SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2024
Team Herald
CHANDOR: In a rebuttal to North Goa BJP candidate Shripad Naik, India Bloc candidate Captain Viriato Fernandes enumerated his 26-year service in the Indian Navy, at a campaign meeting in Chandor on Saturday.
“From my childhood, I had this desire to serve the nation and that is why I joined the Indian Navy,” he said, adding that participating in the Kargil war was one of the stellar moments of his career. Referring to Naik’s comments on his Navy career, where he said he was doubtful if he (Viriato) was a Captain since there’s no sea in Kargil, Viriato said, “Shripad Naik was not attacking me; he was attacking the armed forces, and that too just for votes. Perhaps he will feel guilty about it in the future.”
After retiring from the Navy, despite having many “very lucrative” offers, he said he decided to serve Goans who were ignored and neglected for too long.
“Recognising my commitment to serve the people, Congress has given me this ticket,” he said while asserting that by nominating him, the party has actually nominated the common man whose voice he vowed to be. Speaking at the Chandor Club, he recalled participating in the historic night long anti-coal protest in the village on November 1, 2020.
Veteran politician Jorson Fernandes, in a fiery speech gave various reasons why the BJP must be ousted. “Just as Indians, irrespective of caste, creed, region and language, came together to drive away the British, it is time to unite once again to drive away the destructive BJP,” he said.
“Under the BJP rule, press, farmers, religion and even the Constitution is under threat,” he said, adding that very soon Goans will have to only inhale coal in their land.
Cuncolim MLA and Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao while lauding the heritage village of Chandor stressed the need for Goans to remain united to ensure that atrocities witnessed in Manipur are not replicated in Goa.
“Just as Salcete saved Goa during the Opinion Poll, it is time once again for Salcete to rise up and protect our Constitution,” he said.
Goa Forward Party leader Vikas Bhagat said that he was part of the BJP when it had statesmen like Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who preferred to lose the vote of confidence by one vote, instead of engineering any defection.
“That was a different BJP and what we see today - all sorts of chicanery is followed to retain the chair,” he lamented.
He questioned whether the BJP candidate, being an industrialist, will even understand the common man’s hardships to raise them in the parliament.
“Think well as you vote, for these elections will decide the fate of our country, our constitution and our livelihood,” he said.
