Goa Town and Country Planning (TCP) Minister Vijay Sardesai on Saturday said that he had never said that Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar was a Jesus and alleged that Congress was attempting to twist a metaphor into a weapon of hate.
In a statement, Sardesai, who is also President of Goa Forward Party (GFP), a coalition partner of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state, said, ‘I never said Parrikar is Jesus! Congress is attempting to twist a beautiful metaphor into a weapon of hate !If V say V should build bridges and not walls,r V equating ourselves to Jesus?But if anyone is hurt because of the deliberate spin given by Congress, I seek pardon for them.’
On Friday Congress had alleged that Sardesai had equated Parrikar to Jesus Christ while speaking on a congratulatory motion moved by BJP MLA Rajesh Patnekar for the Chief Minister for constructing a new bridge ‘Atal Setu’ across River Mandovi near the city.
Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) Chief Spokesperson Sunil Kawathanker had claimed that the statement made by Sardesai had hurt sentiments of the people of the state and demanded apology from the minister.(UNI)