OLD GOA
Hitting back at statements by TCP Minister Vijai Sardessai in the Assembly, former St Cruz MLA Victoria Fernandes, popularly known as Mummy, stated that she became chairman of existing PDAs and not newly formed ones.
“The PDAs were already existing and not created to serve anybody’s purpose, as was the case of the Greater Panaji PDA,” Victoria hit back.
It may be recalled that Sardesai had indirectly hit out at Fernandes by stating that an ex-MLA became chairperson of PDA on two occasions during Congress rule. “When you are in the opposition, PDA becomes “pidda” (evil) and when you are in the ruling, you become chairman of the PDA,” Sardesai had said.
Further, Victoria said when her own Congress government had wanted to thrust PDA on the people of St Cruz, she had successfully led the agitation against her own dispensation.
“That time, I did not embrace the PDA despite being part of the ruling dispensation,” Fernandes reminded Sardesai.
Responding to claims that the agitation is being influenced by his mother, Rudolf Fernandes stated that ex-students of Santa Cruz school had initially started it. “We joined the agitation only after they approached us and also after we realized that the MLA had suggested inclusion of St Cruz in the PDA without consulting the people,” he added.
“Initially, we were not sure whether to join the agitation or not because we ourselves were not sure what the people wanted. But at a public meeting near the Santa Cruz church we came to know that the PDA was thrust on the people by the local MLA without any consultations,” Fernandes said.
On the jab aimed at him due to his Opinion Poll demand, Fernandes said he stands by it. “The MLA is claiming he suggested PDA inclusion as people wanted it. Further, there is a misgiving that only Catholics are opposing the PDA. So, in light of this, an Opinion Poll is the only way to find out what the majority of the people want.” “Let the members of the Greater Panaji PDA also campaign in favour of the PDA,” Fernandes challenged, while further hitting out at statements that he spent time in Aguada jail.
“These people should first take a look at the criminal records of the people their party is associated with. The person who stands to benefit from all this PDA tamasha has several criminal records against him, but everybody wants to turn a blind eye as it appears that this person is pulling the strings in that party.”
