the goan I network
PANAJI
Goa Forward President and Town and Country Planning Minister Vijai Sardesai urged the Goan diaspora settled in United Arab Emirates (UAE) to engage with Goa government back home as it plans to take them into confidence while developing the state.
Sardesai was speaking at the launch of Goans Connecting Goans, an initiative of UAE Goans headed by Joseph Dias, Akbar Khan, Janardhan Goltekar, George, Jude Fernandes and others at Roda Al Bustan Hotel.
Addressing a packed audience Sardesai expanded on the idea of Goemkar without borders. He said he led a party which was formed for not only the welfare of Goemkars residing in Goa, but also to address the many issues of Goemkars residing abroad and safeguard their interests in the homeland.
Sardesai further said that GFP’s agenda is to offer Goemkars everywhere the political power and voice to have a say in the affairs of their home state. By not compromising on our Goemkar first policy, he said his party in the Govt would ensure that jobs are created so that Goemkars don’t have to leave their state against their wishes. Besides, by bringing land reforms GFP wants to ensure that Goans will not be deprived of their heritage.
However, the TCP minister rued that Goa has lagged behind in forming a true regionalistic party and that has resulted in wanton interference in creating policies and decisions skewed against Goans.
“We’re here to correct that. Our ideology, organisation and leadership begins and ends with Goemkars. We’re your brothers and sisters in your home state,” said GF President.
Sardesai said he had in the past tried to recreate good infrastructure from Dubai back home in Goa. Pointing out to the SGPDA retail fish market inspired by the one in Dubai, he said it illustrates how the government in general and the Goa Forward in particular is a bridge on which two way traffic is possible.
Going back to regionalistic politics and the recent political developments in India. The Minister elaborated that the success of Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) in Telangana now and parties like Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in Odisha and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) from Tamil Nadu for decades have shown beyond doubt that regionalistic parties are more efficient and trustworthy in local political landscape.
Supporting Goa Forward is most relevant today because the only way to play a decisive role in national politics is to be a strong regionalistic party. Otherwise I feared that Goa which has been everybody’s playground except for the Goans will continue to be so, the minister claimed.
Prominent expatriates were felicitated by the guests who included Vipul Shah, Consul General of India in UAE amongst others.
