PANJIM: The ongoing protests by the Citizens of Goa against the defections by MLAs, on Sunday entered the Cumbarjua constituency, represented by Congress MLA Rajesh Phaldesai, who is allegedly one of the MLAs intending to switch sides.
Speaking at a largely attended protest meeting at the Gandhi Chowk, Old Goa, former Margao Municipal Council chairperson Savio Coutinho , who is spearheading the protests, stated that time was up for greedy and selfish politicians, who resort to selling away all their principles for the sake of monetary benefits and rewards of positions.
“At a time when the people of Goa had lost trust and faith in politicians on account of rampant defections, these politicians put forth all the Gods to harvest votes for their victory; and within just three months they preferred to take the same old path of greed,” Coutinho lamented.
Coutinho further stated that many of the MLAs are wary over the fact that the protests organised by the citizens are building resentment against the prospective defectors.
Reacting to the statement of Margao MLA Digambar Kamat, who defended himself as “I’m not the one”, Coutinho said, “Yes we did call him the Vice Captain of BJP team.”
“All our utterances directed towards him are not our ‘own made’, but are on the basis of the Congress Party’s declarations. Neither have we identified Kamat as the chief conspirator nor did the Congress party remove Kamat from the CWC, and file a disqualification petition on our recommendation,” Coutinho said.
The former Margao chairperson challenged Kamat to announce that he would stand committed to the pledge he took before Mahalaxmi Temple, Shrine of Holy Cross at Bambolim and the Dargah; and that he shall continue to be in his party till the end of his five-year term. We assure that we shall not only withdraw our protests but publicly express our regrets for judging him wrong,” Coutinho stated.
Glen Cabral said that the people have now woken up and any MLA who defects will be thought a lesson for sure.
TMC leader Samil Volvoikar criticised the BJP government for their attempt to murder democracy by adopting unfair means of purchasing MLAs.
Activist Shankar Polgi strongly stressed the need of an effective opposition and having everyone in the ruling side will not help the State in any manner.
Among those who also spoke were Mahesh Naik, Azim Shaikh, Maria Lopes, Kiran Naik, Iftiyaz Sayed and Tanoj Adwalpalkar.
