the goan I network
OLD GOA
Goa Forward Party president and Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai said the government had become so insensitive that the people running it are not even bothered to condemn his statement of calling them pro-mergerists.
“Yesterday, I had made a statement that pro-mergerists are running the government. I had expected strong condemnation from the government but there is no effect whatsoever. They are not even bothered to react which confirms that pro-mergerists are ruling Goa,” Sardesai stated, while speaking at a function to inaugurate the renovated Dr Jack Sequeira’s square at Merces on Thursday.
“To say that pro-mergerists are running the government is like giving a bad word, but it does not bother them. Because they think that they can do anything as they have the numbers of 27 MLAs. That time too, in 1967, Bandodkar thought that since he got majority he could sell Goa,” Sardesai opined.
He further stated that the Opinion Poll is as important as the Liberation Day and Statehood Day, because without it we have no identity.
“But leaving aside 3 MLAs of BJP, nobody remembered Opinion Poll day. We are forgetting the very people who fought to keep us separate. It is like backstabbing Goa and Goans will teach these people a lesson,” Sardesai said.
He further challenged the 10 Congress MLAs who joined the BJP to get Dr Sequeira’s statue in the Assembly. “We failed to install Dr Sequeira’s statue in the Assembly and we hope the 10 Congress MLAs who joined BJP would install the same. Babush Monserrate was vociferous on the issue and we hope he takes up the issue in the Assembly in the same way when he was with us,” he informed.
“Now reverse merger process is going on. Other parts of Goa are sought to be merged with Goa to dilute the identity of Goa,” he stated.
Speaking on the demand of including Opinion Poll in history books, Sardesai said, “We had urged that our history is incomplete and the children should be taught about it. And it is included in the Konkani subject but it has not been included in the History subject and we will raise the issue in the Assembly.”
Sardesai also came down heavily for the criticism of Nehru. “You may try to alter history but one cannot say that Nehru did nothing for Goa. In fact, we got the Opinion Poll because of Nehru. It is independent India’s only referendum given to Goa and Nehru contributed towards it,” he added.
St Cruz MLA Tony Fernandes, Merces Parish Priest Fr Britto Furtado also spoke on the occasion. Former minister Jayesh Salgaonkar and Vinoda Paliencar, GFP office bearers, Merces sarpanch Rufina Quadros, Dr Lily Sequeira were present.
