RECOUNTING GOOD OL DAYS
* SHRIPAD NAIK: “It is only fitting that Parsekar is the chief minister of Goa, representing the backward constituency of Mandrem become the chief minister of Goa. He began his work when people used to laugh at us for working for the BJP and the RSS* RAJENDRA ARLEKAR: Arlekar: “Those days, one had to work without expecting any reward. It was he (Parseksr) who invited me to contest from Pernem
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PARSEKAR-SPEAK
* Expresses gratitude dedicating the love he has received to his constituency
* Promises to continue development of constituency, other backward villages in general
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PANAJI:
Being held in an election year, and amid talk that his rivals have grown larger than what he can handle, Parsekar can count among his ‘supporters’ a few thousand people with a count difficult to estimate given that people continued to stream in even after 8:30 when the main function concluded and the wishing began.
It was Union Minister of State for Ayush Shripad Naik who set the ball rolling recounting the days when Parsekar, Arlekar and himself were the founding pillars of the RSS And the BJP in Goa and worked tirelessly for the growth of the part.
“It is only fitting that Parsekar is the chief minister of Goa, representing the backward constituency of Mandrem become the chief minister of Goa. He began his work when people used to laugh at us for working for the BJP and the RSS,” Naik told the gathering.
Parsekar was moved to tears as he was felicitated by Union Minister Shripad Naik and even ventured to touch his feet.
Among the four ‘founding fathers’ of the BJP in Goa only Manohar Parrikar was conspicuous by his absence, while besides Shripad, Rajendra Arlekar was also present.
Arlekar too recounted the early days of the party the role of Parsekar and how far things have moved since then.
“Those days, one had to work without expecting any reward. It was he who invited me to contest from Pernem,” Arlekar said.
Parsekar himself, in a brief speech, was rather subdued. Rather than speak about his achievements or take digs at the opposition as he is want to, his speech was more one of gratitude dedicating the love he has received to his constituency as well a promising to continue the development of the constituency as well as the otherwise backward villages in general.
Several ministers including Industries Minister Mahadev Naik, Tourism MInister Dilip Parulekar, Alina Saldanha, South Goa MP Narendra Sawaikar, BJP President Vinay Tendulkar, as well as opposition MLAs Vijai Sardesai and Aleixo Lourenço made it a point to call on the chief minister on the occasion.
