from daijiworld's special correspondent (MB)
Panaji, May 26 The Goa church has advised the people not to consider candidates who are communal, who use the government machinery to threaten people and people who defect from one party to another for the love of money.
The council for Social Justice and Peace, in its circular to the parishioners, has said that Goa should vote for the people who think of the future, especially regarding state and its environment.
“The past five years have proved the failure of the political leadership in upholding human values in public life. The distinctive features of the functioning of the representatives of the people of Goa, during the past five years has been attempts to contain political dissent through threats to individuals and groups; suppression of the press; rampant corruption; total lack of transparency and accountability; efforts to divide society on communal lines; destruction of environment and ecology; misuse of land, even of khazans; denial of powers to local bodies and interference in their exclusive area of work,’’ the message reads.
The Council for Social Justice and Peace categorically states that the people’s representatives have violated the trust of the people by deciding major issues by themselves, without consulting the citizens and have thus betrayed their trust. These same representatives have wasted crores of rupees on projects and infrastructures that were criticised or rejected by the people.
It further states, that now is the right time for the voters of Goa to exercise their rights and fulfill their duties as citizens to secure an integrally healthy future for the generations to come. "People should select a candidate who has integrity and intellectual capacity and has vision of Goan society rooted in human values, where harmony, religious and cultural tolerance, equality in status and opportunity, participatory democracy prevail, and ecology and environment are genuinely protected and promoted," the message suggests.
The Council also recommends that the people should consider candidates who are committed to respect and promote autonomy of the bureaucrats, police and local bodies.
In addition voters are advised by the council not to accept any offering from the candidates/ political parties/ vested interests as “it is a bribe.” It has also adviced the people to demand that the candidates/ political parties amend The Goa Panchayat Raj Act, The Municipal Act, The Town and Country Planning Act and others as required and devolve powers to the local bodies.