the goan I network
PANAJI:
Disapproving the comment of Deputy Chief Minister and Goa Forward Party chief Vijai Sardesai about weaponising youth over the domicile for jobs issue, the BJP on Thursday said those who occupy high positions in government should refrain from making such comments.
BJP spokesperson and cabinet minister Mauvin Godinho on Thursday said that after the Panaji bypoll on May 19 the party will hold discussions with Sardesai on the issue.
Sardesai on Tuesday had said that he would weaponise his party’s youth if domicile provisions for jobs in government and government-funded autonomous bodies are diluted by the BJP-led coalition in the State.
“I don’t agree with that statement. It must be his personal opinion. But my only comment on that is that one has to be careful of every statement one makes when one holds a very important position,” Godinho said, when his attention was drawn to Sardesai’s statement at a press conference at the party headquarters in Panaji.
“Once that is over, we will sit down and put our heads together and see that the best of things happen for Goa and Goans. This will automatically be a subject of discussion,” he added.
On Wednesday the Congress had demanded an apology from Sardesai for his comments.
Sardesai had said on Tuesday that “if our government has made a mistake then the Goa Forward Party youth, we will back them fully. We will weaponise them. I am going to say this controversially...that we will weaponise them to see that ‘Goenkarponn’ (Goanness) is protected.”
Meanwhile, BJP spokesperson Mauvin Godinho also said that to avoid Family Raj tag may have been one of the reason why Utpal Parrikar, son of late Manohar Parrikar, was denied the Panaji bypoll ticket.
“Opposition parties and the media were discussing that it would amount to promoting ‘family raj’, if BJP fields Utpal Parrikar. Every press (media) wrote about it. So, perhaps that could be one of the factors that was considered by the High Command at that point of time,” he said.
The minister said the
decision of selecting the candidate was left to the party High Command, while local leadership had recommended names of both Utpal and Sidharth
Kuncolienkar.
Mauvin also said that Panaji will benefit if they elect a candidate from a party which will have a government in the State and the Centre.
