Saying that the cat is now finally out of the bag, GFDO Convenor Fr Eremito Rebello appealed to the MLAs if they have eyes and ears to at least now question the Chief Minister and demand to retain Dabolim as Goa’s lone international airport.
“Goans should now clearly understand that the Mopa airport as conceptualised and planned by Manohar Parrikar is not only a land scam of unspeakably huge magnitude, but has also been put in place keeping the interests of Maharashtra in mind, at the cost of poor Goan farmers, the Goan tourism industry in particular and the Goan economy in general”, Fr Eremito told the media.
He said it is clear that Goa’s Chief Minister is functioning under the delusion that he is actually Maharashtra’s Chief Minister and that he believes that the neighbouring State’s progress and development should be pushed through and promoted even at the cost of Goa’s people, resources, interests and infrastructure. “This is a wake-up call for all right-thinking Goans to question the Chief Minister as to the reason why he thinks the well-being of a neighbouring state comes before the interests of the state and the people of Goa who elected him to power with a clear majority”, he added.
“There are no more excuses left. This government led by Manohar Parrikar has been stripped of all pretences and the truth lies exposed. This is a clarion call from GFDO to all Goans to unite and fight for our survival against the nefarious plans of our own government”, he said.
“Many years ago, Goans came out clearly to support statehood. Don’t allow the BJP government to surreptitiously transform Goa into a small and insignificant district of Maharashtra, even as the state government and Manohar Parrikar hoodwink the people of Goa by going through the motions of safeguarding Goa’s land and identity by pretending to push the Special Status cause at the Centre”, Fr Eremito asserted.
Activist Siddharth Karapurkar said the Chief Minister is even reported to have told the people of Sindhudurg during BJP’s election meeting that the proposed airport at Chippi would not serve the purpose and only Mopa would cater to their long-term needs.
