MARGAO
Even as there seemed no end to communal incidents in the state, Goa Forward Chief Vijai Sardesai and Congress leader Girish Chodankar on Monday made a direct charge at Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, alleging that the CM’s office has become a command centre of the elements fomenting communal trouble in the state.
Sardesai went a step further by stating that the group of people who had protested at Vasco over the remarks made by Fr Bolmax Pereira on Shivaji Maharaj, were all seen in the Legislative Assembly before the protests.
Ex-GPCC Chief Girish Chodankar went a step further by alleging that a group is created in the Chief Minister’s office to bring together certain elements to create communal tension in the state.
While addressing the Civil society at the Lohia Maidan, the Goa Forward Chief said he had seen the very people within the precincts of the Legislative Assembly when the House was in Session. “I had seen these people in the press gallery before they were all seen at Vasco protesting over the remarks made by Fr Bolmax Pereira. There is some truth behind the allegations made by Congress leader Girish Chodankar that the Chief Minister’s office has become a command centre for these elements to foment communal tensions”, Sardesai said.
In his brief address, Congress leader Girish Chodankar said that it is sad that a group has been created in the Chief Minister’s office to bring together these elements to make communal tension.
“This group comprising of around 200-300 persons has been created to foment trouble. Around 70 per cent of members of this group are non-Goans. It is this group which is creating tension”, he said.
Social activist Rama Kankonkar also questioned the Chief Minister for his oft repeated comments on Portuguese.
“The Chief Minister often say that the Portuguese has left the state, but does not stop that there are still Portuguese in the state. Is the Chief Minister targeting one community to further his political interests and create communal tension”, Kankonkar wondered while reminding the Chief Minister about the role played by freedom Fighter T B Cunha in the liberation movement.
