PANAJI: Chief minister Pramod Sawant on Monday hit out at Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for attempting to appropriate the legacy of former defence minister and CM Manohar Parrikar.
“Manohar Parrikar is our leader, and we are following his vision,” Sawant said. “The legacy of Parrikar will be followed by BJP. Who are they (AAP) to follow it?”
Responding to Delhi deputy CM Manish Sisodia’s request to disgruntled BJP karyakartas to join AAP, Sawant responded with his own invitation to join BJP instead. “All will join BJP,” he claimed.
Political observers say that AAP is keen on encashing the resentment within BJP after the zilla panchayat and municipal polls. Over the past year, some BJP karyakartas have joined other parties after they realised their future was bleak in the saffron party.
However, on instances like the recent CCP election BJP has been able to silence its detractors within its fold, who openly criticised the party.
On Sunday, taking a dig at the Sawant-led government for ignoring Parrikar’s ideas and loyalists, Sisodia said the saffron party “has buried the vision of development for Goa” after his death and sidelined people who aligned with his vision.
“I want to convey to BJP volunteers in Goa to leave the party as it will never be able to bring Parrikarji’s vision of development to life. Join our fleet of 4,000 AAP volunteers, who will take forward Parrikar bab’s vision for Goa,” he said.
Sisodia had said that AAP would win the 2022 assembly election and will bring “Parrikarbab’s vision for a developed Goa into life”. “We want to focus on Goa’s vision of sincere politics. When we focus on sincere politics and attain growth, when we focus on politics of vision, we take into account the needs of what people in Goa want, what changes need to be made for Goa’s progress,” he had said.
“Whoever has the vision to bring growth in Goa should join hands with AAP. We can together work towards Goa’s development. BJP will never make an impact for Goa’s progress,” Sisodia had said.