CALANGUTE: Calangute MLA Michael Lobo has requested that the first opposition leader of Goa Legislative Assembly late Dr Jack Sequeira be honoured on his centenary birth celebrations by announcing the installation of his life-size statue in the Goa Legislative Assembly.
Addressing media persons in his office at Calangute, Lobo said it is high time that the State government recognizes the contribution of late leader Dr Jack de Sequeira, who fought for the separate identity of Goa, by announcing the installation of a life-size statue on his birth centenary on April 20.
“The late opposition leader deserves his place next to the statue of first Chief Minister late Dayanand Bandodkar as the Goa Assembly was incomplete without the two leaders who fought for issues concerning Goa and Goans,” stated Lobo.
“It is because of late Dr Jack de Sequeira that we are members of the Legislative Assembly. He fought tooth and nail for the separate identify in the famous Opinion Poll on January 16, 1967. The late leader travelled to Mumbai and elsewhere to convince Goans to cast their votes to maintain the separate identity of Goa,” said Lobo.
“Former chief minister Manohar Parrikar, the then opposition leader, had assured to give due recognition to the late leader when the BJP forms the government in Goa. The State government should fulfil the assurance of the ex-chief minister by installing a life-size statue of late Dr Jack de Sequeira on his birth centenary. I have written to the chief minister to announce the installation of a life-size statue of the great leader on his 100th birthday,” he said.
