TEAM HERALD
CANACONA: Reiterating that Mopa airport is nothing but a “big scam”, anti-Mopa crusader Fr Eremito Rebello on Thursday stated that the State government’s anti-people policies are getting exposed every passing day.
Addressing people from different coastal areas of Canacona taluka nearby the Loliem Church, Fr Rebello launched a scathing attack on the State government saying “voters have not yet seen any change from the previous Congress government.”
“We voted for a change, voted against corruption, but there is no ‘parivatan’ as assured by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, as corruption is felt everywhere even now,” said Fr Rebello.
Coming hard against government’s alleged false claims, Fr Rebello said: “Parrikar tells, late Mathany Saldhana was for Mopa, but let me tell you that claim is totally false, Saldhana never supported Mopa airport.”
“They say Mopa is needed for Goa, but let me explain. Do we have sufficient infrastructure to receive 2.40 crore people that would be handled by Mopa airport in our small Goa state, where land is a scarce?” he asked.
Dilip Hegde, Shack Owners Association President Cruz Cardoz, Fr Simon and Mohandas Lolayekar also addressed the gathering.
Interestingly, Loliem-Polem Sarpanch Bhushan Prabhudessai was seen seated among the audience.
Explaining that his priesthood does not prohibit him from leading a campaign against the Mopa airport, Fr Rebello said: “Being a Catholic priest doesn’t stop me from taking up social challenges. Our religious order is based on three issues, ‘Puja (Prayer), Pravarchan (Preaching) and Seva (Service). It is our obligation to educate people what is right and what is wrong,” he added.
