TEAM HERALD
CALANGUTE: A little over 18 months ago, it would have seemed impossible for former Calangute MLA Agnelo Fernandes to have come out in support of his nemesis and archrival, sitting Calangute MLA Michael Lobo.
But close friends can turn foes and vice versa on any issue in politics and a public spat between close friends, Lobo and Calangute Panch and local bigwig, Joseph Sequeira, over a bus bay at Calangute on Wednesday was just that issue for Fernandes – a legislator that both Lobo and Sequeira had ousted last year – to change his attitude towards Lobo.
Fernandes has now gone to the unusual extent of describing the open spat between Sequeira and Lobo as an “uncultured attack on the elected representative of Calangute constituency.”
“This is a setback to the development of Calangute. Being the elected representative, Lobo deserves respect and cannot be abused in public.”
Condemning the unsavoury incident on the bus bay development, Fernandes said: “Whatever may be the situation, Lobo is the elected representative of Calangute constituency and should not have been abused by Sequeira in public. The language that was used in the argument was uncultured and unbefitting of an elected representative.”
“The elected representative of Calangute constituency deserves his due respect by default and the incident needs condemnation from all. The differences between the two leaders have surfaced in open which will have its effect on the development of Calangute.”
Taking a dig at Sequeira, Fernandes said Sequeira had been blaming all legislators from Calangute, including Tomazinho Cardozo, Suresh Parulekar, himself (Fernandes) and Lobo for stopping development in Calangute.
“But, it is just the other way round. Sequeira should refrain from stopping developments initiated by Lobo in the interest of Calangute village,” added Fernandes.
“I was rather happy that developmental projects like the Sewerage Treatment Plant, electricity cabling works, etc, which were approved during my tenure as MLA and were blocked by the local leader, were finally taking shape in Calangute,” he said.
“The two leaders should let development continue in the interest of Calangute village and Calangute constituency as a whole,” he added.
While coming out in support of Lobo, Fernandes, however, insisted that Lobo was still answerable to various problems in Calangute.
“My support to the Calangute MLA on the developmental front does not exonerate the MLA on unplanned development like the Baga road-widening works and Candolim CRZ works, where roads were forced on locals.”
“But, both leaders should, however, continue with their planned development, if need be, separately in the interest of Calangute constituency,” suggested Fernandes.
