My integrity is much higher than Calangute MLA: Saldanha
HERALD CORRESPONDENT
CALANGUTE, DEC 18
Reacting to Calangute MLA Agnelo Fernandes on allegations of collecting Rs 1000 for kerosene utilization certificates, former minister Matanhy Saldanha said he has been fighting for the cause of the fishing community over the years “without a single penny.”
“Such allegations of taking money should in fact come from the fishing community as they are losers of their hard earned money. However, the fishing community is well aware of my integrity, which is much higher than that of the Calangute MLA,” said Saldanha.
“I do not have to stoop to the level of Fernandes as I have been fighting for their cause over the years without a single penny”, he added.
Commenting on Fernandes’ allegation that he (Saldanha) had been shielding a fisherman who had allegedly burnt canoes of other fishing community members, Saldanha said: “I have never shielded a criminal and whatever has happened in the past has got nothing to do with the present scenario.”
“However, what Fernandes did was not right and I strongly condemn his act. We are more interested in justice in the attack of innocent fishermen and hoping the culprits would be brought to book and punished for the illegal act,” he added.
Former Calangute sarpanch Joseph Sequeira has also refuted allegations of Fernandes that he along with Saldanha had instigated villagers of Candolim to attack the fishing community members.
“I was not present at the jetty when the assault took place but was told by one person to go to the Calangute Police Station to help them,” he said.
“But Fernandes was very much at the jetty to instigate the Candolim villagers to attack the traditional fishermen, which I condemn even today in the strongest of words. I want to remind Fernandes that I am not a member of any political party and this issue to me is to help my villagers and fishermen of Calangute in their times of need,” Sequeira added.
