MARGAO
Congress’ much-awaited Lok Sabha campaign for the South Goa seat finally kicked off from the historic Lohia Maidan, Margao on the auspicious Gudi Padwa on Tuesday noon with party candidate ex-Naval officer, Captain Viriato Fernandes descending in the constituency for a surgical strike to ground the ruling party’s determined bid to wrest the seat after five years.
Days after the BJP’s nominee Pallavi Dempo had kicked off the campaign with much fanfare in the midst of a galaxy of party leaders led by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, State BJP chief Sadanand Tanavade, Ministers and former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, Captain Viriato launched the campaign with party leaders and leaders of the INDIA bloc in tow in the commercial capital.
After paying respects to the freedom fighters at the Martyrs memorial and the life-size statue of Dr Ram Manohar Lohia, the INDIA bloc leaders hit out at the double-engine BJP government for various sins of omission and commission.
Reminding that the sacred place had played host to Dr Lohia and Dr Julio Menezes who had given a call to the people of Goa to drive out the oppressive Portuguese regime, Captain Viriato thundered that the time has come before Goans to uproot the BJP rule and save democracy in the State and the country.
“We are standing today at a sacred place where Lohia and Menezes had given a call to end Portuguese rule in the State. A similar situation is prevailing in the State. People’s voice is being silenced through the CBI, ED and the I-T raids. In South Goa, overt and covert attempts are being made to make the State a coal hub,” he said.
Saying that the Dabolim airport is facing an uncertain future with the current policies of the State and Central government, Viriato has warned of a massive economic impact not only on big hotels and shacks, but small businesses run by taxi and motorcycle pilots, etc.
INDIA bloc leaders including AAP chief Adv Amit Palekar, party MLAs Venzy Viegas and Cruz Silva, NCP chief Jose Philip D’Souza, Goa Forward leader Durgadas Kamat, Prashant Naik, Dilip Prabhudesai, Mohandas Lolienkar were present in strength. In fact, Prashant Naik said the INDIA bloc has fielded a candidate who had fought for the country and to protect the borders.
Congress leaders, including Congress North Goa candidate Ramakant Khalap, GPCC chief Amit Patkar, Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao, MLAs Altone D’Costa and Adv Carlos Alvares, besides ex-GPCC chief and Congress Working Committee member Girish Chodankar, M K Sheikh, district chief Savio D’Silva were present in strength.
The Congress candidate along with party leaders later headed to the Pimpalkatta to seek blessings of the presiding deity, Lord Dambab. They also offered prayers at the shrine of Our Lady of Vailankani near the Margao Municipal building. The Congress also opened party office in the city.
Captain Viriato along with party leaders also entered the New Market area for an interaction with the traders. The visit comes a day after BJP candidate Pallavi Dempo had paid a similar visit to the New Market to drum up support for her candidature.
WILL WIN SOUTH GOA SEAT WITH OVER ONE LAKH VOTES: VIRIATO
Asserting that ensuing Lok Sabha polls for South Goa is a battle between people’s power and money power, Congress candidate Captain Viriato Fernandes has predicted that the Congress and INDIA bloc candidate will emerge triumphant with over one lakh votes.
When questioned him over the lead that he expects to win the South Goa seat, the ex-Naval Captain said, “As of now, it will not be difficult to win the seat by a margin of around 70,000-80,000 votes. We may even cross the one lakh margin as the campaign progresses. For, the ensuing election is a fight between people’s power and money power.”
…Assures to raise dual citizenship issue
The Congress South Goa candidate has assured to raise the issue of dual citizenship for Goans in Parliament along with the North Goa candidate Ramakant Khalap once they make it to the Lok Sabha.
“The Congress and the INDIA bloc partners will closely work with Khalap to bring in a legislation in Parliament to provide dual citizenship for Goa,” he said.
