The following article appeared in today’s O Heraldo:
Where’s the direct train to Vailankanni?
GUILHERME ALMEIDA
Goan pilgrims heading to Vailankanni for the novenas of Our Lady of
Vailankanni scheduled later in August trained their guns on
Salcete-based politicians as they burnt midnight oil and faced brunt of
the men-in-uniform at the Margao Railway Station with the hope of
getting a train ticket to the pilgrim center.
With the direct train to Vailankanni announced in the railway budget
turned out a non-starter, pilgrims directed their ire at PWD Minister,
Churchill Alemao, MP Francisco Sardinha and CWC member Luizinho Faleiro,
blaming the trio for taking credit for the direct train, which has till
date not seen light of the day.
“Churchill, Sardinha and Luizino claimed credit for the direct train to
Vailankanni. But, let them tell us where’s the direct train to
Vailankanni,” a woman asked, adding “in the absence of the direct train,
pilgrims are forced to stand in long queues and spend the nights at the
railway station premises.”
The Margao Railway Station witnessed a commotion in the wee hours of
Saturday when the pilgrims came at the receiving end of the police while
standing in the queue. “The police roughed us up at the station while in
a queue. Even minors were not spared,” claimed Inacio, a resident of
Aquem-Baixo.
Says Chinchinim ZP member Sabrina Dias: “When Union Railway Minister,
Mamata Banerjee announced a direct Goa-Vailankanni train, pilgrims were
overjoyed. But, it appears the ordeal of the pilgrims will continue in
the absence of a direct train. Pilgrims now cannot get a train to
Vailankanni even after camping at the railway station for 24 hours.”
Another pilgrim Ashlen Rodrigues claimed the railway ticket agents are
given first preference while the common man is left high and dry at the
ticket counter. “The police came and removed the people, but spared the
agents. We fail to understand why the government is not pushing for a
direct train to Vailankanni when thousands of Goans head to the pilgrim
centre during the novenas of the feast of Our Lady of Vailankanni,” he said.
In fact, the ticket reservation centre witnessed chaotic scenes when the
gate was opened at 7.30 am. Pilgrims waited in a huge serpentine queue,
which spilled on the railway property outside the railway station.
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COMMENT: Whenever something clicks, our Ministers rush to take credit –
their cronies also fill the newspapers with thanksgiving advertisements;
what follows next is immaterial. Can the trio explain to the public what
happened to the direct train to Vailankanni for which they took credit?
Moi-mogan,
Domnic Fernandes
Anjuna, Goa
Mob: 9420979201
