MARGAO rrSalcete Congress bigwigs and citizens alike appear a confused lot over what BJP’s Mission Salcete is all about “ whether it’s just an enrolment of new party members or regain the confidence of the people, or simply ushering in the development of the eight constituencies along with the rest of Goa. r State Congress President and Navelim MLA, Luizinho Faleiro says that Mission Salcete is not something new for the people of Salcete. “They had tried it earlier in Salcete. I do not know whether they have been successful in making inroads in the taluka or have made out roads,” Faleiro said. rFormer Chief Minister Digambar Kamat said that people of Salcete are aware of the fate of those who had banked on Mission Salcete in the past. He pointed out that the people of Salcete are well aware of the absence of development in the taluka during the last five years. “We know that certain projects that were supposed to come to Salcete were shifted outside. Even the district hospital project, which would have benefitted not just people of Salcete, but entire South Goa, remains incomplete in the last five years,” Kamat added. r His Benaulim counterpart and NCP’s lone MLA, Churchill Alemao said he does not think that Mission Salcete will take the BJP deep inside the minority heartland. “Compared to other parties, the BJP is linked to organisations such as the RSS, VHP, Bajrang Dal and others. Let us wait and see whether BJP’s mission will take them closer to Salcete,” Churchill said. rFour-time Velim MLA and former minister, Filipe Neri Rodrigues said if the BJP hopes to make serious inroads into Salcete through Mission Salcete, then the party should understand that people expect something good from the BJP government. “Employment today is a big issue amongst the educated youth. The government should create employment opportunities for the educated youth. Let the BJP prove that they are not just paying lip service to the taluka but is concerned about the development,” Filipe said the BJP will have a big task ahead of the party if they want to make inroads when the opposition represented constituencies of the taluka are a neglected lot. rPresident of Goan Seamen Association of India, Dixon Vaz echoed similar sentiments. “Mission Salcete should mean development of the taluka. And, I feel the mission should start from Margao, which is craving for attention. Margao is the de facto capital of Salcete and the government should give the city a facelift as part of Mission Salcete and gain confidence of the people,” he asserted.
What’s Mission Salcete 2.0? Oppn pooh-poohs BJP move
Mission Salcete? What does BJP’s mission hold for the people of the State’s most populous taluka this time round, when the taluka had contributed to the route of the Party in the 2017 Assembly election.
