PANAJI
A crowd of around 100 people gathered at Dona Paula’s NIO circle in protest to the swearing in of Manohar Parrikar calling Fatorda MLA Vijay Sardesai and Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte traitors and demanding their resignations as MLAs.
Protestors held up placards that read “Go Back to Delhi, Mr Parrikar. You lost in Goa,” and “#NotMyCM” while booing as the cars went by to the swearing ceremony of Parrikar. Their protest was loudest when Amit Shah’s and Venkaiah Naidu’s motorcade passed by. Sardessai, Lobo and other MLAs were also booed by the protestors.
People from across the State joined the protest to highlight their disappointment in the government that was formed saying that though the State voted the BJP out of power, they had manipulated the public mandate.
Retd Col Kamal Banerjee said, “What has happened is hypocrisy and not democracy. The Governor disregarded established practice by not inviting the single largest party to form the government. The Congress should be given a chance first to form the government.”
Salette Miranda, a resident of Betim, said, “Goa Forward Party (GFP) MLAs and Independent MLAs, who have supported BJP to form the government, are saying that they didn’t want to sit in opposition. If they wanted power, they should have contested on BJP tickets. This is poly-tricks. The Governor is also being biased by inviting BJP and not Congress to form the government.”
Eric Pinto, a resident of Porvorim, said, “We are angry at the false morality being shown. The BJP should have accepted defeat. They clearly don’t have the mandate and the first chance to form the government should have been given to Congress.”
Pinto was also angry at GFP MLAs, as they have supported the BJP. When asked if he has spoken to GFP MLAs, Pinto replied, “Vijay Sardessai has been a personal friend of mine. I have tried reaching out to him through Whatsapp, but he didn’t reply.”
Aires Rodrigues, said, “Vijay Sardessai and GFP MLAs and Rohan Khaunte have sold their hearts for money to support the BJP. This deal by GFP MLAs and Independent MLAs to support the BJP was hatched two weeks earlier.”
Some protestors argued with police that had been stationed in the area since Tuesday morning. Senior journalist Devika Sequeira along with a group of women had placards with the words “Shame” written on them, that they wanted to display on the pavement leading to Raj Bhavan.
SP (North) Karthik Kashyap in response to Sequeira’s demand asked that the group go behind the cordoned area for protestors. He eventually gave in and allowed the protestors to display their placards.
