Team Herald
PANJIM: Two groups of the Bhandhari Samaj joined hands to merge into one association, their leaders, however, are divided on whether the future Chief Minister should be from the community.
While MP Shripad Naik and the All Goa Bhandari Samaj Central Committee President Anil Hoble refrained from making any political comment, Minister Jayesh Salgaonkar replied in affirmative to a media question.
“We want,” was his reply when the media questioned him if the Bhandari Samaj wants a CM from their community in the future.
The mega meeting, attended by various leaders of the Bhandari Samaj, saw two groups uniting, thus giving a major boost to this community in the ensuing Lok Sabha as well as State polls. However, Naik said their meeting was to prepare for the Lok Sabha elections. “Our Samaj is not a political party. Preparations for the Lok Sabha polls are on and our key issues before the people would be development by the Central and State governments, and the use of MPLAD funds for good and developmental purposes,” he said responding to another question at a press conference after the meeting.
Salgaonkar, on the other hand, focused on uplifting the Bhandari Samaj, particularly youth deprived of benefits. “Bhandari Samaj is very ambitious. It has to be focused at the ground level. Those who have been left behind should be given priority and uplifted. There are many good students but because of lack of funds, there is no channelisation. Our focus is also on the education front,” he said.
Commenting on the uniting of the two Bhandari groups, minister Vinod Palyekar said he was content that all misunderstandings between the community members are over. The merger is said to have brought together around 5 lakh Bhandari Samaj members.
