MARGAO
Demanding to know whether the opposition to the installation of Dr Jack Sequeira’s state in the Assembly complex stems from the fact that he hails from the minority community, NCP Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao has made a fervent plea to the government including Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar to name the third Mandovi bridge or the new Zuari bridge after the leader.
He disclosed plans to honour the Father of the Opinion Poll in his Benaulim constituency by installing a statue or bust at the Khareband junction in the near future.
Addressing the media, Churchill said he failed to understand why there’s so much opposition when it comes to requests to honour Dr Jack Sequeira with a befitting tribute in the form of a statue in the Legislative Assembly. “One cannot forget the immense contribution made by Sequeira in leading the Opinion Poll movement that protected Goan identity. There may be several other stalwarts who were equally associated with the movement, but Sequeira had led the movement to ensure that Goa did not merge with neighbouring Maharashtra,” he said.
Taking strong exception to PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar’s statement that the Margao Municipal Council garden should be named after the leader, Churchill said “I wonder whether Dr Sequeira’s statue has not come up in the Assembly just because he is a Catholic.” I appeal to the government and all concerned to name either the third Mandovi bridge or the new Zuari bridge after the great leader, Churchill asserted.
“Tourists come to Goa given its rich history of communal amity and peace. Certain people are attempting to divide the people on communal lines. I would like to ask a question whether Sequeira’s statue is being opposed in the Goa Assembly complex just because he belongs to the minority Catholic community.”
