MARGAO
Asserting that the government was forced to subsidised coconuts after the State-wide campaign by the Goa Mahila Congress, Mahila Congress president Pratima Coutinho on Friday demanded that the government should make available the subsidised coconut at Rs 5, Rs 10 and 15 if they are really serious in ameliorating the hardships faced by Goans.
The Mahila Congress also took strong objection to the statement made by BJP Mahila leader Kunda Chodankar that Mahila Congress should now sell coconuts in neighbouring Karnataka going to the polls later this year, with Pratima demanding that Kunda should tell the people of Goa why she was removed as chairperson of Bal Bhavan.
Addressing the media, Pratima said the government should not fool Goemkars by selling the coconut at subsidised rate of Rs 15, Rs 18 and Rs 20 when coconuts are already available in the market for Rs 10 and Rs 15. “The Chief Minister should stop fooling the people of Goa. If his government is really serious in bringing down the soaring prices of coconut, the subsidised coconut should be made available for Rs 5, Rs 10 and Rs 15,” she demanded and warned the government against taking any decision to withdraw the subsidy within two months.
On BJP Mahila leader chief Sulakshana Sawant and Kunda Chodankar’s statement mocking the Mahila Congress agitational programmes, Pratima charged the BJP mahilas for coming out only to defend the Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and has not taken up any causes affecting the common man. “Are these BJP mahilas not using the coconut as part of their staple diet. Or have they stopped eating Xitkoddi,” she demanded to know.
South Goa District Mahila Congress president Savitri Kavlekar also slammed the BJP mahila members for casting aspersions at the Congress women members. “Karnataka people do not require coconuts. We do not know whether they use coconut for Xitkoddi, but certainly we Goans use coconut.”
