March 25, 2014
PRESS STATEMENT
Goans for Dabolim Only said it was good that BJP North Goa Parliamentary
candidate Shripad Naik was at long last breaking his decades long track record
of deep and deafening silence even if was to make the unbelievable claim that
“if elected to power he will stress upon generating employment opportunities in
the State”. Despite electing Shripad Naik three times as Member of Parliament,
Goans have not seen any efforts or initiatives made by him to generate
employment opportunities for them and their children or to demand Special
Status as their representative in Parliament. In fact, in the last Lok Sabha,
Mr. Naik and his BJP party hold the dubious track record of effectively
blocking and obstructing the functioning of Parliament to the detriment of the
country’s electorate.
Before casting their precious votes, the people of North Goa have a right to
know from Shripad Naik the issues that he has taken up in Parliament in the
interests of Goa and Goans. In his past almost fifteen years as a Member of
Parliament, what specific initiatives has Shripad Naik taken to bring
employment opportunities for Goa and Goans? Why has he been silent on the
Special Status issue for Goa and suddenly brought it out just before elections?
Why does Shripad Naik feel that setting up of the private Mopa airport will
help IT and tourism in the State? Which state does Mr. Shripad Naik mean? Goa
or Maharashtra state? What happens to Mr. Naik’s tourism dependent constituents
of North Goa when Mopa airport facilitates droves of tourists migrating to the
virgin beaches of Sindhudurg across the border. Why is Shripad Naik more
concerned about the vested interests of land sharks and the real estate lobby
rather than the poor dhangers and farmers of Mopa who are also his constituents
and who are losing their land and their livelihood. It appears that the BJP
party is bent on catering to the rich and the elite even at the cost of further
marginalizing the already downtrodden.
Goans have carefully observed Mr. Naik’s non performance during his past three
terms as Member of Parliament and have no reason to believe that in the
unlikely prospect of his re election, this term will be any different from the
past three terms that he has frittered away in the Lok Sabha. Mr. Naik and his
party should understand that the people of Goa cannot be taken for granted
anymore.
For GOANS FOR DABOLIM ONLY
Fr. Eremito Rebelo
Convenor
