PANAJI
The government has withdrawn a controversial circular issued on Thursday pertaining to the display of photographs of the president, prime minister and chief minister in the government, after claiming that the circular had been “distorted and misinterpreted.”
"It is unfortunate that the contents of the same (circular) have been twisted, distorted and misinterpreted to create doubts and confusion in the minds of people at large by dragging the name of former chief minister Bhausaheb Bandodkar," stated a press release issued by the Chief Minister’s Office.
“The circular was by no means intended to create disrespect towards any leader and it was in connection to create awareness regarding our great leaders in view of ongoing Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.”
The CMO said Chief Minister Pramod Sawant is aware of the rich political legacy left behind by the late Bhausaheb Bandodkar and draws inspiration from the same.
“However, the same leaders who have opposed the statue of Bhausaheb Bandodkar in the Secretariat Complex are trying to shed crocodile tears. It is noteworthy that the BJP government has immortalised Bhausaheb by naming a scheme as Dayanand Samajik Suraksha Yojana,” the CMO added.
In its circular, the State government had approved the photos of Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Vallabhai Patel, President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant for official use by all government departments, corporations, autonomous bodies and local bodies.
However, the government was criticised for failing to include Goa's first chief minister Bhausaheb Bandodkar in the official list of photos.
