PANAJI
The internal battle within the RevolutionaryGoans Party (RGP) is showing no signs of ebbing with the party's nationalpresident and St Andre MLA Viresh Borkar issuing a legal notice to formertreasurer Ajay Kholkar over what he described as defamatory statements andallegations aimed at damaging his reputation.
The move comes days after Kholkar publiclychallenged Borkar to substantiate claims that he had allegedly misappropriatedRs 24 lakh from the party's account. Denying wrongdoing, Kholkar had demandedproof and dared the MLA to inspect his property and financial records.
Addressing a press conference, Borkar demandedan unconditional public apology from Kholkar within three days. He warned thatfailure to comply would result in criminal proceedings and a defamation suitseeking Rs 6 crore in damages.
Borkar also dismissed Kholkar's assertion thathe would end the MLA's political career. “To end anyone's political career, itis the people who will decide because they are the ones who elect theirrepresentative. He is no God to decide anyone's future,” Borkar said.
The exchange marks another flashpoint in theongoing factional struggle within the RGP. The party has been divided formonths between Borkar's camp and a rival group aligned with former partypresident and founder Manoj Parab, once regarded as the party's undisputedsupremo.
The power struggle has led to a series ofpublic confrontations and competing claims over the party's direction andleadership. Kholkar had also accused Borkar of staging a politically motivatedprotest at the Town and Country Planning (TCP) office against Section 39A.Rejecting the charge, Borkar said the agitation reflected widespread publicanger and was not a one-man show.
“People from across Goa joined the protest. Itwas not about politics. It was about a public cause,” he said, adding thatKholkar himself had participated in the demonstration.
Borkar further said he and his supportersremained prepared to launch another hunger strike if necessary and rejectedsuggestions that the earlier agitation was a publicity exercise.
“While some were away on honeymoons, we wereprotesting on the streets. We are ready to do it again,” he said.
