the goan I network
PANAJI
State Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday resolved that it will not support the demand of installing any other statue in the State Legislative Assembly Complex, Porvorim. The resolution was taken at the Party meeting which was attended by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, BJP MLAs and ministers and Party’s office bearers.
The move by the BJP comes as a major disappointment to its coalition partner Goa Forward and their own MLA and Deputy Speaker Michael Lobo who have been strongly demanding that the statue of the Father of Opinion Poll Dr Jack de Sequeira be installed at the State Legislative Assembly Complex, and that too right next to the statue of Goa’s first Chief Minister Bhausaheb Bandodkar.
“A large number of leaders have participated in the freedom movement, opinion poll and the all-round development of Goa. Due to this request for installing their statues in Vidhan Sabha complex are likely to come up in near future and therefore the BJP does not support the demand of installing any other statue in Vidhan Sabha Complex and appeal all to support the developmental agenda of the government”, stated the resolution.
The resolution also stated that the statue of Bandodkar was installed at the Assembly Complex due to unanimous demand by Goans.
“It has to be noted that after the Opinion Poll, the people of Goa restored their respect, faith and love in the leadership of Bhausaheb Bandodkar by re-electing him as the Chief Minister of the State”, stated the resolution pointing out that the BJP respects peoples’ sentiments towards Bandodkar and will not do anything which will hurt their sentiments.
“BJP also respects the vision and work done by different leaders who guided the people of Goa to remain as a separate entity under the ndian Union during the Opinion Poll. It is to be noted that the people of Goa without distinction of religion and caste gave verdict in favour of maintaining the union territory status of Goa and all the people of Goa accepted this verdict. Goans are now aware that this was possible due to the vision and hard work of the leaders. The BJP respects the sentiments of the people and vision of the opinion poll leaders”, stated the resolution.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, meanwhile, said “personally, I am not in favour of installing any statue as once they are installed it becomes difficult to maintain them”.
The Party also resolved to include the history of the Opinion Poll and Goa’s Freedom Struggle in the school and college syllabus stating that it is a step in the right direction to make the new generation aware of Goa’s history.
Sources present at the meeting informed that two members -- Deputy Speaker and Calangute MLA Michael Lobo and Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha -- advocated the demand for installation of Sequeira’s statue.
Putting forth his point, former chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar said that Vijai Sardesai has not taken Sequeira’s name even once, why he is pushing so much for the statue now, informed sources.
“Some Party leaders pointed out that if we give into the demand to install one statue, in future, demands will come to install other statues too. So there should be no more statues”, informed the source.
Curchorem MLA Nilesh Cabral, however, put forth a suggestion that the photos of former chief ministers and former leaders of Opposition be displayed at the Conference Hall of the Ministerial Block at the Complex, Porvorim.
Vijai dissappointed, says will
continue efforts to convince all
MARGAO: Expressing his disappointment over BJP Legislature wing’s decision against installing any more statues in the Goa Legislative Complex, Town and Country Planning Minister Vijai Sardesai on Monday said he would continue efforts to convince everyone and get the statue of Jack Sequeira installed in the Assembly complex.
“Yes, I am disappointed with BJP’s decision against the installation of any more statues in the Legislative Assembly. The BJP and the Goa Forward party are political parties and they are entitled to their respective stands. The Goa Forward has adopted a resolution in favour of the statue of Jack Sequeira coming up in the Assembly complex and we will continue our efforts to ensure that Jack Sequeira’s statue comes up in the Assembly”, Sardessai.
Hoping that better sense will prevail and that people will see reason, the TCP Minister said though he is disappointed by the BJP’s decision, the Goa Forward will not stop from taking forward its decision in favour of Jack Sequeira’s statue.
When it was pointed out that the Goa Forward has only three members in the coalition government, and is dominated by the BJP, the TCP Minister said “I can only say at this stage that the Goa Forward would try and convince everyone to support our demand for Jack Sequeira’s statue in the Assembly complex”.
Lobo: If I get an opportunity, I will
install Sequeira’s statue
PANAJI: Strongly stating that his battle will continue, Calangute BJP MLA and Deputy Speaker Michael Lobo said that in future if he gets an opportunity, he will get the statue of Dr Jack de Sequeira installed at the State Legislative Assembly Complex, Porvorim.
Speaking to The Goan Everyday, Lobo said, “My battle will continue and if I get an opportunity, I will get the statue installed at the Assembly. This is not to defy anybody, but he deserves that respect. This is my personal view.”
“My stand since 2012 has been the same that Sequeira’s statue be installed at the Assembly and that too next to Bandodkar’s statue. Without Sequeira’s statue, Bandodkar’s statue is incomplete. If we had to lose the Opinion Poll, Goa would have been a small district in Maharashtra”, said Lobo.
Dhavalikar moots rock garden
PANAJI: Welcoming the move by BJP, Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party Supremo Ramakrishna ‘Sudin’ Dhavalikar said that he will suggest setting up of a rock garden in the name of freedom fighters Dr T B Cunha and Dr Ram Manohar Lohia, which will have statues of freedom fighters and also the leaders who fought for the Opinion Poll.
Speaking to The Goan Everyday , Dhavalikar said, “It is a good decision by BJP. But I would suggest to the CM that a rock garden with touristic importance be set up on an area of at least 2 lakh sq mts. The statues of freedom fighters and leaders of Opinion Poll should be installed so that Goa’s history is showcased to Goans, especially the yout. The garden should be named after freedom fighters Dr T B Cunha and Dr Ram Manohar Lohia.”
