PANAJI: The Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on BJP Goa Vice President and former South Goa MP Narendra Sawaikar over his controversial social media post describing protesting youngsters as "termites", demanding that the BJP issue a public apology within 24 hours.
The controversy erupted after Sawaikar referred to youths who had participated in a protest in support of activist Sonam Wangchuk as "termites" in a social media post.
Addressing a press conference at the Congress office in Panaji, Youth Congress President Archit Naik accused the BJP of insulting an entire generation of young people.
"By calling the youth of Goa 'termites', Narendra Sawaikar has insulted every youngster in the state. Are only BJP's youth organisations, such as ABVP and BJYM, exempt from this label? If students protesting for their rights are termites, then what do we call those who have sold jobs, hills and land?" Naik asked.
He alleged that the BJP was responsible for "destroying the country's future" and said deleting the social media post could not erase the insult.
"Merely deleting the post is not enough. Narendra Sawaikar must apologise to the youth of Goa," he said.
GPCC Working President Sunil Kawthankar described the remark as "one of the most shocking incidents in Goa's political history."
"An ex-MP and BJP Vice President calling peacefully protesting students and youth 'termites' is disgusting and exposes the dictatorial mindset of the BJP," Kawthankar said.
He said the BJP leadership had become intolerant of criticism and compared its attitude towards protesters to that of colonial rulers.
"The youth are protesting for their future, questioning institutions and demanding accountability. Instead of listening to them, the BJP insults them," he said.
Kawthankar also challenged Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and BJP State President Damodar Naik to an open public debate.
"Let us debate corruption, environmental destruction and the future of Goa's youth. Then let the people decide who the real termites are," he said.
The Congress leader alleged that democratic institutions across the country were being weakened and asserted that citizens had a constitutional right to question the government.
"Criticising the Prime Minister or the government is not anti-national. BJP is not India, and Narendra Modi is not the nation," he said.
Appealing to students not to be intimidated, Kawthankar said the Congress stood firmly with the youth and announced a 24-hour ultimatum for the BJP.
"We are giving the BJP 24 hours to apologise for its Vice President insulting the youth of Goa and the country. If they fail to do so, the Congress will launch an agitation," he warned.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Amit Palekar also condemned Sawaikar's remarks, saying the comment reflected the BJP's attitude towards Goa's younger generation.
"When senior leaders like Narendra Sawaikar start calling our youth 'termites', it says more about their mindset than it does about young Goans," Palekar said.
He alleged that the BJP government had failed to create employment opportunities, forcing many young Goans to migrate in search of jobs.
"Our youth are engineers, doctors, entrepreneurs, farmers, artists and hardworking professionals. They deserve respect, opportunities and hope, not derogatory labels," he said.
Palekar further accused the BJP government of corruption, job scams, reckless land conversions and policies that had weakened Goa's future.
"We demand an apology to every young Goan who has been insulted," he added.
The Goa Forward Party's student wing also joined the criticism. Student Wing President Vrushank Gaonkar accused Sawaikar of mocking students fighting for their future and said the agitation was "no joke."
Gaonkar said the frustration among students stemmed from issues such as corruption in the education system and unemployment, warning that the very youth labelled as "termites" would become a decisive force against the BJP in the next Assembly elections.
He said the insults would only strengthen the resolve of young people to continue speaking out against injustice and government failures.
