TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: Asserting that Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has been caught on the wrong foot on the Mopa airport issue, Independent MLA Vijai Sardesai Wednesday demanded the resignation of the Independent legislators, Goa Vikas Party MLAs and Mauvin Godinho on the Chief Minister’s statement that Mopa airport would boost tourism in Sindhudurg.
He also demanded a referendum on the airport issue, even as he called upon the MLAs supporting the BJP government to resign and settle in Sindhudurg.
“We suspected that Mopa was meant for the Konkan region of Maharashtra. Parrikar’s speech in Sindhudurg asking voters to vote for the BJP in Maharashtra since the BJP government in Goa will build Mopa to boost tourism in Sindhudurg only confirms our suspicions. It was shocking to hear the CM telling the people of Sindhudurg that Chippi is a small airport and he wants to build a big airport at Mopa,” Vijai said, adding that CM’s assertion has exposed the lobby, which has been working to set up the airport at Mopa.
“I was accused by the Altar boys, the GVP MLAs and Mauvin Godinho for trying to divide Goa into north and south. Now, the time has come for these MLAs to resign and migrate and settle in Sindhudurg,” he added.
The Independent MLA also lashed out at the Opposition Congress, saying that Mopa is a joint venture of the BJP and the Congress. “It would be injustice if I don’t expose the Opposition Congress. The Leader of the Opposition had claimed that Mopa was his baby. This baby has today become a monster ready to gobble up Goa,” he warned, while expressing his surprise that the airport issue did not merit attention at the Congress function held at Panjim on Tuesday.
Asserting that the Parrikar government is working at the behest of the Maharashtra lobby, which has been active since the time of Opinion Poll, Vijai said a referendum and election is the only way to settle the issue once and for all. “The people of South Goa have made its stand clear on Mopa. A referendum will help take the matter to the people of North Goa to convince them that Mopa is being pushed to benefit Sindhudurg,” Vijai added.
