Holds 'Samvidhan Bachao Abhiyan' protest at Azad Maidan
Hundreds gather at the ‘Samvidhan Bachao Abhiyan’ rally organised by the Congress at Azad Maidan, Panaji.
PANAJI:
The Opposition Congress held a protest and a public meeting at Azad Maidan in Panaji as part of its nationwide Samvidhan Bachao Abhiyan (Save the Constitution Campaign) galvanising a large gathering of its workers and supporters.
Top leaders of the party including its three legislators and senior AICC functionaries handling the Goa desk -- General Secretary Manikrao Thakre and Secretary Anjali Nimbalikar -- raised concerns over rising crime, growing unemployment and erosion of constitutional rights under the BJP regimes.
"The BJP government is trying to divide the country including Hindus and Muslims for power. The Constitution of the country is sacrosanct and it is the responsibility of all people to protect it, which is now in danger," Thackre said.
Leader of the Opposition, Yuri Alemao, South Goa MP Viriato Fernandes, state Congress president Amit Patkar, MLAs Carlos Alvares Ferreira and Altone D'Costa, Girish Chodankar and Goa Mahila Congress chief Pratiksha Khalap addressed the gathering.
Interestingly the Congress had announced that it would hold a protest march from the Divja circle to Azad Maidan but the administration refused permission forcing its cancellation.
Instead, after the public meeting at Azad maidan, the party workers and supporters marched around the iconic Maidan.
Referring to the Pahalgam terror attack, Thakre said the Congress has condemned the incident but questioned the attempts made to dividing the country on religious lines.
Terrorism has no religion or colour. Those who support terrorism are traitors. The Congress Party respects the Constitution. The BJP is afraid of religious unity and is trying to divide on religious lines," Nimbalkar said.
Meanwhile Alemao said, the State government is lying about creating 10,000 to 12,000 jobs in the next two years.
"Only six Goans have got jobs in the central government in the last 6 years. Goa has the third highest unemployment rate in the country. While unemployment is rising, land in Goa continues to be converted and mega projects being developed," Opposition Leader Alemao said while addressing the meeting.
"Land prices have gone up as outsiders have started buying. The BJP government needs to be removed from power to protect beautiful Goa and make life here comfortable again," Alemao said.
GPCC chief Amit Patkar said, after the Pahalgam attack, the Bajrang Dal chief made appeals to take up swords and demanded action against him.
"Action needs to be taken against those who make statements inciting violence," Patkar said.
