Team Herald
MARGAO: The 43 per cent who stood for the merger are running the present Government, said former deputy chief Minister and Goa Forward President Vijai Sardesai at a programme held at the Opinion Poll square as a part of the 53rd anniversary of the Opinion Poll Day.
Speaking on the occasion, Sardesai said, “Goa can’t exist without Konkani. 53-years-ago a simple majority of 54% v/s 43% voted for independent Goa. 43 per cent still wanted to merge with Maharashtra. They are there and they are running the government today. We are of the 54% taking the legacy ahead,” he said.
Vijai questioned the Government for not holding even a single function on the Opinion Poll Day anniversary. “The Government doesn’t want Goan identity and it is now up to the youth today to keep the Goen goenkarponn alive and protected,” he added.
Remembering how he conceived the Opinion Poll square Vijai said, “We made this Opinion Poll square by pressing the nose and opening the mouth of the government. After a lot of uncertainty Parrikar came but what happened after that looks like Opinion Poll is not the priority of government at all. Reverse merger is the idea of a new species of the politicians,” said Vijai.
While touching on the CAA and NRC issues, Vijai said, “Not many Muslims who voted for BJP knew that there is a Muslim filter planned against them. The reality now is that what happened in 1967 we managed to keep Goa but the 43 per cent are still putting efforts to merge it in all ways,” he added.
“There was a resolution to erect the statue of Dr Jack Sequeira here and we wanted to install it tomorrow on the anniversary day of Opinion Poll. However some councillors of MMC have appealed against the resolution and the DMA is not giving a decision and they have kept it on hold. Its a challenge to government on why they are not celebrating the Opinion Poll Day and are not allowing a federally elected local self government to install the statue?,” Vijai said.
Vice President of the Goa Forward Party, Prashant Naik said, “It is a programme to make people aware why we should remember 15th Jan Opinion Poll Day. After the MGP came to power the demand of merging the State with Maharashtra strengthened. However the party wasn’t voted to power for merger. In the entire country no opinion poll happened for an independent state. Hence, we should now know what is our role? Just becoming a graduate to find a job and settle or reconnect with the Goen and goenkarponn and connect with Goa?”.
MMC Chairperson, Pooja Naik said, “No one in Goa remembered this man of tall stature Dr Jack sequeira but our leader made sure he gets his due recognition. I am sure that Vijai Sardesai will somehow get the statue for this circle,” said Pooja.
The programme was held along with the History Department of the Carmel College, Nuvem and was titled as ‘Reconnect’.
After paying floral tributes at the plaque of the Opinion Poll square the students cleaned the area around the square.
