PANAJI
In an interview to ‘The Goan’ on Tuesday, Dhavalikar had said that MoI chapter was closed and that, it was pointless to discuss the issue.
Velingkar disclosed that Dhavalikar withdrew his support to the MoI issue a day before the unveiling of a unified election manifesto. “He (Dhavalikar) feared the loss of minority votes over MoI issue. He gave us a verbal assurance of his support and we decided to have separate manifestos instead. His recent comment shows that he betrayed our trust and that he was not honest to the cause,” Velingkar stated.
Meanwhile, Goa Suraksha Manch (GSM), a political party floated by BBSM, has condemned the coalition government’s declaration of status-quo over the issue of MoI through its Common Minimum Programme (CMP). “Parrikar supported the fight for MoI and captured power. But the declaration that the existing grants pattern will continue has spelled BJP’s doom. Parrikar has blamed the coalition government for this compromise. This is clearly a move for retention of power. Goa will have to pay for Parrikar’s mistake,” GSM president Anand Shirodkar declared in a statement.
GSM has expressed the fear that the coalition government will transform Goa into Singapore by sacrificing Goemkarponn and mother tongues at the altar of power.
