While denying that he had any role to play in stopping a Christmas dance at Nuvem, Goa Forward President Vijai Sardesai accused Congress’ Goa Chief Girish Chodankar of having a ‘phobia’ towards him.
Sardesai said that Chodankar has developed this phobia in 1996 when he had got him elected as councilor of Margao Municipal Council, the only election that Chodankar has won in his entire political career.
The GF President also labeled Congress Spokesman Siddhanath Buyao as “entertainer who will go with the highest bidder.”
Responding to the press conference held by Congress leaders in Margao falsely accusing him of stopping the dance party at Nuvem, Sardesai questioned whether the organizer of the event had ever claimed his involvement in stopping it.
“Has the organizer said that I have asked the dance party to be stopped? Who is Congress party to come up with this false claim involving me in the entire event?” Sardesai questioned clarifying that he has never interfered in any of the other departments, and Christmas dance does not come under the purview of the departments of Agriculture, TCP or Archeology.
Sardesai said that the local Gram Sabha had raised an objection to the event, which was respected by the district administration. He said that the state government respects the Gram Sabha and holds it in high esteem.
Taking a jibe at the Congress party, Sardesai said that Congress has suddenly started behaving like the dance organizers. “Is Congress party organizing the dance? I can understand Siddhanath Buyao who is an entertainer and it is his profession but is it also a profession of Girish Chodankar?,” he asked.
“The organizer of the dance should name the person who stopped it. Why is Congress talking about it? Let Congress admit that they have started organizing dances from New Year onwards,” he said.
Sardesai said that the Congress and specially Chodankar has this phobia towards him. “They see me almost everywhere. They have this allergy towards me”.
Pointing out the issue of formalin, Sardesai said he took up the issue of formalin in fish earnestly and sincerely but despite that, Congress party is claiming his involvement in it.
He said that when he insisted the need for in-flight announcements in Konkani, Congress started mocking it.
“Congress should say it in clear terms. Goa Forward is supporting for the announcement in Konkani, which Congress is mocking at. Let them take a clear stand and admit that they are against Konkani. They should know how to take a proper stand.”
“Girish will take congress into the ditch. He might have connections at the top level but the views of the MLAs differ from his. Congress needs to introspect. Siddhanth Buyao is an artist and he will go the highest bidder. He is in Congress party and he is doing his work,” he commented.
Sardesai said Congress’ phobia towards him resulted in the party failing to form the government, despite being single largest unit in the Assembly. “They went on record to say that we don’t want Vijai. But we have shown them that we could form the government,” he said adding “because of this attitude they are in opposition.”
Sardesai said that the Congress winning in some States during recent election will not make any difference in Goa. “They feel that they will make difference in Goa after winning in some states. But that is not true. Goa is a different case. Here we need to take everyone along,” he said.
Sardesai said that many Congress MLAs are in touch with him. “I know what they have been feeling. They have been feeling that Girish is the only person who is coming in the way of Congress going forward in Goa.”
