Goemkarponn desk
Margao: Congress leaders on Tuesday slammed BJP government for failing to recognise ‘Opinion Poll Day’ as state level function and alleged that it is busy in dividing people over religion.
Congress leaders were speaking during ‘Asmitai Dis’ (Opinion Poll Day) program at Lohia Maidan-Margao.
AICC In charge of Goa Manikrao Thakare, MP Francisco Sardinha, Leader of opposition Yuri Alemao, GPCC President Amit Patkar, MLA Carlos Alvares Ferreira and MLA Alton Dcosta, Senior Vice President M K Sheikh, Ex MLAs Radharao Gracious ,Caitu Dsilva ,Alina Saldhana and Shambhu Bhau Bandekar, Adv.Ramakant Khalap and other leaders were present.
Manikrao Thakare said that supporters of Congress will have to go ahead together and will have to win both seats of Lok Sabha in Goa.
“Congress leaders helped Goa to get its identity. But current government has failed to protect it. They fail to keep their promises.BJP and its leaders are now known for it,” he said.
“People of Goa know how the present regime is dividing people over religion, which is their sole aim to divide and rule. But Congress believes in democracy and will try to bring it back,” he said.
Yuri Alemao said that Congress contributed to the ‘opinion poll’ of Goa, but never used it for politics. “This day has importance, but our insensitive government is not ready to celebrate it at the state level. Our youths should come to know about our history and hence it should be celebrated in schools,” he said.
“Chief Minister Pramod Sawant raises the question that what Congress has done for Goa, he should go through history and learn what we have done and our contribution to statehood and other welfare of Goa,” he said.
“We have contributed in all areas to take Goa ahead. Still he says we have done nothing. During our regimes we have scrapped projects after people said it will affect the state. But today, BJP government is suppressing the voice of people when they raise their voice against three linear project,” Alemao said, adding the BJP failed to keep its promises of employment.
“BJP has sold the jobs and has deprived deserving candidates. It is selling our land to crony capitalists and destroying our state. This is a corrupt government,” Alemao said, that identity of Goa is under threat as debt has reached to 35 thousand crore and destruction of environment is taking place.
He said that the crime rate is increasing in the state and the BJP government has failed to control it. “BJP even failed to stop Karnataka from diverting Mhadei water. They have done nothing to save Mhadei,” Alemao said.
Amit Patkar attacked the BJP government stating it has failed in all aspects. “Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Congress stood firm for identity of Goa. We live in harmony. Goa is known as peace loving state and we want to protect our social harmony by defeating efforts of those who try to divide us,” Patkar said, adding peoples voice is stifled by BJP government.
He said that there is need to protect environment of Goa.
Sardhina said that Goa’s identity was protected by people of all faiths. “But today the BJP government at Centre and in the state are dividing people over religion. They are imposing the projects on people and working against the interest of the state. We need to come forward and protect our state the way it was protected earlier,” Sardinha said.
Carlos Alvares Ferreira said that the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party was keen to merge Goa in Maharashtra, how Jack De Sequeira fought to protect our identity along with Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.
“Then Congress President Purushottam Kakodkar also spoke with Indira Gandhi to protect our identity and we won the opinion poll day. But today Goa is being sold and destruction of the environment is taking place. We need to be united and save Goa from such acts,” he said.
He said that tourists come here because peace exists here.
MLA Altone Dcosta said that people of Goa have become vigilant and are coming forward to protect the identity of the state. “BJP government is imposing projects like double tracking for coal and other, which are not in the interest of the state,” he said.
Cultural programs were performed on the occasion and people from various fields were felicitated for their contribution.
