MARGAO
Charging the BJP with ‘twisting’ his remarks on the Indian Constitution, Congress South Goa candidate Capt Viriato Fernandes has said the BJP need not tell a Soldier on the Constitution, saying he has the highest respect for the Constitution of India and the Armed forces.
In fact, Captain dared Chief Minister Pramod Sawant for an open debate on the his remarks on the Constitution and the burning issues plaguing Goa and the common man. “The BJP has twisted and turned my remarks on the Constitution. I want to tell the Chief Minister please don’t twist, but let us have an open debate on the matter. I am ready for an open debate. Let the Chief Minister chose the date, time and the venue of the debate”, he told the media at the South Goa district Congress office on Tuesday evening.
Saying the BJP has restored to the usual tactics of diverting the focus of the people on the burning issues plaguing Goa, he said the BJP is jittery over the tremendous response the Congress has received across the State.
Reminding that he had worked in the Defense forces, Viriato said he began his service in the Navy by taking an oath on the Constitution. “The Chief Minister and the BJP need not tell me what the Constitution is. I have the highest regard for the Constitution and the Armed forces. I had taken part in the Kargil war in 1999 and was awarded the Vijai Star medal. I did not quit the Armed forces after the war, but decided to continue and finally retired as Captain in the year 2017. This is the difference between a corrupt politician and a Fauji”, he reminded.
Congress Aldona MLA Adv Carlos Alvares slammed BJP for its double standards on dual citizenship for Indian citizens. “When former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee was in power, a report was compiled on the diaspora by L N Singhvi recommending dual citizenship for Indian citizens. It was the BJP which brought the Overseas Citizens of India (OCI), which is close to dual citizenship, fulfilling the requirements of the diaspora. Sometime back, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar made a statement that the issue of dual citizenship is still alive. If Jaishankar had made any unconstitutional statement, why was he not booked. The BJP is trying to make an issue over the remarks made by Viriato out of desperation knowing the ruling party is losing the elections”, Carlos said.
