Team Herald
PANJIM: Stating that running a government without Manohar Parrikar is going to be a challenge; Deputy Chief Minister Vijai Sardesai on Thursday said that ensuring stability of the current coalition government and good governance to the people would be a real tribute to former Chief Minister.
Sardesai was addressing the condolence meeting held by State government which was attended by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Goa Governor Dr Mrs Mridula Sinha, RSS Organisational Secretary Bhayyaji Joshi, State cabinet members and others. Parrikar died on March 17 with pancreatic cancer.
Sardesai, who heads BJP’s ally Goa Forward Party, also said that his party had resolved to support BJP in the State during 2017 Assembly election even before the results were out but on a condition that Parrikar, who was then Union Defence Minister, agrees to head the State coalition.
“It is difficult to get such tall leader but we have to try to create more Parrikars and to do so we need more foresight. He was the one who had foresight. He was the one who proposed name of Narendra Modi as Prime Ministerial candidate,” the Deputy Chief Minister said.
Sardesai said “I am sure the government has gone into another phase after the demise of Parrikar. It is not going to be easy without Parrikar.”
“It is going to be a challenge and we are going to face it with together. Giving good and stable government is the biggest tribute we can give to Parrikar,” he said.
“Parrikar wanted to complete five years with stable government and it is now our duty to ensure that we continue with that stability for next three years and complete the tenure,” Sardesai added.
He said that it is the duty of new Chief Minister and his cabinet to carry forward the legacy of Parrikar.
Sardesai also said that he had given word to Parrikar to continue in the government. “I have given him word and has kept it,” he added.
Later speaking, Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant announced that government will continue to function on the Common Minimum Programme which was drafted by Parrikar to take this government forward.
“I will follow the line of governance charted out by Parrikar. If I fail, anytime, you have right to correct me,” he said.
Sawant said that government has several programmes designed in the memory of Parrikar but can’t disclose them now due to Code of Conduct.
Minister for Revenue Rohan Khaunte, who got emotional while speaking, also raised question on whether the State Assembly and Goa’s politics would be same without Parrikar. “He was an institution in himself. We have to see whether politics without Parrikar would be same. Whether State Assembly without him would be same,” he stated.
