Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) strongly criticised BJP Goa President Damu Naik over his remarks on Goans protesting at Jantar Mantar, accusing the ruling party of attempting to equate itself with the identity of Goa.
GPCC Media and Communication Department Chairman Amarnath Panjikar said Damu Naik’s comments insulted every Goan fighting for justice and reflected the BJP’s “arrogance” and intolerance towards democratic dissent.
Panjikar alleged that the BJP government had failed to address public grievances, forcing citizens protesting over the Sarvan Karapur issue to continue their agitation for over 100 days before taking their protest to Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.
Rejecting the BJP’s claim that the protest had tarnished Goa’s image, Panjikar said the state’s reputation had instead suffered because of what he described as the government’s “anti-people policies”, controversial projects and failure to engage with citizens.
He further claimed that no one would travel to the national capital to protest unless all avenues for justice had been exhausted, accusing the government of ignoring public concerns and protecting vested interests instead of safeguarding Goa’s ecology, heritage and local communities.
Panjikar also defended the constitutional right to peaceful protest, stating that the BJP should respect citizens raising issues concerning Goa instead of branding them as anti-Goa or politically motivated.
He urged the BJP leadership to introspect on why people had allegedly lost faith in the government rather than criticising those participating in the protests.
