PANAJI
In an all out attack against Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Aam Aadmi Party has sternly asked the CM to protect the interest of Goans and not to make the State a subordinate department of the Centre by blindly accepting projects thrust by Delhi upon Goa.
In a letter addressed to the chief minister, AAP Convenor Rahul Mahambre asked Sawant to rise above party politics and protect the unique identity of Goa.
“Goans fought valiantly for liberation from Portuguese rule but the State government is now turning it into a colony of the Centre,” he said.
Lamenting that the BJP government is repeating the same mistakes committed by the earlier Congress government which danced to the whims and fancies of the Centre, Mahambre said “Goans now want to decide for the State and have a vision for their welfare”.
He cautioned the chief minister that failure to mend his ways will result in massive agitations across the State.
Pointing out that the double-tracking project thrust upon Goans by the Centre does not offer any benefit for Goa or Goans but is pushed only to help Karnataka, Mahambre said Goans living by the side of the railway track will suffer from innumerable diseases due to the coal dust.
He said the Centre is imposing projects on Goa without even consulting Goans leave alone seeking their consent.
Mahambre said the diversion of Mhadei river water by Karnataka which has the blessing of the Centre is another project that is foisted upon Goa without even considering the fact that Mhadei is a lifeline for most Goans who depend upon it for their livelihood.
“While the Centre slept over this matter, Karnataka has gone ahead and constructed some dams thus giving a fait accompli and threatening the very livelihood of lakhs of Goans,” Mahambre said.
