MARGAO
Goa Forward Chief Vijai Sardesai on Tuesday said he is not old to go on a Tapasya, but confessed that he is certainly on a “reflective pause” to ascertain what has happened in the election and how to go about the future.
He took digs at the Congress, but at the same time said he is on the side of the opposition, having voted for Congress’s Aleixo Sequeira for the post of Speaker.
Sardesai, however, hastened to add that one should not just oppose for the sake of opposition, going to the extent of saying a new government and its Ministers need time to study.
“In politics, there’s what is known as reflecting pause. When you go forward all the time, sometimes you need to hit the pause button to go into a reflective mode, basically to find out what has happened. So many things have happened, and it would not be fair to take decisions without going into a reflective mode. We have to pause and take the right steps”, he said during an interaction with the media after launching work on laying of water pipeline from Aquem to Gogol junction in the Fatorda constituency.
When questioned whether he had taken Tapasya like many of the state political leaders, Sardesai shot back “Tapasya is for old people. I am not old, but I am reflecting and I want a pause”.
On the BJP government, he said one cannot start blaming the government immediately. “We have to give time. We have to be fair to anybody in power. There are new ministers who need to be given time to study”,
Admitting that he is on relax mode, Sardesai said “We have to reflect on what has happened and chalk out the strategy and take decision what is good for the people of Goa”.
When questioned whether he is part of the government or the opposition, Sardesai shot back “I have not supported the government. Neither the ruling party has asked for my support nor I have extended support to the government, which is enjoying the support of 25 MLAs. I am part of the opposition having voted for Aleixo Sequeira for the Speaker’s post. It is not about being the opposition, but we cannot be opposition for the sake of opposition”.
Referring to the call given by Congress for a united opposition, Sardesai said “We have learnt many things now. Congress is talking about a united Opposition. They talk about united Opposition when they require others. But, when we required them, they did not speak about a united opposition. They said they are alone and can win 41 out of the 40 seats. When this happens, one has to reflect and think”.
He said he is in receipt of suggestions and proposals from many quarters on his political future, saying: “We have to think over the proposals”.
Lobo’s call to deserters has no takers
MARGAO:
Leader of Opposition Michael Lobo’s call to all former Congressmen to return to the party-fold seemed to have had no takers with Goa Forward chief Vijai Sardesai and Curtorim Independent MLA Reginaldo Lourenco.
When asked to comment on Lobo’s call for Congressmen to return to the party, Sardesai quipped: “The Opposition leader has recently joined the Congress”.
On the other hand, Independent MLA Reginaldo Lourenco wondered whether it is possible for a new Congressmen to call back all the old Congressmen into the party. “I do not want to comment much on Lobo’s statement since it has come from a person who had recently joined the party”, he said.
When pointed out that Lobo has promised that the Congress would give him all the respect due to him if he joins the party, Reginaldo shot back “Lobo should find out whether the Congress knows to respect its leaders”.
