VASCO: Accusing the State BJP government of playing divide and rule politics and also lambasting the leaders from Congress as well as the BJP camp for doing anti-people activities, the Convenor of Goans for Dabolim Airport Only, Fr Eremito Rebelo has now appealed to the citizens asking them not to elect any old faces in the next assembly elections. Fr Rebelo was speaking at the public meeting organised at Alto Dabolim on Monday evening, especially to seek people's support against the Mopa airport and to put pressure in retaining Dabolim airport as the only airport of Goa. The pitch against Mopa airport would not only dash the State government plans of having another airport at Mopa, but would also damage the State BJP government's image. Besides continuing the fight for retaining of Dabolim airport, the GFDO now has launched another campaign, and this time they are aggressively making an appeal before the voters to reject all the old faces and to elect the new faces in the next assembly election. "The people of Goa defeated Congress and brought the BJP to power thinking that it would serve them, but this government is worse than the previous one as it is trying to divide the people of North and South on the Mopa airport issue. Now people are hurt with the actions of the BJP as well as Congress leaders. They failed to take our issues for which they were elected for, and thus we had to come out to protest. I am sure that in last three years, the voters have understood these politicians and thus I appeal to the people to reject them and elect new faces in the next assembly elections," GFDO convenor Fr Eremito Rebelo said amidst applauses from the audience. While highlighting the importance of Dabolim Airport, Rebelo further said, "Dabolim airport is close to the port besides we have the Railways in close proximity. The government has sidelined all these positive points and is still vouching for another airport, which proves that these leaders have ulterior motives regarding Mopa airport." Accusing the State BJP government for misguiding the people, Chicalim Church parish priest, Fr Eufemiano de Jesus Miranda said that the former tourism minister late Matanhy Saldanha who was very close and dear to him was never in favour of Mopa, but always supported Dabolim airport. "I want to extend my full support to the villagers of Chicalim for adopting a resolution against Mopa and also want to make people aware that the State BJP government is lying to the people as Goa cannot afford to have two airports," he said. While extending his committee's full support to GFDO, Cyril Fernandes, a member of Chicalim Villagers' Action Committee said, "Mopa will spell doom for Goa. But the leaders want Mopa as they have invested in properties close to the proposed airport," he alleged. Echoing similar concerns, environmentalist Siddarth Karapurkar and Rajendra Kakodkar lambasted the State BJP government for actively imposing the Mopa project on the people. In their suggestions, they called up the government, especially Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar to forward in providing unutilised land presently in possession of the Navy at Dabolim airport if at all the government is looking for future tourism growth.[H]
http://goacom.com/goa-news-highlights/26247-elect-new-faces-reject-old-ones-fr-eremito -- DEV BOREM KORUM Gabe Menezes.
