Team Herald
VASCO: Fishing community of Goa and locals from Cansaulim celebrated Matanhy Saldanha’s 73rd birthday anniversary followed by office inauguration of their leader Olencio Simoes. Alina Saldanha, Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco and Goenchea Raponnkarancho Ekvott (GRE) members, attended the garlanding ceremony at Cansaulim market where his statue has been erected.
GRE President Agnelo Rodrigues speaking on the occasion said, “Matanhy Saldanha was the great leader of Goa and the fishing community of Goa and India. Sadly his legacy has been uprooted by the present BJP government in Goa”.
“The three linear projects through Mollem, the Major Ports Authority Bill, CRZ notification 2019, River Nationalisation and the Sagarmala projects planned in Goa is all out to destroy the environment of Goa and due to which several communities like the fishers, farmers, toddy tappers will be completely displaced from their occupation”, he claimed.
GPCC President Girish Chodankar said that Simoes has been fighting for the cause of the downtrodden and is the only one who is carrying forward Matanhy Saldanha’s legacy which the BJP has failed miserably.
Simoes said that the inaugurated office premises was also run by Matanhy Saldanha who had worked tirelessly for the people of Cortalim. “It was this office where late CM Manohar Parrikar had promised the people of Cortalim that he will not allow double tracking and complete Matanhy’s dreams for Cortalim and Goa. But sadly the present CM Pramod Sawant is all out to sell Goa to only benefit his friends”, he added.
Congress dignitaries Nitin Chopdekar, Nilesh Vasant Naik, Arun Galve, Peter Fernandes, Lopinho Xavier and others were present at the opening of the office.
