Team Herald
VASCO: Condemning Mormugao MLA and Power Minister Milind Naik for accusing them of indulging in ‘goondagiri’, the workers of Western India Shipyard limited (WISL) along with their family members have demanded an apology from Naik for threatening them during a government function held at Headland Sada, recently.
On Thursday, Minister Milind Naik had stated that he had received several complaints of increasing ‘goondagiri’ at Headland Sada and that some of the WISL workers have been using abusive language against him as well as against his government; an since he has freedom fighters’ blood running in him, he would not tolerate such menace anymore, but would rather retaliate.
Addressing a press conference in Vasco on Saturday, the WISL workers along with their family members and Congress leaders also demanded that Naik should withdraw his words against WISL workers by tendering an apology or should at least prove his claims.
“Firstly, we were very much shocked to hear that our own MLA who used us during last several elections has been threatening. We have been protesting, because, we are living a miserable life without salary; instead of helping us, he (Naik) now warns us that he would retaliate, and for what?” questioned Union leader Alexander Pacheco.
Moreover, he said, “Our MLA, in his speech, mentioned that only 15 to 20 families out of the total 350 WISL workers are residing in his constituency and that he would ensure their rehabilitation. But the others are staying in other parts of the State and have been holding his neck, demanding rehabilitation. The same people have been using abusive language against him and the government.”
Challenging the minister to prove his claims that only 15 to 20 families have been residing in his constituency, Pacheco said, “Our records clearly show that 81 people (out of total 350) have their own houses in Vasco, while another 150 have been staying on rents in Mormugao, but our MLA is only interested in discriminating among the Goans. Therefore, we demand that he should prove his claims or he should resign as MLA after issuing a public apology to us.”
Meanwhile, the Congress has promised the workers that all its State leaders would support the WISL workers till their demands are met.
Congress leader Sankalp Amonkar advised Milind Naik to support the workers without any discrimination as all employed with WISL are people of the State and even they need government support in such difficult times.
