Team Goemkarponn
Fatorda: Prominent Scheduled Tribe (ST) leaders of the Goa Forward Party (GFP) have come out strongly in defence of party president and Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai, condemning the recent barrage of criticism and accusations levelled against him by BJP leaders. They accused the ruling party of targeting Sardesai for speaking the truth and raising fundamental questions about democratic values in the state.
Senior ST leader Datta Gaonkar defended Sardesai’s recent remarks questioning the neutrality of the Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly, stating that his concerns were valid and reflective of a larger threat to democracy.
“Our leader Vijai Sardesai raised a very pertinent question that how can the Speaker, who is supposed to be neutral, participate in a strategic meeting of the BJP legislative party?” Gaonkar asked. “If the Speaker behaves in such a biased manner, can democracy survive? This is nothing short of an undeclared emergency.”
Gaonkar further added that while the Speaker claimed to have gone to meet the Chief Minister, the timing of the visit, during a BJP strategy meeting, raises serious doubts. “The Speaker has every right to meet the CM, but why attend a meeting meant for the BJP’s internal planning? This compromises the sanctity of his role.”
Standing firmly behind Sardesai, Gaonkar warned the ruling BJP: “No matter how many complaints you file against our president, we will stand by him. If you try to harass the opposition, we will respond in kind.”
He also lauded Sardesai’s commitment to the ST community. “He has always been at the forefront of the demand for ST reservation in the Goa Assembly. His work on issues of all communities makes me proud. I also want to tell BJP leader Anthony Barbosa that if you have been given a post, use it to serve our community instead of attacking those who are actually working for it.”
Nimesia Faleiro, another young ST leader of the party and a Margao Municipal Councillor, echoed Gaonkar’s sentiments and highlighted Sardesai’s consistent performance as an MLA.
“Vijai Sardesai has won three consecutive elections because the people of Fatorda, especially the ST community, believe in his work,” she said. “We don’t need the BJP to educate us about who works for us.”
Clarifying that the issue was never personal between the Speaker and Sardesai, Faleiro noted, “As an opposition MLA, Vijai has every right to question wrongdoing. People expect him to speak up. If the Speaker has erred, he cannot remain silent just to maintain a cordial relationship. Sardesai speaks up because he stands for what is right.”
She added defiantly, “File as many cases as you want, Sardesai will not stop pointing out what the BJP is doing wrong. We are not afraid.”
Anthony Colaco, a recent addition to the party and newly appointed president of the Navelim block, drew an analogy from football to explain the situation.
“If the referee of a football match joins one team during halftime for refreshments, what is the other team supposed to think?” he asked. “There will naturally be doubts about impartiality.”
Colaco thanked Sardesai for promoting ST leadership within the party and stated, “As an ST Goan, I’m grateful that Vijai Sardesai made me Navelim block president. He is fighting for our rights, and that’s why I joined the Goa Forward Party.”
The party leaders claimed a united front within the GFP’s ST wing, sending a strong message to the BJP that Sardesai’s leadership is not just intact but backed by a loyal and growing base within the marginalized communities.
