http://www.navhindtimes.com/stories.php?part=news&Story_ID=011931
Don't provoke people on Mopa, Ravi to Congmen NT Staff Reporter Panaji Jan 18: The Goa pradesh Congress committee president, Mr Ravi Naik has said that since the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh has promised to resolve the issues relating to Dabolim airport and Mopa airport project, state leaders should refrain from making provocative statements and whip up people's passions. Mr Naik has called upon his partymen, supporting either of the issues, not to make statements in public, which he said were neither in the interest of the common man or the party. He urged them and other political parties not to politicise the issues and wait for the findings of the experts' committee and the decision of the central government on them. He further said that since the Prime Minister has promised to continue with the Dabolim airport as also to decide on the future of Mopa airport project only after receiving the feasibility report from the experts' committee, there was no issue left for debate and that state leaders should wait till the Centre makes its stand clear on them. The GPCC president further said that attempts were being made to involve common man from the state on the issues and that such attempts were not in the interest of general public and that party leaders should refrain from making such attempts, and instead work for building the party. Mr Naik also said that conflicting statements by party leaders presented party in poor light and were sending wrong signals among the partymen and were confusing the party cadres, as such leaders should refrain from making such statements, which lowered the esteem of the party and its leaders before the public. Meanwhile, Mr Naik will leave the state for Hyderabad tomorrow to participate in the three-day plenary session of the all-India Congress committee, which begins on January 21. The Chief Minister, Mr Pratapsing Rane will also leave the state for the meeting on Friday. A host of state party leaders, including the ministers in the cabinet, office-bearers of the state unit and the elected and co-opted members of the AICC will also leave tomorrow by a special bus to participate in the plenary session. -- Cheers, Gabe Menezes. London, England