MARGAO
Even as citizens paid tributes to Dr Francisco Luis Gomes on his 152nd death anniversary on Thursday, Margao Municipal Chairperson Lyndon Pereira became the latest politician to make a promise to preserve and conserve the ancestral house of the great Goan nationalist located at Colmorod.
Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai, who had made a similar promise in the past, could not get the government acquire the ancestral house when he was in the Manohar Parrikar-led BJP government.
That’s not all. Margao MLA, Digambar Kamat, who was also not averse in getting the ancestral house acquired and preserved for posterity, could not make the demand of freedom fighters a reality during his stint as Chief Minister of the state.
In fact, politicians of all hues have been making tall promises over the last decade on the death anniversary of Dr Gomes to preserve the ancestral house for posterity. Right from Ministers to MLAs and Chairpersons and Councilors of Margao Municipality, they have only paid lip service to the issue of preserving the ancestral house of Dr Gomes, which is now in the ownership of a private party.
Former Navelim MLA Avertano Furtado, had made a similar promise during the stint as a Minister in the Parrikar government, but the house continues to lie in ruins at Colmorod.
“It is apparent that the political class is only paying lip service to the issue. Months and years have passed, but the house has still not been acquired by these very politicians, including MLAs, Minsters and present and former MMC Chairpersons”, remarked a citizen.
He added: “How Chairperson Lyndon Pereira will restore the ancestral houses and preserve the legacy remains unknown, when Fatorda MLA Sardesai, who had made a similar promise, had failed to do so when he was in power. Making a speech on a birth anniversary or adopting resolutions at the Civic body will not restore the ancestral house of Dr Gomes unless it is backed by actions on the ground”.
