The Congress on Saturday declared that summoning of former minister Nilkanth Halarnkar, who recently joined the Congress, by the Anti Corruption Branch of Directorate of Vigilance vindicates its charge that the BJP is using state machinery to harass Congressmen.
Speaking at Congress House on Saturday, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee general secretary and spokesperson Trajano D’Mello stated, “The charge of Goa Congress president Luizinho Faleiro that the BJP is blackmailing its opponents, particularly Congress leaders, stands vindicated. The recent summons issued by the Vigilance Department to Congress Vice President, Nilkanth Harlankar is a testimony to the charge of blackmail tactics.”
He further sought to question the timing of the summons, while alleging that the case does not merit such actions.
“These types of tactics are a clear indication that the BJP is feeling the heat at the ground level and are therefore indulging in such crooked tactics towards its opponents. These are attempts to divert the focus of campaigning by its opponents,” D’Mello thundered.
D’Mello, who quit the Nationalist Congress Party to enter the Congress along with Halarnkar, highlighted the investigation into his complaint against Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar over the alleged grabbing of Serula Comunidade land.
“The Crime Branch made a desperate and unsuccessful attempt to close a land grabbing case of the Tourism Minister, even though the courts found him guilty of his involvement. Whereas a case, which bears no substance such as this, is being used to harass political leaders,” D’Mello charged.
