CALANGUTE: Hitting back at former Calangute MLA Agnelo Fernandes over the road issue at Nagoa, Calangute MLA, Michael Lobo, accused Fernandes of trying to divide communities at Nagoa-Arpora on communal lines to garner votes for his ZP candidate.
Addressing media persons in his office at Calangute, Lobo said Fernandes has come out with issues during every election, to divide the two major communities living in communal harmony in Goa.
“During the Assembly election, Fernandes distributed CDs on the Gujarat riots, while during the Lok Sabha election, similar CDs were distributed. Now for the ZP polls, he is trying to incite the villagers of Nagoa-Arpora on communal lines by unnecessarily dragging the Church into the road issue and claiming that the road access to the Church will be blocked at Nagoa,” stated Lobo.
“Nobody has claimed nor stated that the road access leading to the Church or cemetery at Nagoa will be closed at Fuldem Vaddo, Nagoa, but a 10-metre road is being constructed based on a written demand by the members of the Hindu community for smooth movement of their heavy vehicles,” said Lobo.
“Arpora-Nagoa Panchayat has also given a written assurance to allay fears of the locals, especially the Catholic community stating that the access leading to the Holy Trinity Church and cemetery, besides the Dattatray Nagnath Temple at Fuldem Vaddo, Nagoa, will be maintained and never closed to the public.”
“Politicians like Fernandes have tried to take advantage of the prevailing situation by inciting the members of the Catholic community through a couple of his close aides, to garner votes for his candidate and there is nothing more in it,” alleged Lobo.
“I will write to GPCC President Luizinho Faleiro and Congress Party President Sonia Gandhi against Fernandes for misusing the GPCC office and inciting the two major communities against each other to garner votes for his ZP candidate,” he added.
Arpora-Nagoa Sarpanch Sushma Nagvekar said the Arpora-Nagoa Panchayat has received a representation from the locals and members of Dattatray Nagnath Temple, Fuldem Vaddo, Nagoa, for a wider road in view of the accident-prone zone there.
“A resolution dated February 20, has also been adopted by the panchayat to maintain the road access leading to Holy Trinity Church and cemetery besides the temple from Agnelo Bar & Restaurant to allay the fears of the villagers of Fuldem Vaddo, Nagoa.”
Arpora-Nagoa Panch Agostinho D’Souza also addressed media persons, while Arpora-Nagoa Deputy Sarpanch Roshan Redkar, Panchas Joseph Fernandes and Sakharam Naik and Devanand Vernekar, member of Dattatray Nagnath Temple were present at the news conference.
