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The Rediff Interview/Dr Wilfred de Souza

'Sonia was misled by certain elements in this whole episode of our shift from the Congress to the coalition'

L ike the rest of the country, the minuscule state of Goa too is getting used to coalitions, no matter what ideology the parties represent. The new coalition government, which unseated the three-and-a-half year rule of the Congress in July, is considered a milestone in Goan politics, changing the state's political fundamentals.

To become chief minister for the third time, Dr Wilfred de Souza, the self-styled leader of Catholics in Goa, has joined hands with two pro-Hindu outfits -- the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party.

The 71-year old surgeon from Saligao, a village near Calangute in north Goa, has come up in his political life using the communal platform and plugging the cause of minorities in the tourist state. But this is not the first time he has revolted against the Congress, though this time it is to snatch the chief minister's seat.

With a hung assembly after the November 1994 elections, the anti-de Souza group in the Congress led by Dayanand Narvekar wooed four MGP legislators and also managed to keep the former from becoming CM once again. Pratapsing Rane thus became the compromise chief minister, while de Souza had to function as his deputy for the last four years.

Incidentally, de Souza now split the Congress with the help of Narvekar, who had refused to work under him earlier. The opposition parties -- the MGP and the BJP -- have also joined hands with them in the coalition.

In an interview to Sandesh Prabhudesai, de Souza admits that ideologically there is no difference between the Congress government and his, and also keeps his options open about rejoining the Congress. An excerpt:

What is programme of the coalition government, and how is it different from the erstwhile Congress?

Our programme is simple. We, the dissidents within the Congress, as well as the then opposition parties like the MGP, the BJP and few independents came together to end the corruption that had reached its peak during the Congress regime led by Pratapsing Rane. There was nothing one could do without paying bucks. We decided to end it.

We have a one-point programme, to end corruption. We also intend to give a good government and work for the development of the state. For this, we have already brought the Central Bureau of Investigation back to Goa, to probe corruption in high places. We have been quietly transferring corrupt officers. We have also raided quite a number of power guzzling units, which were involved in power pilferage. Many other steps are also being taken up, which I cannot discuss here.

In what way do you plan to provide a better governance than the Congress?

My priority is to streamline all methods of administration. Every minister is putting his department in order in his own way. It is chaos everywhere right now. I have already transferred grade I officers, which would be followed by grade II officers, like the deputy collectors, mamlatdars and directors. The police officers are also going to be transferred after paying careful attention to the local problems. Even IAS officers, holding posts of secretaries, will be reshuffled.

Fine, but to achieve your third goal of development, you need funds, which Goa is short of...

You are right, we are short of funds. But that does not mean we are bankrupt. The comparative figures of the last two years indicate that our condition has improved. But the pace of development can be quickened only if we get additional funds of around Rs 1.5 billion, which we have asked the Centre to grant us. I would use it purely for infrastructure development. We suffered a setback because of the implementation of the Fifth Pay Commission recommendations. All our developmental funds had to be diverted to pay high salaries to government employees.

Goa has the highest number of government employees in the country, with a citizen-employee ratio of around 1:24. Is it not a mistake of your predecessors to employ such a large manpower, which has become a white elephant, and then commit another mistake by implementing the pay commission recommendations when many states are yet to do it?

Well, I don't know whether it is a mistake, but we have done it. But I have no plans to replace the staff, once the existing people leave. Besides streamlining the administration, it can be also done by privatising several government enterprises. We are in the process of privatising the generation and distribution of power. Then we have on the cards, privatisation of water supply, the Goa Meat Complex and so on... Wherever we can, we will privatise.

Did Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha agree to your request for Rs 1.5 billion during your recent Delhi visit?

Our proposal is currently being examined by the secretary of expenditures. Their position is also tight. They have to find the money somewhere, where it is not being used. But I am fully optimistic that I would get the funds.

What if you don't get it?

If not, we carry on as of today.

The Planning Commission has suggested that you widen Goa's tax base. Your finance secretary suggests several measures like professional tax, entertainment tax, ad-valorem excise duty, ad-valorem vehicle tax etc. Would you opt for it?

Well, I have already hiked the excise duty on liquor imported from outside Goa. The finance secretary is a bureaucrat. He thinks of only money and statistics. I have to judge the political effects also. I would apply my mind from this angle.

I don't agree with the Planning Commission that we have a narrow tax base. We have a population of hardly 1.2 million, which has also to be taken into consideration.

What about the suggestion to impose taxes on domestic tourists? That's not your population...

No, I won't do it. Tourism is the goose that gives us golden eggs. I won't kill it by imposing taxes on it. The Rane government had tried it once. Now the entertainment tax could be thought of, though it would also affect the tourists who visit us. But it is not much.

Regarding professional tax etc, I have not studied it. In any case, these are measures to be taken up for the next budget. I cannot afford to disclose everything at this stage. But I agree that we are left with no option but to introduce more taxation measures.

Dr de Souza, for quite a long time you have been talking about upmarket tourism, especially for international tourists. Even if you set up the required infrastructure with the funds you would hopefully get from the Centre, there has been stiff opposition locally for other requirements like golf course, casinos, etc.

I am in favour of anything that would give me money. I would definitely think of golf courses or casinos in those terms.

In what way then will your Goa Rajiv Congress be ideologically different from the Congress?

It's not. Why should it be? That's why we call it Rajiv Congress.

Is it true that Congress president Sonia Gandhi denied you an appointment twice after you became chief minister?

No, I never ever tried to meet her. It's false propaganda carried out by some vested interests to defame me. But she was misled by certain elements, in this whole episode of our shiftover from the Congress to the coalition government.

Who are these elements? Madhavrao Scindia, who was in-charge of Goa affairs?

Maybe. There are many more and you know it.

'At this moment, I have no plans to rejoin the Congress'

The Rediff Interviews

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