PANAJI
Lashing at former Pernem MLA, Rajendra Arlekar, for his statements against Minister for Tourism and Sports, Mr. Manohar (Babu) Ajgoankar, the former Zilla Parishad Chairman of Pernem, Mr. Pandurang Parab said, “Mr. Ajgaonkar’s move to agitate at Mopa was in the interest of the locals to provide them employment opportunities and was a fruitful exercise.”
In a statement issued today, Parab pointed out that Ajgaonkar was re-elected in 2017 by the people of Pernem because the earlier MLA despite holding high office during his tenure completely failed to bring development nor provided employment to the locals of Pernem.
Parab said, “An elected MLA has to understand the needs of the people of the area he represents which can be done only after continuous interaction, being accessible during emergencies and at the hour of need.” Parab further said, “Those staying in Vasco will not understand the sentiments and needs of Pernemkars and have no right to talk about the Tourism and Sports minister Mr. Ajgoankar who is continuously working for the benefit of Pernem.
Mr. Rajendra Arlekar, Parab said, is a senior politician and was holding the post of Speaker of the Goa Assembly and minister in the previous government. “He should understand that a minister is appointed and given portfolios by the Chief Minister of the state. It is none other than the most dynamic Chief Minister Goa ever had, Mr. Manohar Parrikar, who chose Mr. Manohar Ajgaonkar as his cabinet colleague and gave him important portfolios of tourism and sports being confident about the capabilities of Mr. Ajgaonkar,” Parab said.
Criticizing the former Pernem MLA Mr. Rajendra Arlekar, Parab went on to state that Arlekar appears to be frustrated as he could not win the confidence of his own party people when in power and is hence making such baseless allegations.
He also recalled that Mr. Manohar Ajgaonkar was categorically clear right from day one when the Mopa airport project was conceptualized that benefits of this airport should go to the locals. Only then land of Pernem taluka was given for the construction of the airport.
He pointed out that since the contractor allegedly started back tracking and not paying heed with regards to employment of locals, Ajgaonkar was compelled to agitate and now has seen to it that the contractor keeps up to his word and assurances on employment for locals of Pernem.
