Herald: May 7 elections is a second Opinion Poll to protect Goa: Capt Viriato

May 7 elections is a second Opinion Poll to protect Goa: Capt Viriato

Viriato demands the amendment to act that de-notifies six Goan rivers, as well as the Major Port Authority bill and return the entire Goa’s coastline to the people of Goa & especially the fishing community

Team Herald

CUNCOLIM: The INDIA  Bloc South Goa Lok Sabha candidate Capt Viriato Fernandes of the Congress’, on Saturday said that the upcoming Lok Sabha elections will be a second Opinion Poll to protect the interests of the State.

Addressing a meeting after garlanding the statue of former Leader of the Opposition Dr Jack de Sequeira, on the occasion of his birth anniversary at Ambelim, Capt Viriato said that there are a lot of vices affecting the people. The people of Goa had fought to protect its identity but today Goa is looked upon as drug capital, rape capital unemployment and murder capital. Time has come for the second opinion poll and we will be treating May 7 as the second opinion poll to protect the State for future generations. Let us resolve to weed out the corruption and government’s sinister design to change Goa’s identity and protect Goa.”

Addressing another meeting at Chinchinim, Capt Viriato had a dig at Prime minister Narendra Modi for his failure to give guarantee to deposit Rs 15 lakh in account of each voter, creation of two crore jobs per annum and promise to bring black money stashed in Swiss banks. 

Capt Viriato said that “after demonetization, Modi government sanctioned loans to Adani, who bought coal mines in Queensland and it is the same coal that is brought to Goa which is destroying the touristic state.“Is this kaala dhan (coal) that you promised the people of Goa,” he asked, This has caused a hike in power tariffs. 

Capt Viriato said that the  government also failed to withdraw the revised DPR submitted by Karnataka and approved by the Central Water Commission. The diversion of water from Mhadei river, a deficit river basin is causing water shortage in the State.

He demanded that  act to de-notify six Goan  rivers should be amended  as well as the Major Port Authority bill and return the entire Goa’s coastline to the people of Goa.

He enlightened the fishing community about the Centre’s plan to snatch away 105 km of Goa’s coastline which will subsequently affect the fishing community. He said that due to the initiative of former Prime Minister late Indira Gandhi to protect the interest of the fishing community, CRZ notification was finally enacted in 1991.

Leader of the Opposition Yuri Alemao, Velim MLA Cruz Silva and Quepem MLA Altone D’Costa also spoke.