Party delegation targeted with tomatoes and eggs
MARGAO
Supporters of Congress-turned-BJP Nuvem MLA Wilfred D’Sa clashed with Aam Aadmi Party leaders outside the MLA’s residence on Saturday noon when a group of AAP leaders had gone to hand over a cake to the Congress turncoat to mark two years of his defection from the Congress.
On Saturday, the AAP presented cakes to all the 10 defected MLAs reminding them of the betrayal of the people’s electoral mandate.
Led by AAP Vice-president Pratima Coutinho, the AAP delegation descended on the MLA’s residence around 2.30 pm on Saturday to hand over the cake, only to be confronted by a large number of Wilfred’s supporters from across the constituency.
Heated exchanges ensued between the AAP leaders and the MLA’s supporters as the later stopped them from coming close to the MLA’s residence. After they were heckled and abused by the MLA’s supporters, the AAP delegation was targeted with tomatoes and eggs, a couple of them landing on the media personnel covering news.The cake, which was carried by an AAP worker, landed on the ground, after a supporter threw it down.
While leaving the place in their cars, one of the persons was seen banging the vehicle, triggering another round of exchanges between the two sides.
The Maina Curtorim police were seen around, but could not prove to be of much help in controlling the situation.
The MLA was conspicuous by his absence, but Wilfred’s wife Freda led from the front to confront the AAP leaders and supporters, numbering less than 10. The supporters contended that Pratima and AAP leaders from outside the constituency have no right to tell the MLA over the decision to join the BJP.
Pratima later told the media that she was deputed to hand over the cake to the Nuvem MLA to mark two years of defection by the 10 Congress MLAs, but were greeted with eggs and tomatoes. “The MLAs supporters hurled eggs and tomatoes on us. They abused us when we had just gone to hand over the cake. It’s a shame that the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has admitting such a person in the party”, he said.
Saying she is proud to be associated with AAP, Pratima said the Nuvem MLA has betrayed the people of Nuvem by going into the BJP. “The people of Goa have seen the Cong-BJP Janata party. We condemn the unruly behavior of the MLA supporters. Let the MLA laugh now, but he will face the wrath of the people in 2022”, she said, while challenging Wilfred to win the 2022 Assembly election.
Wilfred’s wife, Freda said, she along with the friends from Nuvem constituency were have a common meeting at her residence when they found AAP workers outside in four cars. “I want to make clear that defection is one party, but Nuvem is one power and we are all united. Whichever parties come here, they should know Wilfred is with us. This power will be shown by us in 2022 because we are all from the grassroots. My people have made Wilfred the MLA, and AAP need not tell me”, Freda said
Saying Nuvem has witnessed immense development since Wilfred join the BJP two years ago, Freda said the MLA is actually doing the corrections in the Constituency after it was represented by two MLAs in the last 23 years.
