Rupesh Samant

Margao, Apr 21: Goa Forward Party Chief and Deputy Chief Minister Vijai Sardesai on Saturday said that he would be the first one to walk out of the government, if Pramod Sawant led dispensation distracts from the Common Minimum Program adopted by Manohar Parrikar led government.

Sardesai told a public meeting organised by NDA in support of BJP candidate Narendra Sawaikar that the current government will work on the agenda decided by Parrikar-led government.

“If I find that current government distracts from the common minimum program adopted by Parrikar-led coalition then I would not take a single minute to walk out of the government,” he said in presence of the Chief Minister.

“But I have no reason to believe that I would have to walk out of the government. Pramod Sawant has assured that he would be following the Common Minimum Program charted out by Parrikar,” he added.

He said the government will have “inclusive growth and progressive governance.”

Sardesai also said that Special Status for the State is not possible but Goa can have Special measures to protect Goem, Goemkar and Goemkarponn (Goa, Goans, Goaness).

“When Congress President Rahul Gandhi had come to Goa, he assured to give Special Status to Goa. I have been hearing about Special Status right from my days as Youth Congress President. Several finance ministers have made it categorically clear that Special Status for Goa is not possible,” he said.

“We can have Special Measures to protect Goem, Goemkar and Goemkarponn. We can have legislative measures for that and I am sure Narendra Sawaikar will do it,” he said adding “while doing it, we need to take middle approach and strike a balance.”

Sardesai said that GFP joined hands with BJP to form the government to fulfill the aspirations and dreams of Goans. Listing out various works undertaken by the government in and around Margao, Sardesai said the government could deliver because it was part of NDA.

“We could do it because our representatives are in Delhi. We should know, and even my party workers should know that we could deliver because we have representatives in Delhi. We don’t have back stabbers that is why we could do it,” he said.