the goan I network
MARGAO
Congress-turned-BJP MLAs from Salcete, Fisheries Minister Filipe Neri Rodrigues, Clafacio Dias and Wilfred D’Sa were conspicuous by their absence at the anti-CAA rally called by the Church organ, Council for Social Justice and Peace, but their counterparts, Leader of the Opposition Digambar Kamat, Luizinho Faleiro, Churchill Alemao, Vijai Sardesai
and Reginaldo Lourenco made it to the Lohia Maidan and were all seated in the audience.
Speakers at the rally, including Dr Oscar Rebello, however, had a word of advice for the MLAs present at the meeting. While appreciating the presence of the MLAs at the meeting, Dr Oscar, however, had a piece of advice to them, saying they should not support the CAA tomorrow because of the BJP.
When Dr Oscar made the remark, only Churchill and Luizinho were seated in the audience, with the doctor saying that MLAs such as Digambar and Vijai may also be seated somewhere at the Lohia Maidan. “You have come for the anti-CAA meeting. Tomorrow, for whatever reason, because of the BJP, don’t become pro-CAA. This is our request,” Dr Oscar said.
Taking utmost care that his advice is not an offence to the MLAs present, Dr Oscar, while referring to Churchill, said “it is just a joke. Politics has become a joke”.
Appreciating the presence of the couple of MLAs from Salcete, activist Rama Kankonkar, however, warned that the people agitating against the CAA will sit at their doorsteps if they support the CAA in the future.
Besides the five MLAs, Margao Municipal Council chairperson and Goa Forward leader, Pooja Naik, NCP Goa unit president Jose Philip D’Souza, AAP leader, Valmiki Naik, Congress leader M K Shaikh, Mahila Congress chief Pratima Coutinho, activist Dr Claude Alvares, Adv Cleofato Coutinho, N Shivdas were amongst the many who made it to the anti-CAA rally.
