CUNCOLIM: Independent MLA Vijai Sardesai criticised the Congress, MLA Benjamin Silva, former MLA Felipe Neri Rodrigues and the BJP government while emphasising that Goa needed leadership that followed the demands of Goans only.
Accusing the Congress and BJP of treating Goa like a colony and following instructions from Delhi, Sardesai launched a tirade against Independent MLA Benjamin for compromising on his principles to side with the BJP.
“Just because it is the Grand Old Party doesn’t mean the party led by grandfathers will take Goa forward,” said Sardesai, while questioning the Congress’s silence as opposition leaders when the BJP State government had been destroying Goa with its decisions and policies for four years.
Sardesai was speaking at the Lohia Chowk in Assolna as part of the Maad Yatra on Sunday. The public meeting was held after the rally that toured the villages of Velim. To reach Velim the yatra had to cross other constituencies in Salcete.
Incidentally, the meeting was attended by a large crowd and it was a show of strength for Anthony ‘Babush’ Rodrigues.
Recalling the efforts of Dr Juliao Menezes and Ram Manohar Lohia to fight for Goan identity, he pointed out that the State government was resorting to manufactured praise.
“The government’s plan to use a tiatr contest to get participants to sing praises should be countered with songs on their U-turns and coconut betrayal,” said Sardesai, adding that the BJP government had betrayed the people of Velim and treated them like second-class citizens.
“The government has withdrawn cases against BJP leaders like Manohar Parrikar and Rajendra Arlekar, but has absolved their leadership by failing to withdraw the case against the accused in the Velim church attack even after four years,” said Sardesai.
He criticised Silva for failing to convince the government to drop the case. He also said that Silva had now understood the gravity of the situation and had apparently asked the Forest Minister to review the amendment declassifying the coconut as a tree. He said that the Silva had already sealed his fate and his actions in the Assembly had exposed him.
“When the Porvorim MLA had asked that there be a division of votes on the issue of the amendment in the Assembly session to see who was in favour and opposing it, why was Benjamin silent then?” said Sardesai.
He accused Felipe Neri of having double standards and recalled that when the latter was an MLA, he was forcibly removed from the Assembly house by Marshalls, but when the case went to the court, he had denied everything.
“Velim needs a common man true to Goenkarponn,” said Sardesai, who was flanked by Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte, former Velim ZP member Anthony Rodrigues, Navelim ZP Cipru Cardoso and Goa Forward president Prabhakhar Timble.
