South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha making a point on the political situation in the state in the light of TMC’s entry in Goa. Captured by : Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO
Saying that Congress Goa desk in-charge Dinesh Gundu Rao is only a party leader and not a Goan, who will decide on Mhadei water dispute, South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha on Wednesday said leaders, who have left the party have done so for their selfish interest and personal gains.
He said even the Congress wanted the TMC to win in Bengal against the BJP, but hastened to add that the Bengal-based party should not attempt to destroy the Congress in Goa and indirectly fight the BJP.
Addressing the media, the MP pointed out that Dinesh Gundu Rao is in-charge of the Congress in Goa, but the decision making will be done by the party leaders and workers from Goa. “Dinesh Rao is a party leader, but he will not become the Chief Minister of Goa. Only a Goan will become the Chief Minister after the Congress returns to power in 2022”, he said, while referring to reports seeking Dinesh Rao’s stand on Mhadei.
He pointed out that the Congress along with the like-minded people of Goa had fought for Mhadei when the ruling party indulged in politics in the last four years. “We have fought various issues which have been dear to Goans. The Congress has saved Goa, though the party might have committed mistakes in the past. The BJP Chief Minister late Manohar Parrikar had written a letter to the BJP in Karnataka during the Assembly election. Even water from Mhadei was released to Karnataka that time”, he added.
The South Goa MP said some party leaders might have gone to the TMC for their personal interests, but exuded confidence that the workers will not go by these people. “I am confident that our workers will not follow these leaders, who have left for their own gains. Our workers will not go fall prey for their false promises”, he said.
Saying the TMC will only take Goa backwards, Sardinha said “if one goes to Bengal, you will see backwardness once you move out of Kolkata. Only Congress can take Goa forward and protect the state for the people”.
When asked why leaders have started leaving the Congress and whether it was due to the failure to go for course correction, Sardinha said even he had called for certain steps to rejuvenate the party. “But, since the party has gone for the status quo, we have to all leave behind the differences and go for the battle as one unit. I want to remind that leaders are not born, but they are made by their voters and workers”.
Sardinha also reiterated his demanded for early resumption of mining as per the Supreme Court judgement and by taking the interest of the people of Goa.
