PORVORIM: Taking a pot-shot at Goa Forward Party (GFP) over the issue of nationalisation of rivers, Congress MLAs on Friday said it was GFP that had launched a revolution across the State opposing the project before the Assembly elections.
“I still remember how GFP took the initiative in opposing the river nationalisation project. The party started the revolution before the Assembly elections. Even in my constituency (Velim), they had huge rally and meeting. It encouraged me to support them and take up the issue,” MLA Felipe Neri Rodrigues said.
“As a result people gave us and them the mandate for objecting to the nationalisation project,” he added, while participating in the discussion during the private member resolution moved by Congress MLA Ravi Naik opposing an MoU with the Inland Waterways Authority of India and Mormugao Port Trust.
The Congress MLA said that GFP, which is now part of the government, should re-think on the issue.
Earlier, Congress MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco recalled that some leaders, now in the ruling benches, had objected to nationalisation of rivers. “Now those leaders are in ruling. We all had said that we don’t want nationalisation project as State will lose its power to the Centre,” he said.
Countering the opposition, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said the GFP demand was that Captain of Ports (CoP) should be part of the tripartite agreement and the rights should be vested with them. “We have agreed to their demand. CoP is now part of the agreement,” he said. The statement was supported by GFP MLA and Minister Vijai Sardesai.
