Goa CM becomes emotional as House mourns Parrikar
Panaji: Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant broke down while speaking on a motion passed in the Assembly on Wednesday to condole the death of former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar.
The motion to condole Parrikar’s demise, which was moved by BJP MLA Rajesh Patnekar, also commiserated the deaths of former Deputy Chief Minister Francis D’Souza and former Deputy Speaker Vishu Wagh.
“I am here only because of Manohar Parrikar. I became MLA, Speaker and CM because of him,” an emotional Sawant said, as he took a pause several times while speaking.
Sawant’s wife Sulakshana said on Tuesday that Parrikar was like a father figure to her as well as her husband.
Speaking on behalf of the BJP legislature party, Cabinet Minister Mauvin Godinho said that the late Chief Minister was a colossal and larger than life personality.
“Difficult to get another Manohar Parrikar in this state, who built a modern Goa and took the state forward in every aspect of governance. He is our pride and the state’s tallest leader who served as Defence Minister and conducted the iconic surgical strikes,” Godinho said.
Lone Nationalist Congress Party MLA Churchill Alemao said that cancer could happen to anyone, but added that “God extended his life for up to a year because Parrikar is a fighter”.
Parrikar was diagnosed for pancreatic caner in February last year.
Alemao also said that if Parrikar had lived on, he would have legalised the popular sport of bull-fighting in Goa. Bull-fighting has been banned by a High Court order two decades ago.
Cabinet Minister Sudin Dhavalikar said that an upcoming bridge across the Zuari river would be named after the late Chief Minister.
“We have already sought permission from the central government,” Dhavalikar told the Assembly.
Goa CM Pramod Sawant wins trust vote
Panaji: Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday won the trust vote in the state Assembly.
Twenty of the 36 members in the House voted for the BJP-led coalition government while 15 opposed the motion.
The 20 legislators who voted for the motion included 11 from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), 3 each of Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and Goa Forward Party and 3 Independents while 15 MLAs (14 Congress and 1 NCP) opposed the motion in the Goa Assembly.
The ‘magic number’ for a simple majority in the 36-member House was 19. The trust vote was overseen by Acting Speaker and BJP MLA Michael Lobo.
Addressing the Assembly after winning the trust vote, Sawant said that his government would carry forward his predecessor Manohar Parrikar’s vision of “positive thinking”.
“Manohar Parrikar had given a message before passing away about being positive. If we we go ahead with this message, we can build a bright future for Goa,” Sawant said.
The 45-year-old Chief Minister also said that the philosophy of his government would be the Antodaya principle, which involves reaching out to the most marginalised sections of society.
“And for that to work, it is not just up to a CM or MLA, but every member of society. For this I would the need help of every Goan,” Sawant said.
