THE GOAN NETWORK
MARGAO
Q. Francisco Sardinha you have been a three-time former MP and have never lost a Lok Sabha election. How do you rate your chances when you are back in the fray after a five-year break.
A. I feel my chances are very good. Wherever I have gone, I have received encouraging response from the electorate. People recall my past performance and have promised me support. Though there was a five-year break, we are working with full gusto.
Q. People within the Congress and outside have questioned the Congress leadership to nominate a 73-year-old leader to lead the party campaign for South Goa when there were youngsters who were willing to take up the challenge.
A. Yes, some people have been saying that we are in politics for a long time. But, I feel that age is not a bar as long as you are fit. Age does not matter when you are fit and deliver. I believe that age is just a number.
Q. Many within the Congress and outside say that the ensuing election is Francisco Sardinha’s last election in his long political career spanning over four decades.
A. It is true that the 2019 Lok Sabha election will be my last election. I have decided not to contest any more elections after 2019. The party will hand over the baton to people who have done work and who have been accepted by the people.
Q. You had defeated BJP’s Narendra Sawaikar in the 2009 Lok Sabha election. Much water, however, has flowed down in the last decade. How do you view your opponent, who is also a sitting MP?
A. Wherever I go, people of South Goa say that the BJP and its MP have only made empty promises. People in the mining belt say the MP and his party have failed to fulfill the promise. People say the MP could not take an appointment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to resolve the mining issue. Secondly, the MP and the Prime Minister have failed to honour the promise to deposit Rs 15 lakh in the accounts of the citizens and bring back black money. He only helped the rich to make their black money white at the cost of the common man and poor people.
Q. You and your party have laid much stress on resumption of mining in the State. How do you intend to start mining when the same was stopped by the Supreme Court.
A. The Congress wants mining to restart since the activity provides livelihood to thousands of people. And, we intend to start legal mining with the help of the agencies and the courts. Everything will be done in a legal manner to bring relief to people affected by the mining ban.
Q. GPCC chief Girish Chodankar says the Congress party is open for according special status for Goa. Sonia Gandhi had made a similar promise in the election in 2009, but the Congress failed to fulfill the promise despite UPA being in power at the Centre.
A. The Congress President Sonia Gandhi had tried her level best to accord special status for Goa. In 2014, Narendra Modi had promised special status for Goa, but could not fulfill the promise. Our party has now raised the issue and I will try my level best on the issue of special status because an MP is an ambassador of the State to the Parliament and is duty bound to take up the aspirations of Goans.
Q. Many say the presence of Aam Aadmi Party candidate Elvis Gomes may affect Congress prospects.
A. I want to tell the people of South Goa that the Aam Aadmi Party is in the fray only to split the secular vote and benefit the BJP. AAP is the B team of the BJP. But, people of Goa are no fools as they know that AAP has no presence in the country and is not in a position to form the government at the Centre. The party does not have a single MLA in Goa. The AAP candidate has no chance. The fight is between the Congress and the BJP.
Q. Prime Minister Narendra Modi came down to Goa to campaign for BJP candidates. AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal is coming down to Margao in support of party candidates. Do you think, the absence of Gandhis for campaigning in the State will affect the Congress.
A. We would have been happy if Rahul Gandhi had to come down to Goa. But, it is now almost certain that people of Goa are looking for a change. Congress is not only an option, but is a solution for the country.
Q. What is your agenda before the people of South Goa.
A. There are so many issues which have been highlighted by the people. But, the crucial ones are the resumption of mining, the issue relating to nationalisation of Goan rivers, CRZ, etc. Certainly, people have a point when they question the rationale of bringing down the CRZ line from 200 metres to 50 metres. Then there will be other issues and questions that may arise in due course of time. I want to assure the people of South Goa that I will be with them to solve any issue or problem that they may face in the course of time.
