MAPUSA
The controversy surrounding the restaurant and bar at Assagao and its alleged links to the family of Union Minister Smriti Irani appears not likely to fade away very soon, as the Congress party is continuing to dig its heels deep in the issue.
On Sunday, the youth Congress and some senior Congressmen protested outside the controversial restaurant and bar and even threatened to lock its gate but were prevented by the police present at the site.
The protesting Congressmen said Smriti Irani should refrain from fooling the people with her “stories” and demanded to come clean on the ownership of the upscale restaurant and bar.
Congress media cell chairman, Amarnath Panjikar said that Irani was just trying to spin stories by referring to the elections of 2014, 2019 and 2024 in her media interaction in Delhi.
“Stop telling stories. Don’t try to fool the people. You are part of the government and therefore will have to answer questions. Don’t try to emotionally blackmail by repeatedly referring to your 18-year-old daughter,” Panjikar said.
Interestingly, the word “bar” on the display board outside the restaurant was concealed with black tape.
“By covering the word “bar” what is Smriti Irani trying to hide? Does the restaurant and bar belong to you or to your relatives? Say no and we will prove it,” the media chairman said.
The Congressmen also questioned the deafening silence of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on the entire issue.
“The CM who is in the forefront in tweeting on incidents happening in Congress-ruled states has no reaction on this issue. Why is the CM quiet?” Panjikar questioned.
The controversy on the legality and the ownership of the restaurant and bar gained speed after senior Congress leaders in Delhi and Goa on Saturday demanded Irani’s sacking, alleging that her daughter was running an illegal bar in Goa.
The BJP leader, however, hit back stating that the Congress claims were malicious and made at the Gandhi family’s behest.
Goa Congress Youth President, Varad Mardolkar said the State government should set up an SIT to probe the entire controversy on the illegal bar.
“Smriti Irani should resign as the union minister and be ready for investigation. We want the government to shut this illegal business,” Mardolkar said.
Another Congress youth leader said there were attempts to tarnish the name of Goans by obtaining illegal licences in their names.
“Don’t assassinate the character of Goans,” he said.
The Congressmen later tried to push through the barricade of the policemen to lock the gate of the controversial restaurant and bar but were denied by the alert cops.
“We wanted to fix a lock on the gate but since the police denied us the opportunity we handed the lock and key to the police and asked them to do the needful,” Mardolkar said.
