Team Goemkarponn
MAPUSA: The Congress-led Goy Rakhonn Yatra reached Mapusa on its seventh day on September 28, with Congress reporting a large turnout of party workers, supporters and members of the public for the march and public meeting.
The yatra, which began on September 22, is scheduled to cover all 40 Assembly constituencies in Goa before concluding on October 18. Congress has said the campaign is aimed at engaging with residents and raising issues concerning land, identity, heritage, employment, governance, crime and social harmony.
At the Mapusa programme, participants took a pledge to protect Goa’s land, identity, culture, environment and the interests of future generations. Congress leaders also raised issues relating to development, unemployment, corruption and law and order.
AICC Goa In-charge Manickrao Thakare, AICC Co-in-charge Dr Anjali Nimbalkar, GPCC President Girish Chodankar, Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao and GPCC Working President and Quepem MLA Altone D’Costa, along with local party leaders, addressed the gathering.
Yuri Alemao raises Mapusa development concerns
Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao alleged that Mapusa had not received the level of development expected of a major commercial centre despite being represented by the same political family for several years.
“People of Mapusa have suffered for the last 27 years due to the absence of proper development,” Alemao said, alleging that the town had been deprived of adequate infrastructure and civic facilities.
He also raised concerns over law and order, including crimes against women and the drug menace, and called for greater attention to these issues.
Alemao appealed to voters to support Congress in the 2027 Assembly elections.
Chodankar highlights land, jobs and Goa’s identity
GPCC President Girish Chodankar said the participation in the yatra reflected, in his view, concern among sections of the public over the protection of Goa’s land, identity, culture and environment.
He criticised the state government over recruitment and employment issues, alleging that the recruitment process had caused difficulties for unemployed Goan youth.
“The unity witnessed during the Goy Rakhonn Yatra is sending a strong political message,” Chodankar said, while calling for public participation in the campaign.
Congress has previously said that the yatra is intended to travel through all 40 constituencies and provide residents with a platform to raise local concerns.
Yatra to continue across Goa
Altone D’Costa and other Congress leaders thanked the people who participated in the Mapusa programme and said the campaign would continue across the state.
The party said the remaining programmes would focus on issues raised by residents, including governance, employment, land, environment, infrastructure and Goa’s identity.
The Mapusa programme was attended by AICC Goa In-charge Manickrao Thakare, AICC Co-in-charge Dr Anjali Nimbalkar, GPCC President Girish Chodankar, Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao, Working Presidents Altone D’Costa and Sunil Kawthankar, Vice President Pramod Salgaonkar, senior leaders Gurudas Natekar, Shashikant Kandolkar and Subhash Narvekar, Media Chairman Amarnath Panjikar, Social Media Chairman Himanshu Tivrekar, District Presidents Shashank Narvekar and Mangaldas Naik, Seva Dal Chief Rajan Ghate, Youth Congress President Archit Naik, Mahila Congress President Pratiksha Khalap and other party functionaries.
Amarnath Panjikar compered the programme, while Pratiksha Khalap proposed the vote of thanks.
