Team Herald
margao: Since Friday, the reaction to Pratapsingh Rane’s statement against Goans working abroad has snowballed into a major controversy with the remark which was seen as an embarrassment to the Congress in Goa.
The video clip of Rane wherein he says that people opposing mining in Goa take Portuguese passports and go abroad to die, they go there and wash toilets, has gone viral on Facebook and Whatsapp.
While many demanded that Rane should apologise, one Gavi Coutinho has even started an online petition on change.org wherein he stated that Rane has insulted Goans with his cheap comments and has also disgraced the dignity of labour. The petition has received nearly 200 signatures within a day.
When Herald contacted the Congress Party president Girish Chodankar for his reactions, he said everyone has a right to support or oppose any issue.
“In the last 36 years he has never made such statements. He is not in Goa and I am waiting to speak to him to understand why he made such as statement. This is definitely not the view of the Congress party”, Chodankar said while trying to distance himself and the party from the statement.
Herald questioned Dr Chellakumar, AICC incharge of Goa Congress, whether he would ask Rane to issue an apology. Chellakumar did not answer but said he will talk to Rane first before saying anything.
Interestingly, the BJP and Goa Forward have been silent on Rane’s statement. The Aam Aadmi Party has issued a formal press statement condemning the statements made by Rane.
Although the Congress released a statement late Monday evening, it has not helped cool down any tempers. Almost everyone has been commenting on GPCC president Girish Chodankar’s press statement demanding an apology from Rane.
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AAP condemns Rane’s derogatory remarks against Goan expats
The Aam Aadmi Party hit back at Pratapsingh Rane, who is a Congress MLA and former chief minister for speaking in a derogatory manner against Goans abroad.
AAP spokesman Rodney Almeida said now Goans were getting paid back with such humiliation for trusting Congress too long and called upon Goans worldwide to condemn Pratapsingh Rane’s utterances.
“Congress policies under Pratapsingh Rane for years without end have resulted in a situation of terrible unemployment and people have gone abroad to escape from poverty. These leaders with a feudal mindset never wanted the common man to rise on the social ladder,” said Almeida.
He said time has come to publicly boycott Rane and the Congress and chart a new path with new thinking as was happening in AAP with tangible results.
“Already reeling under the sick rule of BJP, GF & MGP, it is sad that Goans got to see this day that now a Congressman has shown his true colours. All are for themselves and none for the common man. Hence AAP becomes even more relevant,” Almeida added.
