MARGAO: Goa Forward Party (GFP) supremo Vijai Sardessai has questioned the Goa government decision to give a paid holiday to people of Maharashtra working in Goa on October 21 to enable them to go and exercise their franchise.
“This is an unprecedented move and never in the history has this been done when a neighbouring State gives a paid holiday to voters from another State to vote and I fail to understand why this special favour for Maharashtra,” he said.
Asserting that Goa is not an adjunct of Maharashtra, Vijai pointed out that this matter was decided one and for all at the only public referendum held in independent India in what is popularly called the ‘Opinion Poll’.
“Besides, Karnataka that is also ruled by BJP has not given a holiday. So, why does our chief minister have this fondness for Maharashtra,” he asked. It would be pertinent to point out that Dr Sawant originally hails from Maharashtra but Vijai refused to comment on it.
Vijai pointed out that most of the domestic help in Goa comes from Jharkand or Bihar and said that these people take leave and go to vote in their home States. “The people of Maharashtra in Goa could do the same and not be given a paid holiday at the cost of Goan tax payer,” he said.
He also pointed out that the Election Commission of India has not given any direction for declaring a holiday in Goa for Maharashtra elections.
