My dear Alfred, Greetings from the otherwise clean Goa, through the predominant whiff of the garbage stench and gun-powder smoke from the double barrel shots being fired by shrewd politicians from someone else's shoulders.
Churchill Alemao always rises to the occasion to save Goa, we do not know from what. I spoke at Churchill organized meet at Margao. A lot of people ask me as to how I was seated on the dais. My reply is: My being there is issue based, not Churchill based. Firstly, our stand is that MOPA we don't need at this present moment when Dabolim is very much there and can be expanded and which has served us as a civilian airport even during the Portuguese rule, simply because we cannot afford the luxury and also because charity first starts at home and not in Maharashtra. Secondly, Goa, being a tiny dot on the landscape of India, does not have to shoulder the responsibility of looking after the defence of the entire country. The country has spent crores of rupees to put 'Sea Bird Base' at Karwar. Let the Navy shift there lock stock and barrel. Besides, a lot of argument is going around that the Navy is looking after our security. No! The Navy is looking after its own interests. Its loves Goa and has decided to make it its permanent home. The Navy must safeguard our interests when we are alive, not when we are dead. Again, if MOPA comes up, the Navy will close down Dabolim for civilian traffic and seal the fate of Dabolim as a Military airport. Goa cannot afford that luxury again. Radarao Gracias was also on the dais with Churchill. As usual, Rada cannot stay away from him. When Churchill was in the UGDP, Rada used to sing his praises with comparing him to Bandodkar. He is not likely to wean himself away from the Churchill charisma. From what I understand from his delivery at the Margao meet, he expects Churchill to come out of the Congress. But Churchill cannot go back to the UGDP. There has to be another new party. Coming back to Churchill, it is a fact that Luizinho Faleiro proposed MOPA in the first place a few years ago. And what is more interesting, Churchill had seconded the proposal. Luizinho has not forgotten this but is trying to vent his anger on his party by clandestinely supporting what Churchill is doing now. But Churchill, as a habit, never remembers what he does or says. Neither does he writes down for future reference. Now Churchill does not want MOPA. Are the reasons now given the valid reasons? Then why did he second the proposal in the first place? When Churchill contested the Parliamentary seat in the South while in the UGDP, politics was far away from my mind. I had thought that UGDP with Churchill and Rada was the ultimate Goan regional party that must rule Goa. And, therefore, by virtue of being on leave during the election time, had actively worked for the election of UGDP candidate for North Goa, Adv Babuso Gaokar. And when the UGDP lost both the seats, a party convention was held at the Gomant Vidhya Niketan, Margao to do the soul searching/introspection , which I attended. Someone in the audience had asked Churchill (when he blamed his own partymen of working against him) "Will you go the the BJP" .. he had said "NO, I will not" When the same person asked him "Will you go back to the Congress" he had replied thus: " MOLOB DOT'TOREK TENKOT PUN HO CHURCHILL CONGRESS-AN KEDNANCH VECHONAM" (The sky may touch the earth but Churchill will never go back to Congress). Besides these words Churchill had uttered the words "SHHHH - SHEEEEE " . On hearing these words, I had felt very re-assured and knew in the heart of my hearts that UGDP will yet take over Goa with such committed leaders. But alas! I was dreaming. Within a shot span of time, Churchill was seen giving excuses (finances being one of them) for his decision to re-join the Congress. And now, he has the temerity to say that he can settle down anywhere in the world if he likes, that politics is not his cup of tea, that he is going against MOPA because he has promissed his people that Dabolim will remain, that he is doing all this in the interest of the people alone. Come on Churchill, give us a break. It is well apparent that Luizinho is firing the shots from your shoulders and having the last laugh. Floriano goasuraj. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Alfred de Tavares" > All that good old Tom recomends/proposes below, and even more, > can be achieved at Dabolim. But, only if the Indian Navy is bid adieu > as unceremoniously as were the Portuguese. > > My dear Churchill please repeat the great achievement of Jack de Sequeira, > in Delhi, in 1964 and prove your mettle.
