Team Goemkarponn
Santa Cruz: South Goa MP Captain Viriato Fernandes strongly criticized Santa Cruz MLA Rudolf Fernandes for what he called a “self-serving betrayal” of the people, following the latter’s recent switch to the BJP. The Congress MP accused the MLA of prioritising political gain over public interest and assured residents that the Congress party would continue to stand firmly with them.
Captain Fernandes made these remarks during a visit to the Santa Cruz Village Panchayat office on Monday, where he was joined by North Goa District Congress Vice President Shri Nilesh Richard Gomes and Santa Cruz Block Congress President Shri John Nazareth.
They met with Sarpanch Smt. Jennifer De Oliveira, Zilla Panchayat Member Smt. Shiny Oliveira, Deputy Sarpanch Shri Sandeep Sawant, Panchayat Members, and former Santa Cruz MLA Victor Gonsalves.
During the interaction, Captain Fernandes raised several key civic issues on behalf of the community. These included the controversial location of the Material Recovery Facility (MRF) plant in a residential area and the need for its relocation.
He also highlighted the delay in constructing a new Panchayat Ghar, the urgent requirement for a retaining wall in Alto Santa Cruz due to last monsoon’s landslides, and the necessity of daily garbage lifting from the MRF plant.
Additional issues spotlighted by Fernandes included the entry of saline water into agricultural fields due to a breached bundh, persistent drainage problems, and the danger posed by trees that threaten homes and human life.
Reaffirming his party’s commitment, Fernandes said, “The Congress party will stand by the people of St Cruz no matter what. We will not let them down, unlike their elected MLA who chose to betray their trust and join the BJP for his own selfish greed.”
The visit served as both a fact-finding mission and a political statement, as the Congress seeks to reinforce its presence in the constituency amid disillusionment with the sitting MLA.
