HERALD:There has been this constant tussle between Michael Lobo and Joseph Sequeira? Has this affected development in Calangute?
FERNANDES: The tussle between Michael and Joseph has definitely hampered the progress of the village. I think sense should prevail over ego. Like in Candolim, Michael has undertaken blatantly illegal developments which primarily benefit his personal businesses or his supporters. But as the benefit also percolates to some villagers in some small way, our panchayat has turned a blind eye. I can name/identify these illegalities, some of which have been regularized at a later date. People of Calangute will recollect how both of them used to demolish compound walls and widen the roads without acquisition of land or paying of compensation.
HERALD:What do you feel about your one-time foe (Joseph Sequeira) joining hands with you?
FERNANDES: My one-time foe (Joseph) has not joined hands with me. I have been in the Congress Party and nurtured it even during difficult times. So, I had no ego or issues to take support of Joseph and his men for the victory of my party in the last Lok Sabha elections. I would further welcome all my other foes to join hands to strengthen my party, now that they have realized the true colours of their present MLA and the BJP. Their fight may give me a slight edge, but you see the last elections were not about Joseph or Michael. It was a wave against the Congress Party and some of our leaders against whom I took up the fight in the Assembly and the press. The people have now realized their folly.
HERALD: You are the former Congress MLA. But Joseph says he wants to contest the next elections from Calangute constituency. Are you OK with this and/or will you shift to another constituency?
FERNANDES: As far as Joseph contesting is concerned, he can contest from Calangute or any other constituency. No one can stop him. I have no personal enmity with him. I have nurtured the party and I have sacrificed for the party in my constituency. So, I will contest from Calangute Constituency.
Joseph has declared in the press that he left the Congress because he was not given a ticket. The previous time he contested against me on the UGDP ticket, the last time he openly supported the BJP. This time, I don’t know which ticket he will contest on, because there is no place for Aya Rams and Gaya Rams in the Congress anymore. The high command and the local Congress leaders are closely monitoring the situation.
