PANJIM: After all the in-fighting in the Goa Cricket Association (GCA), majority of the clubs affiliated to the Goa Cricket Association have expressed their happiness over the Bombay High Court’s decision, as of now they stand a chance for fair elections ahead of the sports body’s polls on June 28.
“I am totally ok with the court order. Actually we were expecting that order. I am hundred per cent confident of winning the elections with the backing of 55 clubs,” said GCA president Dr Shekhar Salkar after the court order.
“We tried to avoid the court but the sense did not prevail in them (Dr Salkar and group) and we are now happy with the order the court has passed. A total of 24 clubs had false proxies and 64 clubs were deprived of voting but we are now sure of winning the elections,” said Desai at a press conference held later in the evening.
If elected, Desai looks forward to scrap the proxy system and come out with a diplomatic solution that will either allow the president or the secretary of the club to vote.
The representatives of the 58 clubs which had also filed their petitions were relieved with the court’s decision.
“They (Dr Salkar) had changed the proxy of my club to Yeshwant Naik, who we didn’t even know but the court has given us justice,” stated Vikas Parsekar, president of Sodiem Cricket Club.
Dost Cricket Club president Tulsidas Shetye further exposed the functioning of Dr Salkar by saying that, “The GCA President forged our proxy nominee as Walter D’Souza. I and our secretary Desh Kinlekar had a conversation with Walter about the issue and the latter told us he operated on the instructions of Dr Salkar. When we told Walter that we will be filing an FIR against him, he said to go ahead as he had the backing of Dr Salkar.”
The clubs also alleged Dr Salkar to use the funds of the GCA to fight his case and strongly refused to pass the balance sheet if the GCA supreme does so.
“If the clubs are not there, the GCA will not function. They had taken constitutional right of 64 clubs. Dr Salkar has clearly back-stabbed us. The judge clearly told them (Dr Salkar) that they have committed forgery,” said Sayed, secretary of Iqbal XI.
