http://oheraldo.in/comment/reply/9191
BJP please explain Soter De Souza, SocorroThe BJP has suddenly become passionate about the Mopa airport issue. Whether Goa has so much land reserves and infrastructure that it can hold 2 airports is one question. Some of the pro-Mopa protagonists lament that Goa is bursting to the seams due to the unprecedented population growth due to migration and if not controlled there will be a collapse in infrastructure. Will Mopa airport not further encourage migration of non-Goans into Goa and put added pressure on the infrastructure? A few days back Mr. Manohar Parrikar is on record stating that the Mopa airport is more of a industrial need for cargo shipment than a civilian need. I wonder who are the Goan 'posorkars' (general merchants) and 'gaddekars' (kiosk owners) who want to airlift their cargo, leaving aside the miniscule number of Goan industrialists. Another impression sought to be created is that the people of Pernem want the Mopa airport. On inquiring with some people the conclusion is that they see no benefit to them but to the land sharks or are confused about what this whole airport project would mean to them. They also revealed that several politicians have purchased land at Dhargalim and surrounding villages. Will the Congress and BJP let the public know how many MLAs and former MLAs have land holdings in and around Mopa? The Mopa issue has been taken up with such vigour by the political parties as if to say there are no more pressing needs of the Goan people. They should take a look at how 4 to 5 poor Goan families are crammed up in 200 sq. mtrs of land and living in sub-human conditions in the villages just eagerly awaiting that they will get some land to spread out. And here we have the government selling land to non-Goan industrialists at throw away prices in the name of IT park and airports supported by political parties who claim to be messiahs of the masses. With the bubbles of 'clean and good governance' and 'Goa shinning' having burst the people should realise that Mopa airport issue is the new bubble being floated for the next election by some political opportunists with the help of Mr. Rane and Mr. Deshprabhu. Will the Goan electorate be once again mesmerised and carried away by these deceptive bubbles floated by turncoats and traitors of the Goan cause? -- Salaam ali kum. Gabe Menezes. London, England