Warns against bid to reopen wounds of past
Goa Forward Chief Vijai Sardesai speaking at the inauguration of the Auxilium Hospitality college at Benaulim.
MARGAO
Asserting that Goa is not defined by the suffering of the past but the harmony of the present, Fatorda MLA & Goa Forward Party President Vijai Sardesai has cautioned against attempts to reopen historical wounds and divide communities for political purposes.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Auxilium Hospitality College Inauguration at Benaulim on Wednesday, Sardesai said that Goa’s future lies in preserving its harmony, strengthening tourism and hospitality, and creating meaningful employment opportunities for Goan youth.
Speaking strongly on the need to preserve communal harmony in Goa, Sardesai said Goa’s identity is built on peace, coexistence and mutual respect among different faiths, and warned that disturbing this harmony would directly harm the tourism and hospitality sectors that sustain Goa’s economy.
Saying that Goa’s identity has always been built on hospitality, harmony, and human connection, he said that tourism is not merely an industry in Goa but a reflection of the culture and warmth of its people.
He stressed that Goa’s future depends not on reopening old wounds or dwelling on the suffering of yesterday, but on preserving harmony in the present, creating opportunities for the younger generation, and keeping alive the spirit that has defined Goa for generations.
Recalling his support to the late Manohar Parrikar government for infrastructure and development initiatives, Sardesai said that development should unite people and strengthen Goa rather than divide society along communal lines.
In his address, Benaulim MLA Capt Venzy Viegas emphasised that empowering youth is the need of the hour and said institutions like Auxilium College are providing young people with direction and opportunity. He stated that Goa’s hospitality industry remains one of the strongest pillars of the state’s economy and highlighted the importance of trained professionals who can represent Goa’s culture and values to the world.
He said that true development is measured not only through infrastructure but through investment in human capital. Congratulating the management for establishing the institution in Benaulim, he said the area’s rich history would now be complemented by a future shaped by skilled and confident youth emerging from the college.
Addressing the students, Viegas encouraged them to focus not only on technical expertise but also on soft skills such as empathy, patience and professionalism, which define genuine Goan hospitality
