VELIM: In a game-changing move up and coming leader from Velim advocate Antonio Clovis da Costa has said what no other politician or party has. In a Facebook post that drew a lot of attention and praise. The post read ‘TMC assures that candidates who have been charged in criminal cases will not be given tickets for this assembly election”
This is the first time any political leader has made such a bold statement He drew a lot of praises for an assurance that should make it easy for any party to lay the foundation stone for clean governance
This also makes it easy for anyone with a clean record to contest and win.
Clovis himself a young advocate is a fresh clean untarnished face, representing clean, progressive politics. Many in Velim consider him as the face of the future
This assurance of his has gone viral on social media, with many reactions from the citizens. Reacting to one of the comments Clovis said that “TMC has promised Goans a new dawn, not old dons”
Asked what prompted him to put up that post, Antonio Clovis da Costa, told Herald, “I got inspired by what the Election Commission said, and this is the way for the future of clean politics”
Another citizen Richard Diniz said that it is indeed a good decision, but he believes conviction takes up more than a MLA's term so it's better in people's interest not to give candidature to anyone with a criminal complaint.
"Innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt is the general legal principle. How can one say he or she has committed a crime? What if innocent? It would have been accepted if convicted in the crime, not otherwise. My take would be to deny tickets unless proven guilty would be injustice done to those denied", said Anish Bakal
Reacting to this Clovis da Costa told Herald “I specifically said those which are charged should be denied tickets because charge sheets are filed after gathering of evidence, whereas the full trial and conviction takes years”. As a busy lawyer and former President of the South Goa Bar Association, he should know.
"If this is the firm decision of TMC then people of Goa are there with TMC with full support, because people of Goa need young, energetic, educated, and new faces that can raise their voice in assembly", said Cristo Richard on the post of Adv. Clovis.
Appreciating the decision Nifa Rodrigues said that this is a good decision taken by the party.
"We don't want criminals in Goa assembly and this is possible if Adv Antonio Clovis is there, please support him", reacted Atik Bonducda.
Besides, Arun Naik also appreciated the decision and said this is a need of an hour.