THURSDAY, MAY 09, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: In his first press conference after filing his papers for election to the Rajya Sabha from Bengal, which is an absolute formality, Luizinho Faleiro was at his vintage best, throwing hard-hitting arrows to silence his critics and defined a clear road map for the TMC in the forthcoming elections. He red-flagged key issues of Goa which he will raise in Parliament, which included coal transportation, land issues.
Most importantly, Faleiro said that issues of Goans will be raised in Parliament. “Mamata Banerjee has proven her commitment to Goa by making her colleague resign from her Rajya Sabha seat for me. Her crowning glory in this fight against the BJP juggernaut was sitting on a wheelchair (and winning the Bengal elections). She has decided to take the voice of Goa to Parliament. The second-largest opposition party in parliament is TMC.” Asked if he expected other Goan MPs from other parties to take up these issues as well he retorted, “I do not hold their power of attorney”.
The Goa model will be followed in Goa. I am in charge, and I will do it
The two-time Chief Minister, who quit Congress and joined the TMC less than two months ago said, “The TMC has put its footsteps on the sacred soil of Goa so that Goans get a good government, good governance which they richly deserve. Goans are asking for a change, a credible change, whether it is BJP. We don’t want a Gujarat model. We don’t want a Delhi model. You can’t even breathe in Delhi. You can’t even dip your feet in the holy waters. We want a Goa model, and we will get a Goa model when Goans make their decisions.
Retirement package? I’m born again: Faleiro reacts to taunts that the RS seat was a retirement benefit
In his slow measured but firm voice, he treated journalists by repeating the taunts made by sections of the media and Facebook rabble-rousers. “So you said this was a retirement package. Luizinho Faleiro is a fighter, older journalists have seen me in 1980. I led from the front to make Konkani the official language, for Statehood, to fight for employment. People promise the sky and the moon and so many things. We are not going to give empty promises.”
He added, “There are some issues that we need to fight for. Unemployment is one of them. I remember I was the only one who had outlined a clear cut employment policy because of which many young Goans got jobs and careers.”
Then pointing at journalists he said, “Can anyone of you retire. If you are fighting Goa’s issues, can you retire? And I have not taken any retirement plan.”
Can those who have made a business and commerce of the Congress vote have the right? (to talk of vote split)
Faleiro perhaps reserved his sharpest retorts for those in the Congress who have said that the TMC is here to split votes. “We don’t want to divide the secular vote. But who are they to talk of division? They have sold 13 MLAs to the BJP. That vote was not for BJP. It was against the BJP. We had a majority of the MLAs. Who sold the MLAs who made business and commerce out of the MLAs? This is the big question mark? You are in the wholesale business of the total sale of the MLAs. What moral rights do you have to go back to the people and ask for the votes and tell the people don’t divide the secular vote,” said the fiery Faleiro
Who are these vultures? Asked Faleiro
Who are these vultures? How many MLAs have come and left? These traders and dealers have no right to talk about my retirement plan.
I’m not Kejriwal. I’m Luizinho Faleiro. I don’t make empty promises.
Saying that he and the TMC do not give empty promises he took a dig at AAP’s policy of giving announcements of its proposed freebies. “God gives us 120 inches of rainfall, it’s free water. We don’t need Kejriwal to give us free water. We want a government that gives uninterrupted water.”
Looking forward to true ‘Ram Rajya’, he said and added, “It will happen here”. “Law and order and safety of women (will be a reality). Our boys and girls studying abroad should be brought back (and given opportunities here) so that Goa becomes prosperous,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Rajya Sabha seat confirmation will be announced on November 22 since there is no one opposing him. He is likely to get sworn as Member in Parliament in Delhi on Nov 29 or 30.
