Five-time Margao MLA Digambar Kamat was at his usual best on Wednesday as he accepted the gauntlet thrown by his traditional rival and Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar for a Digambar Kamat-free Margao in his inimitable style.
Taking the platform of his manifesto release programme attended by AICC general secretary Digvijai Singh, the Margao MLA thundered that no one can decide on his political future except Margao’s presiding deity Lord Dambab and the people of the city.
He also exuded confidence that Madgavkars will create a record of sorts in the coming election by electing him to the Assembly for the sixth time in a row and with 16,000 plus votes.
A day after the Defense Minister ordered party men to launch a surgical strike in Margao to free the city from the Margao MLA, Digambar hit back invoking Lord Dambab to send a message to the BJP camp that they will not succeed in their endeavor as long as the presiding deity and the people of Margao are with him.
Taking the battle in the enemy camp on the issue of continuity versus change, Kamat said that rival leaders speak about bringing a change in Margao, but have no agenda or program for the city. “If these come to you to bring about a political change, ask them why their government did not complete the district hospital under construction. Let them explain to Madgavkars why the Margao bus terminus and the non-convention energy park was not taken up for construction during the last five years,” he said.
Saying that Madgavkars had elected him last time with 12,000 votes, Kamat said he has no doubt that his votes will cross the 16,000-mark this time around.
In his brief address, Digvijai Singh urged Madgavkars to create history by sending Kamat to the Assembly for the record sixth time. "The BJP leadership is seeking a change in Margao, but they have failed to cash in on the parivartan and were involved in so many U-turns,” he said, adding that Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar is facing rough weather in his Mandrem constituency.
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Demanding a roll back of the ban on Dhirios in the state, dhirio lovers have called upon political parties to include in their manifesto's to promote Dhirios with the seriousness and urgency the sport deserves or face the wrath of the people in the forth-coming elections.
UGDP Secretary general Anacleto Viega said that Dhirios are not bullfights, but merely bull butting games and should be made an exception to the rule. “Exempt Dhirios, which in their pristine days, was a sport encouraged, watched and organised throughout the state of Goa after the harvest season. In the last election, the BJP had promised to regularise, control and frame rules to organise the sport, but like all their promises failed to keep to their word,” he said.
While congratulating the people and students of Tamil Nadu for the great victory in preserving the people’s culture and traditional sport of bull taming or Jallikattu in the state, he said the voice and conscience of the people won the day as the people’s anger at the insensitivity and callousness of the rulers had indeed been dealt a severe blow. “Jallikattu is a cultural activity of the people is a sport that has generations of history and tradition,” he added.
“We in Goa wholeheartedly welcome the change of making Jallikattu an exception to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. The people for PETA better beware as the bulls (people's) anger is on the rampage and could strike the PETA persons if they venture into another confrontation with the people’s emotional attachment to the games,” Anacleto warned.
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