He, however, evaded a straightforward reply when media questioned him on his plans to contest the 2027 elections from Fatorda, saying he has been entrusted the responsibility by the party leadership to win as many as 30 seats in the upcoming polls given his status as the BJP State president.
“As BJP State president, I have to work for the party across the State to win the magic figure of 30 seats. All I can say is that the Lotus will also bloom in Fatorda, he told the media after distributing fertilisers to the farmers from Fatorda on Friday.
He added: In this respect, we are working hard to strengthen the party in Fatorda. There may be some loose ends which we are trying to tie and gear up for the upcoming polls.
Saying the people of Fatorda has been brainwashed by fott, fotting and fottingpon over the years, Naik said the party will launch an outreach programme to remove falsehood from the minds of the people of Fatorda.
He said people of Fatorda are looking for the development ushered by the BJP government across the State by the BJP government headed by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant with support from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Referring to the controversial issue on Madel agricultural fields, Naik demanded to know why Goa Forward chief Vijai Sardesai did not return the fields to the farmers when he was presiding over the Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA) when the Congress was ruling the State in 2005. “I was elected MLA of Fatorda in 2002 and our government was in power till 2005. I cannot be blamed for acquisition of the fields for the proposed truck terminus. Was Vijai Sardesai not presiding the GSUDA when the Congress government returned to power in 2005? Why he did not deem fit to return the fields that time,” he questioned.
Saying that he is tasked to strengthen the BJP across the 40 constituencies and gear up for the upcoming elections, Naik said no one should harbour any illusion that they can bind him in Fatorda by taking up non-issues.
BJP committed, STs need not worry about quota: State chief
MARGAO: State BJP president Damu Naik on Saturday said the Scheduled Tribe communities in Goa need not worry about the political reservations, asserting that only the BJP led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi will fulfil the long-standing demand.
To a question over the ST political reservations, Naik reminded that the communities comprising of Gawdas, Kunbis and Velips had got the ST status under the leadership of then Prime Minister Atal Behare Vajpayee. “Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has implemented a host of schemes for the benefit and well-being of the Scheduled Tribes. The Goa BJP and the party government headed by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has taken up the ST political reservations issue with the Centre. I am confident that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will fulfil the demand of the ST communities”, he added.
