THE GOAN NETWORK
PANAJI
In an embarrassment for the Goa Congress unit amid its ongoing internal turmoil, the chairman of the party's Minority cell Wasim Khan has publicly criticised the party leadership, alleging that minorities are neither respected nor adequately represented and are used as vote banks.
This followed disciplinary action against him, with All India Congress Committee (AICC) issuing order suspending Khan for alleged indiscipline and anti-party activities.
The AICC also dissolved the entire Goa PCC Minority Department committee with immediate effect and appointed Nazir Khan as the Convenor to oversee its functioning and facilitating the process of reconstituting the committee in accordance with AICC directives.
The action follows Khan's public criticism of the Congress leadership during the visit of AICC general secretary Venugopal Rao, who is in Goa to assess the party's internal situation and contain growing factionalism.
Speaking to a news channel, Khan alleged that despite the Congress projecting itself as a secular party, minority leaders continue to be sidelined and denied meaningful representation within the organisation. He claimed minorities are remembered only during elections and ignored thereafter.
"Minorities are treated merely as a vote bank. They are approached during elections but are not given due respect or representation in the party's decision-making process," Khan had said.
Within hours of the remarks, AICC Minority Department Chairman and Member of Parliament Imran Pratapgarhi issued an order suspending Khan from the post of Chairman citing "indiscipline and anti-party activities."
In a statement, the GPCC said the decision reflects the Congress party's commitment to maintaining organisational discipline and strengthening its organisational structure in Goa.
The episode has provided fresh ammunition to the BJP, which accused the Congress of hypocrisy over its claims of protecting minority interests.
BJP said the statement exposed the party's "double standards" on secularism. They alleged that the Congress had historically treated minorities, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes as vote banks without ensuring their political empowerment.
