Team Herald
PANJIM: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is likely to seek explanation from its MLA and Deputy Speaker Michael Lobo, for moving a private member resolution, in contradiction to the party stand, for installation of Dr Jack de Sequeira’s statue in the Goa Legislative Assembly complex.
Lobo last Thursday, moved a private member resolution before the State Legislative Assembly secretary for placing the same during the forthcoming Budget Session from February 19 onwards. The final call on the resolution will be taken by Speaker Dr Pramod Sawant, who is head of the Business Advisory Committee.
However, the BJP Core Committee headed by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, had last month resolved against installation of any another statue in the Assembly complex.
“The party has already taken the decision and it was a unanimous decision. We will have to see on what grounds Lobo moved the resolution. We will have to seek explanation from him,” BJP general secretary Sadanand Tanawade informed Herald.
“We have come to know everything from the media. Before deciding anything further, we will seek explanation from Lobo,” he said.
At the same time, Tanawade said that though the resolution has been moved, one will have to wait and see whether it comes up for discussion before the House.
“The resolution is just being moved. There is a process to it. Whether it will be accepted by the Speaker or not, will have to wait and see,” the BJP leader said.
Meanwhile, the coalition partner in the BJP-led government, Goa Forward Party (GFP) has welcomed the move and has extended its full support. “We have already moved the resolution to support the private member resolution moved by Lobo in the House,” GPF president and TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai said.
“Being ministers we can’t move the resolution but we will support the resolution. The person who fought to maintain this unique identity was Dr Jack Sequeira. Hence, there is a strong demand to install his statue in the Assembly complex and I am pressing for it. It is part of Goenkarponn,” Sardesai added.
On the other hand, the Congress party has also decided to move a similar resolution. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) too has extended its support to the demand.
