MARGAO
Goa Forward Party President Vijai Sardesai has slammed the government’s decision to permit individuals from other states to take their vaccination shots in Goa and thereby deny slots to resident Goans.
Sardesai said, “The government is habitually inclined to neglect and disregard Goa and Goans. It’s in their nature,” he said, adding it is the state government’s primary responsibility to ensure that vulnerable Goan citizens, including those within the age group of 18-44, are first on the priority list before rolling out the red carpet to non-Goan vaccine tourists.”
Saying he was appalled by the Goa health secretary Ravi Dhawan’s “so what” comment when questioned about outsiders booking vaccine slots in Goa, Sardesai demanded that the Chief Minister and Health Minister clarify the comments and immediately divest Ravi Dhawan of his portfolio.
He questioned why the government is using vaccines from a global tender for non-Goans when its citizens are struggling to get jabs, especially when the procured vaccines have been paid for by Goan taxpayers.
“Goans should be vaccinated first, without any question,” he demanded.
The Fatorda MLA also suggested that Ravi Dhawan should be removed as the health secretary and appointed as the tourism secretary if he thinks of promoting vaccine tourism.
He added: “The government should stop thinking that Goa is a soft pushover state and it can do what it wants, when it wants.”
“Stop all this foolishness now, Goans will not tolerate being second-class citizens in their own home. Also, government servants should realize who they work for,” he said.
He castigated further, “This Sawantwadi Sarkar has been rolling out the red carpet for the Covid-19 infected tourists putting Goans at great risk. The CM should correct course in this matter.”
