MARGAO
Aam Aadmi Party Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas came under fire for drawing a parallel between Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Goa’s first Chief Minister Bhausaheb Bandodkar on the historic Opinion Poll Day on Thursday.
Expressing shock that the Benaulim MLA has praised Dayanand Bandodkar on the Opinion Poll Day when it was Jack de Sequeira who was instrumental in saving Goa from merger into Maharashtra, Cavelossim Sarpanch Dixon Vaz, however, said he is not surprised over the MLA’s statement saying that people of Benaulim have now seen the “change” in politics to fool the people.
Speaking to the media at the South Goa Collectorate, Dixon said he could not believe that the Benaulim MLA was showering praises on Dayanand Bandodkar. “Yesterday, people of Goa commemorated Opinion Poll Day to recognise the leadership of Jack de Sequeira and others in preventing Goa’s merger into Maharashtra. But, in Benaulim, which gave 10,000-plus votes for the United Goans, the local MLA was praising Bandodkar. This is something fishy and changing politics,” he said.
Dixon added: “I do not know how many works the government has taken up in Benaulim. All I know is that the CM did not give Benaulikars the western bypass on stilts, seamen pension is not revised, the Colva creek has not improved, Colva fishermen are on the edge as their claim on the fishing village has not been addressed. The Benaulim fishermen have been agitating for a portion of land from the Benaulim hatchery, strays dogs are on the prowl along Salcete coastal belt. I really don’t know the files that have been cleared by the CM in Benaulim.”
Another political rival, Warren Alemao seized the opportunity to hit out at the Benaulim MLA for stopping to a new low. “On Opinion Poll Day, instead of honouring Jack de Sequeira, the true architect of Goa’s identity, the MLA shamelessly compares Goa’s corrupt government to Bhausaheb Bandodkar’s legacy. This blatant insult to our tall leaders exposes his priorities and allegiance,” he said.
Warren added: “From day one, I’ve said AAP and Venzy are hand-in-glove with the BJP. Come 2027, the people of Benaulim constituency will show him what true Goan pride looks like.”
Venzy has recognised BJP govt’s development work, says Aleixo
MARGAO: Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira has said the Aam Aadmi Party is fighting the BJP in Delhi for the ensuing polls when the party Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas has showered praises on Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on the development front.
The Environment Minister, who attended the programme to commission the Colva STP at the hands of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday, expressed his happiness that the Benaulim AAP MLA has recognised the development work ushered in Goa by the BJP government headed by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant. He, however, pointed out that the AAP is fighting the BJP in Delhi for the ensuing Assembly polls when the party Benaulim MLA is on record to recognise the BJP government’s work in Goa under the leadership of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.
