TEAM HERALD
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PANJIM: Congress Lok Sabha MP Francisco Sardinha has decided to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, in all likelihood, around February 21-22, to discuss difficulties faced by mining dependent persons after suspension of mining operations since September.
“I’ll meet and inform them about hardships faced by the people who are dependent on the mining sector,” Sardinha told a press conference Wednesday.
The South Goa MP said he plans to meet Singh and Gandhi a week after the matter will come up for hearing in the Supreme Court. “The PM and UPA President are busy with the forthcoming Parliament Session. I will also be busy with the session and two meetings in Delhi next week,” he informed.
The MP sternly rebuffed a media question about NCP President Sharad Pawar’s assurance to mediate between those affected by the stalled mining activity and the Centre.
“Who is Pawar? Is he the concerned person? Since people went to him as the Union minister, he will speak to the Centre…” Sardinha reacted but later changed his tone to appreciate Pawar’s initiative to intervene in the matter.
On February 4, Pawar had met and assured pro-mining agitators, holding a chain sit-in protests under the banner of Goa Mining Affected People’s Front at Azad Maidan that he would seek to convene a meeting of concerned ministries over resumption of mining in Goa.
To another question whether he would meet MoEF Minister Jayanthi Natarajan, Sardinha once again snubbed the question saying it was not necessary to meet the Ministry if he succeeds in holding a meeting with the PM and Sonia Gandhi. He said as an MP, it is his ‘duty and right to meet anyone’ (at the Union Ministry level) regarding any issue.
The BJP had also slammed the NCP chief for “politicising” the issue and that if Pawar wants to help he should try to get a financial package from the Centre, demanded by the State government.
Meanwhile, Sardinha, throwing his weight behind resumption of legal mines, said the activity should not have been stopped completely in one go.
…wants crackdown on quacks
PANJIM: South Goa Lok Sabha MP Francisco Sardinha has urged the Goa Government to crackdown on unqualified ‘medical practitioners’, while promoting the state as a destination for medical tourism.
Speaking at a press conference Wednesday, he said the government should ensure that only qualified doctors and dentists treat the visitors for different ailments and do not exploit tourists.
“Goa is promoting medical tourism but many unqualified ‘doctors’ are taking advantage of this. Repercussions may not be immediate,” the MP warned.
He recommended maintaining a strict vigil on unqualified medical practitioners and suggested that government should take severe action against such persons cheating tourists.
“Our government should check and punish quacks, so that tourists don’t spoiling the image of Goa and India at large,” he added.
… to take airports issue in Parliament
PANJIM: South Goa Congress MP Francisco Sardinha Wednesday said that he would take up the Dabolim-Mopa airports issue in the ensuing session of Parliament.
“I have asked questions on the two airports during the Parliament session next week,” he told a press conference while reiterating his support for the co-existence of both airports and a four-lane highway from Canacona to Pernem for easy commuting.
Declining to elaborate on the disputed views of the party even as CLP spokesman Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco had conceded differences of opinion, Sardinha’s only response was that views of the party on various issues will be officially released shortly.
He stressed that Dabolim should not be closed down when the Greenfield airport comes up, and urged people not to get carried away by gossip.
“I have already made my stand clear on this. Earlier when the civil aviation officials said that it was not feasible for both airports to co-exist, I had opposed the new project but during their subsequent meeting, the officials confirmed the possibility that both airports could co-existence. I support both airports,” he said.
Sardinha has convened a meeting of civil aviation officials in Delhi next week to discuss the issues surrounding both airports. He also highlighted the urgency to acquire the land for airport’s expansion keeping in view the escalating land prices. “I am looking at Goa 50 years ahead, when we won’t be able to acquire the land,” he mentioned.
