‘MLAs succumbed to greed, allowed themselves to be purchased like cattle’

Panaji: The eight Congress legislators who joined BJP on Wednesday came in for scathing criticism with opposition parties accusing them of betraying the election mandate out of greed. The opposition parties also blamed BJP for engineering the defections. Criticism was also levelled against Congress for not being able to keep its flock together.
GFP president Vijai Sardesai said that the eight legislators opted to “pursue their greed for wealth and hunger for power” while also making a mockery of the oaths they swore before religious deities.
He accused BJP of using deceit and manipulation, which has brought ridicule to Goa. He said that BJP has treated MLAs as commodities, and the eight MLAs have allowed themselves “to be purchased like cattle”.
AAP and RG have challenged the eight MLAs to resign and stand for elections again.
“The Cumbarjua MLA has said that he will speak to the CM and get the old Goa structure demolished. In that case, I challenge him not to accept any ministry or position until that structure is demolished,” AAP’s Goa convener Amit Palekar said. He alleged that BJP used blackmail and money to lure the Congress MLAs. “I think all of them should stand for elections again if they have the guts.”
RG founder Manoj Parab issued a similar challenge to the MLAs. “If these MLAs are so confident that the people are with them, they should prove it and resign. Contest the elections on the BJP ticket so that we can see who are the people who told these MLAs to leave Congress and join BJP.”