Panaji, Feb 2 (TOI): Joining the ‘quote scripture’ act, the Congress on Friday likened town and country planning minister and Goa Forward Party (GFP) leader Vijai Sardesai to Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus Christ for 30 pieces of silver.

The party also said that Sardesai’s attempt to link chief minister Manohar Parrikar with Jesus Christ was an insult and amounted to “sacrilege.”

“Sardesai is like Judas who, for a few pieces of silver, backstabbed Goa,” Congress spokesperson Sunil Kawthankar said.

“The notification of 16B for zone change is nothing but to make money.”

The party went on to point out that GFP’s manifesto for the 2017 state elections promised that the party would never align with the BJP. Sardesai had described BJP as fascist and had also called Parrikar a ‘dalal’.

“Vijai had called Parrikar a dalal, and now he is giving the chief minister a pat on the back,” said spokesperson Rohit Bras D’Sa.

“Is the pat on the back because Vijai is scared that Parrikar will dissolve the assembly?”

The party also said that instead of preaching from the Bible, Sardesai should first follow the 10 Commandments. “The first commandment that he should practice is do not steal,” D’Sa said.

In a social media post, state party chief Girish Chodankar quoted the Gospel according to Mathew 19:20 to suggest that Sardesai should give up his riches if he wanted to enter into heaven.

“For Jesus is truth and these two (Parrikar and Sardesai) are liars. The Congress demands an apology from Sardesai,” he said.