MARGAO
Just three days to go for the May 7 Lok Sabha polls, Cuncolim turned out into a battle ground during the weekend as Chief Minister Pramod Sawant addressed an impressive meeting on Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao’s home turf on Saturday along with Social welfare Minister Subhash Phal Dessai in support of Pallavi Dempo.
The Opposition leader did not lag behind. Apparently conveying a message loud and clear to the Chief Minister and the BJP top brass that he is firmly in control of the situation in his home constituency, Yuri held a meeting of party workers in Chandor village, a part of the Cuncolim Assembly segment, to drum up support for Captain Viriato Fernandes. A report.
Industrial pollution was brought by previous govt, not BJP: Sawant
MARGAO: As he returned back again to Cuncolim yet again on Saturday to address the last meeting of the ongoing campaign of the May 7 Lok Sabha election, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant reminded that he had the privilege to honour the 16 Chieftains who had laid down their lives for their motherland.
The Chief Minister also took the battle in the Opposition camp by saying that the pollution industries at the Cuncolim Industrial Estate was brought by the previous government and not by the BJP.
He also sought to allay apprehensions that Cuncolkars will not get jobs in the NIT project, promising that only one fourth of the jobs have been filled so far, adding that the local youth will get employment opportunities at the education hub.
Questioning the previous Congress governments for their failure to honour the 16 Chieftains of Cuncolim for their sacrifice in revolting against the Portuguese rule, the Chief Minister said he had the rare privilege of bestowing honour on the Chieftains during his stint in power.
Sawant further said that it was during his stint as Chief Minister and Education Minister that the 1583 Cuncolim revolt has found a mention in the history text books. “Why was there a delay in giving due recognition to the 1583 Cuncolim revolt in the last 60 years,” the Chief Minister demanded to know.
Making a fervent plea to the people of Cuncolim to rally behind the BJP in the May 7 election, the Chief Minister urged the voters to rush to the polling stations at 7 am in the morning to cast their vote for the BJP.
Social Welfare Minister Subhash Phal Dessai came down heavily on the Opposition leader Yuri Alemao, reminding that he is not an outsider in Cuncolim but is connected to the Chieftains of Cuncolim who had sacrificed their lives to protect their religion and motherland.
Defeat forces responsible for Manipur situation, thunders Yuri at Chandor
MARGAO: Opposition Leader Yuri Alemao held his second meeting in home constituency Cuncolim on Saturday with a plea to the people to wake up from the slumber and defeat the forces responsible behind the situation in Manipur.
Yuri was addressing a public meeting at Chandor village in Cuncolim constituency in support of Captain Viriato Fernandes. “We have seen what is happening in Manipur. We have to wake up from the slumber and come out to the polling booths on May 7 to cast the vote. Today, the double-engine government is responsible for the corruption, sale of land, unemployment, etc. We have to put an end to the BJP rule,” he thundered.
Saying that non-State actors are on the job to divide the people of Goa on the basis of religion, Yuri urged the people to beware of the machinations of these people.
Reminding that Chandor village was the epicenter of the anti-coal agitation, the Opposition leader recalled that the BJP had won the Zilla Panchayat despite the people opposing the government on coal and track-doubling projects.
Yuri said the Congress is on the way to retain the South Goa seat, but hastened to add that the people should come out on May 7 to cast their votes. “Treat the May 7 poll as the second opinion poll. Goans had won the Opinion poll due to the movement launched by Dr Jack De Sequeira and Shabu Dessai and many others,” he asserted.
