MARGAO: “Governments are not formed through threats,” quipped Town and Country Planning Minister Vijai Sardesai, dismissing Congressman Shantaram Naik’s claim that the Congress will form a government with support from Goa Forward Party.
“The Congress is the principal opposition party in Goa with 16 MLAs and its leaders should not make such frivolous and irresponsible statements,” he said while pointing out that Shantaram was trying to ask him and his party to support them at gunpoint.
“I am not the type of person to get bullied by someone or scared of anyone and there is no question of me or my party aligning with the Congress,” he said effectively squashing speculations on a likely change in government in Goa during chief minister Manohar Parrikar’s absence.
“They are behaving like Khap Panchayats of Haryana where mobs give justice. This is the Congress plan to use the agitation and form Government at gunpoint” said Vijai mocking the agitation against GPPDA.
Vijai further criticised the statements made at the Azad Maidan meeting, he said “When you curse standing on public platform either you have lost all levels of morality or it is your attempt to form a Government at gun point which is not going to happen,” he said.
“The attendance of Girish Chodankar, Congress Spokesperson and making speeches and a priest making statement of “giving hand to the hand” makes it visibly clear that it is an attempt of Congress to form a Government at gunpoint,” Vijai added.
“Let the Gram Sabhas decide about constructing nallahs and other infrastructure works and maybe Claude Alvares will help them do it,” he said.
In a statement he released late Saturday evening Vijai in his words said “Irrelevance of ideology and lack of direction cannot be disguised by instigating unrest that defies logic, transcends reason, and mocks common sense. The pivot of democracy is dialogue not absurd rants. How can I discuss with someone who is now demanding disbanding my Town & Country Planning Department when I have no right to decide this?” TCP Minister asked.
“Planning in today’s time has been made to look like a bad word and opposing planning exposes the archaic mindsets. This happens when any person comes up and speaks on anything whether he is related to it or not,” Vijai said.
