MARGAO
A full blown war between the ruling BJP and opposition Congress erupted over the government’s four-day Tika Utsav programme rolled out in Margao on Monday, bringing the BJP and the Congress leaders face to face, with each accusing the other either for derailing the vaccination drive for trying to extract mileage from the exercise.
As a BJP banner “Seva Hi Sanghatan Campaign” congratulating Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP Chief JP Nadda appeared at the entrance to the Adarsh School complex, team of district authorities headed by a Joint Mamlatdar visited the spot to verify the complaint reportedly lodged by Opposition leader Digambar Kamat.
That’s not all. Deputy Chief Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar and the BJP city leadership comprising of councillor Dr Ronita Ajgaonkar, Sharmad Raiturkar, Naveen Raikar, Sunil Naik, besides Independent councillor Mahesh Amonkar turned out in strength for the inauguration of the Tika Utsav.
An angry Margao MLA and Opposition Leader Digambar Kamat took to the social media to slam the ruling party, saying publicity-hungry BJP has displayed banners with photos of BJP India functionaries at the Covid vaccination centre at the Adarsh High School. He pointed out that the vaccination exercise was Government of Goa programme and that political parties have no right to claim credit for the same, while demanding action by the South Goa district Collector.
After the team of Joint Mamlatdar visited the spot to check the veracity of the complaint on the banner displayed at the entrance to the complex, the BJP city leadership went on an offensive against the Opposition Leader. “This is the beginning of the end of Digambar Kamat in Margao. Today, during the first day of #TikaUtsav in Margao, the Margao MLA made every attempt to disrupt the vaccination drive, right from hijacking the inauguration of Tika Utsav, to removing the BJP Goa banner of #SevaHiSangathan displayed 200 meters away from the vaccination centre.
He later went to the extent of complaining to the police, collector, and chief secretary, misrepresenting them with lies and arranging a team headed by joint mamlatdar to come personally to remove the banner. Luckily the J
joint mamlatdar understood the reality and regretted coming and disturbing the Tika Utsav. If such energy and efforts were used for a good cause, Margao would have developed leaps and bounds”, Naveen said.
Reacting strongly to the act of the BJP, South Goa District Congress President Joe Dias demanded BJP president Sadanand Shet Tanavade apologise to the people of Goa for misusing tax payers’ money to seek cheap publicity. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and his government is looting the state treasury by making people suffer, he added.
Goa Pradesh Mahila Congress President Beena Naik said “This is Aapda me Avsar of Shameless BJP. The State BJP has not left a single opportunity to make fortunes from “Business of Sickness” during this Covid pandemic.
Margao Block Congress President Gopal Naik condemned the act of Tourism Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar of coming to the vaccination centre to inaugurate the vaccination drive. “We also condemn Margao BJP Mandal for circulating a post on social media inviting people for inauguration of the four-day vaccination drive at Margao. We want to bring to the notice of the BJP functionaries of Margao Mandal that it is only because of the initiative and follow up by Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat that this vaccination drive could become a reality.
Margao MLA had written a letter to the South Goa Collector on 28/04/2021 and 01/05/2021 recommending the location of the vaccination centre”, Gopal said, as he produced the copies of the letters, saying the Local BJP stands completely exposed”.
