MARGAO
Congress national leader Priyanka Gandhi on Friday descended in the constituencies of party turncoats in Velim, Cuncolim and Quepem, beginning her party’s campaign by paying respects to the martyrs and Dr Ram Manohar Lohia at the Lohia Chowk, Assolna.
Priyanka with party central leaders, P Chidambaram and Dinesh Gundu Rao, besides Digambar Kamat, working presidents, Reginaldo Lourenco and Joe Dias in tow descended at the Lohia Chowk, Assolna in Velim constituency to pay respects to the martyrs and Dr Ram Manohar Lohia.
“I have come here specially to pay my respect to the martyrs and also to remember Dr Lohia, who had come here and seeing the sufferings of the people had given a call for the Liberation of Goa,” she told the waiting media, as she expressed her satisfaction over the feedback received from local party leaders over the party’s prospects in the polls.
Sending a message to the party workers, Priyanka added: “We have to really, really work hard to restore Goa in the hands of Goans. That is the central message to the party rank and file. We must work hard to provide Goans with a government that actually works for Goa.”
Priyanka made a brief 15-minute halt at the Lohia Chowk as she was received by party leaders Altinho Gomes, M K Sheikh, block president Veena Cardozo and the Velim ticket aspirants, Savio D’Silva, Benjamin D’Silva and Sabita Mascarenhas, besides Seva Dal volunteers. After laying a wreath at the martyrs’ memorial, she obliged social activist Anthony D’Silva by signing the photographs of her grandmother Indira Gandhi and father Rajiv Gandhi. The activist later handed over a petition to her demanding scrapping of the three linear projects and the controversial Goa Bhumiputra Adhikharini Bill.
She waved and shook hands with waiting party workers, interacted with the mahilas at the Lohia Chowk, Assolna, before heading to neighbouring Cuncolim enroute to Morpilla village.
At Cuncolim, Priyanka was accorded a traditional welcome, as she was welcomed by hundreds of party workers led by Yuri and Joaquim Alemao, besides block president Assis Noronha, Cuncolim Municipal Chairperson Laximan Naik and the ruling councillors.
GPCC general secretary Yuri Alemao told the media Priyanka’s visit has enthused Congressmen all over Goa. “The interaction with women from different walks of life will set the tone of the Congress manifesto on women empowerment. Priyanka has once again reiterated the commitment of the Congress party towards environment, ecology and heritage of our tiny State. No doubt, the workers are charged to take the ruling powers head on,” he added.
