Photo Credits: XASTTIKARS
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IN POLL MODE
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FROM THE CM'S MOUTH
* I had been to Avertano’s house for his birthday, the Church feast, football and Christmas celebrations
* People of Pernem and Salcete also share common passion and desires, including Football. Besides, there’s another sport
* I once thought that Salcete was far away from us, but because of these 3- 4 MLAs, we all feel that Salcete is now ours
* Unlike in the past, this time there is only one minister from the taluka but we have not neglected Salcete
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SAL DREAM COMES TRUE
BUT SEWAGE HAUNTS
>> See pg 2
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MARGAO: It’s an election year and Chief Minister Laxmimant Parsekar is out to woo Xasttikars ahead of the 2017 electoral battle. Parsekar was in the heartland of Salcete on Tuesday at Navelim and he remembered how football, festivals, birthday and Christmas celebrations,, besides the popular sport (he did not refer the name, but explained through a sign how animals lock horns) that strengthened the bond of brotherhood and friendship between Pernekars and Xasttikars though they stay miles apart.
In an apparent bid to reach out and touch the hearts of Xasttikars in an election year, aware that Salcete played a key role in the decimation of the Congress in the 2012, Parsekar tried to touch the hearts of the people of Salcete, reminding the audience that people of Pernem and Salcete share similar desires and wants. The Chief Minister reassured the people that though Salcete had a lone representation in the Cabinet in Fisheries Minister, Avertano Furtado, the government never left the taluka neglected and ignored. And, Parsekar did not end his speech without taking a dig at the Congress for the neglect of Salcete’s life line River Sal, underground sewerage, underground cabling or the road widening and the bypasses.
“I had been to Avertano’s house for his birthday, the Church feast, football and Christmas celebrations. We have not missed these occasions though Salcete is far away from Pernem. But, since the election of these people (referring to Avertano, Caitu and Benjamin), they have now become our new friends. People of Pernem and Salcete also share common passion and desires, including Football. Besides, there’s another sport, but I cannot take the name, where people from Pernem and Salcete regularly go here and there to witness. We stay far away, but our passion remains the same. I once thought that Salcete was far away from us, but because of these 3-4 MLAs, we all feel that Salcete is now ours,” the Chief Minister said.
The Chief Minister further continued: “Unlike the past when Salcete had seen many Chief Ministers and when nearly half the Cabined hailed from the taluka, this time there was a lone Minister from the taluka. But, we did not neglect Salcete. Yes, there’s been a lone representation from Salcete in the Cabibet, but we gave maximum attention to the taluka. Otherwise, why did the previous government did not take up the River Sal de-silting or take up work on the bypasses or complete the football grounds and widening the roads et al”, he asked.
And, turning to Velim constituency, Parsekar added: “First-time MLA Benjamin had defeated a three-time Minister in Velim. But, weigh the development work and don’t be surprised work carried out during this term exceed a sum total of three terms. This is the speciality of this government”.
Saying that the BJP government has not discriminated against any MLA or region, Parsekar said “We have taken care of entire Goa. We feel entire goa is ours. Not just the constituency represented by the Chief Minister and the MLAs. Can anyone say they have not receive benefits of any scheme from this government”, he asked.
