Goa Polls Due Only In 2022 But This Political Party Offers Compulsory 'Siesta Hour' If It Wins

Goa Forward Party leader and former BJP ally Vijai Sardesai has stated that he will ensure a compulsory siesta hour anytime between 2 pm and 4 pm if made Chief Minister following the 2022 Assembly elections.

You heard that right.

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Stating that Goa is associated with a chilled-out attitude, Sardesai added at the press meet on Tuesday, "Goans like to take it easy, which should not be mistaken for laziness."

In Goa, where campaigning for 2022 elections is set to kick off next year, the first election promise seems to be: "Imposition of compulsory siesta time".

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The siesta hour

The siesta hour is sacrosanct for many Goans ¡ª any attempt at any of form of engagement between the afternoon hours is considered disgraceful and lacking in concern. Most shops pull down shutters and professional appointments don't get done, with the general idea being that lunch should be followed by nap time, before returning to work at around 4 pm.

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"Even though we are sussegad, we still meet our deadlines. It is the culture of Goa. Everyone needs to learn from this and respect this,¡± he says. He says the necessity to protect sussegad is tied to the fight against bigger changes sweeping throughout the state.

Goa chornicle

¡°Sussegad doesn't mean we are unresponsive or not pro-active when it comes to contentious social and environment issues that affect us. Look at the state today. You do not have to overload a small place with too much of huge infrastructure. I am not against connectivity. But what is rail connectivity and who are trains for?¡±

Goa in the present day is seeing work on at least three big-ticket infrastructure projects ¡ª electricity, railway and road-widening ¡ª with deadlines set for 2022.

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Fast life not for Goans

¡°If a guy is coming by train to Goa and the train suddenly slows down at the Ghats, what's the big deal? Let it slow down, no. You are coming to Goa, after all. If for the sake of speed, you bring down homes in Cansaulim, then why ask for such a fast life, why do we need such trains? All this is basically to turn Goa into a corridor. This doesn't suit our way of living,¡± he adds.

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However, Sardesai, who was within the NDA government for so long as late Manohar Parrikar was CM and who has struck strident positions against ¡°outsiders¡± within the state, says, ¡°Look at our markets. They are slowly being taken over by Marwari traders who like to work even on Sundays. They keep shops open 24/7, which may make a tourist happy, but frankly, no one is happy.¡±

Meanwhile, Sardesai isn't losing any sleep: he takes a compulsory siesta for at least 30 minutes every day.