MARGAO
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant descended on the Manora grounds, Raia to honour BJP ST leader Anthony Barbosa and to partake in his birthday celebrations, but seemed to have kept all options open on the question of contesting the 2022 elections in Curtorim constituency.
He patted Barbosa on his back for his social work, and urged the people to support him to take his work forward, but stopped short of declaring the ST leader as the party candidate for Curtorim constituency.
Apparently in a bid to woo the minority community, the Chief Minister also took Barbosa’s birthday platform to remind Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting in Vatican with the Pope, reassuring the people that the BJP under Modi’s leadership believes in the development of all sections of society without any discrimination.
“Anthony Barbosa has been doing good work in the field of football, for the upliftment of Konkani. If we all back and support him, he will be able to take the work forward. Anthony Barbosa has taken up various public issues for redressal including issues on Konkani language, football etc. And, my government had helped to resolve the issues. Let his work for the society continue,” Sawant said.
The Chief Minister sought the cooperation of the people to make Goa Swayampurna, reminding that his government had boldly faced the Covid pandemic, the Tauktae cyclone and the floods. “My government had never discriminated any community on the basis of caste, religion or region. We have done work in Pernem and also in Salcete,” he said.
A host of BJP leaders, including Cuncolim MLA Clafacio Dias, Damu Naik, Urfan Mulla, BJP-backed Margao Municipal councillors, Sunita Paradkar, Babita Naik, Sadanand Naik, Camilo Barretto, Milagrina Gomes, ex-Curtorim ZP member, Moreno Rebello, sarpanchas and panchas of Camurlim, Raia and Curtorim panchayats were amongst the leaders present for the birthday celebrations at the Manora football grounds.
In his reply to the address, Anthony Barbosa profusely thanked the people for showing their love and blessings on him, as he rededicated himself to work for the common man and the society at large.
On the occasion, Edwin D’Costa sung songs especially composed on Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Anthony Barbosa.
A number of noted personalities who have excelled in various fields from Curtorim constituency and outside were honoured at the hands of the Chief Minister.
