-------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Add your name to the CLEAN GOA INITIATIVE | | | | by visiting this link and following the instructions therein | | | | http://shire.symonds.net/pipermail/goanet/2005-October/033926.html | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stop airport study tour, Churchill tells Rane
BY HERALD REPORTER www.oheraldo.in MARGAO, DEC 3, 2005 Calling upon Chief Minister Pratapsing Rane to stop the tour of the Mopa Steering Committee members to study airports abroad, MP Churchill Alemao on Saturday warned Congress leaders that the party would cease to exist on the political map of Goa if Dabolim is closed down as an international airport. Addressing a press conference held to announce the names of office-bearers of the Save Dabolim Airport committee, Alemao demanded that the chief minister should immediately cancel the tour of the three MLAs and bureaucrats or face the consequences. "These people cannot go on a pleasure jaunt to study airports when people are opposed to any new airport in Goa. Or, else the government should brace up to face the consequences," he warned. Alemao also asked Rane to clarify his stand whether he supports the need to retain Dabolim as Goa's lone international airport. Referring to GPCC President Ravi Naik's statement about maintaining party discipline, Alemao said "let Ravi join the anti-Mopa movement if he talks about discipline. Ravi should know that the Congress would cease to exist in Goa if Dabolim fails to exist." Launching a tirade on Pernem MLA, Jitendra Deshprabu, Alemao accused Deshprabhu of trying to kill two birds with one bullet. "With Mopa, he wants to sell his land and displace the tenants as well," he charged. Referring to Deshprabhu's statement that Goa opted for Mopa to scuttle the airport from coming up at Sindhudurg, Alemao said "let Maharashtra set up an airport at Ratnagiri. Why should we think of 50 years like Sardinha when Goa will never be merged with Maharashtra even in the next 500 years." Asking the government to scrap the Mopa project by dropping the land acquisition proceedings immediately, Alemao threatened to launch an unprecedented agitation unheard in the history of Goa to save Dabolim. Committee spokesman Radharao Gracias said the people of Goa do not accept the guarantee from Luizinho and other MLAs that Dabolim would remain. "There's no guarantee that many of these leaders would get re-elected. The only guarantee that people want is that Dabolim would remain as Goa's lone international airport," he asserted. Gracias wondered why Goa should oppose an airport at Sindhudurg, saying that Pernem and even Goa would be served better by that airport. Gracias said it's time for Churchill to realise that his own Congress party is not with him on the issue and think of some long-term strategy. Vijay Sardessai said even BJP leader Manohar Parrikar is trying to fool the public on the issue. The Save Dabolim committee comprises of Churchill Alemao (Convenor), MLA Matanhy Saldanha (vice-convenor), Radhrao Gracias as spokesman, Farrel Gracias as coordinator. The members are Vijay Sardessai, Nelly Rodrigues, John Philip Pereira, Ulhas Buyao, Albert Leitao, Mike Mehta, Adv V S Gaitonde, Adv Ramnath Kharangate, GOTTA President Kennedy Goes, Varca Sarpanch Jose Afonso, Dr Ernesto Rodrigues and Akbar Mulla. ___________ Goa-World.Com Team expresses its full support to the 'Save Dabolim Committee' and to the Honourable Member of Parliament, Churchill Alemao. __________ -------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Goa - 2005 Santosh Trophy Champions | | | | Support Soccer Activities at the grassroots in our villages | | Vacationing in Goa this year-end - Carry and distribute Soccer Balls | --------------------------------------------------------------------------
