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News ArticlesI am not dependent on your votes: CMHERALD Addressing a press conference, Edwin Pinto, who is one of the persons in the forefront opposing land illegalities, said, “This is serious. We are Goans and the women who went to put forth their grievances to the CM were Goans. If he is not dependent on Goan votes, how will he look after Goan peoples’ interests,” Pinto questioned. He said the five women members were furious and angry and came and told us what had transpired between them and the CM in his chamber at the Secretariat. “The CM has to clarify on what he meant by his statement that he was not dependent on our votes. Then we have to see whether he was riding on the wave of migrant votes,” Pinto asserted. Carmen de Miranda from Loutolim, who was one of the members who went to see the CM, narrated, “He refused to look into our demands and said we had no appointment to see him. At that point of time I asked him during elections they never took appointment to come to see us for votes. He told us point blank he wasn’t dependent on our votes at which we were confused and didn’t know what to say. He further said do what you’ll want and didn’t care.” Zarina da Cunha, Judy Rebello, Swati Kerkar and Carmen Correia were the other four women who were part of the delegation. They said the CM’s behaviour towards them was cold and bitter. They said the CM was responsible for unleashing a reign of terror on the people, who had gone to redress their grievances, by using the police force. “We were taken to the police station where the men and women were kept in one cell and were never even offered food,” they narrated. Neri Fernandes said he had accompanied the women to the CM’s chamber. “After the meeting when we were walking back three political leaders Subhash Shirodkar, Deepak Dhavilkar and Reginaldo Lourenco also gave us a cold shoulder,” he mentioned. Croyden Madeira said the water provided at the Porvorim police station was muddy. Our basic human rights were not taken care of, he stated. The village groups have called for action against Porvorim PI Devendra Gad who has been accused of manhandling women activists time and again. Goa Bachao Abhiyan member Prajal Sakhardande said the people had elected the Government so that it will look into their problems. “But the opposite was happening. The people are left to fend for themselves. Hills are being cut down blatantly and the authorities are turning a Nelson’s eye to the activity,” he mentioned. The village groups have ridiculed the flying squads stating the same were mere eye wash and pressed for some members of the village groups to be included in them. Edwin Pinto said the village groups had come together in a strong way to save Goan hills and fields for the next generation. “We are sure to take this fight to its logical conclusion. The CM’s statement has bolstered us to take up the challenge and wage a war against the illegalities in our villages and in between if there was aggression the Government will be responsible,” he observed. |
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