Team Herald
ASSOLNA: Tennis Legend Leander Paes, who is now a team player of TMC, was on his home court in his native Assolna, Velim and Tollencanto, on Thursday. He said it was really special for him to revisit the place of his grandparents. He wishes to start at his roots and then move on to the whole State.
His campaign called ‘Nave Sakalichi Bhasabhas’ which translates to ‘a dialogue for a new dawn’, saw TMC leaders, local boy Adv Antonio Clovis Da Costa, one of the front runners for the Velim TMC ticket, besides Rajendra Kakodkar, Swati Kerkar and others walking with Paes all the way. They interacted with several sections of society, including the local fishermen from Assolna and Velim.
Leander, is an Olympic individual medal winner and the holder of 18 Grand Slam titles in doubles and mixed doubles, is one of India’s most successful sportspersons (see detailed career profile on the Sports page). Now wearing a TMC shirt, a party he joined recently in the presence of TMC Chairperson Mamata Bannerjee, he met the young and old, listening attentively, holding a child in his arms and exuding the true Goan warmth. He even found time to autograph caps for youngsters who were thrilled to meet the Olympic medal winner and multiple Grand Slam winner. Paes interacted with people in their homes or by the wayside and understood the problems faced by common people.
A visit to freedom fighter Juliao Menezes’ house, where the seeds of the Liberation movement were sown, the Colleawado dockyard and the Banda chapel where he met Parish Priest Fr Jovino Pereira and Velim Sports Club, as part of an outreach programme, on Thursday, were the other high points of the Leander Paes day out. The tennis star plans to spend three more days in the area meeting and connecting with his roots.
At freedom fighter Juliao Menezes’ house, he met Jeferino Ravi Menezes, nephew of Juliao Menezes. Later he visited Colleawado dockyard and interacted with the local fishermen. Agostinho Furtado, president of Assolna-Velim-Chinchinim- Betul Fishermen Association, besides Remdious Crasto and others. He heard the grievances of the fishing community, and assured resolve their issues (please see related story on page 2 )
Paes further assured the fishing community that TMC will raise the issue pertaining to the nationalization of rivers in the upcoming winter session of parliament.
Speaking to Herald after the interaction with the fishing community he said that there are many issues in the state but the fishing community has the major issues.
“Cleaning of Sal river besides other rivers in Goa is an important issue to be looked into. I have studied 14 issues in the last one month in Goa, and fishing is the big issue. We all need to do our best to our people and not to point out anyone or anything. I have come back to Goa to do something for the people. I have come to do good for the people. Mamata didi has given me an opportunity to serve the people, and I am very grateful to her,” he stated.
Paes also inducted cultural icon Collin Castro aka Colly-Coll De Velim into the Goa TMC and promised to usher in a new dawn that the people of Goa rightly deserve.
