MARGAO
Squarely blaming GPCC Chief Girish Chodankar for Friday’s chaotic scenes during the induction of Benjamin Silva’s entry into the party, South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha on Saturday said the party should accord a heroic welcome to leaders who have worked against the interests of the party in the past.
“I am blaming Girish for Friday’s episode. I do not know who are his advisors? He should know how to run the party. Any big party such as the Congress is like an ocean. We want people to come, but then don’t make them heroes. Don’t make them the prodigal sons. If some people are willing to return back to the party-fold, let them come, fill the membership form and join the party”, he said.
Briefing the media, Sardinha said the party leadership should have also taken care that the existing Congress members from the constituency should be informed and kept abreast of the situation.
The South Goa MP asserted that those, who are joining should work for the party and should not be given ticket with some exception. “When some leaders want to join, who had in the past not supported the Congress, they should not come with the hope of ticket, though every rule has an exception in constituencies where the party has no candidates”, he added.
To a question, Sardinha agreed that grass-root party workers will be demoralized when they find that the ticket is given to the people who are inducted at the last moment. “Such things should not happen and the party leadership should take care of this aspect”, he cautioned.
He added: “This is one reason why the party needs seniors so that what was witnessed on Friday during Benjamin’s induction could have been avoided”.
When suggested that the Congress party is in a sleeping mode with issues such as alliance not resolved yet, Sardinha said “alliance is too early to be decided. As a senior Congressman, I will not hesitate to bring to the notice of the party leadership what I feel is good for the party”.
On AICC Goa desk in-charge, Dinesh Gundu Rao’s status vis-Ã -vis Goa, Sardinha said he will try to find out from the party leadership in Delhi on the matter.
Sardinha speaks his mind on
MPT, Bhumiputra and Covid
MARGAO: The South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha on Saturday asserted the jurisdiction of the Mormugao Port Trust is restricted only to the Port area and urged the government to take up the issue to protect the interest of Goa.
Sardinha also slammed the government over the controversial Goa Bhumipurta Adhikarini Bill, 2021, demanding that all the unauthorized and illegal structures on private land should be demolished by following the due process of law. He has favoured housing for Goans on the lines of the 20-point program.
Addressing the media, Sardinha also took a dig at the BJP governments at the centre and in Goa for claiming that no Covid deaths have taken place for want of oxygen supply. He demanded that the government should pay a compensation of Rs five lakh for the kith and kith of patients who had lost their lives during Covid for want of oxygen.
