Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Saturday said those who protest against developmental projects for environmental reasons should start using bicycles instead of cars. “BJP has given most important thing to Goa: political stability, due to which prosperity came. Due to this, despite opposition to many things, we could finish the (infra) projects,” Parrikar said at the party’s ‘Vijay Sankalp’ rally at Bicholim ahead of next year’s state polls.

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“In Goa there can be opposition to anything. I (as the Chief Minister) had to approach the court to get clearance for a third bridge over Mandovi river. There was similar opposition to construction of garbage treatment plant for Saligao. Every thing is opposed through media and public protests,” he said.

“The other day I saw four people standing on the roadside with placards, opposing the construction of the second bridge over Zuari river. The land for the bridge has been acquired long back,” Parrikar said.

“(They were saying) Don’t kill the nature! (Then) Don’t buy a car, nature will be automatically saved. Use bicycle, Sweden does it. Even Swedish Prime Minister goes around on a bicycle. We should also start using bicycles,” he said.

“Goa is the best place to become a cashless society. That does not mean there will be no cash, it means less-cash society. We can make payments using cards and mobile,” he said.

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