All the 40 MLAs of the Goa Assembly, along with the 2 Lok Sabha MPs and the lone Rajya Sabha MP should come out openly on their individual decisions, immaterial of party affiliations and reflecting the majority will of the people of Goa on the fate of the three infra projects in Mollem, the IIT project in Melauli, the double tracking and the issue of the handling of coal by MPT and transportation of coal which will turn Goa into a black state instead of a green state that it is known to be.
The will of the people of Goa is definitely against these projects and therefore it is not time for the elected representatives of the people of Goa to run and hide, but it is decision time and they have to say yes or no, full stop. It may be recalled that the original will of the people was 17-13 against the dispensation in place which was also a stolen mandate in the cover of darkness and then, was followed by the shifting of allegiances by the 10 turncoats and it is to be seen if the elected representatives are betraying the will of the people on whom they depend to be elected.
Like the elected representative of Valpoi has come openly against the IIT project in Melauli, on the back of pressure exerted from the courageous villager of Melauli so also, all the elected representatives have to now make their decision very clear. Stop all the projects that are against the will of the people and shift the location of the IIT project to a place which is not fertile farm lands which divest the villagers of their livelihood.
The people of Goa must not have short memories but should remember, that their representative did not heed their interests, but merely became poodles of the ruling dispensation that betrayed them.
ELVIDIO MIRANDA, via email
