the goan I network
MARGAO
Ace comedian Agostinho Themudo employed wit and satire directed at the ruling and opposition to drive home a point why Navelkars should support the Aam Aadmi Party for the South Goa Lok Sabha seat, even as party candidate Elvis Gomes tore into the Congress charge that AAP was the B team of the BJP.
“We have seen the Congress and the BJP. And, we have seen how the Congress has brought old leaders after minor repairs at the dry docks,” Agostinho said, while making a reference to Congress candidate Francisco Sardinha to loud cheers from the crowd of people who turned up for the corner meeting near the old panchayat ghar on Monday evening.
Making a fervent plea to Navelkars to support Elvis Gomes for the South Goa seat, he said one would not know or understand the Aam Aadmi Party unless people welcome it. “I had told the BJP MP Narendra Sawaikar in his election five years ago to visit Navelim at least five times in five years, but how many times did he show his face in the constituency,” he said and mocked at politicians calling them power hungry for changing chief ministers and political parties.
In his address, Elvis dwelt at length to refute reports spread by the Congress that AAP is the B team of the BJP by coming down heavily on the Congress leaders for helping the BJP in the continuance of the present government. And, he reminded the people that it was the Congress South Goa candidate Francisco Sardinha who was responsible for bringing the BJP and Manohar Parrikar to power in the state in 2000 after he broke away from the Congress by bringing down the Luizinho Faleiro government. “The Congress is responsible for the rise of the BJP in Goa. And, the BJP continues to rule the state with Congress exporting its MLAs every time the party faces a collapse of its government,” he said, while demanding to know which political party is the B team of the BJP.
Turning his focus on the achievements of the Arvind Kejriwal-led government in Delhi, Elvis pointed out that AAP has achieved success in various fields, including health, water supply, power supply and education in less than five years because of its genuine concerns for the common man. “If people of Delhi can receive free water supply and subsidised power supply, why not Goans in Goa,” he said.
Gomes favoured a social welfare scheme for the unorganized workers such as rickshaw, motorcycle pilots and taxi operators, wherein they get an annual dole to spend on recreation with their families as part of the government’s commitment towards the common man.
