MAPUSA: Union Minister and senior BJP leader Smriti Irani said Wednesday that what the Congress failed to do for 40 years, the Narendra Modi government fulfilled by implementing the One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme for the armed forces.
Addressing public meetings at Pernem, Aldona and Arpora, she said, “The leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar is appreciated by the officers and soldiers. Families of soldiers make a great sacrifice by sending them to join armed forces to serve the nation. But these families were denied their basic right of One Rank One Pension by the earlier Congress-led governments.”
She lambasted the Congress for failing to honour the sacrifices of the soldiers by completely ignoring their demand for OROP for 40 years.
Ms Irani congratulated Calangute MLA Michael Lobo for implementing the Swatch Bharat mission and carrying out developments in his constituency. “There is no doubt that Michael Lobo will win the election from Calangute where Rs 400 crore has been spent on developing roads,” she said.
Michael Lobo informed that the government has promised to give more importance and more funds for the development of Calangute constituency than other constituencies since it brings in revenue for the government through taxes.
Accusing the non-BJP governments of having neglected Calangute, Lobo said only the BJP government developed the constituency. However, “till now only 40 percent development has taken place in this constituency in all the sectors and the remaining 60 percent is in pipeline,” he said.
He promised to make Calangute a model constituency which “people will see in the next five years.”
“Connectivity from Mapusa to Sinquerim, sewerage network, recreational activities, grounds and indoor clubs for youth are some of our plans for the constituency,” he said.
In an apparent self indictment, he said, “Today Calangute is in a complete mess with garbage all around, but after the formation of next government, Calangute will be known as the cleanest constituency in Goa.”
The public meetings were attended by Rajendra Arlekar, Glen Ticlo, and sarpanchas of different villages and ZP members.
