Team Herald
PANJIM: The Goa Suraksha Manch (GSM) has hinted that the political enmity between BJP and Congress’ Atanasio Babush Monserrate is just for face value and an eye-wash.
GSM cited the recent meeting Babush had with BJP’s State organisational secretary Satish Dhond. The regional outfit further referred to the recently concluded Taleigao village panchayat elections wherein BJP preferred not to field their candidates against the Monserrate-panel. The election saw Monserrate-panel winning the polls by 11-0.
“When he (Monserrate) admitted that he had met Satish Dhond in BJP’s office, it clearly shows that both (BJP and Monserrate) are together. The BJP had also not fielded even a single candidate against the rival panel for the Taleigao village panchayat elections. All this shows that their fight is just an act to mislead everyone,” said GSM leader Shailendra Velingkar.
It may be recalled that Babush had denied that he wanted the BJP ticket for the Panjim by-poll, following the statement made by BJP Goa president Vinay Tendulkar, alleging that Monserrate had visited the BJP head office asking for the BJP ticket.
GSM also slammed the BJP for raking up the issue about criminal cases against Monserrate at the time of the by-polls. “Where the BJP did not give a thought about his criminal background while appointing him as the chairman of the GPPDA,” said Velingkar and other GSM leaders.
The party also hit out at BJP’s Panjiim by-poll candidate Sidharth Kuncalienker charging him of allegedly amassing huge wealth through the Smart City project. GSM alleged that his appointment as the Chairman of the Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited had been done by ignoring the requisite norms.
