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International Cuisine Conference on Traditional Asian Diet Panaji, Goa, September 2-5, 2007 - http://www.indologygoa.in Online Media Partner: http://www.goanet.org ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Churchill denies supporting plan for airport at Mopa NT News Service Margao, Sept 3 Fearing a public back-lash in South Goa, especially in the coastal belt, the PWD Minister, Mr Churchill Alemao today, did a flip saying that he never favoured Mopa airport. If people do not want an airport at Mopa, so shall it be, Mr Alemao said and reiterated that he will respect peoples wishes. Mr Alemao castigated the media for twisting his words and denied having said he supported Mopa. Addressing the press at noon today, he said, he was always with the people and defended his stand on Dabolim airport. I wanted Dabolim airport to remain and the government has given me full assurance on it, he said. Pleading helplessness to push for scrapping of Mopa airport, he said, the electorate failed to give mandate to the Save Goa Party. If people had given mandate to our party, I would scrap the Mopa airport, he said adding that the people chose to give Congress the mandate. Taking pains to explain his partys decision to support the Congress-led coalition, he said he wanted to develop his constituency. Taking a high moral ground, Mr Alemao said that he was never power hungry. I took up Dabolim airport issue not for politics, but because of the taxi-operators, shack-owners and the people of Goa, Mr Alemao said. On the Mormugao parliamentary election, he said, his lawyer daughter would definitely contest the election. On which party ticket she would contest will be decided only after the Election Commission announces the poll schedule, he said. Mr Alemao chose to either remain mum or speak very little over the issue of casino vessel and dredging of River Sal. My people have told me not to get involved in the issue, Mr Alemao explained trying to wriggle out of the contentious maze. Later he said that rules should be uniform for everyone. If the casino vessel has to go out of river Sal, then Caravela has to also go out of river Mandovi, he rationalised. http://www.navhindtimes.com/articles.php?Story_ID=090417 Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com