Attacking the BJP-led government for letting loose divisive forces in the country, the Congress on Tuesday demanded immediate suspension of the South Western Railways (SWR) officials for labelling Goans as “Portuguese”.
The principle opposition party also charged the government for abetting anarchism by bowing down to fringe elements and cancelling a peaceful protest in Mapusa.
“BJP’s hidden agenda stands exposed. The officers are trained to divide this country by the fringe units and their sister concerns and they (officers) do it to please the BJP high command for perks and promotions,” said Trajano D’Mello, chief spokesman of Congress, while censuring SWR General Manager Ajay Kumar Singh, for calling an elected representative of an Indian state and ex-minister a Portuguese.
The Congress spokesman along with North Goa District President Vijay Bhike and other party officer bearers were addressing a news conference at the district office in Mapusa.
D’Mello said the official’s outbursts were a trailer of CAA, NPR and NRC and cautioned people that they would have to either pay up or face the horror of being declared doubtful by the babus who would visit their homes.
“The Congress demands that this officer should be immediately suspended for at least 15 days so that every officer knows his responsibility while dealing with every citizen of this country,” he said.
“If Alina Saldanha cannot get him suspended in spite of being in the government, then Alina has sold her soul to divisive forces to remain in power,” he added.
SWR General Manager Ajay Kumar Singh had stoked a controversy by suggesting that BJP MLA Alina Saldanha was of Portuguese descent when she led a delegation to Singh protesting against double-tracking of railway line in her constituency which would lead to demolition of houses.
The Congress spokesman said the fringe elements of the BJP who had no concern for the rule of law were dictating terms to the BJP-led government.
He said these fringe elements managed to force officials to withdraw permissions granted for a peaceful meeting in Mapusa by stating that they will organize a protest march against the meeting at the same time on the same venue.
“This threat is not only for protestors but also for the government, to the State and to the rule of law. If this is not abetting anarchist then what is it?” D’Mello questioned.
He said the chief minister has to answer whether permissions granted to an event can be revoked on mere threats issued by a group of people.
CM has not felt fit to castigate railway official: Reginaldo
the goan I network
MARGAO
Congress MLA Reginaldo Lourenco has said that South Western Railway Manager Ajay Kumar Singh’s recent usage of the term ‘Portuguese’ to address Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha and people of Cansaulim for opposing the double-tracking project was highly condemnable.
He said if severe action is not taken against Singh it would give a passport to other government officials who visit Goa in the name of so-called development to humiliate niz Goemkars. He further said that the cost-benefit analysis should be done of all mega projects
including double-tracking of SWR.
In a statement, Reginaldo stressed on the need to find answers as to for whose benefit this double-tracking was being done -- whether is it being planned for common Goemkars or big corporates/industrialists. One needs to find out whether double-tracking is being carried out to convert Goa into a coal hub, he added.
“People across Goa and especially the areas from where the SWR route passes have been constantly opposing the double-tracking because it would further lead to unimaginable destruction of ecology and heritage of our villages as a result of hill-cutting, axing of trees and air pollution.”
“Let us be honest and admit that the existing single track of SWR is more of a bane than a boon to Goa as its locomotives running daily carry coal from MPT to the thermal plant in Karnataka leaving a destructive trail of air pollution caused by coal dust,” he said.
The Curtorim MLA said Singh is completely ignorant about the richness of the rich heritage and culture of Goa which is well documented in the archives of Goa believed to be among the oldest.
“What further pains and anguishes Goans is that the government led by its young and dynamic Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has not felt fit to castigate Singh for the use of the unwanted and baseless term ‘Portuguese’ for his fellow colleague, Alina and Cansaulim villagers. I request the Chief Minister to take Ajay Kumar Singh to task by complaining to Railway Minister Piyush Goyal,”
he demanded.
I castigated officer, will take up issue with Railway Minister: Sardinha
MARGAO: South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha has slammed South Western Railway Manager, Ajay Kumar Singh for terming those opposing the double-tracking project as Portuguese, saying he would take up the issue with Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal. Sardinha told The Goan that he called up the South Western Railway Manager Ajay Kumar Singh on Tuesday and castigated him for lack of mannerism in addressing the people. “The railway official has no right to term all those opposing the project as Portuguese,” he said, adding that an official of the rank of manager of the South Western Railway should have been sensitive while making any statement. Sardinha said he would immediately take up the matter with the Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal with a plea to initiate action against the senior railway official.
