the goan I network
PONDA
Congress youth workers on Friday demonstrated against former Shiroda MLA Subhash Shirodkar and came down heavily on him for leaving their party to join BJP for personal gains.
The demonstration under the leadership of Goa Pradesh Youth Congress President Varadh Mardolkar at Borim circle also burnt the effigy of Shirodkar.
“Shirodkar has not only betrayed Congress, but has also betrayed Goans and particularly voters of Shiroda constituency,” said a Congress youth leader, as other youth workers shouted slogans against him.
Congress leaders Pratima Coutinho and Dayesh Naik were among those present on the occasion. Diya Shetkar and Nilesh Gaonkar, who had contested the last assembly election, also joined the demonstration.
Adv Diya Shetkar attacked Shirodkar and accused him of embracing the BJP for personal gains and called upon party workers to teach him a lesson in the by-poll.
Varadh Mardolkar said, “The people of Shiroda will definitely teach Shirodkar a lesson since he took them for granted. We will work hard to defeat him in the by-election,” he said.
The youth claimed that when the Congress had an opportunity to form the government, Shirodkar betrayed them by leaving the party. They also attacked former Mandrem MLA Dayanand Sopte for leaving the party.
Mamlatdar Abhir Hede, Ponda Police Inspector Harish Madkaikar and a strong police force remained present at the Borim circle, while another police team was also stationed near Shirodkar’s residence at Shiroda.
A number of youth from different parts of Mandrem burnt an effigy of former MLA Dayanand Sopte at the Chopdem junction after accusing him of betraying the people of his constituency.
Addressing the gathering, a youth leader Pravin Vaigankar said voters of Mandrem constituency had great hopes in Sopte and had got him elected by defeating Laxmikant Parsekar of BJP.
“Without taking us into confidence, Sopte resigned as MLA and betrayed the youth of Mandrem. The time has now come to work for his defeat,” said Vaigankar.
He pledged support to Jit Arolkar if he wished to contest as an independent candidate at the forthcoming by-poll in Mandrem.
The youth from Keri, Palyem, Harmal and Mandrem later burnt the effigy of Sopte at the Chopdem junction.
Robert Fernandes and Bhushan Pernekar appealed to voters from Mandrem to teach a lesson to Sopte in the by-election to convey the message that the people of the constituency would not succumb to the wishes of Sopte.
Party dissolves
Shiroda, Mandrem block committees
