PANAJI
Three years after dissing Atanasio alias Babush Monserrate, then a Congress candidate for the Panaji bypolls on account of his long criminal record which includes rape of a minor girl, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday said that Babush is now his "close friend", even suggesting that he has reformed since.
Speaking at a conclave organised by a national news channel near Panaji, Sawant also took offence to Babush being referred to as a "goonda", while blaming the people of Panaji for not electing a 'clean' candidate fielded by the BJP in the 2019 Panaji bypolls.
"He is not a goonda. You cannot comment on my candidate like this. He may have reformed now. He is my close friend. He meets me often. You ask the people of Panaji. He is with the people, he does development work. He works for the people. He will win with a big margin. There are cases against him, but they have not been proven. The matter is going on in court," Sawant said during the interaction at the conclave.
When asked why the BJP had fielded a tainted candidate for the Panaji seat, Sawant said: "It is up to people, to choose the right candidate. Who casts votes?"
When he was asked point-blank as to why the party gave tickets to goons, Sawant smiled and said: "Winnability is also the criteria... We had fielded (a clean candidate) in the bypolls. People did not elect. In 2019, we had given our ex-MLA Sidharth Kuncalienkar a ticket. Where is it our fault? Why could he not win?" Sawant said.
The Chief Minister also slammed Utpal Parrikar for rejecting the party's offer of contesting on alternative seats.
"We had offered Utpal four options. He should have definitely picked one seat, he would have become a big leader... All our party leaders were in talks with him. I do not know what his personal thing is. After top leaders have talked to him, if someone feels that he wants to be a leader in the party, grow, become an MLA. He should have selected a seat we had offered," Sawant said.
The Chief Minister also denied a suggestion made during the conclave that the Christian community had turned its back on the BJP citing the recent presence of a Catholic priest at the office inauguration of the BJP's candidate for Saligao Jayesh Salgaonkar.
"This time too the minority will vote for Goa in a big way. A priest in Saligao was present for the office inauguration of Jayesh Salgaonkar. He prayed and gave him blessings. We have also given 12 tickets to the minority. They are getting a good response from the majority and the minority communities," he said.
Sawant also slammed former Ports Minister and ex-cabinet colleague for choosing the political comfort of his wife -- Delilah Lobo who is contesting on a Congress ticket from the Saligao constituency -- over the State and people.
"Those who are quitting the BJP are doing so for their personal interest. Michael Lobo quit to ensure that his wife gets a ticket (in the Congress). BJP is a nation first party, people first, we come after. Michael Lobo is a patni-first politician. His wife comes first, State and people come next," Sawant said.
I'm inspired by Adityanath's working style, says Sawant
PANAJI: Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday said that he draws inspiration from Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's working style.
"His working style, the manner in which he does things, it is inspiring. His spirit, his working style is inspiring," Sawant said during an interaction during a media conclave near Panaji.
