Team Goemkarponn
FATORDA: Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai has accused the BJP of turning welfare schemes into political tools, alleging that programmes such as the Ujjwala Yojana are being used to create an electoral narrative rather than provide sustainable long-term support.
Sardesai said the Ujjwala scheme was an example of what he described as a broader BJP model of announcing welfare initiatives with political fanfare, building voter dependence and using public funds to gain electoral advantage.
According to Sardesai, the importance attached to such schemes changes once elections are over, with beneficiaries potentially facing reduced or withdrawn benefits.
“This is not long-term welfare. It is short-term electoral politics dressed up as public benefit,” Sardesai said.
He alleged that ordinary Goans ultimately bear the burden when welfare promises made for political gain are not sustained.
Sardesai said Goa needs policies that are sustainable, transparent and accountable and are designed to benefit people over the long term rather than schemes whose political importance increases around elections.
The Goa Forward Party leader also criticised what he termed “BJP freebie politics”, maintaining that welfare measures should be evaluated on their long-term impact on beneficiaries rather than their electoral value.
