the goan I network
CORTALIM
Speaking to reporters whom she invited to witness the incident on Wednesday, Saldanha maintained that Simoes had every right to contest the elections but it has to be done in a proper way.
“If Simoes who claims to carry forward the legacy of late Matanhy Saldanha, than such act is in total contrast to Matanhy’s legacy,” Saldanha said while stressing that it was the handiwork of Simoes, which even Arvind Kejriwal will not subscribe to. Making her case against Simoes, Saldanha said: “I had been informed late Tuesday night that some activity was noticed near my office and today morning I got the confirmation of what had happened.”
Supporting Saldanha’s allegations was the BJP Mahila Morcha President Sara Gonsalves who claimed that her son Rajeev Gonsalves had witnessed Simoes wearing a helmet and two others displaying banners near the railway crossing.
“We were in the cemetery dressing the grave of my husband and also that of Matanhy Saldanha when I called my son Rajeev to the cemetery at around 9.30 pm and it was at that time he noticed Olencio and two others mounting the banners at the railway crossing,” Gonsalves maintained and added that Simoes was in the habit of fixing banners late in the night.
Rajeev who was also present confirmed seeing Olencio and two others at the railway crossing which is near his house.Later, Saldanha and her staff removed the banner and opened the gate.
Stating that in democracy anyone is at liberty to put up banners, AAP candidate for Cortalim Olencio Simoes denied having any hand in the episode.
“I have not done it. But what I fail to understand is as to why Alina Saldanha who is a minister should involve herself so much in such a petty issue when she has to concentrate on bigger issues confronting Cortalim constituency and Goans at large.”
“May be some people in the AAP want her to join the party and to work for the cause of Goans and environment which she claims to be working for,” Simoes said.
