DR. OSCAR REBELLO ASKS PEOPLE TO ELECT GOOD CANDIDATES

MARGAO: Social activist Dr Oscar Rebello has called upon the people of Margao to vote and elect good candidates in the ensuing Municipal polls for the betterment of the Commercial Capital.  Addressing the election meeting of former Margao Municipal Chairperson Piedade Noronha in ward No 3 of the Civic body, Rebello said the time has come for Goans to come together and unitedly support good candidates.

“The time has now come to think and act collectively if Goa and Margao has to improve. We have been selfish in our attitude in the past”, he said.  Dr Rebello reminded that what matters in a democracy is people and made a humble appeal to the people to vote for good candidates.

He also said that organizations such as the Loksamiti would remain vigilant and be after the candidates to usher in the development of the ward.

In his address, spokesman of the Margao Loksamiti Mohandas Lolienkar lambasted GPCC general secretary Vijay Sardessai for calling him an outsider, reminding Sardesai that he has been putting up in the town since the 70’s.

He said the Margao Loksamiti will act as a pressure group after the Municipal polls in the interest of the city, adding that Madgaonkars should get united after the polls to help in the development of the city.

Calling for an end to dynasty politics, Lolienkar said that the Loksamiti even will not hesitate to take on Piedade Norohna if she goes against the people.

Former GPYC Girish Chodankar said the Loksamiti is behind Piedade Norohna as she had fought against corruption in the civic body during her term. “Not a single person has raised a finger at Piedade for corruption. She has proved herself as a Councillor”, he said.

Chodankar said that some Congressmen are fooling the people by saying that the Congress party is supporting a certain candidate in the ward. “Elections for the Municipal bodies are not fought on party lines. The Congress party is not supporting any particular candidate. These leaders are only fooling the voters”, he said.

In his spirited address, Piedade asserted that she had never taken any money during her tenure as Councilor of the Civic body. She appealed to the voters not to get misguided by the opposition talk that I am being supported by the BJP.

“The Municipal polls are not fought on party lines. The symbol Hand and Lotus are not there in these elections”, she said, while making a humble appeal to the voters to decide which candidate would serve them better.

On the Kabrastan issue, she blamed GPCC General Secretary Vijay Sardessai for trying to divide the Muslims and other communities on the sensitive burial grounds. “Sardessai is telling the Muslims that I have objected to the Kabrastan. And, he tells the Catholics that I am supporting the Kabrastan”, she said.

She also pooh phooed PWD Minster Churchill Alemao’s claim that he had ushered in development projects in Fatorda, adding that the PWD Minister has failed to settle pending bills of even small time road contractors.

Margao Loksamiti convenor Dr Gopal Vaidya, Purnanand Chari, Scheduled Tribe leader Antonio Gauncar, Loksamiti leader Dr Lanfred D’costa, Urfan Mulla, Ifitiaz Shaikh, Prashant Naik were amongst the speakers who addressed the meeting. (HD)