DHIRAJ HARMALKAR
CORTALIM: Call it tightrope walking or astute politics OR a fight, which will force her to choose between her party and her people, Alina Saldanha, BJP’S Cortalim MLA has pitch-forked herself as a centrifugal political figure in the battle against double-tracking and other projects clearly meant to facilitate the movement of coal. However the big ask is, can she wear both the hats of a people’s politician and a BJP MLA, when opposing her govt on double tracking?
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While the protests are clearly people-centric, for Alina Saldanha, there are two clear issues to consider, firstly, the legacy of her late husband Matanhy whose support base props her up even to this day; and secondly, a political realization that any other stand in conflict with the people’s stand would allow an alternate political force to emerge.
Speaking to Herald, for this report, she said, “When there is no demand from the local people for more trains, then the question of increasing the number of trains does not arise. Therefore, the second track is totally redundant and more importantly, if still a second track comes up, then it will make the lives of Goan people a nightmare.
She does have support because of her unwavering stand but at the same time she has not once indicated that she will part ways with the BJP.
“I have not faced any internal pressure from the State government and I have been given the freedom to speak. There are no political reasons. I’m speaking against these destructive projects out of love for my land and for the people I represent whose life I should protect and I am walking in the footsteps of late Matanhy Saldhana” she added.
Her stand on the projects has been totally at variance with her government. She said, “These three linear projects might be considered developmental projects in other States but Goa is too small and it does not have the capacity to carry these projects. These are destructive in nature as far and detrimental to the health of the people”
But the big question is, can Alina’s approach be synonymous with the people as well as the BJP on the double-tracking issue, which affects villages in Cortalim and the adjoining Nuvem constituency?
In fact, after Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, in an apparent climb-down, said that coal handling at MPT would be reduced by more than 50%, Alina said, “I am very happy to read the statement given by the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant that the coal quantum to be transported will reduce so much. This justifies that the doubling of tracks is totally redundant. If you look at the number of passengers, which the SWR carries on local and the interstate trains, every bogie is practically empty”.
She further added, “ I am glad that a decrease in coal means better opportunity for people to enjoy good health but the doubling of track issue has to be totally opposed and what causes destruction cannot be called as development.”
Interestingly neither Goencho Ekvott (GE), an umbrella organization of over 24 people’s groups or important groups like Goencho Avaaz, the Village Action Committee against Double Tracking or the Goyant Kollso Naka have welcomed the CM’s statement because there is no clarity on how this will be achieved.
For now many of the citizen’s groups, consisting of people who have worked with her late husband, are backing her stand against the projects irrespective of her being a ruling party MLA.
Orville Dourado Rodrigues of VACAD and GE member, said Saldanha, has opposed the double-tracking of the SWR, since she was elected as an MLA, in line with the vision of late Matanhy Saldanha. “Five meetings with the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant along with VACAD this year produced no results and gave us the impression that the Government was not sincere and only buying time, while pushing ahead with its agenda to lay the double tracks despite all-round resentment and stiff opposition from the local residents, who see the SWR as a chief destroyer of the very essence of sustainable living among one’s naturally endowed & pristine villages”, Rodrigues said.
In addition to that, the filing of FIRs on six activists & others for assembling at Chandor on the intervening night of 1st & 2nd November has not gone down well with the population and there is pressure building up against the State Government over its covert support to the alleged illegal works carried out by the SWR.
“In this scenario, it was a foregone conclusion that our MLA has rightly raised the voice of dissent against her own Chief Minister and the Environment Minister Nilesh Cabral”, Rodrigues added
Cresson Antao, GE Convenor o opined “I feel Saldhana understands the impact of these destructive projects fact and therefore she has been vocal and taking stands just like her late husband Matanhy Saldhana”.
Olencio Simoes, Goenchea Raponkarancho Ekvott (GRE) General Secretary, and Matanhy Saldanha’s nephew and one-time political opponent said, “Her stand on the three linear projects is commendable and I respect her for that. If Matanhy would have been present today, he would have taken the same stand which is in the people’s interest.
THE OTHER VIEW: WHY DOES ALINA CONTINUE WITH THE BJP WHN THE GOA GOVT HAS DONE NOTHING TO STOP THESE PROJECTS?
However, there is another view. There is a section which questions why she continues to be with the ruling BJP, when in spite of the people’s protest the BJP has made no effort to stop these projects
Agnelo Rodrigues, GRE president said, “It is very surprising and hard to believe what is reality. The double-track work is ongoing. If Matanhy would have been in her position at this point in time, he would have resigned from his position (as MLA) over the double tracking issue seeing the people’s opposition”.
Another close aide of hers said, “Now in the real sense, she is using her powers as an MLA for the benefit of people. She has raised people’s issues”.
But it is Alina’s continued faith in the BJP government, which will put both her and the people of her constituency, is a piquant situation. Look at this statement of hers to Herald, “I have faith in the government and I request the govt to please do what is right by Goa and by the people of Goa”.
With the government filing FIRs against activists for peacefully protesting at Chandor and giving permissions to the South Western Railways to carry on double-tracking work, this “faith in the government” that the Cortalim MLA has, will be put to severe test. Ultimately, the people of her constituency will have to take a call on whether they will oppose the government but vote for the ruling party because Alina could be the BJP candidate.
