Hd: Cong, BJP cross swords in Fatorda
ahead of Vijai's final push
Strap: Girish promises ministership to Joseph; Parrikar says MLA
speaks many forward thingsbut his actions are backward looking
THE GOAN NETWORK
MARGAO
On the eve of the concluding public meeting of Goa Forward Party for the Fatorda constituency on Wednesday evening, the BJP and Congress leaders rushed to Fatorda right in Vijai Sardesai’s backyard in support of their respective candidates.
While Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar stepped into Fatorda in support of Damu Naik, Congress leaders appealed to the people of Fatorda to rally behind Joseph Silva, with AICC secretary Girish Chodankar even going to the extent of saying that Joseph will be inducted as a Minister in the Congress government if elected as an MLA.
While the Congress public meeting at Chandrawado, addressed by leaders such as Ajay Makan, Francisco Sardinha, Girish Chodankar and others in support of Joseph Silva, Parrikar first descended at Madel to address Damu’s meeting at Madel ward before heading to Ambaji.
In his brief address, Parrikar took potshots at Vijai Sardesai, saying though the Independent MLA speaks many forward things, his action are backward looking. “The Independent MLA's wish is that no party should get a stable government so that he gets important in this situation. But, I would like to tell him that people have decided to return BJP back to power in Goa,” Parrikar said.
Saying that Independents have no vision for the State as they have limited interest of their constituencies, Parrikar said only a stable government with MLAs can give Goa the right direction to bring planned development.
In his address, Damu said those who speak about Goem, Goemkar and Goemkarpon have also links with the Sharmas and other outsiders in land deals. He appealed to the Catholics not to fall prey to the fears instilled by the politicians, saying the BJP is a party which takes all sections along.
At the Congress meeting at Chandrawado, Congress leaders made an impassioned plea to Fatorda to vote for Joseph Silva and ensure that Fatorda is on the ruling side after the elections. “Joseph will be inducted as a Minister in the Congress government if he gets elected,” Girish said, even as other speakers said that many a infrastructure problem plaguing Fatorda will be addressed by the Congress government.
Meanwhile, all eyes are focused on Vijai Sardesai’s concluding meeting at Fatorda near the Our Lady of Rosary Church, Fatorda on Wednesday christened as the Goemkar Assembly. Speaking to the media, Vijai said the die is cast and the way now is only forward.
The specially designed campaign songs which have struck a chord with the Goans and particularly the youngsters will be sung live by the original artistes. The assembly of Goans will also pay homage to actor Om Puri who had joined the campaign of Vijai Sardesai as independent candidate in 2012.
