MARGAO
Asserting that the Goa Forward party will not betray Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai on Saturday said the Goa Forward has no reason to be dissatisfied with the Chief Minister while claiming that State Congress president Luizinho Faleiro and the Congress is an episode of the past.
He also rubbished reports that the coalition partners are unhappy with the Chief Minister for keeping with him major portfolios, saying that the ministers are happy with the portfolios allocated by the Chief Minister. “We have made Manohar Parrikar the Chief Minister. The BJP must have formed the government, but we had made Parrikar to resign as Defence Minister and come back to Goa. We will not back-stab the Chief Minister. We are Goemkars and we will honour our word. Let us be very clear on that,” Sardesai told the media at an urgent briefing on Saturday noon in the wake of reports over a proposal to make him the Chief Minister of Goa.
Asserting that Goa Forward’s voice is being heard in the government, the TCP Minister said GF has no reason to be dissatisfied with the Chief Minister. “Parrikar has been working overtime. I am told that he comes to the office at 6 am. Nobody is dissatisfied,” he said.
Saying that the Goa Forward is the voice of the present government, more so when the Election Commission has recognised the party, Sardesai said the Congress is an episode of the past. “We are not concerned what is happening in the Congress. We are an independent party and we don’t want to take any stand just because something is going to happen in the Congress,” he added.
Sardesai said it is a sheer irony that the person who was expelled from the party is now seeking replacement of the GPCC President, adding that this only goes to show the level of the Congress. “Congress chief Luizinho Faleiro says that he is ready to sacrifice for the party. Where’s the sacrifice now when you fielded candidates against us and who could not save their deposits,” he said.
Asserting that the Goa Forward is not least bothered what’s happening in the Congress, Sardesai said the party and the government is concerned about Goa and how to take Goa forward. “We are in the process of finalising the Common Minimum Programme. The government will deliver on all its promises,”
he added.
Saying that the Goa Forward is having complete confidence in the Chief Minister, Sardesai said he is confident that Parrikar will get funds and support from the Centre and will tackle Goa’s endemic issue with clarity of thought. “There is no touching a house which has been left devastated. The Congress house is devastated. We cannot even think of Congress. We will not forget what the Congress has done for us,” he asserted.
