Will quit govt if any decision goes against the basic interest of Goa and Goans
MARGAO
Goa Forward leaders and Ministers used the Opinion Poll Day platform at the Lohia Maidan here on Tuesday to convey a message loud and clear that the regional party will not hesitate to withdraw support to the coalition government if any decision goes against the basic interest of Goa and Goans.
Party leaders made it clear that neither is BJP President Amit Shah the boss of the regional party nor can any Central Ministers dictate terms to Goans, even as party supremo Vijai Sardesai thundered that the party is ready to make any sacrifice in the fight to get the statue of Dr Jack de Sequeira installed in the Legislative Assembly complex.
Almost all the Goa Forward Ministers, TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai, Water Resources Minister Vinoda Paliencar and Housing Minister Jayesh Salgaonkar vowed that they will not compromise either on Dr Jack de Sequeira’s statue, the Mhadei water issue or any other issue dear to the heart of Goans. Minister Jayesh in particular asserted that the Goa Forward party will not hesitate to withdraw support to the coalition government if any decision goes against Goa and Goemkarponn, while his Ministerial colleague Vinoda Paliencar adopted a similar tone, saying there will be no compromise on Mhadei river.
The tone of Goa Forward’s impressive public meeting at the Lohia Maidan was set by Goa Forward party general secretary, Mohandas Lolienkar, who in his fiery address, made it clear that BJP President Amit Shah is not the boss of the Goa Forward party. And, he asserted that no Union Minister or party leader can dictate terms to Goa, saying that Goans are capable in taking decision of their own, be it on nationalisation of rivers, Mhadei water and coal transportation.
In his address, Water Resources Minister Vinoda Paliencar said he has begun to face the brunt of Karnataka leaders for his firm stand on the Mhadei river water, even as he asserted that there will be no compromise on Mhadei river come what may. “Goa Forward will fight to the last to save Mhadei river. I have done nothing wrong if I have said that water will not be released to Karnataka,” Vinoda said.
Housing Minister Jayesh Salgaonkar, while demanding inclusion of Opinion Poll history in the school syllabus and installation of Dr Jack de Sequeira’s statue in the Assembly complex, repeatedly asserted that the party is ready to withdraw support and sit in the opposition as MLAs if the demands of Goans are not met.
In his address, TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai told the gathering that Goa Forward party is ready to make any sacrifice in the battle to get the statue of Dr Jack de Sequeira installed in the Assembly complex. “Getting the statue of Dr Jack de Sequeira is not an easy task. But, we are clear that we are ready to make any sacrifice. We are ready to give up our Ministerial berths and remain as MLAs, but our agenda will remain unchanged,” he asserted.
Sardesai pointed out that Goa Forward had taken an extraordinary decision to form the BJP-led coalition government in order to fulfill the extraordinary demands and aspirations of Goa and Goans. “Goa Forward is not MGP, but a regionalistic party and there will be no compromise on certain issues, such as on Opinion Poll and Dr Jack de Sequeira’s status. Goem and Goemkarponn is the central focus of Goa Forward. We believe that people should speak Goan, eat Goan, play Goan and buy Goan. When 65 lakh tourists visit Goa every year, benefits should percolate to the locals. We don’t believe on Ola and Uber, but only Goemkarponn,” he said, while rooting in for the local tourist taxi operators.
Amongst others who spoke at the meeting were MMC Chairperson Babita Angle Prabhudesai, former MLA Farrel Furtado, former MLA Victoria Fernandes, Akbar Mullah, Prashant Naik, Trajano D’Mello. Former Minister Babush Monserrate was also present.
