MARGAO
Perhaps for the first time in post Opinion Poll history, about 38 stalwarts of the historic movement finally found recognition as their portraits stood tall as they were unveiled one by one in the presence of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai and others at the Opinion Poll Square along the Old Market Circle-Ravindra Bhavan junction.
There was no formal inauguration of the Opinion Poll Square at the hands of the Chief Minister, with the TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai announcing that the government does not want to join issue over the inauguration of the Square by Rosie Marie and others on Monday. The Chief Minister, TCP Minister, Ministers Jayesh Salgaonkar and Vinoda Paliencar, besides Deputy Speaker Michael Lobo stood alongside the stalwarts and their relatives as the portraits were unveiled along the square.
Former San Andre MLA, Teotonio Pereira, a leading light of the Opinion Poll movement along with Dr Harischandra Nagvenkar and Gurunath Kelekar were personally present to unveil their portraits, relatives of Jack Sequeira, Erasmo Sequeira, Babu Naik, V M Salgaocar, Narcinh Damodar Naik, Chandrakant Keni, Purshottam Kakodkar and other stalwarts attended the unveiling ceremony.
Shivanand and Dattaraj Salgaocar were personally present at the unveiling of the portrait of their father Vassudev Salgaocar, while Dr Jack de Sequeira’s daughter Manuela Sequeira, besides the grandson of Erasmo Sequeira attended the programme.
Commenting on the inauguration of the Opinion Poll Square, the TCP Minister said the Square will not be inaugurated again after it was inaugurated by lady senior citizen Rosie Marie and citizens on Monday.
While the portraits of 38 stalwarts were unveiled on Tuesday, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has suggested that the government will not hesitate to unveil the portraits of leaders, who have been mistakenly excluded from the list.
