TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: Congress’ Sadbhavna Diwas organised at the South Goa district Congress office on Wednesday saw Congress leaders rooting for a new and dynamic leadership to give a new direction to the party and strengthening the organisation at the grass roots, even as party heavyweights Ravi Naik and Joaquim Alemao used the platform to prove their innocence and refute charges of anti-party activities during the Lok Sabha poll.
Former Congress Ministers Filipe Neri Rodrigues and Joaquim Alemao were forthright in their call for a new leadership to lead the party in Goa. Ravi Naik joined them in saying that only a strong Congress organisation at the grass roots will keep the Congress in good stead in the future.
“It is high time the party high command takes an early call on the party leadership in Goa,” Joaquim told the media after the function.
Filipe Neri Rodrigues went a step further and said he does not agree with the disciplinary action proposed against all the leaders, saying there won’t be leaders left in the party if action is initiated against everyone.
He said it is time to find out the new leadership at the grass root-level where the young blood is promoted, motivated and projected by the party. “But, we are faced with a question who would motivate the young leaders. He stated that Congress is not an orphan as the party has a rich legacy and history.
Joaquim Alemao said he did not indulge in anti-party activities and he was categorical in saying that he would prefer to quit politics and sit at home instead of joining any other party,
In his address, Ravi Naik underlined the need to strengthen the party organisation at the grass root level. “The organisation should be strong at the grass root level, wherein any candidate can get elected with the support of the workers. In his address, Rajya Sabha MP Shantaram Naik slammed the BJP government at the centre and in Goa. He pointed out that Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar is trying to compromise with the SEZ promoters by giving them 30 per cent of the land. He also charged the chief minister for threatening to file criminal charges against the MLAs.
South Goa district president Subhash Faldesai, veteran Congress leader Mama Cardozo and others addressed the function.
