Team Herald
PANJIM: Attacking BJP and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, Goa Suraksha Manch (GSM) on Thursday said the ruling party has lost Catholics as well as language (Konkani-Marathi) lovers as their voters.
“The BJP decision on MoI was to keep the Catholic community happy while hurting language lovers, but now they are losing both these voters,” GSM President Anand Shirodkar said.
Shirodkar said BJP will not be able to win more than eight constituencies whereas the MGP-GSM-SS alliance will touch 21 seats. The alliance is contesting 32 seats, he said and GSM will win in all five constituencies they are contesting, including Panjim.
GSM also alleged that Parrikar has disturbed the democratic setup in Goa. Shirodkar said Parrikar was never the Defence Minister of India but always Chief Minister of Goa. “Parrikar has practically shifted his headquarters from Delhi to Goa despite problems the country has on its borders. He has given more time to Goa and Goan politics, he is busy holding corners meetings for the Assembly polls,” Shirodkar said.
He said Parrikar is responsible for the failure to resolve major issues including Medium of Instruction (MoI), mining and casinos.
He said the mining industry is stopped because of Parrikar, as he never attempted to start sustainable mining. “To shut the mining industry Parrikar has some ulterior motive,” he said.
He said that BJP has looted the exchequer in the name of development. Shirodkar said the cost of the new Mandovi bridge has increased to Rs 800 crore from 400 crore whereas the pay parking facility was constructed at a cost of Rs 90 crore when the actual cost could not be more than Rs 40 to 50 crore.
He alleged that the Rs 90 crore spent from the public exchequer was to cater to the casinos and their parking.
The GSM president said that BJP national leaders are making contradictory statements pertaining to the CM’s position. He said that Amit Shah’s statement indicating that Parrikar is returning and that of Nitin Gadkari claiming that elected MLAs will elect their chief minister are contradictory.
