The notifications were burnt at a Lok Jagruthi Melava organised by the party’s Canacona block at Chaudi. After the burning, Leader of Opposition Pratapsing Rane warned the people that if the government was allowed to have its way, it would soon come out with a policy to install an air meter to one’s waist and issue bills for breathing. He stated that water was a natural resource and sought to know if the government was manufacturing water to justify the arbitrary increase in its billing charges.
GPCC President Luizinho Faleiro stated that the government, in its most anti-people policies, increased water charges by 100 percent and power by 25 percent, without any logic.
He also decried the government’s policies of polarisation and claimed that the Congress was the only party that functioned on awareness of the people’s issues.
He said, “BJP sold dreams during last assembly polls and virtually did ‘ashes’ (gobor) of the mining trade, due to which 366 barges, 22,000 trucks, 72 shipyards, 18 dry docks are virtually turned into graveyards. Over 80,000 people are now on the roads.” On seeing the huge turnout of women for the meeting, he added that ‘women shakti’ would renew Congress’ fortunes in the coming polls.
The GPCC president also blasted the government for not fulfilling its promises despite a clear-cut mandate, and for calling the Congress a corrupt family Raj. “Has the zero tolerance to corruption been achieved by the party?” he asked, and alleged that “Instead, corruption has doubled up. From junior engineers to top functionaries, (everyone is) buried in corruption,” he said.
Giving examples of unfulfilled promises, Luizinho said that there was no development in Canacona; a foundation stone was laid by a minister on his birthday three years ago for Ravindra Bhavan, but it hasn’t seen the light of day.
Curtorim MLA Alexio Reginaldo Lourenco chided the government for its failure to arrest absconding former minister Mickky Pacheco. Alexio said, “When court issued warrant to search for Mickky in Defense Minister Manohar Parrrikar’s official residence, instead of allowing police to search his residence and come out clean, court is approached to obtain a stay on search warrant. Does government really not know where their ex-minister is? People really doubt this government’s credibility.”
Sunil Kawthankar mocked the government for not appointing a Lokayukta as promised within 100 days of coming to power, and asserted that applications under RTI were pending for over three years. “Under this government, the rich have become richer while the poor have remained poor,” he added.
