Team Herald
MARGAO: Goencho Avaaz and citizens on Saturday protested the “politics of naming” the roads in Fatorda. The protestors congratulated the people of Fatorda for naming the roads in the names of Padmashree Bakibab Borkar and Dr Jack Sequeira.
Claiming that there is an ongoing competition in naming the roads, Goencho Awaz accused Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai of naming roads to please certain sections of the society.
The protest was held at the Ravindra Bhavan traffic circle to oppose the “Politics of Naming”. The protestors criticised Sardesai saying that he was naming roads for garnering votes.
It may be recalled that Sardesai had announced that the road from Arlem circle to Ravindra Bhavan Circle will be named after former chief minister late Manohar Parrikar on his birth anniversary which is on December 13.
“Sardesai is only doing vote bank politics. We are opposed to this. He wanted to appeal to a section of society. He has done the same with his plan of naming a road in Dr Jack Sequeira’s name. Now he has come up with the plan to name a road after Parrikar to appeal to another section of society. This is opportunistic politics,” Capt Viriato Fernandes said.
“We got a pleasant surprise when we saw that the people of Fatorda put the names of Dr Jack Sequeira and Padmshree Baki Baab Borkar. We thank Fatordekars for doing this,” Capt Viriato said.
Activist Jose Marie Miranda said, “It is a good decision to name the roads in the name of the legendary writer Padmashree Baki Baab Borkar. I don’t understand why the names of such stalwarts are now even occurring to our politicians and municipalities.”
“I don’t know what is iconic in this road,” Jose Marie asked.
Meanwhile, Margao Municipal chairwoman Pooja Naik said that it has been brought to her notice that around 40 individuals have put up name plates naming roads in Fatorda constituency. “This has come at a time when a group of BJP and Congress Councillors have challenged an adopted a resolution to erect a statue of Jack Sequeira at the traffic island at Ravindra Bhavan,” Naik said.
She acknowledged that a resolution has been adopted by the municipal council to name the road from Arlem circle to Ravindra Bhavan circle as ‘Manohar Parrikar Road’; naming the area around Hospicio Hospital as Padre Miranda Square; naming traffic island Bolshe Circle in Gogol as ‘St Joaquim Circle’; naming the traffic island at Gogol-Housing Board junction as ‘Florian Vaz Circle’; the naming the road from Salgaonkar house leading to Siddhanath Buyao’s house as ‘Ulhas Buyao Road’ and also remaining of Varde Valaulikar Road as ‘Shenoi Goembab Road’ have been taken by the MMC.
“We have the highest regard for Padmashri Bakibab Borkar and all other icons of Goa. I fail to understand how this group of people can simply come and name roads in Fatorda without following any due process of law,” she asked.
Naik said that they are examining the matter and the new chief officer is likely to take charge on Monday and he would examine the issue.
