PTI
PRAMOD SAWANT, 48, is one of the youngest chief ministers in the country. He was handpicked for the post in March 2019 after the demise of then chief minister Manohar Parrikar, and has had less than three years to make a mark.
As Goa gears up for elections early next year, Sawant is banking on multiple welfare schemes that he had launched during the pandemic to reduce financial stress on voters.
Excerpts from an exclusive interview:
Q/ How are you preparing for the assembly polls?
A/ We are ready for it, both as the government and as the BJP. In the last two-and-a-half years, and, overall, in the last 10 years [as MLA], I have served the people of Goa to the best of my ability.
We are organising multiple events, along with Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, and 60th year of Goa’s liberation, to disseminate government’s welfare schemes. We are engaging with people through schemes like ‘Sarkar Tumchya Dari’ (Government at your Doorstep), and other flagship programmes. Through these events, we aim to reach out to the public.
Q/ Why should people vote for you?
A/ I take credit for doing a good job on the Covid front, in dealing with Cyclone Tauktae, and in managing floods. Despite the financial crunch during the pandemic, we did not abandon social sector schemes. In fact, we launched several new schemes. Efforts were taken to provide stimulus to every key sector, including education.
For the first time in 60 years, a government official visits every panchayat once a week to address people’s grievances. That official is responsible for delivering all Central and state government’s schemes to people.
Through Swayampurna Goa and ‘Government at your Doorstep’, we are reaching out to people. We have also started schemes like ‘Laadli Laxmi Scheme’ and ‘Griha Aadhar Scheme’. So, I am confident that the people of Goa are behind me. People have benefited from these schemes.
Q/ How do you see new entrants like Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress and Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party?
A/Goa is a tourist destination, and we believe in ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’. I would call their visits nothing more than ‘political tourism’. I think the TMC workers are here in Goa for sight-seeing for a few days. They will go back. Same is the case with AAP workers. I don’t consider the AAP and the TMC as challengers.
Q/ Kejriwal has announced Delhi-model freebies and is calling the Congress the BJP’s ‘B’ team.
A/ On every visit to Goa, Kejriwal is making new promises. He knows that he is not coming to power [in Goa], and there will be no obligation to fulfil promises. Instead of making false promises, he must focus on making Delhi a better place and pollution-free. Due to severe pollution in Delhi, and realising that Goa’s air and water are clean, Kejriwal visits Goa. He comes, rests, and goes back.
Q/ The AAP is fielding anti-mining activist Puti Gaonkar against you in Sanquelim.
A/ I have complete faith in my voters. I have been representing my constituency for the last 10 years. Besides working for the whole of Goa, I have done enough for my constituency.
Q/ Any plans for a political alliance?
A/ We are already in touch with like-minded political parties. Something will be lined up definitely.
Q/ The prime minister recently met Pope Francis in the Vatican. Do you think this meeting will have an impact on Goa elections as Christians constitute 26 per cent of the total electorate?
A/ We should know that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a global leader. He is not a Hindu leader. Modi and India believe in Sarva dharma samabhav (all religions are equal), and the meeting was based on the same philosophy.
Q/ Do you see any national-level opposition emerging against the Modi-led government at the Centre?
A/ The opposition has realised that they cannot take on [Modi] individually. So, they will certainly go for an alliance. But I don’t think such an alliance will have any impact on the outcome of the general election.
Q/ Has Covid management and price rise dented the Modi government’s image and created an atmosphere of anti-incumbency?
A/ The way Modi led the Covid management, I don’t think anyone else could have done better. India has gained a lot of praise globally for its vaccination drive.
When talking about price rises, we should consider the increase in income. It is all linked to inflation. However, I do agree that the pandemic has impacted the income of people. Efforts should be made to overcome the monetary crisis due to the pandemic. I think the Central government is working on this aspect. It has helped people by reducing excise duty of petrol and diesel, and the BJP-ruled states, including Goa, followed by reducing VAT.
I don’t think price rise is the only reason [for the setback in bypolls]. Many other local issues have contributed to the defeat of our candidates in Himachal Pradesh. I think the state unit will take corrective steps by reviewing the reasons for the defeat.
I do agree that after 10 years people will talk about anti-incumbency. But I don’t see any impact of it, because the prime minister is constantly launching new schemes. The government has invested 064,000 crore in health care sector alone, and also in PM Gati Shakti to enhance mobility across the country.
Q/ What is your unfinished task, if voted back to power?
A/ My focus is on infrastructure development and human development. Though we have done several infrastructure development projects, a lot more needed to be done. On human development, my government is working on a ten-point programme, including electricity, housing, sanitation, social security and financial security for all. We could not achieve 100 per cent this time, and will be able to get close to 80 per cent. I have a target to complete the remaining task.
In my next tenure, Mopa International Airport [in north Goa], which is an under-construction greenfield airport, will be completed, and that will further boost tourism [in the state].