Goemkarponn desk
MARGAO: South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha has slammed Chief Minister Pramod Sawant for his remarks to wipe out signs of Portuguese rule, stating that the Portuguese did a lot of good things for Goa and that people have accepted Portuguese Culture as Goan Culture.
CM Sawant had said that signs of the Portuguese regime should be wiped out, with the State having been liberated from its rule more than 60 years ago.
“Portuguese were here for 450 years, and they have done a lot of good things, but they also have done bad things. The Portuguese considered Goa as a part of Portugal. People of Goa have forgotten all the bad things,’ said Sardinha.
He further said that People are waiting for better governance with the least corruption.
“There is no more Portuguese culture; people have accepted it as their Culture. We cannot force Culture. Allow Goans to follow their Culture. If u don’t like it, don’t follow,” he added.
Sardinha slammed the Pramod Sawant government on the basis of efficiency, claiming that all files are pending and corruption has increased and that without money, no files are moved in departments.
Sardinha also said he would contest the 2024 Lok Sabha polls if the party leadership nominates him for the seat.
He, however, said that he would not contest the Lok Sabha polls as an Independent if the party did not nominate him for the seat.
Saying that the 2024 Lok Sabha would be his last election in his four-decade-old political career, Sardinha, however, said he would support the Congress candidate nominated in the husting if his candidature does not find favour with the party.
“I will not contest the 2024 election as an independent. I have served the people of Goa. The people did not forget me when I was denied the ticket in 2014, as they had rallied behind him in 2019. If given the ticket, I will contest the 2024 Lok Sabha election. I will remain with the Congress if the party decides to nominate someone else for the ticket,” he said.
