MARGAO
Cuncolkars remembered the great son of the soil, late Shabu Desai for his huge contribution during the Opinion Poll movement as they took out a jyot from Tolleabhat before culminating at the statue of the great leader to mark the Opinion Poll Day celebrations.
On the occasion, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee President Shantaram Naik demanded that the government should not only bring the Opinion Poll history in the school books, but also the history of the Cuncolim freedom struggle in the curriculum.
Besides Shantaram Naik, Cuncolim MLA Clafacio Dias, Cuncolim Municipal Council Chairperson Polita Carneiro, vice-chairperson Shashank Desai, President of Chieftains Committee Oscar Martins, Moti Desai, son of Shabu Desai, Vishal and citizens joined the jyot on Friday evening.
In his address, Shantaram Naik said the contribution of Shabu Desai cannot be forgotten as his historic jyot taken out from Cuncolim to the length and breadth of Goa, helped to swing the Opinion Poll in favour of retaining Goa’s identity. He said that there’s a debate on the installation of the statue of Dr Jack de Sequeira at the Assembly complex, Cuncolkars had honoured Shabu Desai by erecting his bust in the market place, as he thanked Moti Desai and others for the gesture.
Cuncolim MLA Clafacio Dias said Shabu’s contribution to the Opinion Poll movement will always remain in history. He said while attempts are being made to politicise the installation of Dr Jack de Sequeira’s statue, Cuncolkars deserve to be commended for honouring the great son of the soil by erecting Shabu’s statue.
In his address, Prof Harishchandra Nagvenkar said credit indeed goes to late Shabu Desai for convincing the Hindu Bahujan Samaj with this jyot to vote against Goa’s merger with Maharashtra. “The Catholic community was fully behind the anti-merger movement. But, one should not forget the role played by Shabu Desai in his bold attempt to convince the Hindu Bahujan Samaj to vote against the merger,”
he said.
Moti Desai, Aquem Baixo Sarpanch Siddesh Bhagat and others also spoke.
