PANAJI: The Goa Forward Party (GFP) on Wednesday said that Deputy Speaker and BJP Calangute MLA Michael Lobo will move a private member's resolution in the upcoming budget session of the State Legislative Assembly for installation of Dr Jack de Sequeira's statue, which would be supported by all the three cabinet ministers of GFP. The party also resolved to meet all the 36 MLAs to convince them to support the resolution.
The meeting of the Political Affairs Committee of Goa Forward was held on Tuesday in South Goa to discuss the organisational matters of the party and other political issues. The meeting conducted under the chairmanship of its party supremo Vijai Sardesai, was attended by MLAs and ministers Vinoda Paliencar, Jayesh Salgaonkar and Taleigao supremo Atanasio Monserrate.
Addressing a press conference at GFP office in Panaji, chief spokesperson of the party Trajano D’Mello said, “The issue of installation of the statue of Dr Jack de Sequeira at the State Legislative Assembly Complex in Porvorim was discussed. Deputy Speaker Michael Lobo has publicly declared that he would move a private members resolution and he has conveyed the same to our party president Vijai Sardesai. The meeting resolved that all three of our ministers would support the resolution.”
Trajano also informed that GFPs three ministers and office bearers will meet all 36 MLAs ahead of the session to convince them over installation of the statue. “We will seek their support for the resolution,” he said.
The ongoing issue of sharing drinking water of Mhadei River was also taken up with Water Resources Minister Vinoda Paliencar.
“Paliencar has assured us that he will not dilute his stand on Mhadei. Our party will continue to act like watchdog over the issue. Any dilution of stand in the matter will be looked at seriously and would be termed as an attempt of Goa’s merger with Karnataka,” he stated.
“The party assures that Goa’s identity will be retained at any cost and torpedo any conspiracies that may be attempted by anyone to liquidate our natural resources,” said Trajano.
Meanwhile, lashing out at Congress leader Girish Chodankar, he said, “He has demanded that we withdraw support to the Government. He should first explain in how many coalition government he has been either a minister or MLA.”
“Is Girish by asking us to withdraw support expressing his apology to the blunder of his Congress party for not having a pre-poll alliance with GFP,” he questioned.
