TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 2024
Team Herald
MARGAO: When Pallavi Dempo emerged out after filing her nomination papers at South Goa Collectorate office, she was asked by the reporters what were the issues raised by the people of South Goa during her visits to different villages.
Responding to the question, Pallavi said people were talking about unemployment, the environment and women's empowerment.
When reporters asked Pallavi about her opinion on mining issues, she claimed that no one had spoken to her about mining.
When she was asked about her opinion on mega projects coming up across the State like the township project at Sancoale, comprising 650 flats and 70 villas and which will affect half a village, Pallavi said the opinion of the Chief Minister was her opinion.
To this, Power Minister Sudin Dhavalikar intervened and killed time by saying that the project was planned during the Congress regime.
While Pallavi was responding to a question related to the issues like coal pollution, double-tracking and Mhadei river, the MGP leader said, “Mhadei issue is a court matter.”
"It is known to everybody that those who are opposing double-tracking had once upon a time opposed Konkan Railway too. Now those same people use the Konkan Railway to go to Delhi or Mumbai. When the Sagarmala project was proposed, people were against it too,'' Dhavalikar mentioned.
To another question, on the Mhadei river issue, Pallavi said it’s a Congress' issue. However, realising the seriousness of the question, Dhavalikar pitched in saying that this matter is in the Supreme Court.
Then came the question of double tracking, instead of reply coming from Pallavi, it came from Dhavalikar, who said, "Goa needs double tracking. Also, those, who are against double tracking now, were once upon a time opposing Konkan Railway too."
Interestingly, while all this was happening, Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik stepped into the fray and told reporters, "Let Pallavi become an MP first, then ask questions. Why are you asking now?"
