way in this sphere.
I can only say with conviction that you don't need to destroy the environment to develop Goa. There are so many industries that can be developed in Goa without destroying environment.
Why haven't we done anything to develop IT hubs in Goa? We have such immense talent, we (the people of Goa) travel to other states, other countries to seek job opportunities. Goa has enough resources to exploit its natural beauty that can boost our tourism sector and human resources talent, so why can't we employ the IT sector sustainably?
We have failed to tap any of these sustainable resources. Our governments year after year have been cribbing that we don't have quality tourism infrastructure. What have you done for it except indulge in corruption and nepotism?
We need a sincere and non-corrupt mindset to set things right in Goa and given AAP's track record, we are best suited to bring this change in Goa's politics.
What five sectors would the AAP focus on if it comes to power in Goa?
One is 24-hour electricity and water supply, which are not uphill tasks if one puts one's mind to it.
Promoting and building industries which can strike a balance between Goa's environmental and human needs can be easily achieved in Goa. Tourism and IT are natural sectors to choose given our human resources and scenic wealth.
There is so much to achieve from environmental and hinterland tourism in the state.
Starting the mining industry in accordance with the Supreme Court's directions can bring back the industry to life. Goa's entire industrial economy depends upon mining and allied industries.
All this potential has not been tapped because of the indulgence of politicians in corruption. I have been emphasising on this at all my public meetings that if you weed out corruption, you will bring glory to Goa.
Is corruption an issue in this election?
Corruption has been an issue in Goa forever.
Do you know the number of (corruption) cases that have been pending in the high court?
Jobs scam in the Goa Medical College is corruption; the PWD is mired in corruption, the entire road and infrastructure progress that the BJP is tom-tomming about is mired under a mountain of corruption; see the escalated costs at which these roads and infrastructure has been built.
Will AAP go after corrupt officials and politicians in Goa even if you don't win this election, or is AAP indulging in election rhetoric?
We need to send a strong signal to all the corrupt officials and politicians that Goa will not tolerate corruption in any form. Once that signal percolates deep down, Goa will see glorious days.
AAP doesn't have a strong organisation in Goa. How big is that a challenge for you to connect with the masses?
It is a misunderstanding that AAP's opponents have. In the last five years AAP has built its cadre, grassroots workers and organisation and you see the kind of work we have done in Goa. I joined AAP only three months ago and I am in a position (their CM candidate) where I am today because of the organisation that AAP has built in Goa over the last five years.
Within three months of joining AAP, you have been named their CM candidate. Isn't that surprising? Did that surprise you?
I am not surprised because the kind of organsational skills I possess, the kind of conviction and talent I possess and the kind of democratic process set in motion (to choose its CM candidate) by all those who have been in AAP before me also chose me.
How democratic was your nomination process?
It was absolutely democratic. The opinions and views of every (AAP) candidate, volunteer, booth worker, and grassroots worker were sought. The opinions of every worker who has been connected with AAP were taken into confidence before announcing my name.
What special talents and skills set you apart from the other contenders for the CM's post in AAP, who have been with the party since last five years?
I think you should ask this question to AAP's grassroots workers, candidates and Arvind Kejriwalji.
According to you, what sets you apart?
I have the ability to lead AAP in Goa the way Kejriwalji has led AAP in India. I think it is my vision for the state; it goes behind the scenes to make me what I am today.
All workers and leaders believe that I can bring AAP's and Kejriwalji's vision to fruition in Goa.
