PANAJI
Aam Aadmi Party's Navelim candidate Pratima Coutinho broke down during a press conference on Thursday while showing a video containing "derogatory" remarks directed against her by Congress Navelim candidate Avertano Furtado and urged him to stop playing dirty politics.
Previously Pratima Coutinho stated that the BJP has fielded its ex-minister Avertano Furtado under the banner of Congress and that, if he won, he would rejoin the BJP. In addition, she said that a secret agreement exists between Furtado and the BJP. When the BJP forms the government, Furtado will be offered the sports ministry.
Furtado responded to this Wednesday by making derogatory remarks about Coutinho. He said, "Everyone knows Pratima's character. One in the morning and one at night. It seems like Pratima's head is not in the right place. She keeps saying whatever she wants. She must apologise for making such statements, or else I will file a defamation case against her".
Coutinho said she never imagined Furtado would stoop this low. By making such derogatory remarks, Coutinho stated, Furtado has shown he is part of the BJP culture. "The BJP has been fighting against me for the past 25 years. Every time I spoke out against their misdeeds, they filed defamation lawsuits against me to suppress my voice," she added.
AAP Goa desk in-charge Atishi said, "If Furtado had criticized Pratima's vision for Navelim or pointed fingers at AAP's policies, there would have been no problem. But he chose to speak on Pratima's character. It is a symbol of politicians who do not take care of their people and who are against women. When a strong woman such as Pratima stands up for people's rights and reaches out to them whenever they need it, such politicians start mouthing off."
Atishi wondered where Furtado was during the pandemic when Navelim people required help? "While Pratima delivered ration kits door-to-door and provided emergency medical care, Furtado was nowhere to be found," she said.
