‘Guv stooped to BJP bosses’ diktats’

Panaji: Former state Congress chief Girish Chodankar said on Sunday that by hastily granting his assent to the ordinance amending the Goa Municipalities Act, governor P S Sreedharan Pillai surrendered his constitutional post and bowed down to the diktats of BJP.
Chodankar, who claimed to be Pillai’s supporter, said that by agreeing to the ordinance, the governor allowed BJP to subvert the practice of ‘secret ballot’ to elect chairpersons of municipalities. “Pillai has compromised his principles and morality and has failed in his duties by giving such assent, which has further killed democracy in Goa,” said Chodankar. “He has tarnished his own reputation and image as an upright man.”
Chodankar said that BJP is trying to finish off the opposition across the country while also destroying constitutional institutions and democratic processes. The Pramod Sawant government approved the ordinance after circulating it among cabinet ministers, and then getting it promulgated by the governor. The ordinance comes days ahead of the election for the post of the Margao Municipal Council chairperson.
“We strongly demand the BJP government revoke the amendments immediately,” Chodankar said.