MARGAO
Aam Aadmi Party Benaulim MLA Capt Venzy Viegas has taken a direct swipe at BJP Minister Mauvin Godinho and the State government, demanding a clear public statement on whether the late former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar was wrong when he promised to establish a Minority Commission in Goa to safeguard the rights of minority communities.
“If the Minority Commission is not needed, as Minister Mauvin Godinho claims, then is the BJP saying that Parrikar misled the people of Goa? Was his 2012 promise false—made only to bluff the minority community and grab votes?” Viegas asked.
Calling out the current BJP leadership, Viegas questioned whether they have abandoned Parrikar’s legacy or whether the present party panel is completely out of sync with the principles of their former leadership.
Responding to Mauvin’s statement, Viegas said, “The Commission was never about distributing benefits; it was established nationally in 1992 to protect and safeguard the constitutional rights of minorities. Despite repeated demands and increasing instances of discrimination, Goa has still not set up its own State Minorities Commission.”
Viegas warned that the absence of such a body leaves the minority community in Goa without a dedicated platform to raise concerns or address grievances, calling it a glaring failure of the BJP government.
