VASCO
Even as a large number of people joined the protest against the double-tracking works at Arossim, a section of people began demanding the resignation of Cortalim BJP MLA Alina Saldanha during the protest.
While a section of people felt that Saldanha was genuinely supporting the cause of the people, some were of the feeling that being a part of the State government, Saldanha may not be able to go full-fledged against her own party for the people. Some even said that Saldanha’s resignation would clarify her stand on the double-tracking project.
Speaking to media, former Cansaulim sarpanch Martha Saldanha admitted that many people had raised slogans demanding the resignation of the MLA during the protests. Cansaulim Sarpanch Jose Furtado said that Saldanha had her feet in two boats and must resign as an MLA to clarify her stand. “Cansaulim panchayat and our people have always opposed the double-tracking and we are with the people. However, Saldanha is saying tracks have been here for 100 years but there has been no infrastructure provided. I want to ask her what infrastructure she has given her people or the constituency in the last 8 years. While her husband and our former MLA late Matanhy Saldanha had proposed an over bridge, neither have the works begun nor has she told us the status,” said Furtado.
