the goan I network
OLD GOA
Various political leaders paid rich tributes to four-time St Cruz MLA Victoria Fernandes as she was laid to rest with full state honours on Saturday.
Leading the tributes was Chief Minister Pramod Sawant who said late Victoria Fernandes was the everyone’s mummy. “She would be the only woman who won on her own capabilities. Right from Goa’s Liberation to Opinion Poll to Konkani agitation to Statehood, she was in the forefront,” Sawant stated while also lauding her role in women empowerment.
“When I got elected in 2012, Mummy was not in the Assembly, but had heard a lot about her. I would meet her during Goa Legislators’ Day. She would tell me that I need to learn a lot as I am new to politics,” he added.
“She may have been a Congress MLA but she would never see others on party lines. She would see everybody as her own,” Sawant said.
“She worked for the common man, the poorest of the poor, fighting for various issues concerning the common man. She gave leadership to them, which is the reason why people from all walks of life have been paying tributes to her,” he said.
“We have lost a good woman leader and a lot of women would be inspired by her works. Women should follow in her footsteps,” he opined.
Calling her the iron lady of Goa, RDA Minister Michael Lobo said all Goans will remember her for the times to come.
“What she has done is a lesson to the generation next, particularly the women, who have to take her legacy forward,” he added while stating that she has shown the way to the future generations.
“The government’s decision to grant State honours is a tribute to her contribution to the State. I thank the CM for the fitting tribute to Mummy who fought for Goa as well as women empowerment in the State.”
Opposition leader Digambar Kamat recalled his close association with Mummy for many years and said that she was a born fighter who fought for the downtrodden.
“She would always fight in the Assembly for the poor and the disadvantaged. Her contribution to Goa can never be forgotten as she hit the streets during different agitations,” Kamat stated.
GPCC President Girish Chodankar said Mummy spent her life for the poor and sacrificed her life for their cause.
“She was known as the flower of the fire. Though her heart was soft, she was always ready to fight like a fighter,” Chodankar said while stating that he worked with her on many occasions in which he learnt a lot.
“She participated in many movements due to which she spent more times protesting on the streets rather than in her home, that too not for herself but for the people. The GPCC paid respect to her by laying Congress Party’s flag on her body and also with a salute,” he added.
Health Minister Vishwajit Rane described Mummy as a dynamic lady.
“I have known her for 20 years. So, it is a loss not only to us personally but for the people of Goa,” he added.
Aldona MLA Glen Ticlo said Mummy did a lot of good work for the upliftment of the society, particularly women.
TCP minister Chandrakant Babu Kavlekar said Mummy fought for everybody and not only for her constituency.
“She used to raise issues concerning entire Goa which is why people from all corners of Goa used to approach her with their issues. She used to listen to them and help them in their cause. I also used to approach her and she would give me advice like a mother,” Kavlekar recalled.
Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao recalled the days when they formed Goa Protectors to fight for the issues of Goans. “We used to resolve the issues faced by Goans who were facing issues in any parts of Goa,” he added.
“Mummy and I worked tirelessly during the Konkani language agitation. Cannot describe in words the work we did together during that period,” Alemao said.
“She was an iconic lady, and she did an admirable work throughout her lifetime. When she was sick I with daughter Valanka visited her several times and even that time she was worried about Goa and Goans,” he informed while stating that she always fought for the Goans, particularly the poor.
Tomazinho Cardozo said that Mummy deserved State honours as she did tremendous work not only as a politician but also as a social worker. “She worked for the upliftment of the poor and the downtrodden,” he said.
Former minister Prakash Velip said Mummy’s death is a big loss to Goa. “She was a good orator. She fought for issues concerning Goa even supporting the tribals movement. She was truly the iron lady of Goa fighting for the downtrodden people. Goa needs such type of leaders.”
