Borkar says party not out, no rift with Parab; refutes rumours of party shift
OLD GOA
Ever since the Lok Sabha poll results were out, the Revolutionary Goans Party appears to have taken a backseat and questions are being asked whether it is the end of the road for the party after the debacle at the poll.
Party supremo Manoj Parab, in particular, is not to be seen on the ground, and calls made to him go unanswered further fuelling speculation whether the RGP is done and dusted.
Against this backdrop, there are rumours of a rift between MLA Viresh Borkar and Manoj Parab, and that Borkar could possibly shift allegiance and join a national party as the future of RGP currently appears to be uncertain.
Party sources informed The Goan that immediately after the LS poll results, a meeting of the party was held wherein the members were told to concentrate on their business and professional life, which only added more fuel to the rumours that it is the end of the road for RGP.
MLA Viresh Borkar however rubbished all the speculations and informed that after the LS debacle, the party has changed its strategy and is focusing on strengthening its grassroot.
“The party functionaries are meeting its booth level workers to understand what went wrong and to prepare a strategy to strengthen the party,” Borkar said. “RGP may be down but it is not out,” Borkar affirmed and opined that victories and defeats are part and parcel of a journey. “We may have been defeated but we are going to come out strongly to achieve success,” the MLA stated.
On the party not seen on the ground, Borkar said that the entire core team of the party including Manoj Parab was involved in preparing strategy of RGP for the recently concluded Assembly.
Replying to question of rift between him and Parab, Borkar rubbished the rumours as baseless.
“Whatever I am today is because of Manoj Parab and we will continue to be together come what may,” Borkar said while adding that the rumours are spread by opponents of RGP. “There is absolutely no rift between me and Manoj Parab,” the MLA reiterated while stating that one cannot stop the rumour mongers.
To another question that rumours are doing the rounds that Borkar is likely to switch allegiance to a national party, Borkar again scoffed off such rumours which he said are entirely false. “I am strongly with the RGP and will be with the party forever. There is no possibility of me joining any other party because we formed RGP to fight for the rights and identity of Goa and Goans. There is no party in Goa which fights for Goa and Goans,” Borkar said.
On there being no future with RGP, Borkar said that RGP is a revolution which is not formed to build one’s future.
“We did not form RGP to build our future but to fight for the greater good of Goa and Goans, and we will ensure that it remains that way,” Borkar added.
When questioned over the party workers being told to focus on their businesses and professional life, Borkar said that RGP survives on its own funding and donations from the people. “So, it is important that the revolutionaries also focus on their businesses and professions so that their families are not impacted. But at the same time, whatever time that is available the revolutionaries are dedicating it for the cause of the party,” he stated.
“Today, many revolutionaries including me and Parab are facing legal cases, and we have to pay from our own pockets for the legal expenses,” Borkar said while adding that this affects the families of the revolutionaries who too have to go through hardships.
Borkar finally concluded that RGP is alive and kicking, and that it will bounce back from the setback of the LS polls.
