the goan I network
MARGAO
Senior BJP leader and city businessman, Bhai Naik has stirred a hornet’s nest as he termed Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s action of dropping Ministers Vijai Sardesai and Rohan Khaunte and not to engage the services of solicitor general Atmaram Nadkari as “anti-Saraswat”.
What raised many an eyebrow in political and social circles was that Bhai Naik, the elder son of former Margao MLA and Minister late Babu Naik, has preferred to question the Chief Minister from the platform of Goa Forward Chief Vijai Sardesai at a meeting called by the ex-Deputy Chief Minister with his supporters at Fatorda on Sunday.
While seeking to know why the Chief Minister is against the Hindu minority (Hindu Saraswats), Bhai claimed that various actions by Sawant since taking over the reigns of office were against the members of Hindu minority community. “I am asking chief minister, my BJP chief minister, why are you against minority? You all will ask me where is minority? I can name them and tell you,” he said in his speech which was critical of Sawant’s actions.
“First of all Dattaprasad Lawande was Advocate General, he was removed. I am
not saying who was replaced in his name. But remember the name, Datta Lawande, he is minority,” he said. And, he added “After that, the Chief Minister sacked Vijai Sardesai, second one is also minority. Why was he removed? Is it because he gave word to bhai
(Manohar Parrikar) that I am with you till you are there? When Bhai expires, Vijai is removed”.
And, Bhai continued: “You also sacked Rohan Khaunte, third minority. Again Atmaram Nadkari who was Solicitor General of India, he was also removed. Why was he removed? Is it because he was minority?
Bhai did not stop there. “I will give you latest news. Utpal Parrikar’s father in law Dr Sardesai who was heading Radiology department and was on advisory board, he was also removed,” Naik said, adding “If you meet any BJP cadre, ask them what is going on. I am saying that we are minorities. I feel people don’t want BJP or Congress, now what has remained is Goa Forward Party,” he said to the loud cheers of Sardesai’s supporters at The Venue hall on Sunday.
Sardesai had called the meeting with his supporters, the first one since he and his two Goa Forward ministers, was unceremoniously dropped by the Chief Minister over a week ago.
Sardesai’s meeting and the claims made by Bhai, assumes further significance as they come close on the visit by the Goa Forward Chief to the national capital and is believed to have called on leaders of the NDA allies, including BJP leaders and briefed them about the circumstances which had resulted in the unceremonious sacking of the three GF Ministers from the Cabinet after 10 Congress MLAs embraced the BJP.
