'Save Goa' is the punchline for state poll

PANAJI: 'Save Goa for posterity' will be the punchline for the election campaign launched by opposition parties in the state for the June two Assembly polls.

The opposition parties, including BJP, have chalked out their strategy to target Congress for the controversial Regional Plan 2011 which feared to rob Goa of its natural beauty.

BJP's election line is 'save Goa for future' while Churchill Alemao, who quit Congress and his Lok Sabha seat recently, has formed a political party 'Save Goa Front'.

Though former town and country planning minister Atanasio Monserratte, who allegedly masterminded the Regional Plan 2011, has deserted Congress and joined United Goans Democratic Party, the ruling party will have to explain logic behind the controversial plan and its roll back following mass protest.

Interestingly, organisations like Goa Church, which makes an impact in elections in the state which has around 30 per cent Catholic voters, had publicly appealed to 'slam the politicians who are out to sale the state'.

"Congress government worked in a democratic manner... when people rejected the plan, we scrapped it," senior Congress leader Margaret Alva had told reporters during her press briefing last week.

Congress' loss is BJP's gain. The party has been harping on the Regional Plan issue through its public meetings. "It was a disastrous plan which aimed to finish Goa," BJP's national spokesman Rajiv Pratap Rudy commented during a press conference recently.

The saffron outfit has also linked the Regional Plan 2011 to land mafia citing findings in the National Security Council Report. "The report clearly mentions that mafias were trying to enter India through land dealings... we are not saying it but the National Security Council report says it," Leader of Opposition Manohar Parrikar stated.

The Save Goa Front has also lambasted the controversial plan. "The plan is not scrapped by Congress government. They have kept it aside and will execute it, if they are voted back to power," party chief Alemao feared.

"At this juncture, it is very important for us to save Goa... the fight is not just to win power, it is to save Goa from being finished," he said.

The Congress is, however, yet to react to the charges over the Plan. Except for the statements made by Alva, no formal statement has come from the party during its various daily press briefing. It is to be seen what stand the party takes over the issue in its manifesto, which is to be released on May 21.

International airport at Mopa and Special Economic Zones (SEZs), too, will figure in opposition parties' attack against the Congress.

While BJP has supported the airport, the Congress has kept its stand vague. The Save Goa Front, which incidentally fights election on aeroplane symbol, has vehemently opposed the project.

"We don't oppose for the sake of it. The airport at the Maharashtra boundary will naturally benefit our neighbours and not us. We are of the opinion that existing Dabolim airport should be upgraded to international standards rather than constructing another airport," Alemao said.

On the SEZ issue, BJP and Save Goa Front have opposed setting up such zones without proper study. The issue figures in the Save Goa Front manifesto and also it finds place in speeches during corner meetings for BJP.

"Goa has limited land resources. We can't just waste it. Also there has to be proper study of manpower availability in the state before granted permissions to any SEZs," Parrikar said.

The Congress, however, feels that SEZ will solve the unemployment problems to a big extend. "Around 50,000 employment opportunities would be provided in next three years in these zones. Naturally, it will help to eradicate unemployment. We cannot assure government jobs to everybody but for sure, such opportunities to take care of job requirements," Congress Member of Parliament Shantaram Naik stated.

The senior leader stated that the SEZs should be allowed after promise of jobs to local youths.