Says AAP will win 35 seats in Goa; promises all-round devp with people’s help
the goan I network
VASCO
“If our government is formed in Goa, we will not snatch anyone’s shelter. If need be, we will change the law. If we need to consult the central government, we will do that too,” said Kejriwal.
He was interacting with media persons during his visit to the residence of Custodio D’Souza, president of Old Cross Canoe Association at Khariwada on Tuesday afternoon.
“In the forthcoming assembly, AAP in Goa will win 35 seats and form the government. The people in Goa are angry as both the Congress and the BJP are corrupt parties,” said Kejriwal.
“There is a need to protect the tradition and culture of Goa which is dying a slow death and there is a need to curb corruption.”
The Delhi chief minister said he had visited D’Souza’s house and would meet fishermen from the area and listen to their grievances. “AAP is not a party, but an andolan (movement). It is a movement against corruption, it is a movement for the poor people, less privileged and common man fighting for their rights.”
“We have formed the government in Delhi and the issues that are being raised today are the issues of survival. In Goa, the survival of fishermen is at stake. The issues raised by the fishing community pertain to illegal dredging by MPT due to which the survival of the fishermen at Khariwada is at stake,” said Kejriwal.
“We have made it very clear in our manifesto that we will not allow anybody’s house to be demolished nor will we snatch anyone’s livelihood,” he added.
On a philosophical note, Kejriwal claimed that right to food and shelter is provided by god and not by men. “If God provides the poor with food and shelter, then no one has the right to snatch these from them. If the government cannot provide food and shelter to the poor, it has no right to snatch it from these poor people,” said Kejrival.
Custodio D’Souza accused the BJP government of failing to live up to its promises and assurances to the fishermen of Khariwaddo at the time of election.
“The canoe owners contributed money from their own pockets and approached the National Green Tribunal against the dredging which is illegally being carried out by MPT. The government has failed to take the stakeholders into confidence and to conduct public hearings before the dredging could start,” said D’Souza. He urged Kejrival to help Khariwaddo fishermen to fight against MPT in the Supreme Court if they lose the case in the National Green Tribunal.
Assures to help fishermen fight against MPT’s dredging
VASCO: Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday assured that if AAP is elected to power in Goa, all-round development would take place only after consulting the people.
He was addressing a meeting of the fishing community at the South Western Railway Community Hall, Vasco.
The presidents of various associations present at the meeting unanimously complained to Kejriwal that the BJP government had failed to protect their interests.Commending Kejriwal for coming from Delhi to Vasco, they said neither the elected representatives nor the chief minister had visited them after elections to address their grievances.
“The local MLA and the South Goa MP convened several meetings with fishermen of Kharewaddo during elections and had assured to solve their problems. But after after the elections they failed not only to visit them but also fulfill the promises,” complained Custodio D’Souza, President of Old Cross Canoe Association.
Vasco Market Fish Vendors’ leader Carridade Pereira said the old fish market was constructed at the cost of fish vendors and with little help from then revenue minister Dr Wilfred Mesquita.
“The government wants to construct a new fish market without taking us into confidence,” she said.
After patiently hearing their grievances, Kejriwal assured to extend all possible help to them.
“If AAP is elected in Goa, then all development will happen only after consulting the people as
they know what is good for them and what is not,” he said.
Responding to their concerns over dredging activity by MPT, he assured the Kharewaddo fishermen that if they lose the case in the National Green Tribunal, he would help them with a lawyer to fight in the Supreme Court.
During the meeting, the Goenchea Ramponkarancho Ekvott Secretary Olencio Simoes presented a memorandum to Kejriwal and later joined the party.
Earlier, Kejriwal inspected the Kharewaddo beach and visited the fishermen at Baina later in the evening.
