Political parties flay Goa minister’s remark, seek removal from Cabinet

Sushil Manav

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 10

Goa Planning Minister Vijai Sardesai’s comment that “North Indians are scum of the earth and they want to create a Haryana in Goa” has raked up a controversy in the state.

While most political parties have condemned Sardesai’s statement and have sought action against him, INLD leader Abhay Singh Chautala has blamed the Congress and the BJP, the disrepute the state has earned.

As per media reports, while addressing Goa BizFest yesterday, Sardesai had called for caution against ‘North Indians’ who want to create ‘a Haryana in Goa. He went on to add that the ‘domestic tourists are the scum of the earth’.

Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala demanded immediate removal of the minister from the Goa Cabinet. He said that sentiments of not only people of Haryana, but also of the entire North India had been deeply hurt by Sardesai’s remarks.

He enumerated the contributions of the state to the field of sports, foodgrains production, representation in the armed forces and other fields. Surjewala asked Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar to immediately take up the matter with his party and ensure Sardesai’s removal from the post.

Rohtak Congress MP Deepender Hooda and AAP state convener Naveen Jaihind also deplored the statement and demanded his removal from the Goa Cabinet.

“It is highly derogatory to call people of Haryana a scum of the earth. Khattar must act and ensure the minister’s removal from the Goa Cabinet,” Deepender said. “If a minister in the BJP government has such views of the state, it also shows the party’s mindset about the people of Haryana,” said Jaihind.

Rajiv Jain, media in charge, state BJP, however, said that Sardesai should first visit Haryana before making up his mind about the state.

“He seems to have made his perception about the state sitting at a distance. If he comes here, he will come to know what progress Haryana has made in all fields,” he said. “Ten years of the Congress rule and now three years of the BJP have been an era of misrule in the state,” he said.