VASCO: The Goa Congress led by All India Congress Committee (AICC) Secretary Girish Chodankar and Congress leader from Mormugao, Sankalp Amonkar, and other senior party leaders on Monday confronted the Airport Authority of India (AAI) Goa Airport Director B CH Negi seeking clarification over the BJP’s public meeting that was held at the airport premises and was addressed by BJP President Amit Shah on Saturday.
The Congress activists who met Negi in his office inside the old airport building, first presented a bouquet of flowers to him and further thanked him for his efforts in increasing revenue of the airport. Initially, Negi thought that the Congress was appreciating his efforts, but soon the Congress leaders/workers started questioning about the BJP public meeting.
Chodankar questioned Negi on whether the AAI would allow his party to hold such a meeting at the same spot and if not, then how the AAI had “permitted” BJP to organise the same. To this, Negi admitted that “no written permission” was granted to the
public meeting and moreover he was not in town at the time of the meeting and was not empowered to give such permissions. He also assured to look into the matter.
However, Congress leaders demanded that as BJP leaders flouted rules, AAI should file an FIR against all BJP leaders, MLAs, Minister as well as against president Amit Shah as no one is above law. To this Negi assured that he would discuss the matter and take appropriate action.
“As the BJP had said that they had taken permission for the public meeting at the airport, therefore, we had come to check and to ask the airport director to show us the permission given to them (BJP) to which he admitted that no permission was given, nor was he aware of the meeting planned by the BJP. We asked if the Congress organised such a meeting would the AAI take any action. To this, Negi said in such a case, he would take serious action. Such meetings are not allowed and as the BJP organised meeting illegally, Negi has assured of serious action by filing FIR against all the concerned by Monday evening,” Chodankar said.
Congress leader Sankalp Amonkar said, “Goa airport is under the Defence, and by holding a public meeting, BJP had not only ‘harrased’ passengers but has also compromised on the security aspect of the airport. Today, we came in a small number only to question the AAI officials on the public meeting. We have given them two days to act failing which we have already intimated AAI director that we would hold mass protest against AAI and BJP at the Dabolim Airport as BJP’s public meeting at the airport has sent a wrong signal across the country and people are now questioning whether airports which are highly sensitive installations, can be used for such purpose,” Amonkar said.
