TEAM HERALD
PONDA: Asking the Bahujan Samaj not to fall prey to pressure tactics of BJP-MGP, former chief minister Ravi Naik appealed to the community to fearlessly vote for independent candidates.
Addressing media persons at Ponda on Monday, Naik criticised the MGP-BJP combine, which he said was falsely claiming to be the government of the Bahujan Samaj. He alleged the government was pressurizing people from the Bahujan Samaj to elects its candidates or it would stop various schemes, including Ladli Laxmi.
He appealed to the voters not to give in to pressure tactics and fearlessly vote for independent candidates.
Citing reasons that the BJP-MGP is not the party of the Bahujan Samaj, Naik said the first chief minister Dayanand Bandodkar brought the Tenant Mundkar Act, which was recently amended by this government, making it favourable to the landlords, while poor tenants suffer.
Claiming that the present government is for the rich, Naik said if it is the government of the Bahujan Samaj, then why security guards are agitating and why 108 Ambulance staff has resorted to strike.
“Local hospitals are neglected by the government by not providing medicines and necessary infrastructure due to which the poor people have no alternative than to take costly private medical services. This government is responsible for closure of mining and poor are affected, including truck owners.”
“There is price rise of essential commodities including coconut, fish, etc. Government has also hiked power and water bills, causing great hardship to the common man,” Naik asserted.
He criticised the MGP and said the party was formed to merge Goa into Maharashtra and not for Bahujan Samaj as claimed by its leader, who did not even raise voice against amendment to Tenancy Act. This proves that MGP is not for the poor.
He also criticised the BJP for bringing Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar to campaigning for the ZP polls, adding that he his services are needed more at the Centre than
in Goa.
