ALINA HIGHLIGHTS REAL ISSUE
MLA says strike called by Cortalim-Quelossim VP panchas is to cause diversion from real issue
Says she assured gram sabha on Oct 23 that the government has considered the request of Quelossim villagers for separate panchayat and proposal to be placed before cabinet
Says Quelossim will have panchayat of its own before Election Code of Conduct kicks in
Says hunger strike move is to divert attention from mini India park project in Quelossim that the sarpanch is promoting
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Hunger strike to divert attention from project at Quelossim: Cortalim MLA
Says govt has already assured separate VP for Quelossim
THE GOAN NETWORK
CORTALIM
Taking a swipe at the Cortalim-Quelossim panchayat members over the hunger strike to demand separate panchayat for Quelossim, RDA Minister and Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha said the real issue behind this was to divert the attention on the project proposed at Quelossim.
“At the Cortalim-Quelossim gram sabha on October 23, I had informed the members that the government had considered the request of Quelossim villagers for a separate panchayat as per the prescribed criteria and the proposal would be placed before the Cabinet shortly,” Saldanha said while addressing a news conference at her Cansaulim office.
“Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar has given me full assurance that the needful will be done shortly and the village of Quelossim will have a panchayat of its own, well before the code of conduct comes into effect,” the minister said.
“There is no need for anyone to play the role of a martyr by fasting as the government has made its stand, vis-a-vis the issue, very clear. The government is ready to give a separate panchayat for the village of Quelossim.”
The minister said Sarpanch Hilario Figueiredo is trying to throw dust in the eyes of the public to divert its attention from the mini India park project and his role in promoting the project.
“Surely, the sarpanch is aware that if the mini India park project becomes a reality, slowly but surely, there will be nothing left for the new Quelossim panchayat to protect and develop,” Saldanha said.
It may be recalled that the Cortalim-Quelossim panchas in a resolution had resolved to proceed on a hunger strike on November 8, in the panchayat to force the government to give a seperate panchayat for Quelossim.
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Alina fights back; criticises nephew
CORTALIM: Hitting out at the AAP candidate, Olencio Simoes, who is also her nephew, Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha said Simoes should know the facts before making any statements.
Saldanha said Simoes had stated that she (Saldanha) had woken up after four years to oppose the project.
“I have documents to show that I had been opposing the project since 2012, when the panchayat had issued a 'willingness letter' to the proponent of the project. Even the sarpanch in his stop order issued in 2014 to the proponents had started the letter stating: 'as per the instructions from Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha ....... the panchayat would take action as deemed fit over violations ....',” Alina maintained exhibiting the documents to media persons.
