Wrong policies making Goans jittery: Matanhy

MARGAO, DEC 30 
Social activist Matanhy Saldanha has said that Goa is ruled by lobbies causing insecurity amongst the people of Goa, even as the president of the Freedom Fighters Association Naguesh Karmali blamed the ills plaguing the State to the irresponsible political class ruling  since liberation.
They were participating in a public debate on ‘50 years of Goa’s liberation – Heaven gained or Paradise lost’ – organized by GoaChronicle.Com at the Lohia Maidan here on Thursday.
Participating in the debate, Saldanha said that people of Goa are feeling insecure, isolated as reflected in the form of various protests over special economic zone (SEZ), mega housing projects, coastal regulatory zone (CRZ) et al.
Accusing the government of pushing greed-based projects instead of need-based public utilities, Saldanha cited the instance of a Vasco project, and said that the project is being pursued by the government to facilitate transportation of coal.
 “Goans have become a minority in their own land because of wrong policies pursued by the government”, he said and appealed to the citizens to change their mindset to bring change in the society.
In his address, Karmali said that freedom fighters were only responsible for the liberation of the State from the Portuguese regime, adding that freedom fighters never ruled Goa to achieve the dreams and aspirations of Goans.
He blamed the irresponsible political class that has ruled Goa for the mess in the State, saying political parties over the years have failed to give good political leadership to the people.