BJP will solve Mopa issue: Mesquita
BY HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, OCT 16 The Bharatiya Janata Party candidate for the parliamentary election in South Goa Dr Wilfred Mesquita on Tuesday said he had full faith the party will find a suitable solution to the Mopa airport issue. Dr Mesquita, who was addressing the media, at BJP headquarters disclosed that he had spoken at length the issue pertaining to scrapping of Mopa airport with the BJP leadership before joining the national outfit. To a question, he reiterated his stand for scrapping Mopa airport and expressed confidence that the BJP leadership would agree with his views. Interestingly, BJP has always taken a pro-Mopa stand and in the past some of their leaders had even criticized anti-Mopa agitation. Opposition to SEZs, the 6-lane Expressway and the Town and Country Planning Act are the other issues on Dr Mesquitas agenda. Replying to queries, the former revenue minister in the Rane government said he was received well by the BJP when he joined the party a day before he filed his nomination. Even I was surprised at first to get such warm welcome, which I did not expect, he said before continuing I know nothing about the infighting in the party over my candidature. Speaking about his divorce with the regional outfit Save Goa Front (SGF) of which he was a founder member, Dr Mesquita claimed SGF was formed, with the help of Churchill Alemao, for fighting the Congress on certain issues. We were fighting against the Congress on issues which were in public interest, however, at the assembly polls we did not get peoples mandate though we just got managed to get enough votes to be a recognised as a state party, he said. Thereafter, Mr Alemao took a different stand and supported Congress thus we had no other choice than to leave the party, he said. About joining BJP, he said, the issues he was fighting could not be taken up sitting at home and had to join some big party. http://oheraldo.in/pagedetails.asp?nid=2931&cid=26 Sanny de Quepem <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com
