MARGAO
Goa Forward Party president Vijai Sardesai sharpened his attack on the BJP-led government over the recent hate speech controversy, alleging that divisive elements are being encouraged and legitimised by those in power.
Speaking on the 111th birth anniversary of Jack Sequeira in Curtorim, Sardesai said the incident involving insults to St Francis Xavier reflected a deeper malaise. He argued that the episode was not an isolated “mistake” but a direct outcome of a regime that has “crossed all limits of responsibility and sensitivity” and where “this government can do anything”.
Targeting senior minister Mauvin Godinho, Sardesai said the silence and endorsement from those in authority had emboldened “outsiders and controversial figures” to make inflammatory remarks. He termed it unacceptable that a minister was present and effectively legitimised such statements, calling it evidence of a government that has lost both control and moral authority.
He further alleged that communal tensions are being deliberately stoked for electoral gains, warning, “This is a dangerous game being played with Goa’s future,” and accusing the BJP of relying on division rather than governance.
Launching a broader attack, Sardesai declared that “a mad dog has bitten this government” and described it as a “rabid BJP government” that is “grazing on Goa” while allowing anti-Goan forces to flourish and damage social harmony and cultural identity.
He warned that Goa faces a threat comparable to the Opinion Poll era, claiming the BJP has the intent and numbers to “sell Goa down the drain”. Calling for political change, he said, “This rabid BJP government must be stopped before it destroys Goa beyond repair,” urging Goans to unite and defend the state’s communal harmony and identity.
