MAPUSA
Censuring the BJP-led government at the Centre and the RSS, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) President Girish Chodankar said the BJP and its aides were trying to frustrate and suppress the voice of people by controlling the judiciary and other constitutional authorities.
He also questioned why the RSS failed to hoist the national flag at its headquarters after freedom.
“People know what Congress has done in the last seventy years. I challenge the RSS to tell people what they were doing from 1885 to 1947, at the time when Indians were struggling for freedom,” Chodankar said.
The GPCC chief was addressing Congress leaders on the 136th Congress Foundation Day celebration held at the North Goa District Congress Office in Mapusa.
Leader of Opposition and Margao MLA Digambar Kamat, former union minister Ramakant Khalap, General Secretary, Amarnath Panjikar, Vice Presidents M K Sheikh, Sankalp Amonkar, B Bagkar, Anand Naik, North Goa District President Vijay Bhike, Sudhir Khanolkar and other leaders were present.
Continuing, Chodankar said the Congress party was in the hearts of the people and appealed to the masses to defeat the disrupted forces which were destroying the constitution.
“We believe in equality and walking together irrespective of caste, class and religion. This is also the feeling of citizens of India. It is the responsibility of each one of us to defeat the force which is trying to damage our constitution and nation,” he said.
He further said the Narendra Modi government and the RSS have finished the judiciary system.
“Today, even the RBI and the Election Commission of India cannot work as per its constitutional mandate,” he regretted.
He said PM Narendra Modi has taken control of the constitutional authorities to suppress the voice of people and build frustration among Indians.
Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat said the Congress needs to set a target and work towards it and achieve the set goal.
“Nobody can change the history of Congress. We feel proud of it. But we can’t live thinking only of the past. We need to face the present.” Kamat said.
He asked the block presidents to make a commitment of registering 3,000 members in a month.
“You need to go on the field. We are targeting 10,000-odd members in Margao. We should not blame others, but work to achieve our goals. Our second test is municipality election,” he said.
“I could win the election seven times because of my workers, who are the backbone of the party. I feel the resolution of the New Year should be new booth committees and new members in the party’s fold. Nobody can stop us from coming into power if this is achieved,” he added.
Ramakant Khalap, M K Sheikh, Vijay Bhike, Rajan Ghate, Shankar Fadte also spoke on the occasion.
On the occasion, Noel D'Souza (ex-State President Goa Pradesh Youth Congress), Rabindranath Menezes, (Cuncolim), Sandhya Kamat, (ex-Mahila Congress) and Agnel Mascarenhas were felicitated for their valuable contribution in building Congress party in Goa.
Earlier, GPCC chief Girish Chodankar and CLP leader Digambar Kamat led the Tiranga Yatra from the Hutatma Chowk to the district office in Mapusa.
