PANAJI
The ongoing stir over the Centre-sponsored projects at Mollem precipitated an overnight Twitter slugfest between the Chief Ministers of Goa and Delhi -- Pramod Sawant and Arvind Kejriwal -- on Wednesday-Thursday.
The Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo Arvind Kejriwal suggested that Sawant "listen to the voice of people of Goa" and stop the central projects from being on Goa in one of his tweets on Thursday after a series of exchanges the two leaders engaged in from their official twitter handles.
Sawant responded by taunting the AAP chief saying he will "skip" his advice given that Kejriwal was "expert in creating" Centre-State rifts.
It all started off on Wednesday night when Kejriwal, whose AAP in Goa has embarked on a political rebuilding exercise and joined the #SaveMollem stir, tweeted thus: "It is heartening to hear that @DrPramodPSawant ji. Goans are opposing double-tracking project. Kindly hear their voice and save Mollem as they are the lungs of Goa. I understand the Centre is forcing this project on Goa. Please stand with the Goans, say NO to the Centre and save Goa from becoming a coal hub."
Sawant responded with a tweet of his own saying: "Dear @ArvindKejriwal ji, doubling of railway tracks is a nation-building exercise. There is no threat to Mollem and we will ensure it remains that way. We will not allow Goa to become a coal hub. Knowing your expertise in creating Centre vs State issues, we will skip your advice."
Earlier on Wednesday, Sawant had criticized Kejriwal at a press conference he addressed after returning to Goa from an official Delhi visit for meddling in Goa's issues.
"Kejriwal should focus on tackling pollution in Delhi, which was one of the most polluted cities, instead of commenting on Goa-related issues," Sawant had said prompting the Delhi CM to tweet in response that it's not about Delhi v/s Goa pollution.
"Both Delhi and Goa are dear to me. We are all one country. We all have to work together to ensure there is no pollution in both Delhi and Goa," Kejriwal's tweet read.
For several weeks a sustained agitation is on in Goa against the projects which has rattled the ruling dispensation. The opponents suspect that the South Western Railway track doubling project and 4-laning of a National Highway will turn Goa into a coal hub with increased transportation of the fossil fuel imported through Mormugao Port Trust for use in North Karnataka's steel and power plants.
