The Hindu : National : Advani asks Goans to reject defectors

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Sunday, May 22, 2005

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National

Advani asks Goans to reject defectors

Anil Sastry

"Demonstrate political maturity"

PANAJI: Bharatiya Janata Party president L.K. Advani has said the people of Goa must demonstrate their political maturity by rejecting those who were responsible for toppling the Parrikar Government in the coming byelections to five Assembly seats on June 2.

Kicking off the party's campaign in Margao on Friday, Mr. Advani said the elections were "unique." The BJP regarded the election as a tool for protection of democratic values and good governance. Only sensible voting could keep the defectors out.

The BJP has high stakes in Margao, home turf of Digambar Kamat, who was the number 2 in the Parrikar Government. His resignation dealt the final blow to the Government. While Kamat is the Congress candidate, the BJP has fielded RSS activist Sharmad Pai Raiturkar.

`Historical'

"Byelections are normally held on the death of a sitting member or on the member being appointed to a constitutional post or the like," Mr. Advani said.

The present byelections were unique because they were being held after the sitting members defected from the BJP to topple the Manohar Parrikar Government.

They were also "historical" as they were being held for an Assembly kept under suspended animation.

Equates with Emergency

He equated the dismissal of the Parrikar Government with the imposition of Emergency.

Mr. Advani praised Mr. Parrikar for providing the only stable Government after Goa became a State.

He ridiculed the Congress claims of providing a stable government, saying the party had 13 Governments during 15 years of its rule.

Earlier, the former Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar, said the party would launch a universal mediclaim scheme and offer stipend to unemployed youth on coming to power.

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