In his attempt to endear himself to Xaxtikars while speaking at the launch of dredging work at River Sal, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar off-the-cuff remarks about how he ‘thought Salcete was far’ has invariably caused further distance between the same Xaxtikars he was trying to woo.
Parsekar drew comparisons between the passion of Xaxtikars and Pednekars’ share in football and dhirios and spoke about how he attends functions of the three Independent MLAs but at the same time Parsekar made this frank admission, “I once thought that Salcete was far away from us, but because of these 3-4 MLAs, we all feel that Salcete is now ours. Unlike in the past, this time there is only one minister from the taluka but we have not neglected Salcete.”
Parsekar was the State BJP president during the tenure of the previous Manohar Parrikar led BJP government and was the president of the party from 2010-12 before he was inducted into the Cabinet for the first time as the minister for health, panchayat raj and rural development and later on in 2014 was sworn in as the chief minister.
Xaxtikars across the eight constituencies have reminded that Parsekar held enough positions that warranted his attention to Salcete in the past and moreover now as chief minister and not so much because of his association with the MLAs. The Salcete Panchayat Forum Block had submitted to him a list of demands when he was the Panchayat minister but this was in vain. Hospicio hospital in Margao was neglected during his tenure as the Health minister and even now as the CM.
“This statement is a ‘new’ but not ‘original’ attempt of our CM to redeem himself, having had the opportunity to do something for Salcete but he is failing miserably,” said Advocate Gustavo Clovis Da Costa from Assolna. “This realisation of Salcete’s proximity could not have come at a better time to our CM.” Da Costa wondered if this realisation will translate into anything worthwhile or will the CM have to rephrase himself as “Salcete is so close yet so far.”
“This sudden realisation of Parsekar is indeed a big joke. It is lip service and election ploy. Worse than Parrikar, he is arrogant and dictatorial. Salcete will not get anything good from him. Like a Nero he is creating parallel boards to bypass the system and carry out his nefarious agenda of selling eco-sensitive zones to the money-bags,” said Dr Francisco Colaco from Margao.
Concurring that it is an election stunt, former Navy officer from Chinchinim, Wilfred Mascarenhas, felt Parsekar was also trying to charm Salcete knowing that the taluka is on the boil and is attempting to compensate for all the bad publicity he has received off late on range of issues. Mascarenhas predicts that Parsekar’s ‘Mission Salcete will get a rude shock when it ends up Zero Salcete’.
Seafarer Jonathan Wenzel Fernandes from Curtorim questioned why Parsekar had remained invisible all this time and felt Parsekar was trying to project a false persona that he has command in Salcete in order to woo the voters. “They fared badly in Salcete and they only won elections due to a divided opposition. Salcete is getting a step motherly treatment under this government,” added Jonathan.
Even in the lone Salcete BJP constituency, Cuncolkars have felt neglected by Parsekar. Expressing shock at Parsekar’s statements on Salcete, Avinash Tavares referred to how the government who wants IFFI, jetties, city planning, third bridge and everything in Panjim. “The party that promised parivartan to the whole of Goa has emerged as a xenophopic, constituency centric, selfish, local ghetto of dadas. His statement shows the depth of their so-called nationalist feeling,” added Tavares.
Tiatrist Wilson Mazarello from Fatorda questions if Parsekar will use this political gimmick before each assembly election. “He comes to Salcete and then suddenly shows his long connections with this taluka. Where was he all these years when he was handling important portfolios?” asked Mazarello. He said Goa needs politicians committed to the overall welfare and development of Goa with neither selfish motives nor political compulsions.
Environmentalist Jose Roque Andrade feels no one will believe Parsekar’s claims regarding Salcete and questioned his performance for the taluka as a minister and chief minister and refers to the under construction district hospital. “He should have taken active interest in fresh water part of the River Sal from Verna to Margao, as there is not enough water due to non closing Bandaras in time,” added Andrade from Nuvem.
Youth activist Siddesh Bhagat from Navelim reminded Parsekar that it was his duty to visit Salcete and get to know the problems of the people of the taluka not only as the chief minister but also as the former cabinet minister. He pointed out that Parsekar can talk about what is common between Pernem and Salcete but does not talk about the differences such as the Dabolim airport.
