TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: Is Mission Salcete no more on the agenda of the new BJP-led government headed by Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar?
This question is doing the rounds in Salcete as the taluka went unrepresented in the new BJP-led dispensation. Eyebrows are indeed being raised in political circles over the omission of this minority-dominated taluka from the scheme of things of the new dispensation.
In the outgoing Manohar Parrikar government which assumed office after the 2012 Assembly poll on an anti-Congress wave, Independent MLA from Navelim Avertano Furtado had found favour with the BJP leadership and was inducted as the State’s fisheries minister.
The Parsekar government, however, did not find it fit to give representation to the minority taluka with Avertano being left out of the Cabinet.
Commenting on the development, Opposition Independent MLA Vijai Sardesai slammed the new government, saying it is a little shocking that the lone minister from Salcete has been excluded. “They have excluded a known Catholic Independent MLA, while the ‘Hindu Catholic’ who had yesterday announced that he would not be part of the ministry has found a slot in the new set up”, Vijai said. He said the message from the new government is now clear that there is no Mission Salcete on the agenda of the new government.
His Curtorim counterpart, Reginaldo Lourenco said that his fears have come true with Salcete no more on the agenda of the BJP. “This is just the beginning… Christian community may not even get any tickets to contest the 2017 Assembly polls”, Reginaldo said.
Goa Vikas Party supremo, Mickky Pacheco, however, said all is not yet over. “There are two slots which are yet to be filled up. I am confident the BJP government will give due representation to the minority taluka”, Mickky said.
UGDP leader Adv Radharao Gracias said he failed to understand why the BJP had not inducted Avertano while city-based lawyer, Adv Cleofato Coutinho said as the BJP has not filled up all the slots, it may give one to Salcete to represent the minority community.
