MARGAO
Close to a decade ago, the very mention of Mopa airport would trigger strong reactions from the political class in the minority-dominated taluka. Slogans such as “amkam naka amkam naka, Mopa airport amkam naka” reverberated around the Salcete countryside at regular intervals.
Except the odd media briefing by Fr Eremito Rebello-led Goans for Dabolim Only (GFDO), politicos from the taluka have been quiet and silent over Mopa, even as the BJP-led government is going ahead with the project step by step.
Otherwise, consider this. Nothing has been heard from NCP’s Churchill Alemao or Goa Forward Party mentor, Vijai Sardesai, or from Goa Vikas Party supremo Mickky Pacheco or Congress president Luizinho Faleiro in recent weeks and months on the emotive issue. Churchill had once led the anti-Mopa movement, but had no qualms to embrace the Nationalist Congress Party which has been espousing the cause of Mopa since day one.
Independent MLA Vijai Sardesai is another case in point. Soon after his election from Fatorda, Vijai led the anti-Mopa movement and even held a couple of meetings in Cavelossim and Raia before quietly withdrawing from the scene. His Goa Forward Party too has not come out categorically clear that the party will oppose Mopa if elected to power.
Incidentally, the Congress party came out clear on its stand in favour of Dabolim only after Luizinho Faleiro took over the reigns of the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee. With the government going all out to complete procedures and ensure work on the airport kick starts before the Assembly poll, one has not come across the Congress taking on the government’s might on the issue.
Says GFDO Convenor Fr Eremito Rebello: “Almost all the political parties have pushed the Mopa airport issue under the carpet for their vested interests. It is apparent that the political parties, both old and new, do not want to antagonize the North Goa electorate on the issue. Even the latest entrant on Goa’s political landscape, the Aam Aadmi Party, has not come out with a clear say on the issue.”
Incidentally, GFDO and Fr Eremito have been blamed in certain political quarters for the present situation. Politicians such as Goa Vikas Party (GVP) Supremo Mickky Pacheco has openly questioned Fr Eremito’s logic of keeping away politicians from sharing the GFDO platform, while at the same time seeking support from the political class.
Fr Eremito, however, defended his stand of not allowing politicians to share the anti-Mopa platform. “We had a bitter past experience with politicians on so many public issues. We did not trust the political class on the Mopa issue. What was the guarantee that the politicians would not ditch us again if GFDO and the political class jointly led the agitation?” Fr Eremito
questioned.
Political commentator Adv Cleofato Coutinho attributed the silence of the political players and parties on
Mopa airport to pure political expediency.
“It’s because of political expediency that political parties are keeping low on Mopa airport. The political parties and leaders do
not want to lose votes
from North Goa,” Adv Coutinho said.
He was not ready to buy the argument advanced by the politicians, blaming Fr Eremito for the present situation, reminding them that nothing had stopped any politician or a political party from launching a parallel anti-Mopa movement.
“If Fr Eremito did not allow them to share GFDO platform, what stopped the political parties and leaders from taking the movement to its logical conclusion,” Adv Cleofato questioned.
