MARGAO: The seafarers of Salcete and other parts of Goa have strongly condemned Adv Uday Bhemre and Arvind Bhatikar for making “insulting” statements against the seamen and have demanded a public apology from them.
The Seamen have rejected the contention of the duo that the seafarers are incapable of deciding the future of their children.
The seamen have also warned of taking to streets if the duo continues to defame the seafarers of Goa.
The seafarers were responding to the faceoff between Adv Uday Bhembre and Savio Lopes of FORCE, in Herald.
Addressing a press conference, seafarers’ representative Ralph Barretto said, “These hypocrites should clean off the dirt from their own eyes before asking others to do so. Adv Uday Bhembre and Arvind Bhatikar probably don’t know that like every profession has its own dignity and nobleness, the seafarers are also professionals with various degrees, both graduate and postgraduate.”
“The entire seafaring community stands united in opposing and condemning them and categorically state that we will come out in large numbers, if required, to foil your evil plans,” Ralph Barretto said.
“Adv Uday Bhembre and Arvind Bhatikar are reluctant to come down from their delusional high pedestal and accept the fact that every parent sweats blood to ensure that their children are given quality education and happy childhood. But these schemers, plotters and evil minds, with their taunts, seem intent on spoiling the peaceful atmosphere in which children are growing in,” said James Braganza, another seafarer.
The seafarers further said that the views of Bhembre and Bhatikar that the seafarers are incapable of deciding the future of their children is ‘ridiculous’, borne out of “their feudal Nazi mentality” which is out of sync with today’s ground realities.
“Uday Bhembre and Arvind Bhatikar must first assure us jobs in the State after studying in the medium they preach. We are capable of sending our children to private schools. But we want aid for English medium schools, because, we contribute to the economy of the state to a large extent,” James added.
