Team Herald
CALANGUTE: Lily Sukhija Sequeira, daughter of Jack de Sequeira, called upon Goans to be united once again.
Speaking at the function at Calangute, held to mark Opinion Poll day, she said, “I am happy that my father is still being remembered by the people of the State, and especially Calangute panchayat, which has been celebrating this day for years.”
Without referring to any particular matter, she said that the time has come to be united once again.
Deputy Speaker Michael Lobo, speaking at the same function said, “We must say thanks to the Opinion Poll, which has given us freedom to choose what we want.”
Lobo praised Jack de Sequeira for uniting Goans for the historic poll. “We need a statue of Dr Sequeira to be installed in the Assembly by next year,” he said, and criticised successive governments for ignoring Opinion Poll day.
Calangute panchayat celebrated Opinion Poll day by offering flowers to the statue of Jack de Sequira at the hands of Teotonio Pereira first MLA of St Andre constituency, Lobo, RDA Minister Jayesh Salgaonkar, Calangute sarpanch Anthony Menezes and Candolim, Arpora Nagoa and Parra sarpanchas.
Pereira said, “Opinion Poll day is a day of pride for all Goans. We have freedom to choose the government of our choice because of this historic poll which preserved Goa’s identity.”
Salgaonkar said, “Opinion Poll day is the second independence day of Goa. Jack De Sequeira along with other unsung heroes fought for Goa’s freedom and gave us this Opinion Poll.”
Menezes said, “The way the unsung heroes like Jack de Sequeira preserved the identity of Goa, people should preserve the land of Goa by not selling it to outsiders.”
Former Calangute Sarpanch Joseph Sequira along with Ex panch members of panchayat and freedom fighters also paid tribute to Sequeira.
Joseph Sequeira said, “Calangute panchayat is celebrating this Opinion Poll for the last 21 years but it’s today that the MLAs and politicians are giving importance to the day after 51 years. Opinion Poll day should be not used for political benefits.”
