TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Claiming that commencing of operations at Mopa airport would turn South Goa into a “ghost town,” the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) ascertained its opposition to the airport and announced that they would continue agitation for scrapping of the new airport post Lok Sabha elections.
Addressing media persons on Friday, TMC national spokesperson Derek O’Brien also declared its future plan to contest the 2017 Assembly elections in Goa by building the party organization in the state post parliamentary elections. TMC had contested 20 out of 40 seats in Goa during March 2012 assembly election, but drew a blank.
O’Brien said that the party is for scrapping the Mopa airport as it is being constructed by forcibly acquiring land from farmers. He said that the people in Goa, especially from South are very upset over government’s bizarre decision to put up airport at Mopa.
“The opposition to the airport is a major issue. We assure that no farmers would be forcefully made to give up their land for the airport. Irrespective of Lok Sabha election results on May 16, airport is going to be a burning issue for the party. Mamata didi (Banerjee) would make sure that the issue has a logical end,” O’Brien said in the presence of TMC South Goa candidate Churchill Alemao.
TMC leader said that operation of Mopa airport would turn South Goa into a “Ghost Town”, as the district would be most affected. “I have personally spoken to some of the tour operators and chartered operators, who have expressed displeasure over government decision,” O’Brien said.
When asked why the party failed to field any candidate in North Goa to enhance its opposition to Mopa, O’Brien said ‘party fields candidates only on those seats, where they are confident of winning’.
Alemao told a press conference that it is a wrong decision to have an airport on Goa-Maharashtra border (Mopa) as the new facility would benefit Maharashtra. “I joined Trinamool with the only objective to scrap Mopa…the new airport will force state into an economic crisis,” he said alleging that the move to have new airport is basically to satisfy those politicians’ greed who have purchased land around the proposed airport.
TMC has also opposed government decision to ban mining in the State, thus ruining the State economy and livelihood of over lakhs of people. “TMC is against illegal mining but what is legal need to be allowed to sustain livelihood of the people dependent on the business. You cannot shut shop completely,” O’Brien said.
