the goan I network
MARGAO
In fact, Sardesai, then a bitter opponent of the BJP government, had never stopped taunting Avertano, Benjamin and Caitu, when minorities in other parts of the country came at the receiving end of BJP and its affiliates on the contentious issues such as beef ban, ghar whapsi, attack on Churches, et al.
But, with senior BJP leader Subramanyam Swami commenting on the contentious issue vis-Ã -vis in the Goan context, the TCP Minister said there’s no need for panic amongst the minorities, even as he tried to reassure the people that Swamy is not the spokesman of the BJP-led alliance government ruling Goa.
Aware that Swamy’s stand may stoke a controversy on the beef ban in the state, Sardesai said the CM is on record on the floor of the House in the past that eating habits are a personal issue and the government has no right to tell the citizens what and what not to eat.
“There will be no move to impose a ban of beef in Goa. I spoke to the Chief Minister on the issue and he said there cannot be a beef ban in Goa. We are committed to follow the law of the land. Laws will not be changed,” he said.
Though the beef ban issue has been raked by the top BJP leader, Sardesai sought to blame the Congress, saying certain forces, including state Congress president, Luizinho Faleiro are trying to create panic amongst the minorities.
“The conspiracy theories are being floated by politically bankrupt persons. This is a government that works. We are with Goemkars who have their particular food habits,” he said, while saying that the government believes in ‘Sab ka Saath, Sab ka Vikas’.
When the media drew his attention to recent developments in other states on beef ban, Sardesai shot back, “I am not bothered on what’s happening in other states. Goa Forward is only interested about Goa and Goans first.”
Avertano, Benaulim and Caitu, who had supported the Parrikar and then Parsekar-led BJP governments in the last five years, had to face similar embarrassment over issues such as beef ban, ghar whapsi and attacks on Churches in other parts of the country, with the opposition gunning them down since they were the alliance partners of these governments.
AAP seeks govt response
PANAJI: The Aam Aadmi Party in Goa has called for an immediate retort from the State government to the statement of BJP leader Subramanian Swamy that making Goa beef free was on the BJP’s agenda.
At a press conference, the party has said that Goemkarponn will only remain a slogan unless the government proves with action that it is committed to it.
“We demand an immediate retort from Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar that his government will respect the socio-cultural reality of the State’s people. Gõykarponn merely as a slogan confined to the script of the Governor’s address means nothing. If the Parrikar government is serious about all that, the Governor said of Gõykarponn then it should condemn Swamy’s statement immediately,” the AAP said.
When asked to comment at his press conference on Tuesdsay, Parrikar said that he would not need to respond to Swamy’s statements. “Why should I comment on it? The High Court in Goa has already passed a judgement on the issue,” Parrikar said.
Swamy was speaking on national television when he said “Goa can’t be an exception.”
