MARGAO: Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar came under fire at the launch of Goemkar at the Lohia Maidan on Tuesday, even as the organization told the government to forthwith stop all works on Mopa, including tendering of the airport and acquire suitable land for the existing airport parking to make Daboliim a full-fledged international airport.
The impressive meeting gave a call to the MLAs supporting the government to impress upon the Chief Minister to stop tendering of Mopa airport before fulfilling the parking and other requirements of Dabolim airport or brace up to face the people in their constituencies.
Even as speaker after speaker slammed the government for its U-turns and sins of omission and commission and failure on all fronts, including law and order, they gave a call to Goans to brace up to bring about a “parivartan” as they accused the government for failing to meet the aspirations of Goans in the last 10 months.
Though Goemkar was categorical in saying it has no intentions to dislodge the Parrikar government, Adv Aires Rodrigues said the government is feeling the tremors, adding that even Parrikar will not know when his government would collapse.
In his address, Goemkar Convenor MLA Vijai Sardessai declared his willingness to unconditionally support the Parrikar regime as requested by the Chief Minister if the government supports the eight resolutions adopted at the meeting, including a stop to the tendering of Mopa airport and acquiring of parking land for Dabolim.
“Mopa is not for the benefit of Goa, but for Maharashtra. The pro-merger lobby is still active. Parrikar should stop thinking he has been given the mandate to do anything and everything”, he added. He questioned the rationale of local politicos to knock the doors of NCP leader Sharad Pawar to resolve Goan issues.
Blaming both the BJP and the Congress for pursuing Mopa, Sardesssai said RTI information would reveal the names of Godinhos and Parsekars for buying land in and around Mopa. “The BJP has even forgotten the legacy of Matanhy Saldanha on Dabolim. If Parrikar has any respect for the late BJP leader, he should stop tendering Mopa”, he added.
Sardessai lambasted South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha for supporting both Mopa and Dabolim and demanded to know whether people of South Goa will re-elect an MP supporting Mopa airport.
Activist Aires Rodrigues said that Goa will be doomed if the Parrikar government is allowed to rule for five years. “We have seen Parrikar’s dictatorship. He was taking up issues when in the Opposition. But now, he wants to tell Goans to keep quiet and see his performance before he retires after five years”, Aires added.
While asking the government to quit if it cannot perform, Aires said the opposition MLAs have not right to continue if they fail to play the role of the opposition.
Anti-Mopa airport leader Sandeep Kambli accused both the congress and BJP for going ahead with the Mopa airport without taking the people into confidence.
Amongst others who spoke and were present on the dais were Mohandas Lolyenkar, Prashant Naik, Dr Francis Colaco, Babita Angle, Serafino Cota, Adv John Monteiro, former ZP Chairpersons Maria Rebello and Cleofacio Dias and former Navelim Sarpanch Bishut Themudo.
