http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=18738&n_tit=Goa%3A+Churchill+Alemao's+Latest+Salvo+over+Mopa+Airport+Issue+-+Hints+at+Quitting+Party
Goa: Churchill Alemao's Latest Salvo over Mopa Airport Issue - Hints
at Quitting Party
from Sanjay Borkar in Margao for Daijiworld News Network - Goa
Margao, Feb 16: Irked by Congress party's stand over Mopa airport
project, veteran politician and member of Lok Sabha from South Goa
Churchill Alemao, himself a Congress leader, has hinted at quitting
the party and forming his own political outfit.
The erstwhile BJP-led government of Goa was dislodged mainly to ensure
that the Congress would do something for the betterment of the Goan
people, who stand to be adversely affected by the proposed Mopa
airport. But it now appeared that certain Congressmen had colluded
with the BJP to get in Mopa through the backdoor, said Alemao, while
addressing a press conference in a city hotel.
Alemao alleged that chief minister Pratapsingh Rane and the BJP had
been misguiding the people of Goa over Mopa airport issue, by saying
that both airports Dabolim and Mopa should function to meet the boom
of tourism business in Goa, as after 20 years, the lone Dabolim
Airport would not be able to accommodate more aircraft, for which Mopa
is must.
But it is not a fact. Dabolim airport can meet with any challenge if
the government acquires addtitional land surrounding the aiport for
construction of more runways, according to him.
Alemao who is determined to have the Mopa airport project scapped has
said that he would hit the streets from next week, starting with a
meeting at Vasco to be followed by another at Navelim and thereafter
across the state to get the referendum from people to support Dabolim
to retain and to scrap Mopa.
If Mopa airports turns into reality, Goan tourism industry will
collapse as it will benefit only Maharashtra state being closer to
Mopa. Goan should understand all this factors and should support
Dabolim to become an international airport, not a Mopa, Alemao urged.
Read more on Mopa, from Daijiworld archives:
* Goa: Grand Plan Ready for a World-class Airport at Mopa
* Goa-Margao: MP Churchill Alemao Threatens to Quit Congress over
Mopa Airport Issue
* Goa: Mopa Airport Issue - MP Churchill Alemao Seeks PM's Help in
Dropping Project
* Goa: Compromise Formula - Mopa Apart, Dabolim Airport to
Continue to be Operational
* Goa: Churchill Alemao Steadfast on Opposing New Airport Project at Mopa
* Goa: Mopa Airport Issue - Chief Minister Non-committal in State Assembly
--
Peace be with you!
Gabe Menezes.
London, England
