MAPUSA
Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president Girish Chodankar on Saturday alleged that the BJP government was attempting to discredit the Congress-led Goy Rakhonn Yatra amid what he claimed was growing public response to the campaign.
Chodankar alleged that people were being sent into the Yatra after being paid and that certain media platforms were subsequently interviewing them to portray the participants as outsiders.
“The response to the Congress and the Goy Rakhonn Yatra has clearly unsettled the BJP leadership and the Chief Minister,” he said, alleging that the ruling party was trying to create a false narrative around the campaign.
Chodankar said the Yatra was aimed at highlighting concerns over land, development, the environment, heritage and Goa’s future. Referring to Justice Ferdino Rebello’s ‘Enough is Enough’ movement, he said the involvement of senior citizens reflected wider public concern over governance.
The fifth day of the Yatra entered the Aldona constituency on Saturday, with Congress workers holding an awareness march from Moira to Tercena, Aldona, where a public meeting was held.
AICC Goa in-charge Manikrao Thakare alleged that the BJP had indulged in “horse-trading” despite the voters’ mandate and said Congress would not take back leaders who had betrayed their party and voters. He appealed to voters to give Congress a clear majority in the next Assembly elections.
AICC Goa co-in-charge Anjali Nimbalkar accused the BJP of focusing on the Yatra instead of addressing governance and development issues.
Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao said Goa needed a political movement based on “humanity” and the interests of the State.
Aldona MLA Carlos Alvares Ferreira raised concerns over rising property prices and increasing real-estate activity, alleging that the interests of builders were gaining prominence at the expense of ordinary Goans.
