PANJIM: Congress workers on Wednesday burnt effigies of BJP national president Amit Shah and two of their former MLAs – Subhash Shirodkar and Dayanand Sopte – for betraying and insulting the people of Goa.
The effigies were burnt near Panjim ferry point, where Congress alleged that BJP had murdered democracy. They accused the saffron party of using money and muscle power to poach MLAs and slammed their two former MLAs of insulting the people’s mandate.
Shirodkar, who represented Shiroda and Sopte from Mandrem, had resigned as MLAs and joined BJP on October 16.
Earlier, addressing media persons, Congress spokesperson Amarnath Panjikar sought to know from the BJP as to what was the offer given to Shirodkar and Sopte to quit Congress. “BJP State president claimed that they joined unconditionally, whereas Sopte on a public platform told his workers that BJP has promised him a ministerial berth next month,” he said.
“Sopte even said that BJP had sponsored their air ticket to Delhi on October 15 night and their stay. The same has been denied by BJP. Now who is speaking the truth,” he asked, adding, “We would like BJP leadership to clarify on this.”
Reiterating its demand that the BJP’s allies should desert the ruling dispensation, Congress said the alliance partners need to wake up and act as responsible political leaders, who are elected by the people to protect their interest. “Alliance partners need to act responsibly now. It is high time that people are running out of patience,” Panjikar said.
