Team Goemkarponn
MARGAO: The Goy Rakhonn Yatra, organised by the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC), culminated in Margao on Sunday in the presence of Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and senior Congress leaders, with the party launching the ‘Gaon Rakhonn Abhiyan’ to carry forward its campaign for the protection of Goa’s land, identity, environment and the rights of its people.
Addressing a large gathering, Rahul Gandhi accused the BJP government of prioritising wealthy individuals and corporate interests over ordinary Goans. Describing Goa as a paradise that must be protected, he raised concerns over land-related decisions, unemployment, environmental degradation and the alleged exploitation of the state’s natural resources.
Gandhi asserted that Goa belonged to its people and not to the Chief Minister or any BJP minister. He questioned the lack of adequate employment opportunities for Goan youth and stressed the need for quality education, accessible healthcare and sustainable development.
Targeting the BJP’s governance model, Gandhi alleged that it favoured powerful corporate interests, referring to industrialists Gautam Adani and Mukesh Ambani. He also expressed concerns over the alleged influence of the BJP and RSS on educational institutions and democratic institutions.
Appealing to voters ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections, Gandhi urged Goans to give Congress a full majority, expressing confidence that the party could provide accountable governance and address the concerns of ordinary citizens.
Gandhi reiterated his allegations of electoral manipulation and irregularities, naming Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in connection with his claims. Referring to electoral processes in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and Assam, he called for greater accountability and stronger safeguards for democratic institutions.
He said Congress workers would continue to defend the Constitution and democratic values, maintaining that allegations of electoral manipulation must be addressed transparently through appropriate legal and institutional processes.
GPCC President Girish Chodankar launched a strong attack on the BJP government led by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, raising concerns over land conversions, unemployment, drug-related issues, law and order and alleged corruption.
Chodankar placed Goa’s liabilities at approximately ₹50,000 crore and demanded a white paper on the state’s finances to ensure transparency regarding its debt and liabilities. He also questioned the alleged increase in the Chief Minister’s assets and demanded accountability in connection with the alleged cash-for-jobs scam.
Highlighting the public response to the Goy Rakhonn Yatra, Chodankar expressed confidence in Congress’s electoral prospects and predicted that the party could win 12–13 Assembly seats in North Goa in 2027. He urged party workers to sustain the momentum generated by the Yatra and intensify their outreach ahead of the elections.
Leader of the Opposition Yuri Alemao invoked Goa’s historic Opinion Poll movement, recalling Jawaharlal Nehru’s statement, “Let Goa decide its own destiny.”
Alemao drew parallels between the historic struggle to preserve Goa’s identity and the present campaign to protect the state’s land, culture and interests. He accused Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Minister Vishwajit Rane of presiding over decisions that, he alleged, threatened Goa’s land and identity.
Criticising the BJP over alleged corruption and governance failures, Alemao appealed to Goans across communities and constituencies to unite in defence of their land and heritage and work towards defeating the BJP in the 2027 Assembly elections.
The launch of the ‘Gaon Rakhonn Abhiyan’ marked the next phase of Congress’s campaign to protect Goa’s villages, land, environment, culture and traditional way of life. Building on the Goy Rakhonn Yatra’s outreach across all 40 Assembly constituencies, the initiative aims to strengthen public participation and mobilise citizens around issues affecting their livelihoods, identity and future.
Congress leaders reiterated their commitment to opposing land-related decisions they consider detrimental to local communities, addressing alleged corruption, creating employment opportunities for Goan youth, improving public services and safeguarding the state’s natural and cultural heritage.
The programme was attended by AICC in-charge Manikrao Thakare, co-in-charge Dr Anjali Nimbalkar, GPCC President Girish Chodankar, Goa Leader of the Opposition Yuri Alemao, Working Presidents Altone D’Costa, M. K. Shaikh and Sunil Kawthankar, MP Capt. Viriato Fernandes, Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP) National President Viresh Borkar, State President Shavina Shirodkar, former MP Francisco Sardinha, Ramakant Khalap, media chairman Amarnath Panjikar, frontal chiefs Pratiksha Khalap, Archit Naik and Rajan Ghate, along with district and block presidents, Congress leaders, party workers and supporters.
