TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: As Goa Congress leaders on Monday made an impassioned plea to him to play a greater role to solve issues affecting Goa and Goans, Congress general secretary Luizinho Faleiro publicly placed his services at the disposal of the party, promising to work with the party rank and file, and be part of any movement in the state.
He, however, maintained silence on the request made by Opposition leader, Pratapsing Rane to return back to Goan politics. Faleiro made it clear that he would not like to interfere in Goa, but offered his services at the disposal of the party leadership.
Breaking his silence on issues plaguing Goa and Goans, Faleiro called for steps to solve the twin issues of airport and mining in the interests of Goa and Goans.. He supported the demand for Special Category status for Goa, saying it is the birth right of Goans to demand this status for the state. “I have not interfered in the state all these six to seven years. That does not mean that I don’t love my state. I have love for Goa. Though I don’t want to interfere in the state affairs, I am ready to come with you anywhere”, Faleiro told Congressmen, while replying to his felicitation in the presence of a galaxy of Congress leaders at the Babu Naik hall at Rumdamol on Monday evening. The felicitation programme was organised by the South Goa district Congress Committee in recognition of Luizinho’s appointment as the AICC general secretary.
On Digambar Kamat’s request to play his role in getting special status for Goa, Faleiro said “To demand special category status is our birthright. Why shouldn’t Goa ask when states such as Bihar and Uttar Pradesh are demanding the same ?. It is not too late to ask for special category status.” He appealed to the people to protect their culture, language and identify.
Saying that Congress worker may feel weak because the party is not in power, Faleiro said the party has the inherent strength to make a comeback., adding there is no magic wand to come back, but there’s only a magic formula of discipline, unity and consolidation of the party at the grassroots level”.
Earlier, in his address, Rane told Faleiro that the Congress wants him to be in Goa, saying a lot of work needs to be done in the state. “I need you to work together for the state. Your know what is good for Goa. Today, you are occupying a position in the party where policy decisions are taken”, he said, while taking a dig at the BJP for fooling Goans with empty promises.
In his address, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) chief Subhash Shirodkar exhorted Faleiro to play a leading role in Delhi for Goa and Goans. “Today, we have Faleiro, South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha, Rajya Sabha MP Shantaram Naik and Congress secretary to Rahul Gandhi Girish Chodankar in Delhi. Create a common platform by taking up issues in the larger interest of Goa and Goans”, Shirodkar added.
In his key note address, former Speaker Tomazinho Cardozo said that it was Faleiro who initiated the twin movements of Konkani and statehood for Goa in the 80’s. He said that Faleiro would occupy a prominent place in the history of Navelim, while making a plea to him to return back to Goa.
Besides Rane and Shirodkar, a galaxy of Congress leaders, including former chief ministers, Digambar Kamat and Ravi Naik, legislators Pandurang Madkaikar, Reginaldo Lourenco and Babu Kavlekar, former party legislators Filipe Neri Rodrigues, Jitendra Deshprabhu, Pratap Gawas, Agnelo Fernandes, besides party office bearers attended the felicitation function.
