Mapusa : Deputy speaker and Mapusa MLA Joshua D’Souza on Thursday hit back at Calangute MLA Michael Lobo over his remarks on Mapusa’s development, and advised him to focus on his own constituency, which he said faces serious law and order issues.
“Calangute needs his urgent attention as it is not safe to go there. People are getting murdered and stabbed, which is not happening in Mapusa. Calangute has a different type of garbage problem plaguing the constituency, and he should look into it and clean it,” he said speaking to the media at the North Goa BJP office in Mapusa.
“He (Lobo) should look after his constituency instead of worrying about Mapusa. If required, I will help him in his constituency. People are scared of coming out of their houses. All the wrong things are happening in Calangute. He should read the comments of people on social media to check the reality of Calangute,” said D’Souza.
Responding to Lobo’s comments about Mapusa’s development, D’Souza said, “There are some issues in Mapusa, which I am capable of solving. Lobo should focus on solving his own issues rather than interfering in Mapusa, Mandrem, and elsewhere.”
D’Souza also countered Lobo’s claims about the lack of development in Mapusa. “I don’t have a 15-year tenure like him. If he wants to compare my six-year tenure against his 15-year tenure, that’s his perspective.”
Extending an invitation to Lobo, D’Souza said, “I would like to invite him to come to Mapusa, and I will take him on a tour to show what I have done. He is my friend and should have called me if he was ready to help instead of going on an open platform.”
He recalled how his father, former deputy CM Francis D’Souza, had supported Lobo in the past. “We have helped him, but I have not got any help from him.”
On the issue of garbage management, D’Souza said, “We are working on outsourcing garbage management. We are not experts, and we don’t know how to manage waste. Just setting up a plant and running it does not solve issues. It is a scientific subject, and we need to tackle it with public awareness and education.”
When asked about Lobo floating a panel for the upcoming municipal elections, D’Souza said, “He had attempted this on two occasions in Mapusa but was rejected. He can try for a third time if he wants.”
