Team Herald
MARGAO: Even as there was resentment amongst the gathered crowd over the absence of the BJP candidate Narendra Sawaikar for the “Decision time 2019” programme organized by South Goa Advocates Association, Congress candidate Francisco Sardinha antagonized a section with what was called his arrogance and his derision of other Congress workers.
Most people were disappointed with Narendra Sawaikar’s absence and the moderator Dr. Mariano Pinheiro while pointing out that it was supposed to be a discussion between the candidates did not permit Atmaram Bharve who was representing the BJP to participate.
Noted Konkani activist Antonio Piedade Moraes raised a point of order at the very beginning seeking an explanation for Narendra’s absence but he was hushed down on ground that he was on the way and will join the discussion shortly.
Francisco Sardinha said the battle was between the Congress and the BJP and said the other parties involved in the elections are only there to help the BJP. Aam Aadmi Party’s candidate Elvis Gomes taking umbrage to this said “arrogance of some people is not yet over” and said not recognizing a candidate who is present was nothing but arrogance.
Later replying to a question on why he was silent for so long, in what appeared to be a direct hit at Mahila Congress President Pratima Coutinho, Sardinha said he was with the party and could not be expected to sell coconuts to protest against price rise but instead fight to reduce the price.
“I do not go for altu faltu things,” he said in what was apparently a dig at the Mahila Congress members selling coconuts at different places in Goa to protest against the high price of coconuts.
In his address, the Congress candidate appealed to people not to mix local issues with central matters and reminded them that they are electing a person to be an ambassador between the Centre and the State.
While pointing out that the Congress always brought progress and development, he accused the BJP government of destroying and destabilizing institutions even hallowed ones like the Supreme Court and the CBI and recalled how people suffered due to the misadventure called demonetization. which only enabled the BJP and big business persons to convert their black money.
He said the BJP government did not study GST before implementing and also listed a host of other failures including nationalization of rivers and horse trading that resulted in a party with only 13 MLA forming the government in Goa.
While blaming the BJP for stopping mining in Goa, he said the BJP leaders could not even get an appointment with the Prime Minister for the mining affected people and said Congress was not the option but only solution to bring back democracy in the country.
Later replying to questions, he refused to comment on Mopa airport on grounds that the matter is sub-judice but pointed out that he had got Rs. 500 crores sanctioned for upgrading Dabolim airport and lamented that Rs. 200 crore of that amount is still not utilised as four over bridges are still under construction for four years.
He opined having learnt a bitter lesson at the last Lok Sabha elections, Congress thought it best to name an experienced person as a candidate as the new face selected last time failed and asserted that he was with the Congress and attended all party functions for the last five years.
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Team Herald
MARGAO: Listing environment, governance and Goan identity as the most important things that need to be protected and preserved, AAP’s South Goa candidate Elvis Gomes said Congress and BJP have successively destroyed Goa. While holding Congress responsible for giving away Goan land to outsiders and massive conversions, he said BJP has worsened the scenario with its nationalization of rivers and other projects.
He said Goa has suffered from no governance since March 2017 and said AAP is committed to protect the Goan identity and culture, the State’s environment and provide a good governance that will the true voice of the people. “For AAP, the workers retrenched due to closure of mining are the actual mining dependents and not the people who were doing the business.AAP is committed to protect and serve the interest of the common man,” he said.
He lamented that Congress, the main opposition party in the parliament, has remained silent on the destruction of constitutional institutions and pointed out that the mining scam took place when the Congress was ruling from 2007 to 2012. He added that 33 lakh sq mtrs of Goa’s land was given to industrialists by Congress to set up SEZ and now the govt proposes to pay them Rs. 256 crores to get back the land. “Similarly while 80 lakh sq mtrs of land was acquired for Mopa airport additional 50 lakh sq mts was earmarked at buffer zone only to help politicians and their friends purchase that land for speculation,” he said.
Replying to a query, he admitted that some earlier AAP candidates have joined Congress. “At least they joined before being elected but what about the people who after being elected on a particular ticket changed sides at midnight?” he asked.
While terming Congress and BJP as ‘high command-ruled parties’, he said AAP is truly the voice of the people and cited how in Delhi his party government has saved Rs. 356 crores by completing the construction of flyovers in time.
To another query, he said the public will have to tell him whom to support if elected but assured that he would not support any party that divides people on caste, religion or other basis. He asserted that there will be no compromise on protection of Goan land, identity and environment.
