CORTALIM: Alina Saldanha’s constituency of Cortalim has a new priority – special status for Goa. The voters had rallied behind the late Matanhy Saldanha for this cause, and want to see it fulfilled.
The people in the constituency are confused by BJP playing it hot and cold with the issue. While on the one hand Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar rules out the possibility of Goa getting special status, his cabinet colleague Alina claims the issue is not over until it is debated and voted upon in Parliament.
That’s a betrayal, feel voters as the BJP that promised to fulfil this demand in 2012 during the Assembly poll campaign and followed it up during the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.
“Our BJP leaders seem to have not understood the basic concept of special status for Goa and have taken a ‘U’ turn. The issue will resurface and we will be cornering the ruling dispensation, including our MLA, on the issue. Alina in past had said she would resign and now she has changed her stand, this has upset all of us,” Cansaulim resident Dr Marconi Correia said.
Similarly, GRE general secretary Olencio Simoes slammed the BJP and said, “It has been proved that the BJP government is a ‘U’ turn government, especially in the case of special status. The modus operandi of the BJP is identical to that of the Congress which had promised special status and failed to live up to its promise. Alina, if she really cares for the legacy of her husband Matanhy Saldanha and what he stood for, should resign and take to the streets to mobilise Goans to fight for this cause which was so close to the heart Matanhy.”
Cansaulim resident Adv Nigel Costa Frias said, “Special status under Article 371 of the Constitution is the best thing that can happen for Goa. It would protect Goan identity, culture, heritage and the scarce land resources of Goa for future generations.”
Not only individuals, but social groups from the villages in Cortalim constituency, feel betrayed by the BJP. Cansaulim Arossim Cuelim Civic and Consumer Forum (CACCCF) Joint General Secretary Ashley Fernandes said, “For four and a half years we waited patiently for this BJP government to grant special status to Goa as promised by them and to our leader Matanhy. What we saw was mere lip service and rhetoric to the cause of special status, an issue close to the heart of Matanhy. If the leaders and MLAs who adopted the resolution in the House are serious about what they spoke about special status then the time is come for our MLA to withdraw support to the BJP government on their failure to grant special status to Goa.”
Besides the villagers, Matanhy’s sister feels that Alina should resign from the BJP and teach the party a lesson for not fulfilling this demand. “My brother Matanhy’s dream for all Goans was special status for Goa. He died fighting for Goa and Goans with the hope that the BJP government would protect Goa’s identify, culture, heritage and its scarce land resources for posterity. Also special status under Article 371 of the Constitution figured in his manifesto for the Assembly elections of 2012. He walked the length and breadth of Cortalim constituency besides other constituencies of Goa so that the BJP gets the required majority to grant special status for Goa. Now with the promise made to my brother Matanhy not being kept, Alina should immediately resign from the BJP and teach them a lesson,” said Ifa Saldanha.
Not only the villagers but even other local leaders from Cortalim constituency feel that the issue of special status is not over but has gained momentum. “Special status is indeed a very important issue for the people of Goa and especially for Cortalimkars. Even in the forthcoming Assembly elections, this issue will be given priority where people will certainly question the leaders as to whether they support this demand or not and voting will depend on the assurances,” Cortalim Sarpanch Hillario Figueiredo said.
