GFDO fears Churchill’s politics will tarnish their movement
TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: Questioning former PWD minister Churchill Alemao’s timing of raising the Mopa airport issue, Goans For Dabolim Only (GFDO) Convenor Fr Eremito Rebelo demanded that Alemao not contest the 2017 assembly elections if he wants to start a pro-Dabolim public movement.
Rebello fears that people may get the wrong notion about GFDO’s apolitical movement. Rebelo’s statements have earned Alemao’s wrath. The conflict stems from the fact that Alemao began using Rebello’s name to invite people for his May 1 meeting against the Mopa airport.
Rebello said GFDO is happy that Alemao is again demonstrating his support to causes vital to Goa and that the causes espoused by Alemao expose the present government’s systematic attempts at stifling Goan voices.
“I want to clear some doubts that people have about GFDO associating with Churchill to fight against Mopa. GFDO is in no way aligned with this meeting. We are otherwise open to align with anyone that has no self interest in fighting for Mopa,” Rebelo said.
He added that members of GFDO can attend the meeting in their individual capacity and it was imperative that Alemao make his stand clear at Friday’s meeting.
Rebelo reasoned that with the assembly elections approaching, it would be prudent for Alemao to disconnect the public meeting from his perceived political aspirations.
“GFDO thinks it is only right and proper for Churchill to publicly declare to the people at the meeting that he will not be contesting the 2017 assembly elections, but will devote himself wholeheartedly to the causes that he has chosen to take up without any ulterior motive whatsoever,” Rebello said.
“He should also ensure that he abides by this promise and does not take a U turn later,” Rebello said, while recalling how Alemao had previously won the elections on the issue of ‘Dabolim only’.
“Churchill founded the Save Goa Front (SGF) but after getting elected, the party was merged with the Congress and there was deafening silence from him on the airport issue,” Rebello said.
Rebelo called upon Churchill to explain to the people the role he played in pushing forward the cause of Dabolim when he was elected on the SGF ticket or when he was a cabinet minister. GFDO members pointed out that the Congress government began the land acquisition proceedings for the airport when Alemao was the cabinet minister.
“After all, Churchill will surely appreciate that all our Goan causes come first and the credibility of people associated with these issues, is sacred and must be maintained,” Rebelo said.
GFDO members said they wanted to know whether Alemao wanted to contest the 2017 elections as they wished to avoid getting caught in the crossfire that could result from Alemao’s taking u-turns like he did in the past.
