Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network – Margao
Margao, Sep 20: Addressing to the Congress workers at Bolshe Hall in Borda, Fatorda, here, the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee general secretary Vijai Sardesai said that he would agitate if Fatorda locals did not find favour in job selection for hundreds of jobs advertised by the government.
Further he added, “The tendency of government ministers to only allot employment to their own voters whilst denying the legitimate application of worthy candidates from other areas in Goa had antagonised Congress voters especially in constituencies held by the Bharatiya Janata Party in the state.”
Making a strong case for government employment for land losers in proposed government projects, he said that he had helped deserving candidates from Fatorda to get government employment due to intervention of the chief minister and some of his cabinet colleagues. Sardesai said that one could however not give an explanation to voters from a particular constituency securing government employment in portfolios held by the minister from the constituency.
These acts of nepotism had disillusioned the Congress voters who had voted for the party not only in assembly and municipal election but also in the Lok Sabha polls where the Congress candidate had twice triumphed.
Sardesai served an ultimatum saying people of Fatorda would not allow the district hospital coming up at Ambaji to open if it is to only have employees from North Goa.
Sardesai said that his charity foundation ‘We For Fatorda’ would provide grass cutting machines and fogging machines free of cost to housing co-operative societies since spread of malaria has been detected at various places in Fatorda recently.
Rachol Sarpanch Joseph Vaz in his speech said that there are very few leaders in Goa who genuinely think of the well being of the oppressed sections especially the scheduled tribes. Calling Vijai Sardesai one such leader, Joseph said that Sardesai’s work in Fatorda especially among the scheduled tribe would endear him to the community and make him victorious in the forthcoming elections.
Former councillor Jose Francisco Gomes called upon the scheduled tribe community to unite to usher in an era of progress in Fatorda as Vijai Sardesai had a vision for Fatorda’s physical development as well as alleviating the hardships of ST, minorities and women folk of the constituency.
Cultural activist Sidhanath Buyao exuded confidence that people of Fatorda would finally usher in change in the form of Vijai Sardesai as MLA and thus rid the constituency of neglect and inactive political leaders who were elected by default.
ST activists Vincent Andrade, Conceicao Fernandes, Nazario Noronha, Rosario Dias, Constantino Noronha also spoke on the occasion. MMC vice chair person Gonzaco Rebello, MMC councillor Bertha Cardoz, social worker Menino Dias, Vincent Dias among others were present.
Francisco Pinto compered the meeting whilst Fatorda Block Congress President and Margao Municipal councillor Joseph Silva proposed the vote of thanks.