PANAJI
Fatorda MLA and Goa Forward Party (GFP) chief Vijai Sardesai has refused to attend the Silver Jubilee celebrations of the Goa Legislative Assembly Complex, scheduled from October 6 to 9, calling the event historically inaccurate and alleging that it involves wasteful expenditure of public money.
In a letter addressed to Goa Legislative Assembly Speaker Dr Ganesh Gaonkar, Sardesai expressed his strong opposition to the government’s decision to organise the celebrations.
“As a three-time MLA and former Deputy Chief Minister of Goa, I have immense respect for the Legislative Assembly as an institution. It is precisely for this reason that I refuse to associate myself with what I consider callous governance,” Sardesai said.
He claimed that the Assembly Complex completed 25 years in March 2025, as the first session in the new building was held in March 2000. Sardesai questioned the decision to hold the Silver Jubilee celebrations in October 2026, when, according to him, the building is already in its 27th year. “There is therefore no historical justification whatsoever for presenting October 2026 as the 25th anniversary of the complex,” he said.
Sardesai also questioned the expenditure on the celebrations, alleging that it could be around Rs 5 crore. He called for details of the administrative sanction, estimates, tender process, successful bid, payments and other associated expenditure to be made public.
He further alleged that the government was undermining the functioning of the Assembly by curtailing sessions, limiting Opposition scrutiny and allowing Bills to be passed with inadequate time for debate.
Sardesai said he would not only skip the celebrations but also refuse the felicitation planned as part of the event.
“My refusal is not disrespect towards the Assembly. It is precisely because I respect this institution that I cannot lend my presence to an event that rewrites its history, indulges in callous governance and diverts public money at a time when Goa faces far more urgent priorities,” he said.
