the goan I network
MARGAO
The minority melava organised by the minority department of the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee on Sunday at Anjuman hall, Rumdamol Housing Board, saw Congress leaders vowing to protect the rights and interests of the minorities guaranteed under the Indian Constitution.
Former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat went a step further to reassure the Muslim community that the Congress was always behind the minorities and will protect their interests in the future as well.
Addressing the gathering, Kamat said the country belongs to all religious communities and no one can claim monopoly over the country, adding that if India aims at becoming a world super power in the future, each and every citizen of the country should be empowered in their own right.
He dished out the schemes and benefits the minorities in the state received during his stint as the state Chief Minister between 2007-2011.
“My government had never discriminated against any community based on caste and creed. This is evident by the number of jobs provided to the minority community during my tenure. The schemes brought out by my government was intended to benefit all the communities inhabiting the state,” he said.
The former Chief Minister took the platform to target the BJP government for its failure to complete the South Goa district hospital initiated during his stint as Chief Minister. “I would like to remind the present rulers that only the common man visits the government run hospitals. It was with this vision that I had initiated the district hospital project, but the same is craving for attention for the last several years,” Kamat added.
Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Girish Chodankar charged the Narendra Modi government for the discrimination against the minorities in the state. He said the government spending on the minority has been cut down by nearly 30 per cent by the present government and many schemes intended to benefit the minorities have been wound up.
“This is a dangerous trend started by the Modi-led government. The Constitution gives protection to all the communities living in the country,” Chodankar said.
The GPCC Chief pointed out that that all citizens of the country, irrespective of their religious and caste affiliations, are equal and they enjoy equal rights.
“There cannot be any discrimination against any community based on their religion and caste and the Congress party will uphold the rights of the people of this country”, he said.
Congress minority Chief Urfan Mulla, Ashraf Pandiyal, Sheikh Riyaz and others also spoke on the occasion. Around 10 personalities, who had excelled in their respective fields, were felicitated at the hands of former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat.
