MARGAO
South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha has lost the Assembly election from Curtorim constituency only twice in his political career spanning around 45 years, once in 1994 and then again in 2007.
The four-time MP representing South Goa made no secret of the fact that while he had lost the 1994 polls on the Sonsodo garbage issue, he attributed his defeat in 2007 to the Mopa airport. Though a victim of the Mopa airport agitation, Sardinha, however, maintained his stand that the new international airport at Mopa is the airport for the future.
“I had then supported Mopa and I still support the new airport because Mopa is the airport for the future. My only demand then and now is Dabolim should not be shut down and if the government has any such plans, I will be the first person to lead the agitation,” he asserted.
Sardinha added: “My political opponents capitalized on the Mopa airport issue saying that Sardinha is supporting Mopa and spread false propaganda that I have purchased properties when I have no inch of land at Mopa. This led to my defeat in the 2007 election.”
Saying he has no regrets for supporting Mopa airport though his stand had cost him dearly politically in 2007, Sardinha said he had got around Rs 500 crore for the upgradation of the Dabolim airport to ensure that Dabolim airport continues in the future.
