Babush cannot merge UGDP into Cong: Radharao

Babush cannot merge UGDP into Cong: Radharao
HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, JUNE 21
Terming reports that Education Minister, Babush Monserrate has merged the UGDP into the Congress as utter nonsense,  senior UGDP leader Adv Radharao Gracias has asserted that Babush cannot merge the regional party into the Congress party.
Party Secretary General Anacleto Viegas has further said that GPCC president Subhash Shirodkar is day dreaming if he has made the statement that Monseratte has merged the UGDP.
Reacting to a statement made by GPCC President Subhash Shirodkar, Radharao said there is no question of Monserrate merging the UGDP into the Congress. “How can Babush merge the UGDP into the Congress. The Taleigao MLA is not even a member of the UGDP since the last two years after his expulsion from the regional outfit”, he said, and demanded to know whether a non-member can merge the party into another outfit.
‘Babush was only a party MLA. He is not the UGDP”, he said, but said that the party would wait and see how the Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly decides on the matter.
Saying that trend suggests that Assembly Speakers have not been doing justice in maters of mergers and disqualification. “More often than not, we have seen that speakers have given their rulings in favour of the political parties they belongs to. Let us wait and see in the presence case”, he added.
Calling for an Amendment withdrawing powers of the Speaker to decide on the question of mergers and disqualification, Adv Radharao said “the speaker is the sole authority to decide on such matters. More often, the Speakers have decided cases without observing the principles of natural justice.
Asked to outline the next course of action if the Congress insists that Babush has merged the UGDP into the national party, Radhrao said “we are a political party, having office bearers and a list with the Election Commission
Meanwhile, Secretary general Anacleto Viegas said political leaders are joining the Congress because the party is like a magnet for the corrupt to make money. “None of us are joining the Congress. The Executive Committee is intact. Babush should show which members are  joining the Congress”, he added.
Viegas recalled that the political leaders such as Churchill Alemao, Mickky Pacheco and others had tried to finish the UGDP, but the party has survived till date because of people’s support.