PANAJI
Former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Sunday drew an analogy from the Bible to drive home a point against defectors in Goa’s mercurial politics.
Speaking at a Congress block meeting at the St Andre assembly constituency, the All India Congress Committee senior observer in charge of Goa also apologised for the betrayal by Congress MLAs in the past, but also absolved party workers from the blame of betrayal by the party’s leaders.
“2000 years ago the first great betrayal was when Judas betrayed Jesus. We have had many many instances of betrayal,” Chidambaram told party workers at the St Andre block where the Catholic votes have invariably decided electoral victory margins.
Chidambaram also said that loyalty would be a key criterion for the selection of candidates for the upcoming polls to prevent an exodus from the party in the future.
“All I can say is, I am very sorry, I apologise for that betrayal, please put that behind us and let us move forward with the determination that this time we will have a candidate who will remain loyal to the party, whether the party forms a government or does not form a government. I am confident we will form a government,” Chidambaram said.
“I know what happened here in 2017. People feel betrayed... Workers have not betrayed the party, the elected MLAs have betrayed the party. We cannot forget that betrayal. God has asked us to forgive our enemies. We will forgive them, we cannot forget what they have done,” Chidambaram also said.
All India Congress Committee Secretary in-charge of Goa Dinesh Gundu Rao, who was also present at the function, said that defections have hit the party morale, but added that the door had been firmly shut on the party defectors in the future.
“Defection has hit Congress party morale. It is for money that all these defectors left the Congress. To become ministers, to become chairmans, to make more money, to enjoy power. In Goa, the Congress should create a situation that such kind of people should not be allowed, should not be tolerated, and that is why very clearly we said none of these defectors will be taken back in the party ever,” Rao said.
“Because if we take them back then what do we stand for? What is our morality? What happens to our principles? Whether we win or lose that is another issue,” Rao also said.
As many as 13 Congress MLAs have joined the BJP since 2017, along with two MLAs from the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party.
