TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Even as the Church’s pre-poll appeal to the faithful to vote for a government which will uphold the principles of democracy, secularism, etc raised certain apprehensions, the BJP on Saturday said that there will be no impact of the circular on its prospects for the forthcoming April 12 Lok Sabha elections.
Even as the circular had nothing to do with the BJP, North Goa candidate Shripad Naik said, “There is no impact of the circular on minority community voters. In fact, we are garnering more support from the minorities. During our campaign people’s response is known.”
Naik told mediapersons Saturday afternoon that during his campaigning he has been visiting, churches, temples and mosques and the priests have been giving their blessings. “I can feel that their blessings were from the heart,” the BJP candidate said.
“I don’t feel the Church circular had any impact on their priests. We are being blessed by them,” he added.
A previous CSJP statement had taken a dig at projection of BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi and lashed out at the Manohar Parrikar-led government for poor governance, saying it is no different from previous governments.
Responding to a question, Shripad said that Archbishop has not said anything against the BJP. “He has said that we should elect secular candidates and I find BJP a secular party,” Shripad added.
Further taking a dig at Congress party, Naik said ‘Congress is most communal party as it’s known for making false propaganda on the issues of communalism and secularism thereby creating communal divide in the state’.
“Congress is communal…so Church must have appealed to people not to vote for Congress,” he claimed.
Shripad, who is confident of his fourth successive win in the 16th Lok Sabha election, said that nearly 16 MLAs out of 20 in North Goa are with BJP and party is confident of winning the seat with highest margin.
Brushing off rumours about Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar going to Delhi for ministerial post if BJP comes to power, Naik said ‘this is just imagination…we are disciplined soldiers of the party and will follow their orders,” he said.
There is no impact of the circular on minority community voters. In fact, we are garnering more support from the minorities. During our campaign people’s response is known
