Mopa airport in Goa's interest, Congmen tell party president NT Staff Reporter
Panaji Feb 23: Mopa airport project and election to the state assembly figured prominently in talks between the All India Congress Committee president, Ms Sonia Gandhi, Congress ministers and local leaders today, at the Raj Bhavan. According to highly placed sources in the party, local Congress leaders, including a cabinet minister, complained to Ms Gandhi during the breakfast meeting against some of their colleagues for opposing the Mopa project because of vested interests. The sources informed that local leaders told her that the party should avoid going for snap polls since the government led by it has not been able to show performance worth noting ever since it came to power in June, either due to monsoon season or various other reasons. They brought to the notice of Ms Gandhi that many of the developmental activities planned by the government would pay rich dividends to the party when completed and that the government should be given time to complete them, so that the party has an easy going during the next assembly elections. The Congress leaders brought to the notice of the AICC president that an overwhelming majority of party legislators and workers want the Mopa project to go ahead as it would bring development to the state and the opposition to the project was not because any tangible reason. The issue of some leaders sharing platform with opposition Bharatiya Janata Party and criticising the party leadership and its government were also raised by the Congress leaders during their meeting with the AICC president, the sources informed. The Congress leaders thanked Ms Gandhi for touching the issue of indiscipline during her address to Congress workers yesterday and sending veiled warning to those engaged in bringing bad name to the party, the sources added. The sources further said that the AICC president gave a patient hearing to the complainants and assured to look into their grievances. Meanwhile, Ms Gandhi met local industrialists, Mr Srinivas Dempo, Mr Dattaraj Salgaocar, Mr Anil Rai of Sesa Goa, delegation of Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry led by Mr Nitin Kunkolienkar, representatives of various non-government organisations, etc. Others who met the AICC president included the delegation of Goa Pradesh Youth Congress and office-bearers of Goa Pradesh Congress Committee. ~(^^)~ Avelino
