Panaji: After losing several of its workers to Trinamool Congress last month, Congress on Tuesday made some gains in Porvorim constituency as several supporters of Independent MLA Rohan Khaunte joined the party. Congress has neither a strong candidate nor a sound base in the suburb where Khaunte has strengthened his hold in the last two terms. For the past few months, the party has been wooing Khaunte, but haven’t got a firm response from him yet. Khaunte on Tuesday admitted that he has been in talks with Congress. “Working in that direction, some of our people have joined Congress. In the days to come, after talking to our supporters, a decision (about me joining the party) will be taken in the interest of Goa,” Khaunte said responding to a query about his plans to join the party. He said that for the past two months he has worked to ensure that all like-minded people come together and fight against those out there to divide secular votes, and to protect Goa’s identity. He said that they were in touch with Congress at the Centre and state level. “All coalition partners have to come together on a common platform to defeat the BJP government and for that to happen we need a majority,” he said. “We are putting bricks to build a wall. In the days to come we will inform you about what’s being done. Right now, I’m an independent candidate, and I can’t join till my term ends,” he said. Khaunte said that they have to ensure that whatever plans that Congress has are defined and definitive — whether it be bringing coalition partners together or regional forces, drawing an election strategy or giving new faces a chance. We have asked Congress to work on those factors, Khaunte said. “We have a role to play in Tiswadi and Bardez and we will play it,” he added. ZP member Gupesh Naik, chairperson of women’s federation, Porvorim, Marina Moraes, Agnel Pereira, panch of Salvador do Mundo, Hemant Borkar, panch of Penhe de Franca, Shyamsundar Kamat, coopted member of Socoro panchayat, Subhash Halarnkar and several others joined Congress in the presence of opposition leader Digambar Kamat and president of Goa Pradesh Congress Committee Girish Chodankar.
NT NETWORKPanajiStrong supporters of Independent MLA from Porvorim constituency Rohan Khaunte joined theCongress party at a function held in Panaji.Congress Legislature Party leader Digambar Kamat, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president Girish Chodankar and party’s working president Aleixo Sequeira welcomed them into the party fold.Former Zilla Panchayat member Gupesh Naik, chairperson of women federation of Porvorim Marina Moraes, panch member of Salvador do Mundo village panchayat Hemant Borkar, panch member of Penha de Franca village panchayat Shyamsundar Kamat were among 17 people who joined the grand old party ahead of the 2022 Goa Assembly elections.Digambar Kamat and Girish Chodankar said that the entry of these “prominent grassroots leaders” will further strengthen Congress in Porvorim constituency claiming that they have their individual vote bank of up to 500 votes.When asked if Khaunte would join the Congress party, Chodankar said, “Many people have shown interest to join us and in days to come, you will come to know. People, groups and NGOs have been expressing that Congress is the only party that can defeat the BJP.”The Congress president said that the people of Goa will not fall prey to false propaganda of BJP and will teach them a lesson in 2022 Assembly polls.
PANAJI: Chief minister Pramod Sawant said on Monday that he raised the issue of violence against women in West Bengal at the BJP national executive meeting. He said that even though Bengalâs CM was a woman, there was violence against women there. âI criticised the violence against women in West Bengal. I condemned the act of TMC with regards to rape of women in West Bengal,â he said. He also said that West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee should first understand the meaning of democracy and then go to other states. Sawant said that everyone can come to Goa, but that there should be no anarchy Sawant said that he welcomes political tourism in the state, and that it would gain momentum by February. Sawant said that he twice got the opportunity to speak at the national executive â first, at the time of passing of the political resolution introduced by Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath, and second, on the preparation for the Goa assembly elections. Sawant said that a resolution was also passed that the violence against women in West Bengal should not take place in other states.
PANAJI: Months after chief minister Pramod Sawant came for sharp criticism for his insensitive remarks on gangrape of minor girls at a South Goa beach, he said on Monday that the state government would soon take more steps towards ensuring womenâs safety and security in the state. Sawant, who had earlier dismissed issues of rising crime against women, indirectly admitted the state needs to do more. âWe will take more steps towards the safety and security of women in the coming days,â he said at the inaugural function of the National Womenâs Parliament, organised by the legislature secretariat and the state government. While he said he feels upset when crimes are committed against women in the state, the chief minister maintained that Goa leads all other states where crime detection is concerned. âGoa has a crime detection rate of 93%. One canât compare this with other states,â he said. A few months ago, Sawant had told the state assembly after the gangrape of minors that teens, particularly minors, should not be âspending the nights on beachesâ. âWhen 14 year olds stay on the beach the whole night, the parents need to introspect. Just because children donât listen, we cannot put the responsibility on the government and police,â he had tried to justify. Sawant said resolutions passed at the National Womenâs Parliament would be sent to the Goa assembly and to Parliament, too. Highlighting Goaâs achievements, Sawant said the state has accorded 33% reservation for women at the panchayat and zilla panchayat levels, enabling many to become public representatives. He also said Goa is steadily becoming self-reliant, a goal that will be achieved in this, the 60th year of its Liberation. The National Womenâs Parliament, he said, has been organised to encourage women in the avenues of business, career, employment, and leadership. He also said that people from all sectors should visit the venue and participate in debates and discussions involving central and state government schemes, and problems faced by women, among other topics. Lauding women for working in all sectors, Union minister for state Shripad Naik exhorted them to come out in large numbers and take the country forward. Benaulim NCP MLA Churchill Alemao, who was also present at the event, urged the chief minister to protect the communal harmony of the state. The National Womenâs Parliament comprises participants from Arunachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat. The first day saw sessions on socio-political challenges in women empowerment, womenâs status and decision-making power, and women in corporate life.
Panaji: Expressing concern over the rising crimes against women, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant Monday said the state government will take more steps for the safety of women in Goa in the near future.Speaking at the inaugural function of the National Women’s Parliament at the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee stadium at Taleigao Plateau, Sawant said he feels grief, as crimes against women have been increasing in the state.The two-day event has been organised by Goa legislative assembly in coordination with the state government and MIT School of Government, Pune.“It is a matter of concern when crimes against women are increasing. However, it is also important to note that the detection rate with regard to crime cases in Goa is very high. Goa is on top in the country in detecting crimes with 93 per cent detection,” he said.Highlighting various initiatives and schemes, the Chief Minister said the state government has been supporting women to take up self-employment so that they are self-reliant. “Under Swayampurna Goa initiative, the government is working with ten-point programmes, especially focussing on women empowerment. The state government has also launched the website ‘know your schemes’ so that people can take benefits of various schemes,” he said.Sawant said efforts of the government to make Goa self-reliant can be successful in the near future if women support the Swayampurna Goa initiative and avail benefit under various schemes.Union Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways and Tourism Shripad Naik appealed to the women to pursue their passion and hobbies to become self-reliant.Minister for Arts and Culture Govind Gaude said India can become a superpower in the world if women are empowered with all facilities.Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLA Churchill Alemao said when we celebrate democracy through a women’s parliament, all should keep aside political differences. He appealed to the government to take measures for maintaining unity among the Goan people.Former minister Nirmala Sawant, executive director of MIT School of Government Rahul Karad and Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha also spoke on the occasion. Speaker of the state legislative assembly Rajesh Patnekar welcomed the dignitaries.
MARGAO: National Confederation for Human Rights (NCHR), Goa, visited several political parties across the state on Wednesday, which included Congress, BJP, TMC, AAP, NCP and GFP, and submitted to them a memorandum seeking their support for reservation for women in the stateâs legislature. Royla Fernandes, Seoula Vas, Lumina Almeida, Gaudencio Luis, Valne Pinto and Iftiyaz Sayed representing NCHR, explained to them the need for women empowerment in the state to promote opportunities for women to become leaders. âThough some of the party leaders stressed that everyone is waiting for the Lok Sabha to pass the Women Reservation Bill, we stressed that parties and organisations shouldnât wait for Lok Sabha,â Fernandes later told reporters.
Margao: National Confederation for Human Rights (NCHR), Goa, visited several political parties across the state on Wednesday, which included Congress, BJP, TMC, AAP, NCP and GFP, and submitted to them a memorandum seeking their support for reservation for women in the state’s legislature. Royla Fernandes, Seoula Vas, Lumina Almeida, Gaudencio Luis, Valne Pinto and Iftiyaz Sayed representing NCHR, explained to them the need for women empowerment in the state to promote opportunities for women to become leaders. “Though some of the party leaders stressed that everyone is waiting for the Lok Sabha to pass the Women Reservation Bill, we stressed that parties and organisations shouldn’t wait for Lok Sabha,” Fernandes later told reporters.
PANAJI: Science and technology minister Michael Lobo on Tuesday said that he is ready to leave BJP if the party does not want him. He said he will win six out of seven seats in Bardez. Lobo was speaking after meeting Goa BJP election in-charge Devendra Fadnavis. âTill now the party has not said that it does not want me. But if it says so, then I will have to look at another party,â Lobo said, adding that he completes 15 years with BJP this December. He added that if the people of Mapusa want him to contest from the constituency he has to go there. âIf the people of Saligao want me, then I have to go to Saligao. In Bardez, I will win six out of seven seats.â The Calangute MLA said that he has not asked for the Siolim ticket for his wife Delilah, but that she will contest from the constituency and the people of Siolim will decide. Fadnavis is holding one-on-one meetings with ministers, MLAs, and former MLAs to plan out a political strategy for the party. Lobo said that in his opinion the upcoming assembly polls will see a direct fight between BJP and Congress. âAam Aadmi Party will make a slight impact in some constituencies, like in Salcete,â he said, adding that Trinamool Congress would make no impact in Goa. âGoans will not accept any political party that is coming from outside and has no base in Goa,â Lobo said, adding that MGP will win around four seats. Lobo declined to comment on a possible BJP-MGP alliance. âNeither can I make a comment on an alliance nor can I make any suggestion on it. The respective party seniors will take the decision,â he said.
PANAJI: Science and technology minister Michael Lobo on Tuesday said that he is ready to leave BJP if the party does not want him. He said he will win six out of seven seats in Bardez. Lobo was speaking after meeting Goa BJP election in-charge Devendra Fadnavis. âTill now the party has not said that it does not want me. But if it says so, then I will have to look at another party,â Lobo said, adding that he completes 15 years with BJP this December. He added that if the people of Mapusa want him to contest from the constituency he has to go there. âIf the people of Saligao want me, then I have to go to Saligao. In Bardez, I will win six out of seven seats.â The Calangute MLA said that he has not asked for the Siolim ticket for his wife Delilah, but that she will contest from the constituency and the people of Siolim will decide. Fadnavis is holding one-on-one meetings with ministers, MLAs, and former MLAs to plan out a political strategy for the party. Lobo said that in his opinion the upcoming assembly polls will see a direct fight between BJP and Congress. âAam Aadmi Party will make a slight impact in some constituencies, like in Salcete,â he said, adding that Trinamool Congress would make no impact in Goa. âGoans will not accept any political party that is coming from outside and has no base in Goa,â Lobo said, adding that MGP will win around four seats. Lobo declined to comment on a possible BJP-MGP alliance. âNeither can I make a comment on an alliance nor can I make any suggestion on it. The respective party seniors will take the decision,â he said.
Panaji: Science and technology minister Michael Lobo on Tuesday said that he is ready to leave BJP if the party does not want him. He said he will win six out of seven seats in Bardez. Lobo was speaking after meeting Goa BJP election in-charge Devendra Fadnavis. “Till now the party has not said that it does not want me. But if it says so, then I will have to look at another party,” Lobo said, adding that he completes 15 years with BJP this December. He added that if the people of Mapusa want him to contest from the constituency he has to go there. “If the people of Saligao want me, then I have to go to Saligao. In Bardez, I will win six out of seven seats.” The Calangute MLA said that he has not asked for the Siolim ticket for his wife Delilah, but that she will contest from the constituency and the people of Siolim will decide. Fadnavis is holding one-on-one meetings with ministers, MLAs, and former MLAs to plan out a political strategy for the party. Lobo said that in his opinion the upcoming assembly polls will see a direct fight between BJP and Congress. “Aam Aadmi Party will make a slight impact in some constituencies, like in Salcete,” he said, adding that Trinamool Congress would make no impact in Goa. “Goans will not accept any political party that is coming from outside and has no base in Goa,” Lobo said, adding that MGP will win around four seats. Lobo declined to comment on a possible BJP-MGP alliance. “Neither can I make a comment on an alliance nor can I make any suggestion on it. The respective party seniors will take the decision,” he said.
