the goan I network
panaji
Q: What would be your main agenda if elected as MP?
A. I will visit every constituency in North Goa once in three months. I will meet the people, learn about their issues and spend the Rs 5 crore funds allocated to MPs on development works. I will see that people get the benefits of central government schemes, which were not highlighted by previous MPs. BJP MP Shripad Naik is the Ayush minister, so he talks only about Ayush, but there are other subjects being ignored in the bargain. Nothing is being done for sports and youth.
Q: What about issues like mining, CRZ and coal pollution against which people have come on the streets?
A. Arvind Kejriwal is one of the few leaders who visited the coal-pollution affected areas in person when he came to Goa. He has assured the people that even if one MP from AAP is elected, the pollution issue will be tackled. As far as mining is concerned, AAP MP Sanjay Singh addressed the dependents in Delhi and had raised the issue in Rajya Sabha. We’ll recover the Rs 3,000 crore amount for which notices have been issued. We will ensure the dependents get enough for their livelihood. We will form a mining corporation.
Q: People and Congress look at AAP as vote-splitters and the B-team of the BJP. Comment.
A. The Congress did not expect AAP candidates to become strong. Elvis and I had a meeting with Girish Chodankar six months back at a prominent person’s residence in Margao to discuss about an alliance for the Lok Sabha. We had said we’d be happy with one LS ticket, and a Congress candidate for the second ticket. But the Congress didn’t bother. Now because they’ve realised they’re losing ground, they’re manufacturing fake news. Congress themselves are splitting the votes and allowing the BJP to win. Congress MLAs are leaving and joining the BJP, thus selling the votes they received. Even with 17 seats, Congress couldn’t form the government and allowed the BJP to do so. Now there are rumours Francis Silveira is about to leave. There is no unity within the Congress. Congress has accepted Babush Monserrate back into the party even before his six-year expulsion period ended. No one is talking about that.
Q: The enthusiasm of the AAP has gone down since the last LS poll. Why is this?
A. When something is new, everyone’s excited. All our volunteers have their own jobs. Congress and BJP hire people to get their work done. We don’t hire. Our volunteers bear their own costs. They are sincere and committed. Everywhere I have campaigned, people have welcomed me. We just have to wait and see if this enthusiasm is converted
into votes.
