PANAJI
Revolutionary Goans Party chief Manoj Parab has said he will shut down the political party if Calangute MLA Michael Lobo proves his charge that the RGP raises issues and settles for cash with Delhi builders.
The RGP chief was addressing the media at the party office in Panaji, where he targeted Lobo and his wife Delilah Lobo, who is the MLA of Siolim, a day after he joined locals in Anjuna to protest against the illegal retaining wall work at a beachside property belonging to their son Daniel in Anjuna.
Following the public protest, Lobo had charged that Parab only targets locals but, when builders from Delhi are involved in construction, they take money to ‘settle’ the issue.
Also, Anjuna Police had registered an FIR against several activists after Delilah Lobo filed a complaint accusing them of trespassing onto the property.
Responding to Lobo’s allegations, Parab said that all the panchayats in the Siolim constituency are controlled by the former minister and that many complaints against mega projects have been filed with these panchayats. “If Michael Lobo has the ability, he should demonstrate it by shutting down at least four such projects,” Parab said.
He also taunted Lobo, who had recently appealed to youth to take up farming as a profession and livelihood while showcasing watermelons from his Parra farm in a video, by suggesting that the legislator should now plant mango, cashew, or jackfruit trees on their property in Anjuna, where the controversial retaining wall work is being carried out.
Parab alleged that instead of farming, Lobo’s son Daniel has applied for land-use conversion of the hilly land.
“Michael Lobo has devised a plan to develop this property and sell it to Delhiites,” Parab alleged, adding that the beach adjacent to the property will be privatised and locals will have no access.
