PANJIM: Former Cortalim MLA and former Minister for Forest and Environment Alina Saldanha resigned from the primary membership of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday.
In a resignation letter written to AAP Goa President Amit Palekar, Saldanha said, “I have come to this decision after observing the functioning of the Aam Aadmi Party which does not match with my thought process on issues pertaining to the State of Goa.”
“'I also wish to bring to the notice of the President of the Aam Aadmi Party that the functioning of the party has to be more focused on issues pertaining to the well-being of the State of Goa and its people,” Saldanha said.
Later, speaking to O Heraldo, she alleged that the party is not where it should have been.
“They should be where people need them. But it was not happening and that is the main reason that I have resigned. However, this was not my decision. I went to the people who voted for me. They started asking me questions like where is the party for whom they voted. I did not say anything,” she said.
The former minister said, “People all along the railway track are seeing so much struggle. They are fighting for their lives. I feel every party in Goa should be there to help them because people are going to lose their homes and environment. They are suffering from all kinds of problems like coal dust pollution, destruction of houses, destruction of houses. How are people going to cope? There is so much negativity in their life.”
Saldanha said,'' I felt alone. It is not for me but for the people who are going to face this tragedy in their life. I thought that now the message should be loud and clear.''
She had joined the AAP in December 2021, ahead of the Assembly elections in 2022.