Team Goemkarponn
PRIOL: Priol MLA Govind Gaude, who was recently dropped from the Goa Cabinet, has ruled out resigning from the BJP, asserting that he remains fully committed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Vikasit Bharat 2047. Speaking for the first time since his ouster, Gaude addressed a gathering of supporters on Sunday, stating that only his constituents in Priol have the moral right to ask him to step down, not the party leadership.
Gaude claimed that he was “punished” for speaking the truth, referring to his May 25 speech at the Prerna Divas event in Ponda, which allegedly sparked controversy and led to his dismissal. He blamed media “misinterpretation” for twisting his remarks and questioned whether government decisions should be based on media reports.
Recalling the events leading to his removal, Gaude said that on June 18, he received a call from Chief Minister Pramod Sawant informing him that BJP National President J.P. Nadda had directed him to seek Gaude’s resignation. “I was told there was pressure from the high command, but I refused to resign because I had done nothing wrong,” Gaude said, adding that the CM later informed the media that the decision was his own.
Gaude said he was on a family holiday in Dubai when the controversy erupted over his May 25 comments. “I started getting messages in Dubai, and I cut short my vacation and returned immediately to clarify my stand,” he said. The former minister also pointed out that despite his loyalty—recalling that he had backed Pramod Sawant over Sudin Dhavalikar for the Chief Minister’s post in 2019—some within the party remained “allergic” to him.
Without naming BJP State President Damu Naik, Gaude questioned whether the party would act against others for what he called “indiscipline,” in apparent response to Naik’s recent remarks. He ended his speech by emotionally bowing to his supporters and vowing to continue serving the people of Priol with honesty and dedication.
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