TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: Accusing the BJP and its government for defending illegalities to continue in power by hook or by crook, Independent MLA Vijai Sardessai on Monday posed 10 questions to the Parrikar government on the Caitu Silva Portuguese citizenship issue, seeking to know whether BJP’s Hindu nationalism allows the government to survive with the support of two foreigner MLAs.
Demanding that the government immediately explain to the people of Goa its stand on the issue, especially in the present atmosphere of political uncertainty, with BJP MLAs planning to resign from the party and government allies expressing their displeasure on several fronts, he demanded replies to his question in view of the serious issue of legitimacy of the present government.
He sought to know whether the BJP is defending the indefensible because there are more BJP MLAs, other than Glen Ticlo, who are sailing in the same boat and who could be disqualified, leaving the BJP in a minority in the Assembly.
“How can the BJP defend Caitu or Ticlo when they have voluntarily acquired Portuguese citizenship? BJP’s Rajendra Arlekar, who happens to be the current Assembly Speaker, was prominent among those who demonstrated against the Portuguese ship NRP Sagres on 11/11/2010 by waving black flags. As the Assembly is functioning with two Portuguese MLAs for the last 20 months, against who will the same Shri Arlekar demonstrate now? Will he wave black flags at the Secretariat and will he demonstrate against himself? Freedom fighters along with other volunteers of Bharat Swabhiman, Goa People Forum and Desh Premi Nagrik Samiti had performed “shuddhikaran” or purification of Khariwaddo jetty in Vasco only because “NRP Sagres” had docked there. Will all these bodies perform shuddhikaran of Goa Legislative Assembly as two foreigner MLAs have been illegally docked in the Assembly for last 20 months”, he questioned.
He demanded to know why the BJP which stridently opposes Article 370 at the national level, by saying that all citizens of the country should have equal status, remain silent on the issue of Goan BJP MLAs acquiring foreign citizenship, and thus a special status. “Is this only because they are BJP MLAs or would the BJP react in the same manner if the MLAs did not support the BJP government?” |
he asked.
Recalling that the BJP had in 2010 supported the demand of the freedom fighters that the then CM Digambar Kamat should resign
as CM before stepping
on board the Sagres, Vijai sought to know whether the BJP will now demand that Parrikar should resign
as CM, before stepping into the Assembly for the next
session?
