the goan I network
MARGAO
Hitting out at Panchayat Minister Mauvin Godinho for what he termed as “unsolicited advice from a junior minister” on the weaponising issue, Deputy Chief Minister Vijai Sardesai on Friday said he has made it clear to the BJP led by Satish Dhond and the government-led by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant that the Goa Forward will not compromise on Konkani and 15 years domicile as prerequisites for jobs at Goa University.
Sardesai further said that he spoke to both Pramod Sawant and Satish Dhond and realized that what Mauvin stated was not the view of the BJP. “We don’t attach much importance to what Mauvin says. He is one of the many BJP MLAs, let the CM say whether he agrees or disagrees with our stand. Let him come on record,” he asserted.
While firmly rejecting the possibility of apologising for his “weaponising” statement made earlier this week, Sardesai virtually asked the Chief Minister to take a call on the issue.
“Everyone makes statements these days. It is an irony that a Deputy Chief Minister is being advised by a junior minister in the Cabinet. And, let me make it clear that this advise is unsolicited,” Sardesai told the media on the sidelines of the Sonsodo waste dump inspection.
He said, “The advise has come from the only Goan politician, who has been questioned by the Election Commission of India. And, this man is advising me.”
Saying the Goa Forward Party is not at all apologetic for making the weaponising statement, Sardesai reiterated that the stand of the party is
clear -- it will not tolerate dilution to the domicile provision and Konkani.
“Normally, the national parties do not like regionalistic sentiments. Before Mauvin made the statement, there was another leader who made a similar statement,” he added.
Saying that the coalition government has a Common Minimum Programme which clearly states there cannot be dilution of Konkani and domicile, he clarified, “By asserting youth should be weaponized, I was trying to saying that the youth, who are the biggest victim of the conspiracy to dilute domicile and Konkani, should be equipped with knowledge and action to prevent injustice. What can the youth do when injustice is sought to be done to them by diluting domicile and know-how of Konkani provisions. There are legal ways to fight the issue in addition to agitations. The youth will be advised in course of time how to get themselves weaponized. First, let us use the weapon of pen, which is mightier than the sword.”
