Wagh roars, sets Dec 31 deadline
TEAM HERALD
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OLD GOA: Stating that the State machinery has collapsed, St Andre MLA Vishnu Surya Wagh set a deadline of December 31 for the government to act into the assault case, failing which he would decide his future course of action.
Addressing the media at his Bambolim residence on Wednesday Wagh, however, categorically stated that this action would not include quitting the BJP.
Wagh further said he feels dejected at the way his own government has handled the matter and took a dig at the police department for failing to give him even minimum justice.
“Being a MLA, I am not asking for preferential treatment but only asking for minimum justice that should be otherwise available to a common man,” he said while stating that even this minimum justice is denied to him, which only goes to show that the State machinery has collapsed.
“When someone is attacked, the first thing the police should do is to investigate the incident, which has not happened in this instance,” Wagh opined and criticized the police for not even summoning the accused that he has named in his complaint.
Falling short of criticizing the chief minister, Wagh however, said the State needs a guiding star who would lead in a just and peaceful manner.
“Some leaders within the BJP are trying to drive a wedge between me and the chief minister, which will never happen as I share a cordial relation with Parrikar,” he added.
Further, Wagh said there are several leaders within the BJP who want him to leave, a wish which will never come true. “I will fight for the people by staying in the BJP,” he informed.
Though Wagh did not name any party leader, he was highly critical of Sulaksha Sawant, Kunda Chodankar and MLA Pramod Sawant for addressing a media conference,
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where they criticized his wife Aruna Wagh for her outbursts against the party.
“These leaders did not have the courtesy to condemn the assault on me, but were quick to condemn the emotional outbursts of my wife Aruna,” he stated and expressed anguish that the BJP leaders instead of supporting him have preferred to extend support to the accused.
Wagh, however, expressed faith that the motive behind the attack and the main perpetrator behind the attack would come out in the open, in the coming days.
Wagh further informed that the meeting at Goa Velha to condemn the assault was organized by his constituents and the leaders of other parties attended the meeting as an advertisement was published in the newspaper, in which everybody was invited.
Thanking the politicians for extending support to him, Wagh said it does not mean that he would leave the BJP and join other party. “In the past, I have been used and misused, but I will not allow the same to be repeated again,” he said while stating that several parties have approached him.
Wagh further criticized these BJP leaders for calling the people who organized the meeting as “goondas”.
It may be recalled that Wagh’s attendance at a cultural event hosted by NCP leader and ex-MLA Nilkant Halarnkar at Revora-Bardez infuriated supporters, allegedly affiliated to fellow BJP MLA Kiran Kandolkar, as they confronted him and badly damaged his vehicle on his return home on December 19 night.
In a breakthrough, Mapusa Police late Friday night arrested Abhut Halarnkar alias Kamu (53) from Colvale in connection with the assault on Wagh.
Later condemning the attack on Wagh, Tivim MLA Kiran Kandolkar had vehemently denied any involvement of himself or his supporters in the attack on the St Andre MLA.
OLD GOA: Reacting to the statements made by some BJP leaders that Vishnu Wagh got elected because of BJP, the St Andre MLA rubbished the claims by stating that, on the contrary, the BJP came to power because of him.
“In 2007, the BJP could not come to power even when the party was led by the same leaders who led in 2013,” he said while outlining three major reasons for the BJP’s victory.
“The first reason was MGP breaking ties with Congress and joining hands with BJP, the second reason was Wagh joining BJP and the third reason was the minorities voting for the BJP,” Wagh informed while claiming that his entry into the BJP was one of the major reasons for BJP’s win in the Assembly polls.
“I contested from St Andre constituency, which was considered a weak constituency as far as BJP’s chances of success was concerned as never in the past, a BJP candidate was victorious here,” he opined and said there was hardly any campaigning by the top BJP leaders in this constituency.
“For the major meetings, I had to campaign with small-time leaders while Manohar Parrikar attended only two small meetings,” he added and stated that he won on his own strength.
