“Why should politicians turn up at a disaster site and make their presence a political event? Why should leaders engage in heated exchanges when hundreds of affected traders are struggling to comprehend the loss of their businesses? And why should the police be required to intervene in political arguments at a place where people need assistance, not theatrics?
There is nothing wrong with elected representatives visiting a disaster site. In fact, it is their responsibility to understand the suffering of constituents, assess the damage and ensure that the government responds. The Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao, Congress leader Girish Chodankar, Quepem MLA Alton D’Costa, BJP leaders and AAP representative Valmiki Naik have every right to visit the affected traders and seek answers.
However, there is a difference between visiting a disaster site to help people and arriving there to establish political ownership of a tragedy.”
The devastating fire at Vasco Sunday Market has gutted more than 150 shops and establishments, destroyed goods purchased for the upcoming Diwali festival, and left hundreds of traders and their families in uncertainty. For many of these shopkeepers, this was not merely a place of business. It was their livelihood, their investment, their source of income and, in many cases, the result of decades of hard work.
The scale of destruction is enormous. Traders claim that goods worth crores of rupees, stocked in anticipation of the festive season, have been reduced to ashes. Two cars parked near an auto parts and car accessories shop behind Tilak Maidan Stadium were also damaged. The fire reportedly spread across three locations, raising serious questions about the circumstances that allowed the blaze to cause such extensive destruction.
But amid the tragedy, another disturbing spectacle unfolded. Instead of allowing the focus to remain firmly on rescue, relief and rehabilitation, the fire site became a stage for political confrontation.
Why?
Why should politicians turn up at a disaster site and make their presence a political event? Why should leaders engage in heated exchanges when hundreds of affected traders are struggling to comprehend the loss of their businesses? And why should the police be required to intervene in political arguments at a place where people need assistance, not theatrics?
There is nothing wrong with elected representatives visiting a disaster site. In fact, it is their responsibility to understand the suffering of constituents, assess the damage and ensure that the government responds. The Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao, Congress leader Girish Chodankar, Quepem MLA Alton D’Costa, BJP leaders and AAP representative Valmiki Naik have every right to visit the affected traders and seek answers.
However, there is a difference between visiting a disaster site to help people and arriving there to establish political ownership of a tragedy.
The reported confrontation involving Valmiki Naik and BJP leader Sadanand Shet Tanavade, which required police intervention, was unnecessary and insensitive. The affected traders did not need to witness political egos competing for attention. They needed assurances that their losses would be assessed fairly, that immediate assistance would be provided and that their businesses would not be abandoned.
The same applies to every political leader who visited the site. Yuri Alemao and Girish Chodankar could have raised their questions without turning the location into a political battleground. Sadanand Shet Tanavade and Valmiki Naik could have exercised restraint. Nobody loses political relevance by maintaining dignity during a tragedy.
The priority should have been clear from the beginning: save lives, protect whatever property can still be saved, prevent further damage and provide immediate relief to those affected.
Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant’s visit and assurance of financial assistance are welcome. His direction for an investigation by the police and fire department is equally important. But assurances must translate into action. Traders cannot rebuild their lives on promises alone.
The government must immediately conduct a transparent assessment of the losses, announce an interim relief package and establish a single-window mechanism to help affected shopkeepers with compensation, documentation and rehabilitation. Those who have lost their entire stock, particularly goods purchased for Diwali, cannot be expected to wait indefinitely for bureaucratic procedures to move.
The government must also examine the fire safety arrangements in the market. Were adequate fire prevention systems installed and operational? Were emergency exits accessible? Were electrical installations periodically inspected? Were fire extinguishers and other safety equipment available? Did the authorities conduct regular safety audits?
A suspected short circuit, as claimed by the owner of the car accessories shop, cannot be treated as a conclusion. The exact cause must be established through a professional investigation. The fact that the blaze spread across three locations makes a detailed examination of electrical infrastructure, fire safety compliance and emergency response essential.
The review meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary must result in a time-bound rehabilitation plan, not another round of official discussions. The government must also consider temporary business spaces so that traders can resume operations while permanent arrangements are made.
Most importantly, accountability must follow. If negligence, faulty infrastructure or failure to enforce safety regulations contributed to the disaster, those responsible must face consequences. Goa cannot afford to treat every major fire as an unfortunate incident, issue assurances and move on until another tragedy strikes.
The Vasco fire is a human tragedy first and a political issue second. Opposition leaders have a legitimate role in questioning the government, and the ruling establishment must answer uncomfortable questions. But there is a time and place for political confrontation.
A disaster site is not that place.
Goa’s politicians must understand that public service is not measured by who reaches the spot first, who gets more television coverage or who manages to dominate the political narrative. It is measured by what they do after the cameras leave.
For the traders of Vasco, Diwali has arrived under the shadow of devastation. Their shops are gone, their investments destroyed and their immediate future uncertain.
They deserve compassion, financial support and a government that acts swiftly. They also deserve political leaders who know when to speak, when to question and, most importantly, when to stand aside.
Let Vasco rebuild before politicians start campaigning over its ashes.
