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A day after ……… ministers ponder

BY HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, JAN 17 — With Goa Bachao Abhiyan’s mammoth public meeting at the historic Lohia Maidan echoing across Salcete and beyond, the people’s power seems to have literally prompted heavyweight politicians from the taluka — especially the ministers — to sit and do a rethink on the issue.

In fact, at least four ministers in the Pratapsing Rane government — Power Minister Digambar Kamat, Water Resources Minister Filipe Neri Rodrigues, Urban Development Minister, Joaquim Alemao and Agriculture Minister Mickky Pacheco — dropped enough hints that they will take up the people’s sentiments at the Cabinet meeting on Thursday.

Pacheco even went to the extent of saying that he is ready not only to give an undertaking to the people that he would support scrapping of the Regional Plan 2011, but is willing to quit from the Cabinet. On the other hand, Speaker and Curtorim MLA Francisco Sardinha says: “If there is any objectionable part in the Plan, the government is bound to effect necessary changes.” He, however, did not agree with the demand from the activists to give written undertakings that the elected representatives will scrap the Plan.

Incidentally, while Mickky has come out totally against the Plan, ready to do anything as decided by the people, his three ministerial colleagues -- Digambar Kamat, Joaquim Alemao and Filipe Neri Rodrigues — however, asked to wait and watch till Thursday’s Cabinet meeting.

Says Filie Neri Rodrigues: “Before I adopt any stand on the matter, I would like to see the stand of the government. I will later consult my people before taking a final decision.”

His senior Cabinet colleague, Digambar Kamat declined to comment on the matter, saying he expects tomorrow’s Cabinet meeting to discuss the issue threadbare.

Meanwhile, two police jeeps were stationed near the Navelim office of Education Minister Luizinho Faleiro, in anticipation of the arrival of anti-Plan activists to obtain undertaking from him against the Regional Plan. Faleiro did not visit the office today due to his pre-occupation, but the police maintained security as a precautionary measure.

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