MARGAO
A group of NGOs and civil society under the banner of Goemkar – Ek Pavl Ekcharachem on Monday set a seven-day ultimatum to Goa Forward Party chief Vijai Sardesai to sever all ties with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) before he supports the Margao Civil Alliance forged by the Opposition leader Digambar Kamat and Curtorim MLA Reginaldo Lourenco.
The group challenged Sardesai to quit the NDA and prove GFP will have no truck with the BJP in the future.
The demand comes three days after the group of NGOs had endorsed the Margao Civic Alliance formed by Kamat, Sardesai and Lourenco to unitedly fight the Margao municipal polls to keep the BJP at bay.
Addressing the media, Vikas Bhagat representing NGO G S Goemkar said the civil society has raised the demand before the GFP to take the first step and quit the NDA before seeking the support of the people in the ensuing election.
“After the civil society extended support to the MCA, we received a host of questions, pointing out that the regional party is still a member of the NDA. Questions are being asked whether Sardesai will be back with the NDA after the election,” Bhagat said.
Saying that the questions raised in many quarters were genuine, he said the civil society will support the MCA only if the Goa Forward moves out of the NDA, adding “this is the sentiment of the people of Goa”.
Activist Creson Antao pointed out that well-wishers were clear in saying that the Goa Forward should not sail in two boats, with questions being raised over the party’s NDA membership. “He will have to quit the NDA if he is serious in taking the BJP head-on,” Creson added.
Joy D’Silva said apprehensions were raised in many quarters, including civil society, on Goa Forward’s NDA membership. “People are all for the alliance. The BJP is number one enemy of Goans and GFP will have to prove its genuineness by moving out of the NDA to show it is with the alliance,” he said. Xencor Polgi, Freddy Travasso also addressed the media.
Questioned whether the activists are offering a face-saving mechanism to the GFP Chief to quit the NDA, Bhagat said they have raised the demand after receiving genuine concerns raised over the regional party’s NDA connection.
He replied in the negative when asked whether the NGOs had called on Sardesai before addressing the media. “Various issues had cropped up after we extended support to the MCA. We had no answer to the queries and we also thought the points raised by many were genuine.”
