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THE GOAN NETWORK
MARGAO: Congress’ Jan Akrosh program culminated at the historic Lohia Maidan, Margao on Thursday with senior Congress leader Jaipal Reddy making a fervent plea to Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar to resign gracefully from his post, warning that the people of Goa will teach the BJP a lesson in the 2019 Lok Sabha election.
“I demand the resignation of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar. He should quit gracefully from his post. This government is literally in a hospital,” Jaipal Reddy demanded at an impressive meeting at the Lohia Maidan marking the culmination of the Jan Akrosh.
The Congress leader made a reference to Parrikar’s stint as the country's Defense Minister when Prime Minister Narendra Modi signed the Rafale deal with France. He also demanded to know why the Prime Minister was not directing Manohar Parrikar to resign.
Demanding to know whether the BJP has no other Chief Ministerial candidate, Jaipal Reddy sought to know whether Manohar Parrikar is above the country’s tallest leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabai Patel and others.
He also directed his tirade at the Governor Mridula Sinha, demanding to know whether the governor is blind and deaf despite the government functioning illegally and in an unconstitutional manner.
Questioning the Speaker’s decision to hoist the national flag on Goa Liberation Day, Jaipal Reddy said the Speaker belongs to the Assembly and is not part of the government apparatus. “A Speaker is part of the House. He does not fall in the category of a Minister,” he asserted.
Giving a call to the people of Goa to reject the BJP at the earliest opportunity, Jaipal Reddy warned that Parrikar will meet his waterloo if he does not resign. “You and your party will not only be defeated, but will end up with disgrace. If you have sense of honour, resign immediately,” he said, adding that Congress will continue to agitate against Parrikar’s greed for power.
In his spirited speech, former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat said what is happening in Goa is not democracy, reminding the workers how the BJP has been trying to target him by foisting false cases.
AICC general secretary Chella Kumar said the Congress movement will continue till the BJP is defeated in the coming Lok Sabha polls, both at the centre and in Goa.
Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) Chief Girish Chodankar said there’s been no governance in Goa since the last 11 months, adding that the Ministers have been engaged in loot and plunder. “While Parrikar is sleeping at home, the Ministers are involved in corruption,” Girish said, while accusing TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai for bringing the TCP Amendment with ulterior motives.
Leader of the Opposition Babu Kavlekar said the time has come when people of Goa will teach the BJP a lesson in the coming hustings, while former Chief Minister Ravi Naik demanded to know whether the Chief Minister himself is aware of the agenda of the cabinet meetings.
Former MP Francisco Sardinha said he has no doubt that people of Goa will elect the Congress party in the Lok Sabha polls.
Activist Rajan Ghate said he would go on a hunger strike from the New year if the Chief Minister does not distribute the portfolios to his Ministerial colleagues, while Mahila Congress Chief Pratima Coutinho vowed to ensure the defeat of the BJP in the coming election.
MLAs Nilkant Harlankar, Filipe Neri Rodrigues, Clafacio Dias and Wilfred D’Sa also attended the meeting.
