PANAJI: Goa Forward Party (GFP) chief Vijai Sardesai has accused the BJP government of making false promises in its election manifestos and failing to deliver on welfare schemes, citing the withdrawal of the free water scheme, non-implementation of the promise of three free LPG cylinders annually and the limited disbursement of financial assistance to households.
Sardesai alleged that the BJP relied on promises and publicity campaigns to win votes but failed to fulfil its commitments once elections were over. “The BJP seeks to win votes through falsehoods. They lie in their manifesto, and they lie afterwards, as we have all witnessed,” Sardesai said.
Citing the free water scheme announced by the BJP government in August 2021, Sardesai said the government had promised to provide 16,000 litres of free water to every household in Goa. According to him, the scheme was initially implemented, but the government withdrew it after the elections, claiming that people were wasting water. “Free water was initially distributed, elections were held, and the results came in. Afterwards, they claimed that people were wasting water, executed a U-turn on the scheme, and withdrew it,” he alleged.
Sardesai also questioned the government's implementation of its manifesto promise to provide three free LPG cylinders every year to women in Goa. He said the promise had remained unfulfilled despite repeated reminders over the five-year period. “In their election manifesto, they announced that they would provide three free LPG cylinders per year to Goa's sisters and mothers. Five years have now passed; in reality, a total of 15 cylinders should have been delivered by now,” he said.
The GFP chief further raised concerns over the financial assistance announced by the government in September. He said households had queued up to collect application forms, obtained the necessary signatures and submitted their applications in the expectation of receiving the promised benefits.
However, Sardesai alleged that the assistance had been reduced from the promised total of Rs 15,000 to Rs 3,000. He also claimed that the amount had not reached all eligible households, with only around one-third of applicants receiving the funds. “Even that Rs 3,000 was not disbursed to everyone. Two-thirds of the applicants were excluded, with funds given to only one-third of the households,” he said.
Accusing the government of prioritising publicity over the delivery of welfare benefits, Sardesai said citizens needed to recognise what he described as the BJP's standard operating procedure in the run-up to elections. “Cultured citizens need to remember that this is the BJP's Standard Operating Procedure (SOP): as elections draw near, they make false promises in their manifesto, painting grand illusions as if promising heaven,” Sardesai said.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has assured that all three lakh beneficiaries under the Goa Ujjwala Yojana will receive the promised financial assistance.
