Was first Goa CM ‘allergic to state identity’? Leaders battle it out

“Bhausaheb was a towering fig who tirelessly championed Goa’s individuality and development. The existent occupation lies with Vijai Sardesai and his inflated ego, which fuels his delusion that individuals similar him are someway ‘more Goan’ than others. I unequivocally condemn this anti-Bhausaheb and anti-Goa rhetoric successful its entirety,” Sawant said.

In 1963, Bandodkar formed the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), which drew its enactment from the Bahujan Samaj. In December 1963, erstwhile the archetypal elections were held, the MGP won 16 seats successful the past 30-member Assembly of Goa, Daman and Diu.

Bandodkar, a Bahujan person who roseate to go a excavation proprietor and philanthropist, is credited with implementing important onshore reforms that demolished feudal onshore relations; universalisation of education; and initiating developmental policies successful infrastructure, tourism, agriculture and manufacture during his decade-long tenure till his decease successful 1973.

Bandodkar was a protagonist of merging Goa with neighbouring Maharashtra. In a historical ‘Opinion Poll’ connected January 16, 1967, Goans voted against merging with Maharashtra. Prior to the poll, successful 1965, the MGP authorities had passed a solution successful the Assembly demanding Goa’s merger into Maharashtra. But aft the merger was rejected, and the enactment returned to powerfulness successful 1967, the MGP backed distant from the argumentation of a merger and supported a solution urging the Centre to assistance statehood to Goa, which was passed unanimously successful the Assembly.

At the inauguration of a sewage attraction works successful Colva connected January 16, which is celebrated arsenic Opinion Poll Day oregon Asmitai Dis (Identity Day), the Opposition legislator from Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Venzy Viegas thanked Sawant and likened him to Bandodkar for “keeping authorities aside” and prioritising development. Viegas, the Benaulim MLA, recalled however contempt differences connected the contented of the 1967 merger, Bandodkar and past Opposition United Goans Party laminitis Jack de Sequeira worked unneurotic to physique ‘Brand Goa’ station 1967.

“I would truly similar to admit and convey Dr Pramod Sawant… He is from the BJP, I americium from the AAP… I would correlate him to Dayanand Bandodkar… The projects and approvals that we person got successful Benaulim… are each due to the fact that of him. He (Sawant) has kept that determination of authorities aside… wherever improvement is concerned,” Viegas said.

GFP main Sardesai connected Tuesday said helium recovered the examination of Sawant with Goa’s archetypal CM “utterly amusing” and dismissed Viegas’s remark equating the 2 arsenic “extremely superficial”.

Sardesai said Sawant has an allergy towards “Goenchi Asmitai (Goan identity)”. “Similarly, Bandodkar besides had an allergy to Goenchi Asmitai. The lone similarity I spot betwixt those 2 is their undisguised tendency to not lone undermine Goa’s unsocial individuality and ethos, but besides tally Goa arsenic an extended territory of Maharashtra,” Sardesai had said connected Tuesday.

Responding to Sawant’s station connected Wednesday, Sardesai clarified that helium has afloat respect for Bandodkar and holds him successful precocious esteem. “I person thing against Bhausaheb… He made the archetypal antiauthoritarian gyration successful Goa by giving tenants the rights to their cultivation land… In stark contrast, this CM (Sawant) has done the other by allowing individuals from different states… to acquisition Goa’s cultivation land. In education, helium (Bandodkar) acceptable up schools, you (Sawant) unopen down schools. So, however tin you equate them?” Sardesai said.

“Sawant’s statement… is thing but different maneuver to deflect attraction of the nationalist from the contented of authorities ignoring Opinion Poll Day adjacent aft promising to restart the authoritative relation meant to commemorate modern India’s archetypal referendum that resulted successful Goa maintaining its chiseled individuality and redeeming it from being merged into Maharashtra,” Sardesai said. “I beryllium to a household that fought against the merger of Goa during the historical Opinion Poll… No 1 should effort to thatch maine past oregon their mentation of it,” helium added.

During an Assembly league successful July 2024, Sawant had announced that the authorities would resume commemorating January 16 arsenic Opinion Poll Day. At the time, Sardesai had claimed that erstwhile CM Manohar Parrikar had started the signifier of celebrating Opinion Poll Day, but it was discontinued aft Sawant took over.

“The lone mode it tin beryllium benignant of said determination is thing akin is their basal connected Goan identity. Bhausaheb was against Goan identity, that is wherefore the Opinion Poll came to light… This authorities is against Goa’s Asmitai. They (the government) garbage to observe Opinion Poll Day oregon admit the contributions of stalwarts similar Jack de Sequeira. Without their efforts, Goa would person been a district, and today’s ministers would beryllium specified sarpanchs… Let maine punctual him (Sawant) that adjacent his ain Cabinet curate said nary CM should comparison themselves to Bandodkar,” Sardesai said.

Reacting to Sardesai’s remarks, MGP person and Power Minister Ramkrishna Dhavalikar told the media, “I bash not recognize his (Sardesai’s) motive. We are archetypal Indians, past we are Goans. We cannot comparison immoderate CM of Goa to Bandodkar. He was 1 of the tallest leaders of Goa. (At the clip of the Opinion Poll), Bandodkar had immense unit from apical leaders of that era.”

AAP Goa president Amit Palekar said that leaders should respect Bandodkar’s imaginativeness and contribution, but refrain from utilizing his sanction for governmental gains.