the goan I network
Vasco
Stating that people had rejected the BJP in five states, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) State President and former minister Jose Philip D’Souza on Wednesday said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) could meet with similar fate in Goa, making it difficult for it to cross the two-digit mark in the next assembly elections.
“The BJP must learn a lesson from the recent assembly polls in Rajasthan, Madhya Prakash, Chhattisgarh, Telengana and Mizoram, where it was decimated,” said D’Souza, while speaking to reporters along the sidelines of a function.
“It is time for them to learn a lesson not to play with public sentiments. People are upset and the poor have become poorer with rising prices. The farmers are finished and mining dependents from Goa are agitating in Delhi... It is high time that the BJP resumes mining activity in the State before Goans reject the BJP at the assembly and Lok Sabha elections. The results in 5 states have proved that a similar fate awaits BJP in Goa as well.”
“Elected MLAs in Goa may say everything is normal, but it is not true since the administration is come to a standstill. It will be absolutely difficult for BJP to touch the two-digit mark at the next Goa Assembly election,” said D’Souza.
Asked if he was willing to contest the Lok Sabha polls, D’Souza replied in the affirmative. “I am ready to contest the Lok Sabha elections from South Goa, if there is a need and if I am instructed to do so by the NCP,” he said.
“People all over Goa know and respect me as a person, politician and a leader. While the NCP has a strong presence in different areas of Goa, I also share very cordial relations with many leaders across various constituencies in Goa,” said D’Souza.
The NCP state president also emphasised the importance of alliances among parties. “The assembly election results have proved that alliances of like-minded parties is of utmost importance to bring about a change. During the last two assembly elections, there were party presidents who felt alliances were not important.”
“I have always insisted on an alliance and this has to be realised by all political parties. An alliance only increases the strength of all political parties,” said D’Souza.
We want new Chicalim hospital complex inaugurated: NCP
VASCO: Claiming that the Cottage Hospital Chicalim (CCH) is in a pitiable condition, NCP State President and former minister Jose Philip D’Souza appealed to the health minister and administration to inaugurate the new Chicalim hospital complex, for the benefit of people across Mormugao Taluka.
D’Souza expressed his views when he along with other party members distributed fruits to patients at the CCH, to mark the birthday of NCP Supremo Sharad Pawar on Wednesday.
“It’s the birthday of our party supremo and so, we decided to donate fruits to all patients admitted in CCH. We though this would be a good initiative to celebrate his birthday and reach out to those admitted in the hospital.”
“The condition of the CCH is not good and I noticed patients on benches and even two patients on one bed. The ceiling has developed cracks and there is no space to accommodate more patients and some of them have been kept waiting,” said D’Souza.
“It would be nice if the new facility, which is already ready, be made available for the public. What is the point of depriving them of such good facilities when they are already ready?”
“I appeal to Health Minister Vishwajit Rane and Panchayat Minister Mauvin Godinho to try and expedite the process of shifting the CCH into its new premises at the earliest,” D’Souza added.
