PANAJI
Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Girish Chodankar on Monday asserted that the Congress remains united despite the recent disciplinary action against its Minority Department chief, while turning the spotlight on the BJP by challenging it to demonstrate its professed concern for minorities through action rather than political messaging.
Addressing a press conference after Nazir Khan formally took charge as Convenor of the GPCC Minority Department, Chodankar said the Congress stands united.
"We do not know whether that act was deliberate or by mistake," Chodankar said, referring to the statements made by former Minority Department chairman Wasim Khan that led to his suspension.
However, Chodankar accused the BJP of trying to capitalise on the controversy by portraying itself as sympathetic towards minorities.
"For a few moments, the BJP showed its love for Muslims. If that love is genuine, it should be reflected in action, not political statements," he said.
He urged the Goa BJP leadership to convey to its central leadership and affiliated right-wing organisations that minorities should be treated with dignity and respect across the country.
Chodankar also alleged that religious institutions belonging to Muslims and Christians continued to face attacks and said the BJP should publicly condemn incidents such as the 2002 Gujarat violence if it wished to demonstrate its commitment to communal harmony.
Goa Youth Congress president Archit Naik said the disciplinary action against Wasim Khan was proof that "indiscipline and intolerance will not be tolerated" within the Congress. He accused the BJP of attempting to create the impression that minorities had distanced themselves from the Congress.
"The BJP tried to create a narrative that minorities are not with us. The Congress has always stood with minorities, and they will stand with the Congress in the 2027 Assembly elections. All party cells and frontal organisations will function as one family," Naik said.
