Panaji: Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday held a meeting in Delhi with party leaders on restructuring the party organisation in Goa and also on appointment of Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader.A national Congress leader, who had camped in Goa during the recently held Assembly elections, told this daily that Gandhi met senior leader from Goa, Girish Chodankar, All India Congress Committee general secretary K. C. Venugopal and Congress MP Rajani Patil. Former Union finance minister, who was the senior AICC observer to Goa for 2022 Assembly polls, P. Chidambaram and AICC secretary in-charge of Goa Dinesh Gundu Rao also attended the meeting that took place at 4.30 p.m. at Gandhi’s residence in the national capital.“During the meeting, suggestions made to Rajani Patil by party functionaries and MLAs from Goa were discussed and everybody’s including Girish Chodankar’s viewpoints were taken by Rahul Gandhi,” the leader said.“The discussions were not just for the appointment of CLP leader but complete state leadership overhaul. It was basically a complete restructuring of the PCC Goa,” he added. The central leader further said that the party will soon appoint the CLP leader. It is pertinent to note that after the defeat in the February 14 elections, the party leadership had appointed Patil as a central observer who was tasked with assessing the post-poll situation in Goa and suggesting changes in the party’s state unit. Sources in the party said Chodankar was summoned to Delhi by the party high command after Congress MLAs on Tuesday passed a resolution authorising interim AICC president Sonia Gandhi to select the CLP leader.Chodankar has already resigned as the president of GPCC taking the moral responsibility for the party’s defeat in the Assembly polls.
Margao: Reacting to the hike in prices of petrol, diesel and LPG, Congress termed the BJP government “insensitive” and “irresponsible” saying that it has “once again displayed its anti-people agenda by raising fuel prices immediately after assembly elections”. Congress general secretary and Cuncolim MLA Yuri Alemao and GPCC media cell chairman Amarnath Panjikar in a joint statement on Tuesday also criticised BJP for the delay in government formation in the state. Referring to an earlier tweet of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi wherein he had appealed to the people to fill their fuel tanks anticipating price hikes after assembly polls in five states, Alemao said that Gandhi was proved right once again. “Better late than never Narendra Modi ji. You have once again foolfilled the jumlas of BJP. Awaiting roadshow from vibrant Smriti Irani today,” Alemao’s tweet read. Alemao also slammed acting chief minister Pramod Sawant over his announcement that the swearing-in of the new government will be held on March 28. “Convenience of the people of Goa is more important than the convenience of Narendra Modi, Amit Shah and other BJP Leaders. Goa wants a full-fledged government in place immediately. Stop wasteful expenditure on event management and hold swearing-in in the darbar hall of Raj Bhavan immediately,” Alemao said in another tweet. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi has played a cruel joke on the citizens by hiking petrol, diesel and LPG prices. BJP’s election jumlas stand exposed,” Panjikar said. Both Alemao and Panjikar appealed to the people to question BJP over its “anti-people agenda” and to demand that BJP MLAs adopt austerity measures as the state treasury has “already been emptied by the previous BJP government”.
Staff ReporterMargaoThe Congress on Tuesday took to criticising the BJP over the central government’s recent fuel, LPG price and the state government’s delay in formation of the government.The party’s recently elected MLA from Cuncolim, Yuri Alemao took to criticising the BJP calling it insensitive and irresponsible and calling the developments an ‘anti- people agenda’.“The most insensitive, irresponsible BJP government has once again displayed its anti-people agenda by increasing petrol, diesel and LPG cylinder prices immediately after the assembly elections. The convenience of the people is paramount above the convenience of BJP leaders. The Goa Government›s swearing-in must be done immediately,” said Alemao.In a joint statement released by Alemao and GPCC media cell chairman Amarnath Panjikar, the party also referred to a tweet from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi earlier this month.“Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on March 5 had appealed to the people to make their fuel tanks full anticipating a fuel price hikes after the assembly polls in five states. He has been proved right again. As for the swearing in on March 28, the convenience of the people of Goa is paramount compared to the convenience of the Prime Minister, the Home Minister and other BJP leaders. Goa wants a full-fledged government in place immediately. Stop wasteful expenditure on event management and hold the swearing-in at the Darbar Hall of Raj Bhavan immediately,” said Alemao.Panjikar meanwhile said that even before the BJP government could be sworn-in, it had played a cruel joke on the citizens of the country by hiking petrol, diesel and LPG prices. The BJP’s election ‘jumlas’ stand exposed, he said.Both the leaders appealed to the people to question the BJP over its anti-people agenda and also demand that the BJP MLA›s to adopt austerity measures as the State’s treasury was made empty by the previous BJP government.
MARGAO: Of the several new faces Congress fielded in South Goa, only one managed to win. Altone D’Costa (Quepem) who defeated former deputy chief minister Chandrakant Kavlekar in his debut elections, was the party’s sole victorious new face. Sankalp Amonkar (Mormugao) and Yuri Alemao (Cuncolim) who also won the polls for the first time, had contested earlier polls. Among those new faces who lost narrowly are Amit Patkar (Curchorem), Savio D’Silva (Velim) and Rajesh Verenkar (Ponda). Patkar lost to former power minister Nilesh Cabral by a slender margin of 672 votes. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had addressed Patkar’s public rally in Curchorem a few days ahead of the polls, which also helped him come within striking distance of victory. Patkar’s defeat notwithstanding, political observers said that his vigorous election campaign helped revitalise the Congress camp in Curchorem. In Velim, Congress candidate Savio D’Silva was defeated by AAP’s Cruz Silva by a slim margin of 169 votes. AAP’s consistent groundwork in Velim over the last few years since it made its debut in the state’s assembly polls in 2017, paid dividends for the party this time. Significantly, Filipe Nery Rodrigues, a former minister in the outgoing government, who contested on an NCP ticket, was pushed to a miserable fifth position, largely owing to a robust performance by RG. Congress’ Rajesh Verenkar came a close third in Ponda where MGP’s Ketan Bhatikar lost to BJP’s Ravi Naik by a wafer thin margin of 77 votes. Verenkar closely trailed Bhatikar by less than 600 votes.
PANAJI: For a large part during the vote counting process on March 10, it had seemed like chief minister Pramod Sawant may be defeated by Congress’ Dharmesh Saglani in Sanquelim constituency. However, towards the final leg of counting, the proverbial tables turned, and Sawant was declared a winner by a margin of 666 votes. At the 2022 polls, Sawant was not the only one. At least ten candidates have won their seats by a narrow margin — wafer thin in some cases. After Sawant’s Sanquelim constituency, the most entertaining turned out to be the fight for the Ponda seat. Here, veteran Ravi Naik was almost toppled by MGP’s young candidate Ketan Bhatikar. But, after one of the rounds saw Bhatikar leading by just one vote, Naik asked for a recount, and the veteran won the seat for BJP by a margin of 77 votes. The margin was similarly dangerously thin in St Andre, where Viresh Borkar made history by winning the first ever seat for the newbee Revolutionary Goans (RG) Party by 76 votes only. Borkar defeated BJP’s Francis Silveira, who is now left blaming non-resident Goans for persuading family members in St Andre to vote for RG. Cruz Silva in Velim constituency also made history, winning a seat for AAP after Congress’s Savio D’Silva fell short by 170 votes. Independent Chandrakant Shetye was yet another newcomer who frustrated MGP’s Naresh Sawal in Bicholim, winning the seat by a margin of 318 votes. In Panaji, BJP candidate Atanasio Monserrate went public with his annoyance over the low margin of victory. Monserrate said BJP workers had worked against him leaving him sweating outside the counting centre until his win was declared by a margin of 716 votes over Independent Utpal Parrikar. The battle for Priol was also a seesaw as BJP’s Govind Gaude ended up the winner by 213 votes over MGP’s Pandurang Dhavalikar. Like Gaude, Nilesh Cabral was another cabinet minister who won by less than 1,000 votes. The difference of votes was only 672 between those polled by Cabral and those polled by Congress’ Amit Patkar. Like RG and AAP, TMC came really close to sending its first ever MLA to the Goa assembly, but their hopes were defeated in Navelim by BJP’s Ulhas Tuenkar won as Valanka Alemao fell short of 430 votes. Many politicians have already come out to state that RG was a key factor that chomped off votes in many constituencies, altering the results. Jit Arolkar of MGP gave BJP’s Dayanand Sopte a run for his money by winning Mandrem with a margin of 712 votes.
Margao: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday assured that the party, once it forms the next Goa government, would resume mining “in a legal and sustainable manner”, even as he said Congress wouldn’t allow Goa to become a coal hub. Addressing a rally at Curchorem, a mining-affected constituency and through which the railway double track passes, Gandhi called into question BJP’s assurance of mining resumption. Pointing out that there’s been no mention of the environment in BJP’s manifesto, Gandhi said, “That’s because they want to convert Goa into a coal hub. Goans will not get any benefit out of it. We will do whatever it takes to ensure Goa is not turned into a coal hub, just the way we got the farmers’ bills scrapped,” Gandhi said. He also dished out several assurances. “Poor people will be given Rs 6,000 per month, which will be credited directly into their accounts. Women will get 30% reservation for government jobs. A Rs 500-crore provision will be made in the first budget to create employment opportunities, which will be invested for mining resumption and reviving tourism,” he said. Congress Curchorem candidate Amit Patkar assured to resolve the unemployment issue on priority.
Shah, Rajnath Singh blame Nehru for delay in Goa’s liberationSankhali/Ponda/Vasco: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday asserted that mining operations will resume in full swing through the mining corporation six months after new chief minister of the BJP assumes power upon the February 14 assembly elections.Addressing a public meeting at the Hirabai Zantye memorial hall at Bicholim, Shah appealed to people to support the BJP to make Goa a golden state.Shah said, “I have prayed to goddess Shantadurga for the prosperity of Goa.”Blaming the first prime minister Jawaharal Nehru for the delay in liberation of Goa, he said that Nehru’s leadership was not decisive. Otherwise Goa would have become independent in 1947 itself.People want to choose between Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Congress gave instable governments while the BJP gave governments of development and stability, he maintained.Remembering former chief minister Manohar Parrikar, Shah recalled the contributions made by Parrikar.“The Congress did nothing. But now the BJP-led government at the Centre provided crores of rupees to Goa, and has brought about development,” he maintained.Shah addressed a public meeting at Sankhali, praising Chief Minister Pramod Sawant for his work in the last three years.The Union Minister took part in the door-door campaigning in Mayem assembly constituency.He also visited Shri Shantadurga temple and took blessings.Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was also in the state for canvassing, urging Goans to vote for the BJP.Addressing a public meeting at Ponda, Singh stated that no other party other than the BJP has strengths to develop Goa and make it a top destination of world tourism.“Only the BJP can do it; it is possible if the state and central governments are run by the same party,” Singh reckoned.He criticised the Congress on several fronts, maintaining that Goa would have been liberated soon after the country’s independence, if Congress leaders of that time had shown the courage to do so.The Defence Minister also addressed a huge public meeting in Vasco, where he recalled the promise of citizenship made to the persecuted minorities in neighbouring countries.“The minorities in Pakistan and Afghanistan are persecuted and troubled for the sake of being minorities. We promised them citizenship and a right to leave with respect in India. We have fulfilled our promise after coming to power with majority at the Centre.”On religious structures, Singh said, “We respect all religions and religious structures. No structure – whether a temple, a mosque or a church – should be demolished. The temple (Ram Mandir) was demolished by the foreign invader Babar. Now it is being reconstructed by the people and the government.”Paying tributes to Parrikar, Singh said that Goans are very warm, simple and welcoming. This nature was seen in Parrikar, who reflected the true spirit of Goans.“Entire world knows how kind and warm the people of Goa are. They respect everyone and do not differentiate,” the Defence Minister stated.
BICHOLIM: Chief minister Pramod Sawant said Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Sanquelim two days ago will not impact BJP as far as share of its votes in the constituency are concerned. Gandhi’s meeting in the constituency will not impact BJP by even 1%, Sawant told a gathering during a road show in Sanquelim town on Sunday. Sawant said that after realising that only BJP can continue the all round development of the state more and more people have started joining BJP. He said that during the 2012 election former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh too had visited Sanquelim, but had not affect BJP votes, on the contrary BJP won the seat by a big margin. The entire Siddhivinayak temple committee joined BJP on the occasion.
Sankhali: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has said that in the next five years, a new plan will be prepared for the prosperity of the state.Sawant during a road show criticised Rahul Gandhi “for coming as a tourist.”Sawant said that when the then Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh had come down to Goa for campaigning in 2012, BJP had won by record number of votes. Even with Rahul Gandhi’s visit, Congress will not get votes. The opposition is spreading propaganda but it has no effect on BJP, said Sawant.Maharashtra BJP vice-president and MLA Chitra Wagh said that Goa is an ideal state where there is peace, order and good governance with good facilities.
PANAJI: Lashing out at Congress MP Rahul Gandhi over his claim that Goa has not seen any development, chief minister Pramod Sawant said that there is no substance in the claim by Gandhi who was on a visit to Goa “like a tourist”. The chief minister said that people should not go by what Gandhi is saying as they are here and have witnessed the kind of development that has taken place. “Rahul Gandhi comes to Goa once in a year like a tourist and makes allegations. There is no need to go by Gandhi’s allegations. Goans practically know what we have done, and these are baseless allegations. Gandhi is like a politician on a Goa tour.” Last Sunday while on campaign trail, Union home minister Amit Shah had said that the Gandhi Parivar used the state only as a “tourist destination” and if Congress formed the government in the state, it would only be a “vacation spot for their leaders”. Reacting to the Congress MP’s claims that the government had failed in Covid management, providing employment and to boost tourism activities, the chief minister said, “Gandhi was in Goa for holiday. If he cannot see so much development in the state, then I fail to understand what he is doing in Goa. Nobody needs to take him seriously.” In view of Congress asking its candidate to take a loyalty pledge and sign an anti-defection affidavit, Sawant said that Congress candidates have to say again and again that they are loyal to the party. “Congress does not have faith in them, and the Congress leadership does not trust its candidates and even Gandhi does not trust them,” he said. The chief minister said that a few days ago, Congress took its candidate to a temple, mosque and church and administered the oath that they will not leave Congress. “When Congress does not have trust in them, then how will people of Goa have confidence in them?” Sawant said. Congress does not know when they will leave the party and that is the reason people of Goa have confidence in BJP and its candidates, he said. “Definitely that is the reason people are supporting BJP. We are getting good response in all constituencies,” he said.
PANAJI: On being left with just two MLAs with the worst ever defections that Congress witnessed in Goa since 2017, it decided to go AAP way. On Friday, its 37 candidates in fray for the February 14 Goa Assembly elections, took a ‘loyalty pledge’ in the presence of Congress leader and MP Rahul Gandhi. Three candidates of Congress’ alliance partner, GFP also took the ‘loyalty pledge.’ In the 40-member Goa Legislative assembly, as a pre-poll alliance arrangement, Congress has shared three seats with GFP. The congress and GFP candidates vowed that they “will not defect” during their five-year term after being elected on their respective party tickets nor will they contest elections on another party symbol by resigning from their respective parties before their term ends. They will complete their full term and will serve the people of Goa with full honesty and loyalty. The signed affidavits were submitted to Congress leader Rahul to be presented to Congress national president Sonia Gandhi. The trend of making candidates sign affidavits to be faithful to the party they are elected on was started by AAP in Goa, but last month in its first attempt to keep the flock together, Congress also made its candidates take wow before gods of various faiths, stating they will not desert the party after the election for possible benefits for being with the ruling party. The AAP has been trying to make inroads into Goa, chiefly eying on Congress’ vote share, and one of its planks to win those votes in these elections has been that voting for Congress candidates is futile as anyways they will leave the party, once elected.
Panaji: BJP state president Sadanand Shet Tanavade on Wednesday said that Congress and AAP can make its candidates take all the oaths in the world, but the oath at Raj Bhavan will be taken by BJP MLAs on March 10. Tanavade was reacting to AAP national convener Arvind Kejirwal’s announcement that his party candidates would give affidavit copies to all voters swearing not to defect on being elected. “We do not need to give any oath to our candidates. Our MLAs will take oath at the Raj Bhavan once our government is elected,” Tanavade said, adding that BJP will be elected with a simple majority and no ‘outside support’ will be required this time. “All of them know that BJP will be elected with a majority. If they were confident of forming the government would they have given such oaths to their MLAs? They fear that if one MLA is elected, they may try to merge their party. That is why Congress has also given its candidates such oaths. This time we will not require any outside support,” he said, adding that Congress will be reduced to single digits this time. “Prashant Kishore thought that putting up TMC posters everywhere will create an atmosphere favouring the party. But Goa is different. This poster baazi (poster-driven politics) does not work here. The minute posters are pulled down, people forget and that is what TMC has seen happening now,” Tanavade said. Praising the Union Budget, Tanavade said that infrastructure, tourism and organic farming in Goa will receive a boost. He said the Budget aims to encourage green projects, while also creating employment. “Optic fibre connectivity announced is the need of the future to go digital. We have seen how many students in Goa faced issues due to internet connectivity. Optic fibre connectivity will address this,” the BJP state president said.
GOA: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi arrived in Goa for a day long visit and campaigned door to door for the party in Mormugao constituency. He went door to door with Mormugao Congress candidate Sankalp Amonkar and asked locals about their jobs, their aspirations for Goa and concerns about their constituency. He inquired about the impact of Covid and if the Congress candidate helped the family during the pandemic. “Tell me what do you want the Congress party to do for Goa,” said Gandhi while in conversation with a family. The locals complained about the rising unemployment in the state and harassment from the local BJP MLA.. “Focus on employment,” said Gandhi turning around to state Congress president Girish Chodankar. Gandhi visited several homes, spending close to 15 minutes in each home. Most of the homes are in the vicinity of Mormugao Port Trust, a major port that focuses on coal and iron ore. A local girl also raised concerns about coal pollution and how it is affecting her bronchitis. Gandhi interacted with representatives from the private sector, tourism industry, fishermen and anganwadi workers. Later in the day, Gandhi is scheduled to hold a public rally in Goa chief minister Pramod Sawant’s constituency Sakhali where he will be releasing the Congress party manifesto.
Panaji: Congress leader and MP Rahul Gandhi during his visit to Goa on Friday will make door-to-door visits at Sada in Mormugao taluka and later interact with Congress candidates at Dona Paula to guide them. Congress has fielded candidates in 37 constituencies, while its alliance partner, GFP is contesting in three. Gandhi will also meet tourism stakeholders, including shack owners, representatives of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and anganwadi staff. Later in the day, he will attend a virtual rally ‘Nirdhar’ in Sakhali constituency which is represented by CM Pramod Sawant. This will be Gandhi’s second visit to Goa since the party started gearing up for the polls. In October last year, in addition to attending a public meeting at Dona Paula, he had also met representatives of the mining sector and fishermen community. Gandhi is also expected to meet senior party functionaries before leaving the state. Originally, Gandhi was scheduled to campaign in Goa on February 2, but his arrival was deferred due to his Parliamentary commitments.
Margao: “Kamal pe nishaan,” he said to a group of Muslim women standing on the roadside staring intently at the cavalcade of cars that entered the interior narrow road of the village. Handing them pamphlets, he introduced to the women the BJP candidate for Sanvordem: “Ye hai aapka ummidwar, Ganesh Gaonkarji.” It took a while for the women to let the fact sink in that the man who asked them for votes was none other than Union home minister Amit Shah. Shah, before addressing a public rally at Sanvordem, decided to join Gaonkar in his door-to-door campaign. He visited a few houses located meters away from the venue of his public meeting. It was while he was moving from one house to another that Shah noticed the group of women and decided to break the security protocol and have a word with them. And to make sure the women understood Shah’s message, a beaming chief minister Pramod Sawant who accompanied him, stressed that their vote has to be for BJP this time. The women, apparently, were overwhelmed with all the attention they had attracted — the clickity clack of the cameras, the slogan shouting partymen et al. “Vijay aso,” they said, as if on cue, responding to a slogan, as Shah and Sawant regrouped to visit the next house. Sanvordem constituency is the hub of mining activities and the closure of the industry has hit the livelihoods of the people of this area very hard. Political observers feel that Shah’s visit to the constituency and his interaction with the villagers was planned by BJP’s election managers in an attempt to reassure voters that the party has their backs and that the good ol’ days will be back soon. The constituency is also hit by rebellion as Deepak Pauskar, after being denied the party ticket resigned as PWD minister and from the party’s primary membership to contest as an independent. Gaonkar, who has now been nominated by BJP, was defeated by Pauskar in the 2017 assembly elections contesting on MGP ticket. Pauskar later joined BJP in March 2019. Sources said that selection of some houses for Shah’s door-to-door visits was also aimed at controlling the damage caused by the rebellion. Shah was welcomed into the houses with aartis by the women of the household. As 8-year-old Aarush, son of panchayat member Amey Naik offered Shah a rose to welcome him, Shah advised the boy to take the initiative and “awaken” the people to vote wisely. “Aarush, aapko jaga dena hai sabko,” he told him. Shah didn’t cross the threshold of any of the houses he visited. However, the sheer presence of the second-in-command in BJP, at their doorsteps with hands folded in greeting, was something to cherish for a lifetime for most. “This was the most momentous moment of my life,” said Nilkant Naik, ex-sarpanch of Sanvordem, whose was the first house Shah dropped in after alighting from his car.
Panaji: Congress on Tuesday announced that Rahul Gandhi has postponed his visit to Goa from February 2 to February 4 due to his parliamentary commitments. The Budget session is underway and Gandhi will be presenting his views on the budget in the Parliament on February 2, All India Congress Committee (AICC) spokesperson Alka Lamba told reporters. “We have decided to postpone his Goa visit. Secondly, he will visit Chhattisgarh on February 3 to attend various programmes,” Lamba said. During his Goa visit, Gandhi will interact with representatives of the tourism sector, anganwadi workers and others. Besides, he will address meetings of workers and guide Congress candidates for the February 14 Goa assembly elections. This will be Gandhi’s second visit to Goa since canvassing for the assembly elections picked pace a few months ago. During his one-day visit in October last year, he had addressed a public meeting as well as connected with the local communities. Of the 40 constituencies, Congress is contesting in 37 while its alliance partner, GFP, will contest in the remaining three.
PANAJI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s February 2 visit to Goa has been postponed to February 4 due to his parliamentary commitments. Since the budget session has been underway, Gandhi will present his views on a budget in Parliament on February 2. “We have decided to postpone his Goa visit. Secondly, he will visit Chhattisgarh on February 3 to attend various programs,” Alka Lamba, All India Congress Committee (AICC) Spokesperson told reporters on Tuesday. During his visit to Goa, Gandhi will interact with representatives of the tourism Sector, Anganwadi workers and others. Besides, he will address meetings of workers and guide candidates of the Congress for the February 14 Goa assembly elections. This will be Gandhi’s second visit to Goa since canvassing for the assembly elections picked pace a few months. During his October one day visit last year, he had addressed a public meeting as well connected with the local communities. Of the 40 constituencies, Congress has been contesting in 37 constituencies while three constituencies it has given to its alliance partner, GFP.
Staff ReporterPanajiThe All India Congress Committee media in-charge Alka Lamba said that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will be visiting Goa on February 2 for the party’s poll campaign and will interact with the people of the state. Addressing the media on Sunday, at the Congress House, Lamba informed that Rahul Gandhi will also interact with all the 40 Congress candidates along with the alliance partner Goa Forward Party.Lamba stated that Congress supporters from across the state will be connected virtually for the meeting. “He will meet stakeholders from the tourism industry, anganwadi workers, taxi operators and others to discuss the change Goa is looking for. In the evening at 4, he will address a meeting at Sankhali,” she said.President of Goa Pradesh Congress Committee Girish Chodankar, senior vice- president M. K. Sheikh, Vithu Morajkar, Himanshu Tivrekar, Naushad Chaudhary, Samir Raikar and others were present on the occasion.“I am optimistic that Goans will support Congress party during the forthcoming assembly election to form a stable, strong and honest government,” she maintained. Chodankar observed that Goa is still grappling with so many issues at present. Hence, Goans have decided to combat those problems very wisely, he said.“People of Goa want a change and this can be seen when we campaign. They have decided to send BJP home, because it has marred the development of the state and has done destruction of the environment by bringing three linear projects,” he added.“People’s determination will bring change in Goa,” he said, adding if voted to power Congress will revert many decisions of the BJP government.
Panaji: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will visit the state on February 2 for the party’s poll campaign and will hold a public meeting at chief minister Pramod Sawant’s constituency, Sakhali, in the evening where he will interact with voters and party workers. Gandhi will interact with the party’s candidates for the coming assembly elections, said state Congress president Girish Chodankar. Chodankar said Gandhi will release the party’s manifesto after meeting representatives from the tourism industry, anganwadi workers and others to discuss the change Goa is looking for. AICC media in-charge for Goa, Alka Lamba said that Gandhi will address Congress supporters from across the state through the virtual mode as the party has decided to limit the number of participants due to Covid-19. Lamba said Gandhi will also meet the candidates and functionaries of GFP, which is fighting the elections in alliance with Congress. Chodankar said that Congress has named this rally as ‘Nirdhar’. “People’s determination will bring change in Goa,” he said. Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole will be in Goa from January 31 to February 2 to assist Congress with the assembly campaign. Meanwhile, the party observed the 74th death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi where Goa desk in-charge Dinesh Gundu Rao accused BJP of invoking Gandhiji’s name only when it serves their interest. “BJP uses Gandhiji’s name only for self promotion, but their policies and programs are against his principles. BJP never accepted him as the father of the nation and a leader,” Rao said.
Staff ReporterVasco/Sanvordem/PondaAssuring Goans to restart mining within six months of forming government in the state, the Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has been following up the mining issue with the central ministry. He said Goa will soon see one of its most important industries restarting.Speaking at a meeting in Vasco on how the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will benefit Goa with its double engine government, Shah said, “Congress can give government to Goa but only a corrupt family government. On the other hand, a government by BJP is based on patriotism. Goa will become world famous as a tourist spot. The Prime Minister Narendra Modi took steps like holding a BRICS summit in Goa and made it popular across the globe. The infrastructure being put in place here will attract more international tourists to Goa and it will benefit Goans at large.”Shah said Goa is important to BJP, as Modi was nominated as the prime ministerial candidate in the state and his phase of success started from this place. Talking about making Goa an educational hub, Shah said, “We have to understand the geography of the state and then formulate programmes. The BJP government will come up with higher education and technical education centres, which will help the youth in getting employment.Goa can have qualified sailors by obtaining education from its shipbuilding and marine colleges.”He said, “Political tourists who have come to Goa are promising many things, as they know that not a single candidate fielded by them will get elected and they will not have to fulfil their promises. But, BJP is a party, which keeps up to its assurances and fulfils them.”The Union Home Minister paid tributes to former chief minister late Manohar Parrikar.Recollecting his efforts in building BJP in Goa and giving it a solid platform, Shah said the BJP is in Goa to take the vision of Parrikar ahead. During his virtual interaction, he conversed with a representative each from different towns of the state. Top leaders of BJP from Goa were present on the occasion.Earlier, addressing party workers in Sanvordem, Shah said the BJP will retain power by winning more than 22 seats at the February 14 assembly elections.He said the party has made good progress in the last ten years by increasing the number of colleges, police stations, police personnel and school teachers in the state. He said the state government has also renovated many religious places and cultural centres and added that the state has made remarkable progress by reducing the crime rate by 50%. The Goa government also deserves a pat on its back, as Goa has been the first state to achieve the target of 100% vaccination against COVID-19, he said.Shah, along with others leaders of the party, also visited some local houses in Sanvordem and interacted with the people after distributing the party pamphlets.Earlier in the day, Shah addressed a public meeting in Ponda where he said the BJP is working on fulfilling the ‘Golden Goa’ dream of former chief minister late Manohar Parrikar.Criticising the Congress party and its senior leader Rahul Gandhi, Shah said Goa is only a tourist destination for the Gandhi family, which, he said, visits the state often. “But the BJP is focusing on fulfilling the dream of late Manohar Parrikar,” he said.Shah said that in the year 2013-14, when Congress-led government was ruling at the Centre, Goa received a fund of only Rs. 432 crore, while during Modi’s tenure, the state received Rs. 2,566 crore as fund last year for various projects.Claiming that Rahul Gandhi is suffering from ‘Modi-phobia’, Shah said Gandhi posts only negative thoughts on social media. “People of Goa need to choose between BJP’s ‘golden Goa’ and Congress’ ‘Gandhi parivar ka Goa,’” Shah said.Prior to the public meet, Shah offered prayers at the Sai Baba Temple in Borim. He was accompanied by top leaders of the party from the state.
Panaji: Union home minister Amit Shah on Sunday said that within six months of forming the government, BJP will resume mining activities in Goa through e-auctioning of iron ore dumps in a transparent manner. “I want to say that after the election, through e-auctioning in a transparent manner, Goa’s mining industry will function with double force,” he said, adding that this mining promise would find a place in BJP’s manifesto. Addressing a public meeting in the mining belt constituency of Sanvordem, Shah said that after examining the SC order, CM Pramod Sawant visited Delhi four times. “Mines minister Pralhad Joshi and I held several meetings with the attorney general and solicitor general, and found a way. For this, the government of India came out with a special dumping policy, and after that Sawant has already formed the Goa Mineral Corporation,” Shah said.
