Daijiworld Media Network

Panaji, May 11: Goa Forward Party (GFP), a coalition partners in the BJP led Goa government, on Friday equated its president and deputy Chief Minister Vijai Sardesai’s ‘weaponise’ remark with Mahatma Gandhi’s ‘Non violence’ movement.

During inugration of part’s head office earlier this week, Sardesai had said that "We are willing to go anywhere to protect the interests of Goans. And if our government has made a mistake, then we will weaponise youth to ensure that Goanness is protected."

The statement had received strong criticism with opposition Congress demanding Deputy Chief Minister’s apology.

Justifying the comment, GFP general secretary Prashant Naik said that their party chief statement was “misinterpreted”. “Weaponising youth does not mean promoting violence. It was not meant that we will give weapons in the hands of youths,” he said.

Referring to Mahatma Gandhi’s non violence movement, Naik said that “non violence was the weapon of Gandhiji”

“When someone talks about what weapons Gandhiji had to fight, that does not mean he had swords…guns..in his hand. Everyone knew that Non violence was his weapon,” he commented.

“Similarly, when our President said weaponising youth means preparing our youth ideologically,” Naik justified.

Naik said that party wants to weaponise its youth wing with the ideology and truth to fight against the injustice.