PANAJI
The war of words between the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) intensified on Monday, with Congress leader Pawan Khera hitting back at the Arvind Kejriwal-led party, calling it “twice as shameless” as the BJP over the issue of defections.
Khera also backed Goa Forward Party (GFP) chief Vijai Sardesai’s call for a broader opposition alliance, saying all like-minded parties should come together to take on the BJP in the 2027 Assembly elections. GFP has announced ‘Goa First’ alliance with AAP already.
Responding to AAP’s allegations that the Congress had a “joint venture” with the BJP to facilitate defections, Khera said, “Those whose own party has seen six or seven MPs leave and go to the Rajya Sabha on the BJP’s support are lecturing us about defections.”
“What remarkable people they are (AAP). I used to think the Modi-led party was shameless, but they have turned out to be twice as shameless,” he said.
Khera’s remarks came hours after AAP accused the Congress and BJP of operating a “joint venture” and alleged that the two parties had together damaged Goa through defections. AAP also alleged a conspiracy to split the Goa First alliance. “Leave them aside; let’s not talk about them,” Khera said, referring to AAP.
On Sardesai’s call for a Grand Alliance, Khera said the Congress agreed that like-minded parties should fight together against the BJP.
“As I told you, people here want everyone to come together. The Goa Forward Party has also made a good point. We agree that everyone should fight together and that there should be a Grand Alliance,” he said. “There is discussion on this. We will listen to the people of Goa,” Khera added.
Khera launched a broadside against the BJP-led government, accusing it of “taking away” Goa’s forests, rivers, coastline and employment opportunities over the past 15 years. He alleged that changes to the Regional Plan were being undertaken without adequate consultation with people. He also raised the issue of unemployment, claiming Goa’s unemployment rate was around 8.5 per cent, and said the State’s youth had the capability but lacked adequate opportunities.
Khera accused the government of failing to effectively address drugs and alleged that casinos were being permitted without adequate regulation. “Goa has been given drugs, unregulated casinos, and a kind of development where destruction is visible but development is not,” he alleged.
Khera questioned the absence of women in the Goa cabinet and said the Congress had historically championed women’s reservation.
On the ongoing Goy Rakhonn Yatra, he said the campaign had emerged as a model that the Congress was considering replicating in other States, particularly for its focus on engaging directly with people on issues of land, environment, employment and development.
