Photo caption.
The mammoth crowd at the Congress party meeting at the SAG ground, Fatorda.
Rahul Gandhi making a point at the meeting. Congress leaders listen attentively to Rahul during his address. A show of strength near the Holy Spirit Church square before Rahul Gandhi make it to the Fatorda ground on foot. MLA Babu Kavlekar stole the show by mobilising a huge crowd of supporters for the meeting. Pics: Santosh Mirajkar
RAHUL RAVES
MARGAO
Asserting that the Congress will defeat the BJP in the next year’s elections for the Goa Legislative Assembly, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Friday promised Goans that the Congress will provide a corruption-free government and make Goa shining within five years.
Addressing a mammoth rally attended by thousands of party workers at the SAG ground, Fatorda, Rahul promised that the Congress will not tolerate even minor corruption in the State when the party comes back to power. “Even if there is minor corruption, we will take cent per cent corruption against the guilty within two minutes," Rahul thundered amidst cheers from the huge assembly of party workers.
Rahul’s stand on corruption assumes significance and comes against the backdrop of the rout of the Congress party in the 2012 Assembly election mostly on the issue of corruption.
That’s not all. The Congress vice-president further assured the people of Goa that the Congress government when it comes to power in 2017 will be people centric. “All decisions of the Congress government will be people-oriented. We will take decision to build Goa for the common man. Our government will not snatch the rights of the common people and will work for their progress and well-being," he said.
Reassuring the people of Goa that the Congress government will make Goa shining within five years, he slammed the BJP government for destroying the tourism and fishing industry due to bad decisions.
Saying that Prime Minister Narendra Modi cannot run away from the people of the country and Goa, Rahul said the Prime Minister has caused the people of the country deliberate harm. “India will not forgive you and Congress party will defeat you in India and Goa too," he said.
Saying that Goa is also facing difficult times due to bad governance by the BJP government, Rahul said people in Goa are facing the issue of casino, unemployment, their land rights mundcarial and tenancy taken away by the government. “I want to give you an assurance that when the Congress comes to power, the government will work for the common man," he added.
The Congress vice-president in a major part of his speech deliberated on the issue of demonetisation and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Earlier in his address, GPCC President Luizinho Faleiro called upon the people of Goa to help the Congress party give a new government in the New Year. “Bring back the Congress party to power in the New Year," Faleiro said.
In his spirited address, former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat said the time has come to get rid of the BJP government and save Goa from further destruction. “The BJP government had come to power by giving only empty promises. The time has come to bring back the Congress to power," he appealed.
Leader of the Opposition, Pratapsingh Rane said the people of Goa look forward to Rahul Gandhi as the next Prime Minister of the country, adding the day is not too far when Rahul will rule the country.
Saying that the people of Goa are angry over the wrong policies of the BJP government, Rane exuded confidence that the people of Goa will bring about a change in the government in the coming election.
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Photo caption. Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi waiving to the crowd as he took the city by storm during his visit to Margao on Friday evening. Photo by Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO: He waved at people along the way, shook hands with others and tried to reach out to inmates through their windows as Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi literally took the city by storm on Friday evening.
Mobbed by the Youth Congress, NSUI and Congress workers at the Holy Spirit Church Square, the Congress leader did not disappoint anyone as he interacted with the leaders and workers alike as he walked along the Borda road via the B M Service Road to make it to the SAG ground, Fatorda, to address the public meeting.
Moments after he landed at the Holy Spirit Church Square shortly around 4 pm “ a hour behind schedule -- with AICC General Secretary Digvijaya Singh, Secretary Chella Kumar, GPCC President Luizinho Faleiro and Leader of the Opposition Pratapsingh Rane, Rahul did not disappoint the party workers, who had been patiently waiting for his arrival since 3 pm.
After making his presence felt on a makeshift stage at the Church square and waiving to the waiting party workers, Rahul made his presence felt in an adjoining house and was holed up inside for some time before he was joined by other party leaders, including the GPCC chief, the father-son duo of Pratapsingh Rane and Vishwajit, MLA Babu Kavlekar and wife Savitri and others.
Youth Congress workers made a beeline to take a selfie with the Congress vice-president as the National Security Guards commandos and local police had a tough time to control the surging crowds.
At the Borda road, Rahul wished a family, including children through the window and agreed for a photograph. He again made a brief halt at the entrance to the house, housing the Pilar music school, shaking hands with the people around.
Congress leaders, including Luizinho Faleiro, Digambar Kamat, Babu Kavlekar, Girish Chodankar and others, including NSUI, Youth Congress and Seva Dal activists accompanied Rahul Gandhi on foot to the Fatorda ground.
