Team Herald
PANJIM: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Goa has accused some catholic priest of being ‘commercial agents’ of Congress party.
Addressing media persons, AAP Goa convenor Elvis Gomes reacted to priests in South Goa making last minute appeals to congregations on the day of LS elections to vote for Congress.
“Yes it’s true with a few priests. Everyone knows that they are ‘commercial agents’ of Congress. They live a life of duplicity. People know about them and hence it doesn’t matter much,” he said. Gomes said that there is no difference between BJP and Congress when it comes to seeking votes using religious heads. “Both practice the art with ease. That’s why a party like AAP is more relevant to Goa as it embraces all citizens without discrimination,” he commented.
The statement comes at the backdrop of Parish Priest of Our Lady of Snows Church, Raia, Fr Conceicao D’Silva faced a probe by election officials after a video of his controversial hate speech against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former State Chief Minister late Manohar Parrikar went viral. The Priest had later tendered apology for his remark.
It is important to note that Gomes was the only political leader who had openly extended support to Fr Conceicao D’Silva stating that he find nothing objectionable in what he spoke.
Meanwhile, AAP’s Panjim by-election candidate Valmiki Naik will file his nomination papers before the returning officer North, on Friday.
Gomes has appealed voters of Panjim to vote with clear conscience to usher in a change and alleged that BJP and Congress have a deep nexus between them for the sake of power.
Calling upon people of Panjim to reject politics of opportunism, Gomes said that time has come to replace it with politics of truth.
