TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: Asserting that he has no business to dictate terms to the Congress party in Goa, Congress spokesperson Pratima Coutinho has dared Trinamool Congress leader Churchill Alemao to come to any church, temple or mosque and tell that daughter Valanka has not voted for him in the Lok Sabha poll.
“People of Navelim have shown the doors to Churchill in the 2012 Assembly poll and now people of South Goa will show him his place on May 16”, Pratima told the media on Wednesday.
She said that GPCC president John Fernandes had asked Valanka to work for the Congress in Goa, but she was not there. Pratima asserted that she had openly worked for the party in Goa and had proved her loyalty, saying that she had never used her youth Congress machinery to work against the Congress. “Politics of Alemao clan is always with vested interest, ulterior motives and evil designs. My loyalty to the Congress party is undisputed till date. I had never switched party for my vested interest at any point of time. And my high command knows that Pratima is non-corrupt and not involved in any scams or scandals or has got any criminal cases against her,” she added.
On Churchill’s allegation on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s half brother joining the BJP, Pratima said that neither the PM’s brother nor Savio Coutinho were primary members of the Congress unlike Churchill Alemao who has been elected MLA and Minister through the Congress. “They have not blackmailed or threatened to leave the party for denying tickets to them or their family members. By speaking on the Prime Minister or me, what is he trying to prove. Churchill should tell if the PM or myself have indulged in anti-party activities,” she added.
