One is being kind to the party, by calling it a blunder. A comment such as what was made was certainly not expected from a senior party functionary. To recall, AICC secretary A Chellakumar, who is in charge of Goa, had claimed that recently a video clip had surfaced which claimed that the Godhra incident was planned by BJP. Referring to this he said, “If it is so why not Pulwama incidents also? They have identified Jawans’ bodies but where is the body of terrorists. So far they have not been able to show terrorists’ body to the people.” This came from a political leader whose party had itself sought to keep politics out of the current tense situation in the country.
The doubts over the terrorist attack were raised by an AICC secretary, the brief statement next day of just three sentences was signed by the chief spokesperson of the GPCC. Congress should have at least got one of its senior AICC spokespersons to sign the statement. Besides, did the party have to wait until the next morning to realise it had erred big time? In the meantime it had opened itself up to ridicule, which the other parties did not hesitate to cash in on.
The statement from the Congress only indicates how disastrously the party functions. The statement is neither a clarification nor an apology but an assertion that the Congress believes that the attack on the CRPF jawans was conducted by the Pakistan-based terrorist organisation JeM. It goes on to add that the party stands by the Indian Armed Forces and their actions in the interest of National security, and salutes the bravery and valour of the Air Force for the action against terrorist camp in Pakistan. There is neither an apology there, nor any regret expressed. Perhaps a small ‘mea culpa’ from the party may have had a better effect, than the statement it released. Congress leaders must begin to learn to weigh their words before speaking in public and not be rushed into acting either.
Just what is it with Congress observers and Goa? A few days ago senior Congress leader Luizinho Faleiro had said that he was stopped from staking claim to form the government in March 2017 by the Congress in-charge of Goa at that time. That Congress observer has been replaced. Two years later the Congress in-charge of Goa makes a big gaffe when on a visit to the State at a time when the country is just about to go to the general elections, and every word spoken is analysed by electorate. Just how muddled can the party get in the run up to the polls? The party Central observers are meant to guide the local unit, but in these two cases they appear to be working against the interest of the party.
The Central leaders would do well to spend their time in Goa by putting in order the party unit, which in Goa requires a complete revamp of its policies. The party has to begin working as a tightly-knit unit with some determination. Too often the party unit and the legislative wing are found to be not on the same page on issues and activities. This will have to change if the party wants to regain the two Lok Sabha seats in the forthcoming elections. The poll dates are expected to be announced in a week from now, but Congress is still accepting applications from its members who may be interested in contesting the polls. Can the Central observers begin to focus on the polls for a change?
