NT NETWORK
PANAJI
Stating that the Congress party legislators will coordinate with the independent MLAs namely Vijai Sardesai, Rohan Khaunte and Naresh Sawal during the forthcoming monsoon session of the state legislative assembly to expose the misdeeds of the government, the Goa Forward Party (GFP) on Saturday said that the Congress should now display same solidarity outside the House, if it really desires to be a part of mahagathbandhan or grand alliance of opposition political parties in order to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party at the 2017 state assembly election.
Earlier, Shadab Jakati, the Goan first class cricketer joined the Goa Forward Party and was welcomed into the party by the president Prabhakar Timble.
Speaking on the occasion, Jakati said that in spite of being invited by various political parties, he opted to join Goa Forward Party since its agenda of preserving the Goan identity and development of Goa greatly appealed to him. “I have been offered candidature by the Goa Forward Party for the forthcoming assembly election. However, I am yet to make a decision on the same, as I have many cricketing commitments lined up,” he added.
Goa Forward mentor and Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai, addressing the media said that Goa Forward Party cannot go on giving applications to Congress for formation of grand alliance. “The problem is that every local Congress leader is making a different statement about the grand alliance, which makes mockery of the concept and allows people to think that there exists no seriousness about the same,” he said, stating that the Congress leaders should now speak about mahagathbandhan only when there is a consensus about it in the party.
Strongly coming out against the government decision to allow a new offshore casino – MV Royale Deltin Caravela – in Goa, the Fatorda MLA said that the BJP leaders have now turned into brand ambassadors of casinos. “Or else, how can you explain change in their perception, from casinos being bad for the society some four years ago, to investors interest becoming paramount for the state now,” he questioned.
Sardesai also stated that the BJP government has become so brazen that a land casino spread over an area of 25,000 sq mt is being inaugurated in a local starred hotel on July 29, when the state assembly is in session. “And then another offshore casino may be in waiting,” he observed, quipping that Goa is for sale and would probably be sold in next six months.”
Stating that Jakati had passed all tests of Goa Forward Party and is a winnable candidate, Timble said that the inclusion of Jakati in Goa Forward Party would prove to be an asset for the party. “Our aim is to bring young Goan achievers into the political movement of the state,” he added, pointing out that more such achievers would soon join the Goa Forward Party.
Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte and Bicholim legislator Naresh Sawal were also present on the occasion.