PANAJI
The Legislative Assembly witnessed a heated discussion between Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Goa Forward Party legislator Vijai Sardesai, who accused the government of discontinuing the official function on Opinion Poll Day hinting at Sawant’s connection with Sawantwadi (Maharashtra).
The Chief Minister assured the House that the government will continue to observe January 16 as “Opinion Poll” Day to commemorate the 1967 referendum.
In a private member’s resolution moved by Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao on Friday, which demanded that the State commemorate January 16 as “Asmitai Dis” (Identity Day), Sardesai alleged that the practice of observing this day was discontinued after Sawant took charge as CM.
“Then CM Manohar Parrikar started celebrating Opinion Poll Day as an official function. It was January 16, 2018 at Ravindra Bhavan in Margao. We also put up an Opinion Poll square. Parrikar, in his speech, had even stated that on January 16, 1967, Goa truly became independent with its own identity,” Sardesai said, as he read Parrikar’s comments reported in various newspapers after the first function.
The legislator also criticised a few turncoats who had previously supported him on this issue and are now tight-lipped on the Sawant-led government’s move to discontinue the official function.
Further targeting Sawant, Sardesai alleged that the State has not hosted official functions for the last six years under the current Chief Minister.
“CM stopped the Opinion Poll Day function since he took charge. It’s been six years and that’s why I (had) called him Sawantwadi Sarkar… This government is casteist…” he alleged.
Sawant retaliated by asking Sardesai, “Where have I come from?” to which Sardesai claimed the official function happened because of his initiative. During this, both leaders also accused each other of dividing Goa.
Vijai also took the opportunity to take a dig at Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte, claiming that instead of marketing Brand Goa on the international platform, Khaunte would be promoting ‘Gomantpuri’ or ‘Gomantwadi’ had Goa been a district or taluka. “We would either be a district or taluka if not for the Opinion Poll day, and Khaunte would have been a panch of Porvorim… Those MLAs who switched their loyalty to BJP are well aware that they would not have been elected even as a Sarpanch if Goa was merged with Maharashtra,” he added.
