Churchill wants Luizinho expelled BY HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, MARCH 3 - MP Churchill Alemao on Friday demanded the immediate expulsion of Industries Minister, Luizinho Faleiro for anti-party activities for toeing the line of BJP leader Manohar Parrikar on the airport issue. Holding the Navelim MLA responsible as the architect of the proposed Mopa Airport, Alemao distributed copies of a letter written by Faleiro to then Civil Aviation Secretary, Ravindra Gupta on October 22, 1999 when he was the Chief Minister.
The letter basically dwells on two points, one, Faleiro asking Gupta to personally look into "5 points" at the earliest and also expedite the upgradation of the existing airport at Goa. Secondly, Faleiro asks Gupta "to take action on our agreement to have an international airport at North Goa, the process for which can be initiated immediately". Briefing newsmen, Alemao says the letter clearly shows that Faleiro has been rooting for the Mopa Airport to the detriment of the Goan economy. When newsmen asked Alemao that Faleiro's letters also asks for upgradation of the Dabolim Airport, the MP shot back "where is the question of Dabolim upgradation when the Union Cabinet later on May 1, 2005 decided to close down Dabolim after the commissioning of Mopa Airport". Refuting charges by Faleiro that he is engaged in anti-party activities, Alemao said, "By supporting both Dabolim and Mopa, Faleiro is toeing the line of Parrikar". Surprisingly, Alemao welcomed Sardinha's decision to attend Save Dabolim Action Committee meeting at Curtorim and explain his stand on the issue. "I along with Radharao, Babush Monseratte and Filipe Neri had ousted the BJP government for their communal agenda and their stand on Mopa Airport", he said. Replying to Faleiro's charges, Alemao said he had raised the Dabolim issue in Lok Sabha at least on 10 occasions. Moreover, he said his stand is well known to the PM-appointed Committee, adding that "I did not attend the last committee meeting as nothing would come out in favour of Dabolim". Replying to a question, committee spokesman Radharao Gracias said public meetings will be held everywhere including Benaulim and Cuncolim. "Faleiro cannot dictate us where the meetings ought to take place", he said. ~(^^)~ Avelino
