Country could slip into
dictatorship: Cong
THE GOAN NETWORK
MAPUSA
State Mahila Congress president, Sunita Verenkar, on Sunday said India’s democracy was under threat and expressed fears that the country could slip into dictatorship.
“From democracy we are moving towards dictatorship. One man is taking all decisions. One person decides what we should eat and drink. One person decides how much money we should have or withdraw,” said Verenkar, clearly referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s move on demonetisation.
The State Mahila Congress chief was addressing a public meeting of women at Colvale. Congress vice president Pramod Salgaonkar, vice president and Tivim ticket aspirant Nilkant Halarnkar, general secretary Trajano D’Mello, Pratima Coutinho and Swati Kerkar were also present.
Speaking further, Verenkar said demonetisation has brought undue pain to the common man even as those in power claim the move will eliminate black money. “A common man fails to get even Rs 2000 after standing in queue for long hours, but lakhs of rupees have been found with BJP men,” she said.
Censuring the BJP-led government for cheating the people by making false promises, she said in 2012 the party promised to eliminate corruption after coming to power. “But on the contrary corruption is on the rise," she said.
Exhorting the women to stand by the Congress party, Pramod Salgaonkar said it was only Congress that gave women their due. “Besides making various laws and schemes for women, Congress always encouraged women to fight elections and take responsibilities,” Salgaonkar said.
She said BJP thought of women only during the elections and made use of them for selfish gains. "This government is a big 'jumla' which has lied to the people of Goa and India,” she said lashing out at the demonetisation move which has brought women on the road to withdraw their own money.
Pointing to the negative campaign launched by the BJP that if the beneficiaries don’t vote for the party their schemes would be withdrawn, Congress General Secretary, Trajano D’Mello assured the gathering that no such thing can be done by any government. “The money that people get from the schemes is public money and no person on earth can stop the schemes,” he said.
He said BJP promised to recover Rs 35,000 crore mining loot and send corrupt Congressman to jail but after coming to power they forgot about it.
Pratima Coutinho and Swati Kerkar also spoke.
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BOX
'Cong will double
Griha Adhar aid'
MAPUSA: Congress vice president and ticket aspirant for Tivim constituency Nilkant Halarnkar assured that when Congress forms its government in 2017, the assistance under the Griha Adhar scheme would be doubled.
He also said that power and water bills which have been increased by the BJP-led government will be reduced. “Congress will ensure that Rs 1,500 assistance under the Griha Adhar scheme will be doubled to Rs 3,000. The power and water bills will be reduced and brought to the level of 2012,” Halarnkar said.
He was addressing the women at the public meeting on Sunday.
He said further that BJP rode to power in 2012 by making false promises.
“The BJP-led government has failed to provide employment. The rate of essential commodities like dal has hit the roof,” he said.
He said Congress will provide stable and people-oriented government once it comes to power in 2017.
