Panaji (Goa): Deputy Speaker Michael Lobo’s notice to the Legislative Assembly to move a resolution for installing Father of Opinion Poll Dr Jack Sequeira’s statue in the assembly complex has given a new color to the political scenario in the State.
While his resolution is completely against BJP State level core committee’s resolution not to have any more statues in the complex other than the existing one of first chief minister of Goa late Dayanand Bandodkar, his party colleague Rajesh Patnekar too moved a resolution for statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The drama continues as government’s ally Maharastrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) has decided to move a resolution demanding installation of T B Cunha and Dr Ram Manohar Lohia’s statues in the assembly complex.
Secretary of the Legislative Assembly N B Subhedar has confirmed receiving notices from the two BJP legislators while opposition party NCP has also moved a common resolution f Dr Sequeira statue.
“We have received notices to move resolution for Dr Jack Sequeira statue from Lobo and NCP’s Churchill Alemao. Another resolution notice from Patnekar for Shivaji Maharaj has come to us. The Speaker (Pramod Sawant) will take a final call whether or not to accept the resolutions,” he told TNV.
Patnekar justified that his resolution was because Shivaji fought for Goa’s Liberation. “He was responsible for Goa’s Liberation movement among other freedom fighters and he had visited Bicholim taluka too to renovate the Saptakoteshwar Temple in Narve village… I will try to convince my party and opposition legislators to accept my resolution,” he said on asked if his move was against BJP committee’s resolution for ‘no more statues in Vidhansabha Complex.’
MP has also demanded to name all the State highways and district roads after freedom fighters.
Lobo on the other hand has flown to Brazil on a private trip which he said was planned last October. Incidentally, the country is hosting its annual Carnival. The Deputy Speaker is likely to return only next week, little before the Budget session of the assembly slated on February 19.
