Team Goemkarponn
CANACONA: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Friday said Goa is not a Christian-majority state, just as Chhattisgarh should not be seen only through the prism of Naxalism.
He was speaking after inaugurating the Silver Jubilee edition of Lukosthav-25 at Adarshgram, Poinguinim, in the presence of Goa Minister for Arts & Culture, Tribal Welfare and Sports & Youth Affairs Ramesh Tawadkar.
“I had a misconception that Goa was a Christian-majority state, just as many people think Chhattisgarh is a Naxalite state. But Chief Minister Pramod Sawant informed me that around 70 per cent of Goa’s population is Hindu. The people here live in harmony and have rich traditions. I have met people here and found them to be hospitable and cultured,” Sai said.
Drawing a parallel, he said Chhattisgarh too suffers from wrong perceptions. “Many think that when one lands in Raipur, they will hear gunfire. But Chhattisgarh is rich in iron, coal, bauxite, lithium, diamonds and gold. It is a progressive state. With the double-engine government and the blessings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, we have broken the backbone of Naxalites and will eradicate Naxalism by 2026,” he said.
Sai also said the BJP has worked to ensure justice for the country’s tribal population. “It is because of the BJP that Droupadi Murmu, a daughter of the tribal community, became President of India, and I too could become Chief Minister. The BJP has honoured the legacy of Birsa Munda and empowered tribals across the country,” he said.
In his introductory address, Minister Ramesh Tawadkar said Lukosthav aims to promote tribal culture across the country and abroad while generating employment opportunities for local youth.
BJP ST Morcha national president Sameer Oraon and several achievers from various fields were felicitated at the function. Among those honoured were Cheshta Yadav, Siddharth Gawas Desai, Vitthal Melkulwadi, Sandeep Phaldesai, Suman Samant, Kiran Mhambre, Kavita Borkar, Vivek Naik, Nilesh Dhaigodkar, Narendra Gaonkar, Reshma Chanekar and Seema Bhushan Prabhugaonkar. Sanjay Tawadkar moderated the programme.
The Silver Jubilee edition of Lukosthav-25 is being jointly organised by Adarsh Yuva Sangh, Balram Education Society, Directorate of Arts and Culture and the Tribal Welfare Department.
Several dignitaries, including Rajasthan MLAs Gopichand and Madhavi Lata, Canacona Municipal Council chairperson Laxuman Pagui, and sarpanches from Poinguinim, Agonda, Shristhal, Loliem-Polem and Khotigao, were present.
